Research & Development

Taxonomy of Aspergillus niger complex
The taxonomy of black sporing Aspergilli (Aspergillus niger complex) is poorly understood. The taxonomy of 43 RMLM black Aspergillus isolates was studied by sequencing of 3 molecular targets (ITS, calmodulin and beta-tubulin). ITS proved too similar to give sufficient resolution between this group of closely related organisms. However, combined calmodulin and beta-tubulin sequences grouped these clinical isolates into 5 distinct clades: A. awamori (58.1%), A. tubingensis (18.6%), A. niger (11.6%), A. foetidus (7.0%) and an unknown group (4.7%). The unknown group is potentially a new species, although this requires further investigation.