ABSTRACT
The name Aspergillus was rst used for lamentous fungi bearing conidial heads and stalks by the Italian priest-mycologist Pietro Antonio Micheli (1679-1737) in Nova Plantarum Genera of 1729. He called these fungi Aspergillus because the spore-bearing structures characteristic of the genus reminded him a device called an aspergillum or holy water sprinkler used in Catholic liturgy. The fungi began to be recognized as active agents of decomposition processes and causes
13.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 165 13.2 Aatoxins .............................................................................................................................. 167
13.2.1 Producers .................................................................................................................. 167 13.2.2 Occurrence ................................................................................................................ 167 13.2.3 Biological Effects ...................................................................................................... 168 13.2.4 Biosynthesis .............................................................................................................. 169 13.2.5 Molecular Detection ................................................................................................. 170
13.3 Ochratoxins ........................................................................................................................... 170 13.3.1 Producing Organisms ............................................................................................... 171 13.3.2 Occurrence ................................................................................................................ 171 13.3.3 Biological Effects ...................................................................................................... 171 13.3.4 Biosynthesis .............................................................................................................. 172 13.3.5 Molecular Detection ................................................................................................. 172
13.4 Fumonisins ............................................................................................................................ 173 13.4.1 Producing Organisms ............................................................................................... 173 13.4.2 Occurrence ................................................................................................................ 174 13.4.3 Biological Effects ...................................................................................................... 174 13.4.4 Biosynthesis .............................................................................................................. 174 13.4.5 Molecular Detection ................................................................................................. 174
13.5 Patulin ................................................................................................................................... 175 13.5.1 Producers .................................................................................................................. 175 13.5.2 Occurrence ................................................................................................................ 175 13.5.3 Biological Effects ...................................................................................................... 175 13.5.4 Biosynthesis .............................................................................................................. 176 13.5.5 Molecular Detection ................................................................................................. 176
13.6 Other Mycotoxins Produced by Aspergilli ........................................................................... 176 13.7 Potential Effects of Climate Change on the Occurrence of Aspergillus
Mycotoxins in Temperate/Continental Climates .................................................................. 177 13.8 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 178 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... 179 References ...................................................................................................................................... 179
of animal and human diseases only in the middle of the ninetieth century. Today, Aspergillus is one of the most widely distributed and economically most important fungal genera on Earth [1]. Taxonomically, the Aspergillus genus is divided into 8 subgenera and >20 sections consisting of about 300-350 species [2,3].
