Introduction:- Aspergillus clavatus

Aspergillus clavatus, found in soils and animal manure, is recognized by the elongated club-shaped vesicle at the apex of the tall, stout conidiophore. It is only occasionally pathogenic, although potently allergenic. It has been shown to be the cause of an extrinsic allergic alveolitis known as malt worker's lung. It produces a number of mycotoxins including patulin, kojic acid, cytochalasins and tremorgenic mycotoxins. It also causes neurotoxicosis in sheep and cattle when fed infected grain. Interestingly, A. clavatus is located in the phylogenetic tree between two of the major pathogenic Aspergilli, A. terreus and A. fumigatus. As a result, A. clavatus is well suited for comparative genomics studies designed to uncover Aspergillus virulence determinants.

The type culture of A. clavatus (NRRL 1) was sequenced using single spore subculture for genomic DNA extractions by a whole genome shotgun strategy.

The NIH/NIAID has provided funding (NO1-AI30071) to Dr. William C. Nierman at The Institute For Genomic Research (TIGR), Rockville, Maryland.