What are the characteristics of Aspergillus flavus?
The organism is a circular vesicle, with protruding filamentous extensions (2). In cell cultures, A. flavus are known to grow as yellow-green colonies and are 65-70 mm in diameter on Czapek yeast extract (1). As the spores mature, they transition into a darker green color (1).
What is Aspergillus Terreus used for?
terreus is commonly used in industry to produce important organic acids, such as itaconic acid and cis-aconitic acid, as well as enzymes, like xylanase. It was also the initial source for the drug mevinolin (lovastatin), a drug for lowering serum cholesterol.
Why is Aspergillus flavus of medical importance?
Abstract. Fungi have emerged as a major public health problem both in developing as well developed countries. Among the fungi, Aspergillus flavus, is recognized as an important pathogen that has the potential to cause infections in plants, humans and animals including birds.
What are the basic diagnostic features of Aspergillus niger?
A microscopic view of Aspergillus niger reveals that Aspergillus niger has smooth colored conidiophores and conidia. The conidiophores are protrusions from a septate and hyaline hyphae. The conidial heads appear radial and they split into columns (biseriate).
What is the morphology of Aspergillus?
Morphological Description: On Czapek Dox agar, colonies are typically blue-green with a suede-like surface consisting of a dense felt of conidiophores. Conidial heads are typically columnar (up to 400 x 50 µm but often much shorter and smaller) and uniseriate.
Which is the resistant structure in Aspergillus flavus?
Invasive and allergic infections by Aspergillus flavus are more common in tropical and subtropical countries. The emergence of voriconazole (VRC) resistance in A. flavus impacts the management of aspergillosis, as azoles are used as the first-line and empirical therapy.
What is Aspergillus Terreus complex?
The Aspergillus terreus species complex is found in a wide variety of habitats, and the spectrum of diseases caused covers allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, Aspergillus bronchitis and/or tracheobronchitis, and invasive and disseminated aspergillosis.
Is Aspergillus contagious?
But people who have a weakened immune system from illness or immunosuppressant medications have fewer infection-fighting cells. This allows aspergillus to take hold, invading the lungs and, in the most serious cases, other parts of the body. Aspergillosis is not contagious from person to person.
What does Aspergillus flavus cause?
Pathogen. Aspergillus flavus is a fungal pathogen that causes Aspergillus ear and Kernel rot. The fungus is mostly found in soil as saprophytes, but it has a broad host range as an opportunistic pathogen. It causes significant losses in corn, peanuts, cottonseed, and tree nuts.
Is Aspergillus flavus harmful to humans?
In addition to causing preharvest and postharvest infections, many strains produce significant quantities of toxic compounds known as mycotoxins, which, when consumed, are toxic to mammals. A. flavus is also an opportunistic human and animal pathogen, causing aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals.
Is Aspergillus niger Gram positive or negative?
Mycelium with fingerlike branches in fresh sputum smear (Cotton blue stain). Gram-positive staining branching mycelium from A.
What are the characteristics of Aspergillus oryzae?
The following properties of A. oryzae strains are important in rice saccharification for sake brewing: Growth: rapid mycelial growth on and into the rice kernels. Enzymes: strong secretion of amylases (α-amylase and glucoamylase); some carboxypeptidase; low tyrosinase.
What kind of health problems can you get from aspergillosis?
Aspergillosis. Most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick. However, people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing health problems due to Aspergillus. The types of health problems caused by Aspergillus include allergic reactions, lung infections, and infections in other organs.
What kind of environment does an Aspergillus grow in?
In addition to growth on carbon sources, many species of Aspergillus demonstrate oligotrophy where they are capable of growing in nutrient-depleted environments, or environments with a complete lack of key nutrients.
What is the name of the fungus that causes aspergillosis?
Aspergillosis is caused by fungal organisms of the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus species are ubiquitous saprophytes.
Is the Aspergillus fungus capable of self fertilization?
These findings with Aspergillus species are consistent with accumulating evidence, from studies of other eukaryotic species, that sex was likely present in the common ancestor of all eukaryotes. A. nidulans, a homothallic fungus, is capable of self-fertilization.