Introduction:- Neosartorya fischeri

Neosartorya fischeri (a teleomorph of A. fischerianus), a very close relative to A. fumigatus, is found in soil; and its spores are found in agricultural products. N.fischeri can cause keratitis and possibly pulmonary aspergillosis in transplant patients, but is an extremely rare pathogen. It also causes spoilage of heat-processed fruit products. That it is rarely associated with human infections is interesting in light of its close evolutionary relationship to A. fumigatus; and so comparison of the N. fischeriand A.fumigatus genomes may yield significant clues regarding A. fumigatus virulence and epidemiology. In addition, N fischeri has a known sexual cycle which is absent in A. fumigatus and grows slowly in culture which can delay or confuse it's identification.

The type culture of N.fischeri (NRRL 181) was sequenced, using single spore subculture for genomic DNA extraction using genome shotgun sequencing technology.

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