Aspergillus flavus

Known for producing the carcinogen aflatoxin, Aspergillus flavus, can also produce Aspergillosis in immune compromised individuals. It is considered a plant, animal and human pathogen.

The organism is characterised by a lime green growth in culture with a rough stipe and variable head shape.  The younger heads my have only one set of supporting structures for the conidia (uniserate) where older heads will have both phialides and metulae (biserrate). 

The spores are unremarkable in appearance and would be classified as Asp/Pen like on an Air-O-Cell cassette sample.



The rough stipe of Aspergillus flavus growing in culture 400x - N. Carlson

Aspergillus flavus on a culture plate - N. Carlson

Aspergillus flavus 400x  heads can be biserrate and sometimes uniserrate- N. Carlson