Agentes comunes en las aspergilosis humanas: conceptos primarios en la diferenciación de sus complejos de especies / Common agent in human aspergillosis: primary concepts in their complex species differentiation

Las especies del género Aspergillus P.Micheli ex Haller, son consideradas como importantes organismos integrantes de la microbiota en distintos tipos de suelos en todas las latitudes. Presentan grandes capacidades fermentativas industriales, son agentes comunes en microbiología de alimentos, grandes biodescomponedores junto a las bacterias, contaminantes de productos agrícolas y de importancia en salud humana y animal. El género se asocia a 9 o más teleomorfos, formando un clado monofilético estrechamente relacionado con el género Penicillium. Debido al elevado número de especies, su dinámica taxonómica y sus frecuentes cambios en la nomenclatura, han complicado a menudo al investigador en algún campo de la biología, en especial cuando éste guarda relación con la industria o la medicina. Estos hongos productores de grandes cantidad de esporas secas de dispersión aérea, constituyen una fuente constante de exposición para los humanos, especialmente en los ambientes internos. Si bien es cierto, que los integrantes del género Aspergillus (en especial A. fumigatus) pueden causar un amplio espectro de enfermedades invasoras o no invasoras, la incidencia de otras especies del género reportadas en la literatura como agentes de aspergilosis, ha aumentado y complicado el trabajo taxonómico, genético y clínico en los últimos decenios. La presente revisión abarca el tema desde un punto de vista primario que incluye básicamente la morfofisiología de 34 especies involucradas en diversos casos clínicos geográficamente dispersos en todos los continentes. Se destacan algunos aspectos taxonómicos, ecológicos, patológicos, moleculares y el empleo de cultivos comunes en el diagnóstico en 3 de los subgéneros más frecuentes en clínica (Fumigati, Circumdati y Nidulantes) y 7 de sus secciones: Fumigati, Clavati, Nigri, Flavi, Terrei, Nidulantes y Usti...

Species of the genus Aspergillus P.Micheli ex Haller, are considered important members of the organisms of mycrobiota in different tipes of soils in all latitudes. They prsent large industrial fermentative capacity, are common agents in food microbiology, major biodeterioration agents with bacteria, contaminants in agricultural products, and important in human and animal health. The genus is associated with 9 or more teleomorphs, forming a monophyletic clade closely related to the genus Penicillium. Due to the high number of species, their taxonomic dynamic and frequent changes in nomenclature have often complicated the researcher in any field of biology, especially when related to industry or medicine. These fungi producing large amount of dry spores of aerial dispersion, and they are a constant source of exposure for humans, especially in indoor environments. While it is true, that members of the genus Aspergillus (especially A. fumigatus) can cause a wide spectrum invasive or non-invasive disease, the incidence of other species of the genus reported in the literature as agents of aspergillosis has increased and complicated the taxonomic, genetic and clinical work in recent decades. The present review covers the topic from a primary morphophysiology view and basically includes 34 species involved in various clinical cases geographically dispersed in all continents. It highlights some taxonomic, ecological, pathological and molecular aspects and the use of common culture media in the diagnosis in 3 of the most common clinical subgenera (Fumigati, Circumdati and Nidulantes) and 7 sections: Fumigati, Clavati, Nigri, Flavi, Terrei, Nidulantes and Usti...

Aportes morfotaxonómicos en el género Aspergillus link: claves para las especies ambientales y clínicas más comunes / Morphotaxonomic contributions in the genus Aspergillus Link: keys for the most common environmental and clinical species

Se condensan los principales alcances en el género Aspergillus y las metodologías de diagnóstico morfo-taxonómico de las especies más comunes de utilidad para el micólogo en áreas clínicas y ambientales. Se aporta información bibliográfica actualizada para las determinaciones polifásicas de las especies y algunas claves morfofisiológicas tentativas en ciertos taxa de importancia médica, con énfasis en la Sección Fumigati.

The main information about the Aspergillus genus together with methodologies for the morphotaxonomic diagnosis of the most common species useful for the mycologist in clinical and environmental areas are here condensed. An updated bibliography is forwarded in order to carry out polyphasic identification of the species as well as tentative morphophysiological keys in some taxa having medical significance with emphasis in Section Fumigati.

Decolorization of anthraquinone dye by Aspergillus ficuum in various physiological states.

Decolorization of reactive brilliant blue KN-R by Aspergillus ficuum was investigated on suspended spores, mycelial pellets, immobilized cells. It was found that Aspergillus ficuum could effectively decolorize reactive brilliant blue KN-R especially when grown as pelleted mycelia. Many factors affecting the decolorization process in nitrogen-limited media (NLM) were studied, including: initial pH, temperature, and mycelial age. Results showed that the media containing reactive brilliant blue KN-R at 50 mg/L could be decolorized by 96% of the initial color in 42 h, in most conditions tested, the dye degraded products assayed by UV-visible spectrophotometer and macroscopic observation showed that the decolorization of reactive brilliant blue KN-R by mycelial pellets includes two important processes: biodegradation and biosorption. Kinetic study revealed that reactive brilliant KN-R biodegradation by mycelial pellets and suspended spores conformed to first-order reaction model while reactive brilliant blue KN-R biodegradation by immobilized cell followed zero-order model. In addition, mycelial pellets was found to biodegrade KN-R more quickly than suspended spores and immobilized cell.