1) Aspergillus and Penicillium are two genera of fungi that can be distinguished based on their conidiophore structure and growth pattern. Aspergillus has an aseptate, unbranched conidiophore that arises from a specialized foot cell, whereas Penicillium has a septate, branched conidiophore that arises directly from hyphae. 2) Aspergillus and Penicillium can cause diseases in humans, such as aspergillosis caused by the inhalation of Aspergillus spores, which commonly infects the lungs. Penicillium is known for producing antibiotics that are effective against gram-positive bacteria. 3) Major diseases from each

1. Aspergillus and Penicillium
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
(Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-3)
Kullapuram (Po),ViaVaigai Dam, Theni-625 562
STUDENTS
Miss. RUPIKA.S
COURSE TEACHER
Dr. PARTHASARATHY.S
Asst. Professor (Plant Pathology)Mr. GOWTHAM.M

2. Aspergillus Penicillium
 The conidiophore is aseptate
and unbranched.
 Conidiophore is long
slender septate and
branched.
 Conidiophore arises from a
specialized T shaped thick
walled foot cell.
 Conidiophore arises from
any vegetative cell of the
mycelium.
 There are no foot cell.
 Conidiophore enlarges into a
vesicle at its tip bears the
finger like sterigmata. The
structure forms a spherical
head.
 The conidiophore ends in a
whorl of branches which gives a
broom like appearance.

3. Aspergillus Penicillium
 The peridium is quite soft.  The peridium of
cleistothecium is thicker and
generally consists of loosely
interwoven hyphae.
 Ascogonium: A small
loosely coiled septate hyphal
branch (latter becomes tight
and close). The archicarp
arises from the vegetative
hyphae.
 A long erect, multinucleate
(32-64) aseptate tubular
structures. At times the upper
end of the ascogonium may
be curved like the handle of
the umbrella.
 Many Aspergillus sp. causes
disease known as
Aspergillosis which affects
lungs.
 Penicillium produces
antibiotics that are effective
against gram positive
bacteria.

4. Aspergillus and Penicillium

5. Aspergillus sp.
• Aspergillus flavus – Aflatoxin

6. Aspergillus niger – Black mold in onion

7. Aspergillus fumigatus

8. Penicillium sp.
• Penicillium chrysogenum

9. Penicillium roqueforti

10. Penicillium notatum

11. Major diseases caused by Aspergillus sp.
 Aspergillosis is the disease caused by infection by
the fungi of the genus Aspergillus.
 Occurs in people with underlying illness such as
tuberculosis or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD).
 People with deficient immune systems - such as
patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation, Chemotherapy for leukaemia or
AIDS - are at the risk of more disseminated diseases.
 The most frequently identified pathogen is
Aspergillus fumigatus - a ubiquitous organism that is
capable of living under extreme environmental stress.

12. Contd…
Signs and Symptoms:
Fever and chills, A cough that brings up blood
(hemoptysis), shortness of breath, chest or joint pain,
Headaches or eye symptoms, Skin lesions.
Treatment:
The most effective treatment ia a newer
antifungal drug, voriconazole, Amphotericin B etc.,
This disease mostly infect lungs and can
infect major organs such as heart and kidneys.

13. Aspergillosis – Aspergillus fumigatus

14. Major diseases caused by Penicillium sp.
Talaromycosis (formerly Penicilliosis)
Penicilliosis is an infection caused by
Penicillium marneffei, a dimorphic fungus
endemic to Southeast Asia and the southern
part of China.
It is the 3rd most common opportunistic
infection in HIV - positive individuals.
Human – to - Human transmission does not
occur.
Dissemination of infection occurs through the
lymphatics or hematogenously.

15. Contd…
Symptoms:
Common symptoms include fever, sweats, skin
lesions - often papules with central umbilication or
nodules, but a wide range of skin eruptions are possible.
Diagnosis:
It is often made by bone marrow examination or
skin biopsy, and less reliably from blood cultures.
Treatment:
Consists of amphotericin B followed by
itraconazole.

16. Penicilliosis – Penicillium marneffei

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