ABSTRACT
Aspergillus species are ubiquitous spore-bearing ascomycetous fungi within the subdivision Deutero mycotina as most species do not undergo sexual reproduction. More than 180 species have been described of which A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, A. terreus and A. (Emericella) nidulans are the most common species causing human infections. Worldwide A. fumigatus is the leading cause of both invasive and nosocomial aspergillosis. Diseases caused by Aspergillus species range from allergic manifestations to pulmonary saprophyte or locally destructive disease, to almost uniformly fatal disseminated infection in immunocom - promised hosts. Aspergillus is the only fungus that regularly produces both life-threatening disease and allergic disease in humans.
