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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Histological Quantification to Determine Lung Fungal Burden in Experimental Aspergillosis
Published on: March 9, 2018
Metabolomics of Aspergillus fumigatus
Jens C Frisvad1, Christian Rank, Kristian F Nielsen
1Center for Microbial Biotechnology, DTU Biosys, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. jcf@bio.dtu.dk
Abstract:
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important species in Aspergillus causing infective lung diseases. This species has been reported to produce a large number of extrolites, including secondary metabolites, acids, and proteins such as hydrophobins and extracellular enzymes. At least 226 potentially bioactive secondary metabolites have been reported from A. fumigatus that can be ordered into 24 biosynthetic families. Of these families we have detected representatives from the following families of secondary metabolites: fumigatins, fumigaclavines, fumiquinazolines, trypacidin and monomethylsulochrin, fumagillins, gliotoxins, pseurotins, chloroanthraquinones, fumitremorgins, verruculogen, helvolic acids, and pyripyropenes by HPLC with diode array detection and mass spectrometric detection. There is still doubt whether A. fumigatus can produce tryptoquivalins, but all isolates produce the related fumiquinazolines. We also tentatively detected sphingofungins in A. fumigatus Af293 and in an isolate of A. lentulus. The sphingofungins may have a similar role as the toxic fumonisins, found in A. niger. A further number of mycotoxins, including ochratoxin A, and other secondary metabolites have been reported from A. fumigatus, but in those cases either the fungus or its metabolite appear to be misidentified.
Insights
Aspergillus fumigatus produces numerous bioactive secondary metabolites, including fumigatins and gliotoxins. Researchers identified 12 families of these extrolites using advanced detection methods.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Biochemistry
- Medical Microbiology
Background:
- Aspergillus fumigatus is a significant fungal pathogen causing lung infections.
- This fungus produces a wide array of extrolites, including secondary metabolites, acids, and proteins.
- Over 226 potentially bioactive secondary metabolites have been identified in A. fumigatus, categorized into 24 biosynthetic families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus fumigatus.
- To investigate the presence of specific extrolite families within A. fumigatus isolates.
- To compare extrolite profiles between A. fumigatus and related species like Aspergillus lentulus.
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection.
- Mass spectrometry (MS) for metabolite identification.
- Analysis of extrolite profiles from A. fumigatus and A. lentulus isolates.
Main Results:
- Representatives from 12 secondary metabolite families were detected in A. fumigatus.
- Detected families include fumigatins, fumigaclavines, fumiquinazolines, gliotoxins, and others.
- Sphingofungins were tentatively detected in A. fumigatus and A. lentulus, potentially similar to fumonisins.
Conclusions:
- Aspergillus fumigatus produces a diverse range of secondary metabolites, confirming the presence of 12 known biosynthetic families.
- The study provides evidence for the production of fumiquinazolines by all isolates, with potential detection of sphingofungins.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role and production of certain metabolites like sphingofungins and to confirm previously reported but potentially misidentified mycotoxins.
