A Bibliographic Review of Airborne Fungal Allergens from Dominant and Undercharacterized Genera

Atmospheric fungi represent an important group of allergens with a major impact on public health, especially among sensitized or immunocompromised individuals. This article reviews the ubiquitous fungal taxa in the atmosphere—Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium—as well as the undercharacterized taxa—Epicoccum, Pithomyces, Torula and Rhodotorula—with an emphasis on the antigenic composition and protein structures involved in type I hypersensitivity reactions. Recent data from the scientific literature (2000–2025) is presented, along with the frequency of spores in the atmosphere and the global distribution of research, highlighted by the analysis of Google Scholar and PubMed results. While Alternaria, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium are recognized as major contributors to allergic sensitization worldwide, Epicoccum, Torula, Rhodotorula, and Pithomyces remain relatively undercharacterized, but associated with allergic reactions and cross-reactivity.