- Aspergillus flavus
Taxobox
name = "Aspergillus flavus"
image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Aspergillus flavus"
regnum =Fungi
phylum =Ascomycota
classis =Eurotiomycetes
ordo =Eurotiales
familia =Trichocomaceae
genus = "Aspergillus "
species = "A. flavus"
binomial = "Aspergillus flavus"
binomial_authority = Johann Heinrich Friedrich"Aspergillus flavus" is a
mold fungus . It is apathogen , associated withaspergillosis of thelung s and sometimes believed to causecornea l,otomycotic , and nasoorbital infections. It is believed to beallergen ic and sometimes causes losses insilkworm hatcheries.Disease in humans
"A. flavus" is the second most common isolate of
aspergillosis , the first being "Aspergillus fumigatus ". Aspergillus invades arteries of the lung or brain and causesinfarction .Neutropenia predisposes to aspergillus infection.Culture and histology
"A. flavus" grows a yellow mold in culture. Aspergillus species can be distinguised by the appearance of their
conidia , or "fruiting head." "A. flavus" exhibits vesicles which are entirely covered byconidia , while the conidia of "A. fumigatus" cover only half of the fruiting head.
=Mold da"A. flavus" is particularly common on corn and
peanut s, as well aswater damage dcarpet s, and is one of several species of mold known to produceaflatoxin which can cause acute hepatitis, immunosuppression, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The absence of any regulation of screening for the fungus in countries which also have a high prevalence of viralhepatitis highly increases the risk of hepatocellularcarcinoma .References
External links
* [http://www.aspergillusflavus.org/genomics/ "Aspergillus flavus" Genome Sequencing Project]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.