Aspergillus flavus

Amaike, S. and Keller, N.P. (2011) Aspergillus flavus. Annual Review of Phytopathology, 49. pp. 107-133.

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Abstract

Aspergillus flavus is saprophytic soil fungus that infects and contaminates preharvest and postharvest seed crops with the carcinogenic secondary metabolite aflatoxin. The fungus is also an opportunistic animal and human pathogen causing aspergillosis diseases with incidence increasing in the immunocompromised population. Whole genome sequences of A. flavus have been released and reveal 55 secondary metabolite clusters that are regulated by different environmental regimes and the global secondary metabolite regulators LaeA and VeA. Characteristics of A. flavus associated with pathogenicity and niche specialization include secondary metabolite production, enzyme elaboration, and a sophisticated oxylipin host crosstalk associated with a quorum-like development program. One of the more promising strategies in field control involves the use of atoxic strains of A. flavus in competitive exclusion studies. In this review, we discuss A. flavus as an agricultural and medical threat and summarize recent research advances in genomics, elucidation of parameters of pathogenicity, and control measures.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: We thank all Keller Lab members for critical readings of the manuscript. Funding has been provided for this work from the United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) project (WIS01200) and NSF IOB-0544428, sub-agreement S060039 to N.P.K.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Aflatoxin, Secondary metabolite clusters, Genomics, NRPS, PKS, Velvet complex, Atoxigenic
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Subjects: Crop Improvement
Divisions: Chickpea
General
Millet
Pigeonpea
Sorghum
Depositing User: Mr Arbind Seth
Date Deposited: 09 May 2013 05:12
Last Modified: 09 May 2013 05:12
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-phyto-072910-095...
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/10487

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