ARS | Publication request: New species in Aspergillus section Terrei

Submitted to: Studies in Mycology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 1, 2011
Publication Date: September 7, 2011
Citation: Samson, R.A., Peterson, S.W., Frisvad, J.C., Varga, J. 2011. New species in Aspergillus section Terrei. Studies in Mycology. 69(1):39-55.

Interpretive Summary: The fungus Aspergillus terreus is known as a producer of statin drugs, one isolate has been reported to make the neurotoxin citreoviridin and closely related forms have recently been recognized as human lung pathogens. It is important to reexamine the taxonomy of the group to clarify how to distinguish the useful species from the toxic or pathogenic forms. We examined toxin production, verifying the initial report of citreoviridin and extended the findings to additional species in the group. We provide both molecular and visible-appearance methods for identifying the species and summarize the characteristics of each species. The information will be useful in medical laboratories, industrial laboratories, and in agricultural settings where the reduction of neurotoxic contaminants of commodities is critical to food safety.

Technical Abstract: Aspergillus section Terrei is reviewed and revised using information from DNA sequences, extrolite examination, and phenotypic assessment in an integrated analysis. The taxonomic status of six species from the section is modified either by describing new species or by providing new names for previously recognized taxa. One species in this clade produces a teleomorph but is provided a name in Aspergillus in order to maintain a single generic name within the monophyletic clade. Five species in the revised section Terrei produce the neurotoxic compound citreoviridin.