Aflatoxins are various poisonous carcinogens and mutagens that are produced by certain molds, particularly Aspergillus species. The fungi grow in soil, decaying vegetation and various staple foodstuffs and commodities such as hay, sweetcorn, wheat, millet, sorghum, cassava, rice, chili peppers, cottonseed, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and various spices. In short, the relevant fungi grow on almost any crop or food. When such contaminated food is processed or consumed, the aflatoxins enter the general food supply. They have been found in both pet and human foods, as well as in feedstocks for agricultural animals. Animals fed contaminated food can pass aflatoxin transformation products into eggs, milk products, and meat. For example, contaminated poultry feed is the suspected source of aflatoxin-contaminated chicken meat and eggs in Pakistan.
Aspergillus niger is a mold classified within the Nigri section of the Aspergillus genus. The Aspergillus genus consists of common molds found throughout the environment within soil and water, on vegetation, in fecal matter, on decomposing matter, and suspended in the air. Species within this genus often grow quickly and can sporulate within a few days of germination. A combination of characteristics unique to A. niger makes the microbe invaluable to the production of many acids, proteins and bioactive compounds. Characteristics including extensive metabolic diversity, high production yield, secretion capability, and the ability to conduct post-translational modifications are responsible for A. niger's robust production of secondary metabolites. A. niger's capability to withstand extremely acidic conditions makes it especially important to the industrial production of citric acid.
Phyllactinia is a genus of fungi in the family Erysiphaceae. The type species was Phyllactinia suffulta, which is now the synonym for Phyllactinia guttata.
Aplosporella is a genus of fungi in the family Botryosphaeriaceae.
Rajeev Kumar Varshney is an Indian agricultural scientist, specializing in genomics, genetics, molecular breeding and capacity building in developing countries. Varshney is currently serving as Director, Western Australian State Agricultural Biotechnology Center; Director, Centre for Crop & Food Innovation; and International Chair in Agriculture & Food Security with the Food Futures Institute at Murdoch University, Australia since Feb 2022. Before joining Murdoch University, Australia he served International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a global agriculture R&D institute, for more than 16 years in different scientific and research leadership roles including Research Program Director for three global research programs– Grain Legumes, Genetic Gains and Accelerated Crop Improvement Program. He has the onus of establishing and nurturing the Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems Biology (CEGSB), a globally recognized center for genomics research at ICRISAT that made impacts on improving agriculture and development of human resources in several countries including India, China, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, etc. Varshney holds Adjunct/Honorary/Visiting Professor positions at 10 academic institutions in Australia, China, Ghana, Hong Kong and India, including The University of Western Australia, University of Queensland, West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, University of Hyderabad, Chaudhary Charan Singh University and Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University.
Aspergillus monodii is a coprophilic species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus which has been isolated from an arid zone in Africa.
Aspergillus panamensis is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus which produces cyclogregatin, gregatin A, gregatin B, gregatin C and gregatin D.
Aspergillus zonatus is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus which has been isolated from forest soil in Costa Rica. Aspergillus zonatus produces azonalenin and aszonapyrone A
Aspergillus helicothrix is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus.
Aspergillus microcysticus is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus microcysticus produces aspochalasin A, aspochalasin C, aspochalasin D, and the antibiotic asposterol.
Aspergillus leporis is an anamorph species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus. It is from the Flavi section. The species was first described in 1979. It has been isolated from the dung of Lepus townsendii. Aspergillus leporis produces leporin A and leporin B. It has also been reported to produce antibiotic Y, kojic acid, and pseurotin.
Aspergillus conicus is a xerophilic species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus which can cause endophthalmitis in rare cases. It was first described in 1914. It is from the section Restricti. Aspergillus conicus has been reported as a human pathogen.
Aspergillus brevipes is an anamorph species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus. It is from the Fumigati section. It was first described in 1952. It has been isolated from soil in Australia. Aspergillus brevipes produces roquefortine C, meleagrin and viriditoxin.
Aspergillus appendiculatus is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus. It is from the Aspergillus section. The species was first described in 1975. It has been reported to produce asperflavin, auroglaucin, bisanthrons, dihydroauroglaucin, echinulins, emodin, erythroglaucin, flavoglaucin, isoechinulins, neoechinulins, physcion, questin, questinol, tetracyclic, and tetrahydroauroglaucin.
Aspergillus waksmanii is a homothallic species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus which has been isolated from soil from New Jersey in the United States. It is from the Fumigati section. Several fungi from this section produce heat-resistant ascospores, and the isolates from this section are frequently obtained from locations where natural fires have previously occurred. Aspergillus waksmanii produces apolar indoloterpenes.
Aspergillus deflectus is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus. It produces a group of antimicrobial chemical compounds known as deflectins. Aspergillus deflectus is in rare cases pathogenic. It is from the Usti section.
Aspergillus stromatoides is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus stromatoides produces Calmodulin inhibitors. Many of the strains of Aspergillus stromatoides have been isolated in Thailand.
Aspergillus dybowskii is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus which occurs in Southeast Asia.
Aspergillus onikii is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus.
Amitabh Varshney is an Indian-born American computer scientist. He is an IEEE fellow, and serves as Dean of the University of Maryland College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. Before being named Dean, Varshney was the director of the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) from 2010 to 2018.
