Aspergillus flavus: Difference between revisions
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==a. Higher order taxa== | ==a. Higher order taxa== | ||
Eukaryota; Ascomycota; Eurotiomycetes; Eurotiales; Trichocomaceae | Eukaryota; Ascomycota; Eurotiomycetes; Eurotiales; Trichocomaceae | ||
=2. Description and significance= | =2. Description and significance= | ||
Aspergillus flavus is a pathogenic fungus in the phylum Ascomycota. This species is known primarily for its ability to produce a potent toxin and carcinogen known as aflatoxin.1 Aflatoxin is known to contaminate many types of crop seeds, but in the field it is predominantly problematic for maize, peanuts, cotton seed, and tree nuts.1 A. flavus also has a great impact on human health, in which immunosuppressed people are most susceptible to infection by this fungus.1 A. flavus may be found in any type of climate, but it is most common in warm temperate zones and environments with low water levels and higher temperatures.1 | Aspergillus flavus is a pathogenic fungus in the phylum Ascomycota. This species is known primarily for its ability to produce a potent toxin and carcinogen known as aflatoxin.1 Aflatoxin is known to contaminate many types of crop seeds, but in the field it is predominantly problematic for maize, peanuts, cotton seed, and tree nuts.1 A. flavus also has a great impact on human health, in which immunosuppressed people are most susceptible to infection by this fungus.1 A. flavus may be found in any type of climate, but it is most common in warm temperate zones and environments with low water levels and higher temperatures.1 | ||
Revision as of 22:38, 8 December 2017
1. Classification
a. Higher order taxa
Eukaryota; Ascomycota; Eurotiomycetes; Eurotiales; Trichocomaceae
2. Description and significance
Aspergillus flavus is a pathogenic fungus in the phylum Ascomycota. This species is known primarily for its ability to produce a potent toxin and carcinogen known as aflatoxin.1 Aflatoxin is known to contaminate many types of crop seeds, but in the field it is predominantly problematic for maize, peanuts, cotton seed, and tree nuts.1 A. flavus also has a great impact on human health, in which immunosuppressed people are most susceptible to infection by this fungus.1 A. flavus may be found in any type of climate, but it is most common in warm temperate zones and environments with low water levels and higher temperatures.1
3. Genome structure
The genus Aspergillus consists of 250 recognizable species. These species are further divided into different groups.1 A. flavus is part of the Flavi group, which is notable for its aflatoxin-producing fungi. This section also includes A. parasiticus. The A. flavus genome consists of 37 million base pairs arranged into eight different chromosomes.4 It was found that the genome contains 13,485 predicted protein coding regions, including several secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters.2 Further research on the secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters of this species revealed that there were more than 56 biosynthetic gene clusters.4 The secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for the production of aflatoxin consists of 25 genes, spanning 70 kb DNA sections located near the telomere of the third chromosome.4
4. Cell structure
Interesting features of cell structure. Can be combined with “metabolic processes”
5. Metabolic processes
Describe important sources of energy, electrons, and carbon (i.e. trophy) for the organism/organisms you are focusing on, as well as important molecules it/they synthesize(s).
6. Ecology
Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment.
7. Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
7. Key microorganisms
Include this section if your Wiki page focuses on a microbial process, rather than a specific taxon/group of organisms
8. Current Research
Include information about how this microbe (or related microbes) are currently being studied and for what purpose
9. References
It is required that you add at least five primary research articles (in same format as the sample reference below) that corresponds to the info that you added to this page. [Sample reference] Faller, A., and Schleifer, K. "Modified Oxidase and Benzidine Tests for Separation of Staphylococci from Micrococci". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 1981. Volume 13. p. 1031-1035.
