Aspergillus glaucus

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Aspergillus glaucus
De Bary - Aspergillus glaucus Development.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Eurotiales
Family: Aspergillaceae
Genus: Aspergillus
Species:
A. glaucus
Binomial name
Aspergillus glaucus
(L.) Link (1809)
Synonyms [1]
  • Mucor glaucus (1753)
  • Monilia glauca Pers. (1801)
  • Aspergillus mangini Thom & Raper (1945)
  • Eurotium herbariorum(F.H.Wigg.) Link ex Nees (1816)

Aspergillus glaucus is a filamentous fungus which is known to have a wide environmental distribution due to its physiological hardiness under extreme conditions. [2] [3] Like many other fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus , it can be mildly pathogenic but has a number of useful potential applications in medicine and the production of foodstuffs. [4] [3] [5]

Contents

History and taxonomy

Botanical reference to this fungus seems to begin with Micheli, who in 1729 used the generic name Aspergillus, derived from aspergillum (holy water sprinkler) to describe the filamentous nature of this group of fungi. [6]

The fungus was later described as Mucor glaucus in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus before being moved to the genus Aspergillus in 1809. [7] [8] Other names are also quite common, namely Aspergillus herbariorium and its teleomorph synonym, Eurotium herbariorium. [9]

Physiology and morphology

Aspergillus glaucus is a robust xerophilic fungus capable of surviving in a wide variety of different environments due to features of its physiology. Firstly, the fungus has a cardinal temperature range between 4 °C and 37 °C, allowing it to grow well during winter. [10] The optimal temperature range for growth, however, is between 24 °C and 25 °C. [10] With these temperatures, growth is considered moderate, reaching maturity in about one to three weeks. [10] [11] It is also one of the most osmotolerant fungi in its genus, being capable of developing at a sucrose concentration of 60%, allowing it to grow in very sweet syrups and foodstuffs. [10]

The fungus itself is filamentous and thin-walled. and has many features in common with other species in its genus, namely its conidial heads, which radiate to somewhat columnar and are round or elliptical. [11] These conidial heads are typically sized between 5 and 6.5 μm. [12] The conidiophores containing them, typically 200 to 350 μm long, are smooth-walled and somewhere between uncolored to pale brown. [13] In addition, the hyphae of the mycelium are septate and hyaline. [13]

Phialides cover the upper portion of the vesicles, which are globose to sub-globose, and uniseriate, with a diameter between 15 and 30 μm. [13] The asci contains eight spores that are typically unarranged while the perithecia are typically yellow. The mould can appear as either yellow or in patches of green. [11]

Habitat and ecology

Aspergillus glaucus has a worldwide geographic distribution because of many of the aforementioned physiological characteristics. [11] It is one of the few fungi that can be found in Arctic environments due to the extremely low temperatures. [2] [3] As a result, it is a common outdoor fungus in the winter. [4] In addition, even among its own genus, A. glaucus is capable of thriving in low moisture environments, allowing it to grow in dry areas. [10]

A. glaucus is also polytrophic, allowing it to take advantage of a large number of different food sources. As a result, it's been found to grow well on a variety of different foods, including corn, wheat, fish, butter, and eggs. [10] It can also survive in foods such as jam and jellies, very sweet substances that most other fungi cannot grow in, because of its osmotolerance.

Pathology

Several strains of Aspergillus glaucus may produce mycotoxins. There is at least one recorded instance of this species appearing to cause a fatal brain infection. [14] That being said, A.glaucus is not considered to be very pathogenic as its growth is restricted by temperatures of more than 35 °C. [10] In addition, even as a pathogen, it is not considered very dangerous as it is highly susceptible to anti-fungal treatments. [15]

It is known to be an allergen and an irritant in addition to causing pneumonitis and various forms of dermatitis. [16] [17]

Applications

One of the more popular applications for A. glaucus is in the production of katsuobushi, shavings of a smoked and fermented fish that is popular in Japanese cuisine. [5] In the final stages of preparation, a culture of A. glaucus is sprayed onto the fish, providing the necessary fermentation. There have been some health concerns due to the discovery of a mycotoxin, beta-nitropropionic acid, that the fungus produces. [18]

Another possible application for A. glaucus is its use as an anti-cancer agent. The mycotoxin aspergiolide A may be able to be used as an anti-cancer agent. [19] [20]

Finally, due to its Arctic habitat and low cardinal temperature range, A. glaucus is a potential source of enzymes capable of functioning at low temperatures, though research in this area is still relatively new. [21]

Related Research Articles

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Aspergillus is a genus consisting of several hundred mould species found in various climates worldwide.

<i>Aspergillus terreus</i> Species of fungus

Aspergillus terreus, also known as Aspergillus terrestris, is a fungus (mold) found worldwide in soil. Although thought to be strictly asexual until recently, A. terreus is now known to be capable of sexual reproduction. This saprotrophic fungus is prevalent in warmer climates such as tropical and subtropical regions. Aside from being located in soil, A. terreus has also been found in habitats such as decomposing vegetation and dust. A. 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.

Aspergillus ochraceus is a mold species in the genus Aspergillus known to produce the toxin ochratoxin A, one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins, and citrinin. It also produces the dihydroisocoumarin mellein. It is a filamentous fungus in nature and has characteristic biseriate conidiophores. Traditionally a soil fungus, has now began to adapt to varied ecological niches, like agricultural commodities, farmed animal and marine species. In humans and animals the consumption of this fungus produces chronic neurotoxic, immunosuppressive, genotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. Its airborne spores are one of the potential causes of asthma in children and lung diseases in humans. The pig and chicken populations in the farms are the most affected by this fungus and its mycotoxins. Certain fungicides like mancozeb, copper oxychloride, and sulfur have inhibitory effects on the growth of this fungus and its mycotoxin producing capacities.

Aspergillus sydowii is a pathogenic fungus that causes several diseases in humans. It has been implicated in the death of sea fan corals in the Caribbean Sea.

Aspergillus penicillioides is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus, and is among the most xerophilic fungi.

<i>Aspergillus versicolor</i> Species of fungus

Aspergillus versicolor is a slow-growing species of filamentous fungus commonly found in damp indoor environments and on food products. It has a characteristic musty odor associated with moldy homes and is a major producer of the hepatotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin sterigmatocystin. Like other Aspergillus species, A. versicolor is an eye, nose, and throat irritant.

<i>Aspergillus ustus</i> Species of fungus

Aspergillus ustus is a microfungus and member of the division Ascomycota. It is commonly found in indoor environments and soil. Isolated cases of human infection resulting from A. ustus have been described; however the majority of these are nail infections.

<i>Penicillium digitatum</i> Species of fungus

Penicillium digitatum is a mesophilic fungus found in the soil of citrus-producing areas. It is a major source of post-harvest decay in fruits and is responsible for the widespread post-harvest disease in Citrus fruit known as green rot or green mould. In nature, this necrotrophic wound pathogen grows in filaments and reproduces asexually through the production of conidiophores and conidia. However, P. digitatum can also be cultivated in the laboratory setting. Alongside its pathogenic life cycle, P. digitatum is also involved in other human, animal and plant interactions and is currently being used in the production of immunologically based mycological detection assays for the food industry.

Aspergillus unguis is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus, and the asexual state (anamorph) of Emericella unguis. Aspergillus unguis is a filamentous soil-borne fungus found on decomposing plant matter and other moist substrates including with building materials and household dust. Aspergillus unguis occurs mainly in tropical and subtropical soils but has also been isolated from various marine and aquatic habitats. The species was first isolated in 1935 by Weill and L. Gaudin. Historically, A. unguis was assigned to the A. nidulans group, a common group of soil-borne fungi due to the resemblance of its ascospores and cleistothecia to those of Emericella nidulans. Aspergillus unguis is distinctive, however, in possessing spicular hyphae. A number of synonyms have been collapsed into this species, including Sterigmatocystis unguis, Aspergillus laokiashanensis and Aspergillus mellinus.

<i>Trichothecium roseum</i> Species of fungus

Trichothecium roseum is a fungus in the division Ascomycota first reported in 1809. It is characterized by its flat and granular colonies which are initially white and develop to be light pink in color. This fungus reproduces asexually through the formation of conidia with no known sexual state. Trichothecium roseum is distinctive from other species of the genus Trichothecium in its characteristic zigzag patterned chained conidia. It is found in various countries worldwide and can grow in a variety of habitats ranging from leaf litter to fruit crops. Trichothecium roseum produces a wide variety of secondary metabolites including mycotoxins, such as roseotoxins and trichothecenes, which can infect and spoil a variety of fruit crops. It can act as both a secondary and opportunistic pathogen by causing pink rot on various fruits and vegetables and thus has an economical impact on the farming industry. Secondary metabolites of T. roseum, specifically Trichothecinol A, are being investigated as potential anti-metastatic drugs. Several agents including harpin, silicon oxide, and sodium silicate are potential inhibitors of T. roseum growth on fruit crops. Trichothecium roseum is mainly a plant pathogen and has yet to show a significant impact on human health.

Penicillium verrucosum is a psychrophilic fungus which was discovered in Belgium and introduced by Dierckx in 1901. Six varieties of this species have been recognized based primarily on differences in colony colour: P. verrucosum var. album, P. verrucosum var. corymbiferum, P. verrucosum var. cyclopium, P. verrucosum var. ochraceum, P. verrucosum var. melanochlorum and P. verrucosum var. verrucosum. This fungus has important implications in food, specifically for grains and other cereal crops on which it grows. Its growth is carefully regulated in order to reduce food spoilage by this fungi and its toxic products. The genome of P. verrucosum has been sequenced and the gene clusters for the biosyntheses of its mycotoxins have been identified.

<i>Aspergillus clavatus</i> Species of fungus

Aspergillus clavatus is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus with conidia dimensions 3–4.5 x 2.5–4.5 μm. It is found in soil and animal manure. The fungus was first described scientifically in 1834 by the French mycologist John Baptiste Henri Joseph Desmazières.

<i>Aspergillus tubingensis</i> Species of fungus

Aspergillus tubingensis is a darkly pigmented species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus section Nigri. It is often confused with Aspergillus niger due to their similar morphology and habitat. A. tubingensis is often involved in food spoilage of fruits and wheat, and industrial fermentation. This species is a rare agent of opportunistic infection.

<i>Aspergillus parasiticus</i> Species of fungus

Aspergillus parasiticus is a fungus belonging to the genus Aspergillus. This species is an unspecialized saprophytic mold, mostly found outdoors in areas of rich soil with decaying plant material as well as in dry grain storage facilities. Often confused with the closely related species, A. flavus, A. parasiticus has defined morphological and molecular differences. Aspergillus parasiticus is one of three fungi able to produce the mycotoxin, aflatoxin, one of the most carcinogenic naturally occurring substances. Environmental stress can upregulate aflatoxin production by the fungus, which can occur when the fungus is growing on plants that become damaged due to exposure to poor weather conditions, during drought, by insects, or by birds. In humans, exposure to A. parasiticus toxins can cause delayed development in children and produce serious liver diseases and/or hepatic carcinoma in adults. The fungus can also cause the infection known as aspergillosis in humans and other animals. A. parasiticus is of agricultural importance due to its ability to cause disease in corn, peanut, and cottonseed.

<i>Mucor circinelloides</i> Species of fungus

Mucor circinelloides is a dimorphic fungus belonging to the Order Mucorales. It has a worldwide distribution, found mostly in soil, dung and root vegetables. This species is described as not known to be able to produce mycotoxins, however it has been frequently reported to infect animals such as cattle and swine, as well as fowl, platypus and occasionally humans. Ketoacidotic patients are particularly at risk for infection by M. circinelloides.

<i>Penicillium spinulosum</i> Species of fungus

Penicillium spinulosum is a non-branched, fast-growing fungus with a swelling at the terminal of the stipe (vesiculate) in the genus Penicillium. P. spinulosum is able to grow and reproduce in environment with low temperature and low water availability, and is known to be acidotolerant. P. spinulosum is ubiquitously distributed, and can often be isolated from soil. Each individual strain of P. spinulosum differs from others in their colony morphology, including colony texture, amount of sporulation and roughness of conidia and conidiophores.

Aspergillus wentii is an asexual, filamentous, endosymbiotic fungus belonging to the mold genus, Aspergillus. It is a common soil fungus with a cosmopolitan distribution, although it is primarily found in subtropical regions. Found on a variety of organic materials, A. wentii is known to colonize corn, cereals, moist grains, peanuts and other ground nut crops. It is also used in the manufacture of biodiesel from lipids and is known for its ability to produce enzymes used in the food industry.

Aspergillus niveoglaucus is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus. It is from the Aspergillus section. The species was first described in 1941. It has been reported to produce asperflavin, auroglaucin, bisanthrons, dihydroauroglaucin, echinulins, emodin, erythroglaucin, flavoglaucin, mycophenolic acid, neoechinulins, physcion, questin, questinol, siderin, tetracyclic, and tetrahydroauroglaucin.

Aspergillus giganteus is a species of fungus in the genus Aspergillus that grows as a mold. It was first described in 1901 by Wehmer, and is one of six Aspergillus species from the Clavati section of the subgenus Fumigati. Its closest taxonomic relatives are Aspergillus rhizopodus and Aspergillus longivescia.

Myriodontium keratinophilum is a fungus widespread in nature, most abundantly found in keratin-rich environments such as feathers, nails and hair. Despite its ability to colonize keratinous surfaces of human body, the species has been known to be non-pathogenic in man and is phylogentically distant to other human pathogenic species, such as anthropophilic dermatophytes. However, its occasional isolation from clinical specimens along with its keratinolytic properties suggest the possibility it may contribute to disease.

References

  1. ↑ "GSD Species Synonymy. Current Name: Aspergillus glaucus (L.) Link, Mag. Gesell. naturf. Freunde, Berlin 3(1-2): 16 (1809)". Species Fungorum . Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 Hubka, V; Kolarík, M; Kubátová, A; Peterson, SW (Jul–Aug 2013). "Taxonomic revision of Eurotium and transfer of species to Aspergillus". Mycologia. 105 (4): 912–37. doi:10.3852/12-151. PMID   23396159. S2CID   121976.
  3. 1 2 3 Cai, M; Zhou, X; Lu, J; Fan, W; Zhou, J; Niu, C; Kang, L; Sun, X; Zhang, Y (Dec 2012). "An integrated control strategy for the fermentation of the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus glaucus for the production of anti-cancer polyketide". Marine Biotechnology. 14 (6): 665–71. Bibcode:2012MarBt..14..665C. doi:10.1007/s10126-012-9435-6. PMID   22286337. S2CID   254143575.
  4. 1 2 Safety, University of Minnesota, Department of Environmental Health &. "Aspergillus glaucus". www.dehs.umn.edu. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2016-10-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 Mikiharu Doi (2013). Toko, Kiyoshi, ed. Biochemical sensors: mimicking gustatory and olfactory senses, Chapter 8: Investigation into the Kokumi Taste of Soup Stock Materials. Singapore: Pan Stanford. p. 123.  ISBN   9789814267076.
  6. ↑ Bennett JW (2010).  "An Overview of the Genus Aspergillus" Archived 2016-06-17 at the Wayback Machine  (PDF). Aspergillus: Molecular Biology and Genomics. Caister Academic Press.  ISBN   978-1-904455-53-0.
  7. ↑ Species Plantarum: 1186 (1753)
  8. ↑ Mag. Gesell. naturf. Freunde, Berlin 3(1-2): 16 (1809)   
  9. ↑ "Species Fungorum - Species synonymy". www.speciesfungorum.org. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Panasenko, Vasil T. (1967). "Ecology of microfungi". The Botanical Review. 33 (3): 189–215. doi:10.1007/BF02858637. ISSN   0006-8101. S2CID   12235615.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Thom, C., & Raper, K. B. (1941). The Aspergillus glaucus group (Vol. 424). US Dept. of Agriculture.
  12. ↑ [null Mould Allergy], Yousef Al-Doory and Joanne F. Domson, Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1984. 287 p.
  13. 1 2 3 "Aspergillus glaucus". www.mold.ph. Archived from the original on 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  14. ↑ Traboulsi, RS; Kattar, MM; Dbouni, O; Araj, GF; Kanj, SS (Oct 2007). "Fatal brain infection caused by Aspergillus glaucus in an immunocompetent patient identified by sequencing of the ribosomal 18S-28S internal transcribed spacer". European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. 26 (10): 747–50. doi:10.1007/s10096-007-0361-x. PMID   17665232. S2CID   10570990.
  15. ↑ Araujo, Ricardo; Pina-Vaz, Cidalia; Rodrigues, Acacio Gonçalves (2007-01-01). "Susceptibility of environmental versus clinical strains of pathogenic Aspergillus". International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 29 (1): 108–111. doi:10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2006.09.019. ISSN   0924-8579. PMID   17189101.
  16. ↑ "Chemical Sampling Information | Aspergillus glaucus". www.osha.gov. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  17. ↑ M.D, Kazuko Yoshida; M.D, Masayuki Ando; M.D, Kiyotaka Ito; M.D, Tetsunori Sakata; M.D, Kazuko Arima; M.D, Shukuro Araki; M.D, Katsuhisa Uchida (1990-08-01). "Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis of a Mushroom Worker due to Aspergillus glaucus". Archives of Environmental Health. 45 (4): 245–247. doi:10.1080/00039896.1990.9940809. ISSN   0003-9896. PMID   2119164.
  18. ↑ Frisvad, Jens C.; Thrane, Ulf; Samson, Robert A.; Pitt, John I. (2006-08-29). "Important Mycotoxins and the Fungi which Produce Them". In Ailsa Diane Hocking. Advances in Food Mycology. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 571. New York: Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. p. 7. ISBN   9780387283913.
  19. ↑ Sun, Xueqian; Zhou, Xiangshan; Cai, Menghao; Tao, Kejing; Zhang, Yuanxing (2009-09-01). "Identified biosynthetic pathway of aspergiolide A and a novel strategy to increase its production in a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus glaucus by feeding of biosynthetic precursors and inhibitors simultaneously". Bioresource Technology. 100 (18): 4244–4251. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2009.03.061. ISSN   1873-2976. PMID   19386490.
  20. ↑ Cai, Menghao; Zhang, Ying; Hu, Wei; Shen, Wei; Yu, Zhenzhong; Zhou, Weiqiang; Jiang, Tao; Zhou, Xiangshan; Zhang, Yuanxing (2014-05-20). "Genetically shaping morphology of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus glaucus for production of antitumor polyketide aspergiolide A". Microbial Cell Factories. 13: 73. doi: 10.1186/1475-2859-13-73 . ISSN   1475-2859. PMC   4039328 . PMID   24886193.
  21. ↑ Abrashev, Radoslav; Feller, Georges; Kostadinova, Nedelina; Krumova, Ekaterina; Alexieva, Zlatka; Gerginova, Maria; Spasova, Boryana; Miteva-Staleva, Jeni; Vassilev, Spassen (2016-05-01). "Production, purification, and characterization of a novel cold-active superoxide dismutase from the Antarctic strain Aspergillus glaucus 363" (PDF). Fungal Biology. 120 (5): 679–689. doi:10.1016/j.funbio.2016.03.002. hdl:2268/194482. PMID   27109365.
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