Secondary Metabolites in the Aspergillus Genus
Introduction
Aspergillus, a genus comprised of filamentous fungi, is a widely studied group of sac fungi containing a diverse array of both beneficial and pathogenic species. Like all fungi, Aspergillus species are eukaryotic and have a cell wall made of chitin. They are heterotrophic; most commonly found in soil habitats, but are also found in marine environments. Some common species include Aspergillus fumigatus, responsible for the highest number of human deaths from fungi, Aspergillus flavus, a destructive agricultural pest, and Aspergillus nidulans, an important model organism for (Gibbons and Rokas 2013). A wide variation in metabolism, reproductive strategies, and survival mechanisms are found among Aspergillus members, rendering them not only as resilient and diverse microbes, but also as important organisms for biological study.
All Aspergillus produce asci (sexual spore producing cells) within ascocarps (circular fruiting bodies). Some members have the ability to reproduce both sexually and asexually, depending on favorable or unfavorable environmental conditions. This reproductive strategy adds to their resilience and commonality in a diverse range of ecosystems. Many Aspergillus species also possess the ability to form symbiotic relationships with other fungi, bacteria, algae, plants, and even insects. That said, many species are also pathogenic, and many species account for a majority of plant and human pathogens.
A defining characteristic of Aspergillus is their ability to produce secondary metabolites in response to environmental parameters, allowing them to adapt to complex and changing environments. These secondary metabolites allow fungi to either increase their own fitness or decrease a surrounding organism’s fitness, ensuring survival and reproduction. Despite significant scholarship surrounding the Aspergillus genus, their production of secondary metabolites remains a relatively unexplored area of study.
The metabolic and reproductive characteristics of Aspergillus, as outlined above, render this genus important both in microbial research and in other biological topics, such as genetics, bioengineering, ecology, and biochemistry.
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Section 1
Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.
Section 2
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Section 3
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Conclusion
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References
Edited by student of Joan Slonczewski for BIOL 238 Microbiology, 2009, Kenyon College.
