Aspergillus niger

A. niger, the black mold is a filamentous fungus mostly found on decaying plant materials, soil, icy grounds, marine and indoor enviroments. It plays important role in degradation and recycling of dead plant elements. It is both pathogenic and economically important fungus. As a pathogen it commonly causes ear and lungs infection in human and birds. It transmits into humans by inhalation of airborne conidia. As a economically important fungus, it plays a significant role for the industrial production of citric and gluconic acids, ?-amylase and glucose oxidase and many other enzymes.

Characteristics
Shape and Size
Conidiophores are 400-3000 µm long, terminating in a globose vesicle (30-75 µm in diameter). Conidia, 4-5 µm in diameter are very rough and globose and black in color.
Genome Information
Aspergillus niger ASM285v2, RefSeq NC_007445.1, circular DNA, Size 0.031103 Mb, GC% 26.9, Protein 16, rRNA 2, tRNA 25, Gene 43 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/NC_007445.1
Food Source
contaminated water
Pathological Factor
3-nitropropionic acid and ochratoxin A are two mycotoxins produced bt the fungi. Ochratoxin-A (OTA) is a fungal metabolite with potential toxic effects on the central nervous system.
Disease
invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, otomycosis
Symptoms
Lung disease, Fungal ear infection, Ear pain, Impaired hearing, Ear inflammation
Affected Body Organs
lungs, CNS,ear

Classification
Kingdom Fungi
Phylum Ascomycota
Subphylum Pezizomycotina
Class Eurotiomycetes
Order Eurotiales
Family Trichocomaceae
Genus Aspergillus
Species A. niger