Aspergillus

Aspergillus
Conidial head of Aspergillus niger
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Eurotiomycetes
Order: Eurotiales
Family: Aspergillaceae
Genus: Aspergillus
Micheli ex Haller (1768)
Species

See List of Aspergillus species

Synonyms[1]
List
  • Acmosporium Corda (1839)
  • Alliospora Pim (1883)
  • Aspergillopsis Speg. (1910)
  • Aspergillus P.Micheli (1729)
  • Basidiella Cooke (1878)
  • Briarea Corda (1831)
  • Chaetosartorya Subram. (1972)
  • Cladaspergillus Ritgen (1831)
  • Cladosarum E.Yuill & J.L.Yuill (1938)
  • Cleistosoma Harkn. (1884)
  • Clistosoma Clem. & Shear (1931)
  • Cristaspora Fort & Guarro (1984)
  • Dichotomomyces Saito (1949)
  • Dichotomomyces Saito ex D.B.Scott (1970)
  • Diplostephanus Langeron (1922)
  • Edyuillia Subram. (1972)
  • Emericella Berk. (1857)
  • Euaspergillus F.Ludw. (1892)
  • Eurotium Link (1809)
  • Fennellia B.J.Wiley & E.G.Simmons (1973)
  • Gutturomyces Rivolta (1873)
  • Gymnoeurotium Malloch & Cain (1973)
  • Harpezomyces Malloch & Cain (1973)
  • Hemisartorya J.N.Rai & H.J.Chowdhery (1976)
  • Inzengaea Borzí (1885)
  • Neosartorya Malloch & Cain (1973)
  • Otomyces Wreden (1874)
  • Petromyces Malloch & Cain (1973)
  • Phialosimplex Sigler (2010)
  • Polypaecilum G.Sm. (1961)
  • Pyrobolus Kuntze (1891)
  • Raperia Subram. & Rajendran (1976)
  • Redaellia Cif. (1930)
  • Rhodocephalus Corda (1837)
  • Rhopalocystis Grove (1911)
  • Royella R.S.Dwivedi (1960)
  • Saitoa Rajendran & Muthappa (1980)
  • Sartorya Vuill. (1927)
  • Sceptromyces Corda (1831)
  • Sporophormis Malloch & Cain (1973)
  • Sterigmatocystis C.E.Cramer (1859)
  • Stilbothamnium Henn. (1897)
  • Syncleistostroma Subram. (1972)
  • Theclospora Harkn. (1884)
  • Warcupiella Subram. (1972)

Aspergillus (/ˌæspərˈdʒɪləs/) is a genus consisting of several hundred mold species found in various climates worldwide.

Aspergillus was first catalogued in 1729 by the Italian priest and biologist Pier Antonio Micheli. Viewing the fungi under a microscope, Micheli was reminded of the shape of an aspergillum (holy water sprinkler), from Latin spargere (to sprinkle), and named the genus accordingly.[2][3] Aspergillum is an asexual spore-forming structure common to all Aspergillus species; around one-third of species are also known to have a sexual stage.[4] While some species of Aspergillus are known to cause fungal infections, others are of commercial importance.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Species Fungorum synonymy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Andrade-Filho Jde S, Pena GP (September–October 2010). "Analogies in medicine: fungus and liturgy". Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 52 (5): 288. doi:10.1590/s0036-46652010000500014. PMID 21049237.
  3. ^ Bennett JW (2010). "An Overview of the Genus Aspergillus". Aspergillus: Molecular Biology and Genomics. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-53-0.
  4. ^ Geiser DM (2009). "Sexual structures in Aspergillus: morphology, importance and genomics". Medical Mycology. 47. 47 (Suppl 1): S21-6. doi:10.1080/13693780802139859. PMID 18608901.