Aspergillus
Conidial head of Aspergillus niger
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Phylum:	Ascomycota
Class:	Eurotiomycetes
Order:	Eurotiales
Family:	Trichocomaceae
Genus:	Aspergillus Micheli, 1729
Species
Several hundred,[1] including: Aspergillus aculeatus Aspergillus caesiellus Aspergillus candidus Aspergillus carneus Aspergillus clavatus Aspergillus deflectus Aspergillus egyptiacus Aspergillus fischerianus Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus glaucus Aspergillus nidulans Aspergillus niger Aspergillus ochraceus Aspergillus oryzae Aspergillus parasiticus Aspergillus penicilloides Aspergillus restrictus Aspergillus sojae Aspergillus sydowii Aspergillus tamari Aspergillus terreus Aspergillus ustus Aspergillus versicolor

Aspergillus (IPA: ˌæspəˈdʒɪləs) is a genus consisting of several hundred mold species found in various climates worldwide. Aspergillus was first catalogued in 1729 by the Italian priest and biologist Pier Antonio Micheli. Viewing the fungi under a microscope, Micheli was reminded of the shape of an aspergillum (holy water sprinkler), from Latin spargere (to sprinkle), and named the genus accordingly.^[2] Today "aspergillum" is also the name of an asexual spore-forming structure common to all Aspergilli; around one-third of species are also known to have a sexual stage.^[1]

Growth and distribution[link]

Aspergillus on a tomato in detail

Aspergillus species are highly aerobic and are found in almost all oxygen-rich environments, where they commonly grow as molds on the surface of a substrate, as a result of the high oxygen tension. Commonly, fungi grow on carbon-rich substrates such as monosaccharides (such as glucose) and polysaccharides (such as amylose). Aspergillus species are common contaminants of starchy foods (such as bread and potatoes), and grow in or on many plants and trees.

In addition to growth on carbon sources, many species of Aspergillus demonstrate oligotrophy where they are capable of growing in nutrient-depleted environments, or environments in which there is a complete lack of key nutrients. A. niger is a prime example of this; it can be found growing on damp walls, as a major component of mildew.

Commercial importance[link]

Various Penicillium, Aspergillus spp. (and some other fungi) growing in axenic culture.

Species of Aspergillus are important medically and commercially. Some species can cause infection in humans and other animals. Some infections found in animals have been studied for years. Some species found in animals have been described as new and specific to the investigated disease and others have been known as names already in use for organisms such as saprophytes. More than 60 Aspergillus species are medically relevant pathogens.^[3] For humans there are a range of diseases such as infection to the external ear, skin lesions, and ulcers classed as mycetomas.

Other species are important in commercial microbial fermentations. For example, alcoholic beverages such as Japanese sake are often made from rice or other starchy ingredients (like manioc), rather than from grapes or malted barley. Typical microorganisms used to make alcohol, such as yeasts of the genus Saccharomyces, cannot ferment these starches, and so koji mold such as Aspergillus oryzae is used to break down the starches into simpler sugars.

Members of the genus are also sources of natural products that can be used in the development of medications to treat human disease.^[4]

Perhaps the largest application of Aspergillus niger is as the major source of citric acid; this organism accounts for over 99% of global citric acid production, or more than 1.4 million tonnes per annum.^{[citation needed]} A. niger is also commonly used for the production of native and foreign enzymes, including glucose oxidase and hen egg white lysozyme. In these instances, the culture is rarely grown on a solid substrate, although this is still common practice in Japan, but is more often grown as a submerged culture in a bioreactor. In this way, the most important parameters can be strictly controlled, and maximal productivity can be achieved. It also makes it far easier to separate the chemical or enzyme of importance from the medium, and is therefore far more cost-effective.

Research[link]

Four 3-day old Aspergillus colonies. Clockwise from top-left: an A. nidulans laboratory strain; a similar strain with a mutation in the yA marker gene involved in green pigmentation; an A. oryzae strain used in soy fermentation; A. oryzae RIB40.

A scan of Aspergillus taken at 235 magnifications under a scanning electron microscope.

A. nidulans has been used as a research organism for many years and was used by Guido Pontecorvo to demonstrate parasexuality in fungi. Recently, A. nidulans was one of the pioneering organisms to have its genome sequenced by researchers at the Broad Institute. As of 2008, a further seven Aspergillus species have had their genomes sequenced: the industrially useful A. niger (two strains), A. oryzae and A. terreus, and the pathogens A. clavatus, A. fischerianus (Neosartorya fischeri), A. flavus and A. fumigatus (two strains).^[5] A. fischerianus is hardly ever pathogenic but is very closely related to the common pathogen A. fumigatus; it was sequenced in part to better understand A. fumigatus pathogenicity.^[6]

Genomics[link]

The simultaneous publication of three Aspergillus genome manuscripts in Nature in December 2005 established Aspergillus as the leading filamentous fungal genus for comparative genomic studies. Like most major genome projects, these Aspergillus efforts were collaborations between a large sequencing centre and the respective community of scientists. For example, the Institute for Genome Research (TIGR) worked with the Aspergillus fumigatus community. A. nidulans was sequenced at the Broad Institute. A. oryzae was sequenced in Japan at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. The Joint Genome Institute ( JGI) of the Department of Energy has released sequence data for a citric acid-producing strain of A. niger. TIGR, now renamed the Venter Institute is currently spear-heading a project on the A. flavus genome.^[7]

Genome sizes for sequenced species of Aspergillus range from approximately 29.3 Mb for A. fumigatus to 37.1 Mb for A. oryzae while the numbers of predicted genes vary from approximately 9926 for A. fumigatus to approximately 12,071 for A. oryzae. The genome size of an enzyme producing strain of A. niger is of intermediate size at 33.9 Mb.^[2]

Pathogens[link]

Some Aspergillus species cause serious disease in humans and animals. The most common causing pathogenic species are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Aspergillus flavus produces aflatoxin which is both a toxin and a carcinogen, and which can contaminate foods such as nuts. The most common causing allergic disease are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus clavatus. Other species are important as agricultural pathogens. Aspergillus spp. cause disease on many grain crops, especially maize, and synthesize mycotoxins including aflatoxin.

Aspergillosis[link]

Pulmonary aspergillosis.

Aspergillosis is the group of diseases caused by Aspergillus. The most common subtype among paranasal sinus infections associated with aspergillosis is Aspergillus fumigatus.^[8] The symptoms include fever, cough, chest pain or breathlessness, which also occur in many other illnesses so diagnosis can be difficult. Usually, only patients with already weakened immune systems or who suffer other lung conditions are susceptible.

In humans, the major forms of disease are:

• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or ABPA, which affects patients with respiratory diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and sinusitis.
• Acute invasive aspergillosis, a form that grows into surrounding tissue, more common in those with weakened immune systems such as AIDS or chemotherapy patients.
• Disseminated invasive aspergillosis, an infection spread widely through the body.
• Aspergilloma, a "fungus ball" that can form within cavities such as the lung

Aspergillosis of the air passages is also frequently reported in birds, and certain species of Aspergillus have been known to infect insects.^[3]

See also[link]

Fungi portal

• Mycotoxin
• Sick building syndrome (SBS)
• Mold health issues

References[link]

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)

• Du C, Lin SK, Koutinas A, Wang R, Dorado P, Webb C. “A wheat biorefining strategy based on solid-state fermentation for fermentative production of succinic acid.” Bioresour Technol. 21 April 2008.
• Zirbes JM, Milla CE. “Steroid-Sparing effect of omalizumab for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and cystic fibrosis”. 23 April 2008; 43(6):607-610.

Asan A (2004, updated: 2011). Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Related Species Reported from Turkey. Mycotaxon. 89 (1): 155-157. Link: http://www.mycotaxon.com/resources/checklists/asan-v89-checklist.pdf

External links[link]

Wikispecies has information related to: Aspergillus

• Aspergillus Genome Resources (NIH)
• Aspergillus Comparative Database Comparative genomic resource at the Broad Institute
• Central Aspergillus Data Repository
• The Fungal Genetics Stock Center
• The Aspergillus/Aspergillosis Website An encyclopedia of Aspergillus for patients, doctors and scientists
• Aspergillus surveillance project at a large tertiary-care hospital. (PDF).
• The Aspergillus Genome Database
• Asan A (2004, updated: January 2011). Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Related Species Reported from Turkey. Mycotaxon. 89 (1): 155-157. Link: http://www.mycotaxon.com/resources/checklists/asan-v89-checklist.pdf

Sherrie Lea is a musician and a Marilyn Monroe look-alike.

Career[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (June 2011)

Lea is a songwriter and started a career as a member of the pop/rock duo Sulk. Along with her musician/songwriting partner, she released two self-produced albums and one EP from 1996 to 2001. She and Blair Halloran took first place honors in Toronto Mix 99 FM's annual songwriting contest in 1999. In 2000, Sulk released Only You with Hi-Bias Records, also releasing the single of the same name.

In 2001, Lea embarked on a solo career as she was signed by Nick Fiorucci and Hi-Bias Records. She continued with her solo career and chose her first single, "No Ordinary Love".

Lea's "Over My Head" was co-written with Bryan Adams' and on the Women and Songs (Volume 7) compilation from Warner Music Canada.

In 2005, Lea released her debut album Spellbound, with her first single "No Ordinary Love".

Attempts to document Lea as being the reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe biometrically[link]

Lea experienced years of inexplicable flashbacks and suicidal feelings involving a long history of memories of suffering and psychological distress. She underwent eight years of psychiatric treatment with noted psychiatrist, past life regression expert and author Dr. Adrian Finkelstein. Finkelstein publicly^[1] claimed that Humanitarian Lea is a reincarnation of Marliyn Monroe.

Aside from widely accepted psychiatric and hypnotherapy techniques employed by Finkelstein, used by Scientists, FBI and Military, his extensive and rigorous evaluation included additional methods developed by independent scholar Paul Von Ward.^[2][3] Five distinct scientific determinants were used to support Finkelstein's conclusion that Lea is a reincarnation of Marilyn Monroe. These include: (1) Genotype/Phenotype which address the physical similarities; (2) Cognitive Cerebrotypes, addressing sensor/intuitive and thinker /feeler and IQ; (3) Emotional Egotypes, referring to coping mechanisms with the environment; (4) Social Personatypes, describing how an individual relates to others; and (5) Behavioral Performatypes, pointing out an individual’s creative traits in work and play, including the choice of vocation, professions, hobbies.

The Genotype/Phenotype evaluations included Biometrical Facial Grid analysis which measures precise distances between facial features yielding a variance of only 1% between Lea and Monroe's faces. In other words, a FBI-sanctioned face recognition system would regard Lea and Monroe as one and the same person. A match with an overall 1% variance between two faces is statistically so improbable, that no explanation other than something like reincarnation could account for the similarities, not even the fact that there are vested interests at stake.^[4]

Other elements used in Finkelstein's evaluation include synchronicities ("coincidences,") and recorded or video-taped proceedings of regression therapy, where Lea is found to recall personal and private information about Monroe that could not have been fabricated. Lea's hypnotic regression to the time of her possible death as Monroe was videotaped and widely circulated.^[5][6][7][8] In Finkelstein's professional opinion and Lea's own testimony, through hypnosis, Lea was healed of the symptoms and disturbances which had plagued her. Lea was born eleven months after Marilyn Monroe's death.

Finkelstein published a detailed account of the therapeutic proceedings including many pertinent details in his book, Marilyn Monroe Returns: The Healing of a Soul.^[4] Lea's case became a matter of public interest and many television shows and network broadcasts were dedicated to her story. Lea's case was also included in the Reincarnation based website authored by Walter Semkiw,^[9] who is the author of a book with extensive reincarnation histories of famous people such as George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Oprah Winfrey and other notable people.^[10]

References[link]

1. ^ "Past Lives and Self-Healing with Adrian Finkelstein, M.D. | Author of Marilyn Monroe Returns". Marilynmonroereincarnated.net. http://www.marilynmonroereincarnated.net/. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
2. ^ The Soul Genome: Science and Reincarnation Fenestra Books; 1st edition (March 15, 2008) ISBN 1-58736-995-8
3. ^ "Paul Von Ward". Reincarnation Experiment. http://www.reincarnationexperiment.org. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Adrian Finkelstein: Marilyn Monroe Returns: The Healing of a Soul. Hampton Roads Publishing, ISBN 1-57174-484-3
5. ^ CNN Showbiz Tonight with Brooke Anderson
6. ^ "Have You Had A Past Life?" KTTV FOX 11, myfoxla.com, Feb 11 2010.
7. ^ Geraldo Rivera, Geraldo at Large, Fox News Cable, August 5, 2007
8. ^ "Sherrie Lea is Marilyn Monroe Reincarnated". YouTube. 2006-09-01. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAC3r81cVLU. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
9. ^ Walter Semkiw, M.D.. "Marilyn Monroe - Sherrie Lea Laird". Johnadams.net. http://www.johnadams.net/cases/samples/Monroe-Laird/index.html. Retrieved 2012-01-01. 
10. ^ Return of the Revolutionaries: The Case for Reincarnation and Soul Groups Reunited, 2003, ISBN 1-57174-342-1

External links[link]

• dailyrecord.co.uk ("Someone tell her Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Who Aren't Nuts.")
• latimes.com ("many will find the claim outlandish")