Aspergillus niger

Aspergillus niger
Photomicrograph showing the conidial head (conidiophore) of Aspergillus niger
Details of the head by scanning electron microscopy
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Eurotiales
Family: Aspergillaceae
Genus: Aspergillus
Species:
A. niger
Binomial name
Aspergillus niger
Synonyms

Aspergillus niger var. niger
Aspergillopsis nigra (Tiegh.) Speg.
Rhopalocystis nigra (Tiegh.) Grove
Sterigmatocystis nigra (Tiegh.) Sacc. (1877)

Aspergillus niger is a mold classified within the Nigri section of the Aspergillus genus.[1] 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.[2] Species within this genus often grow quickly and can sporulate within a few days of germination.[2] 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.[3] A. niger's capability to withstand extremely acidic conditions makes it especially important to the industrial production of citric acid.[1][4]

A. niger causes a disease known as "black mold" on certain fruits and vegetables such as grapes, apricots, onions, and peanuts, and is a common contaminant of food. It is ubiquitous in soil and is commonly found in indoor environments, where its black colonies can be confused with those of Stachybotrys (species of which have also been called "black mold").[5] A. niger is classified as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in food production,[6] although the microbe is capable of producing toxins that affect human health.[7]

  1. ^ a b Ellena V, Seekles SJ, Vignolle GA, Ram AF, Steiger MG (September 2021). "Genome sequencing of the neotype strain CBS 554.65 reveals the MAT1-2 locus of Aspergillus niger". BMC Genomics. 22 (1): 679. doi:10.1186/s12864-021-07990-8. PMC 8454179. PMID 34548025.
  2. ^ a b Curtis L (2020), "Aspergillus", Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health, Salem Press, retrieved 2022-10-18
  3. ^ Kurt T, Marbà-Ardébol AM, Turan Z, Neubauer P, Junne S, Meyer V (August 2018). "Rocking Aspergillus: morphology-controlled cultivation of Aspergillus niger in a wave-mixed bioreactor for the production of secondary metabolites". Microbial Cell Factories. 17 (1): 128. doi:10.1186/s12934-018-0975-y. PMC 6102829. PMID 30129427. S2CID 52053640.
  4. ^ Behera BC (November 2020). "Citric acid from Aspergillus niger: a comprehensive overview". Critical Reviews in Microbiology. 46 (6): 727–749. doi:10.1080/1040841X.2020.1828815. PMID 33044884. S2CID 222319687.
  5. ^ Samson RA, Houbraken J, Summerbell RC, Flannigan B, Miller JD (2001). "Common and important species of fungi and actinomycetes in indoor environments". Microorganisms in Home and Indoor Work Environments. CRC. pp. 287–292. ISBN 978-0415268004.
  6. ^ Singh, Nikita; Gaur, Smriti (2021), Dai, Xiaofeng; Sharma, Minaxi; Chen, Jieyin (eds.), "GRAS Fungi: A New Horizon in Safer Food Product", Fungi in Sustainable Food Production, Fungal Biology, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 27–37, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-64406-2_3, ISBN 978-3-030-64406-2, S2CID 234175577, retrieved 2022-11-16
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference fris was invoked but never defined (see the help page).