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Abstract
Aspergillus terreus has a worldwide distribution in soil, constitutes the third most important cause of invasive aspergillosis in humans and is classically regarded as a strictly asexual species. Strains of A. terreus were characterized by ITS, β-tubulin and calmodulin sequences. Mating type was identified by amplifying and sequencing MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genes. One MAT1-2 strain produced hyphal masses when crossed with four MAT1-1 strains on mixed cereal agar after 3 wk at 37 C. Cleistothecia formed inside the hyphal masses and produced asci containing smooth-walled ascospores with an equatorial protuberance. This is the first report of sexual reproduction in A. terreus.
Acknowledgments
We thank Dr Dimitrios Papageorgiou and Dr Penny Pipilikaki of Group R & D and Quality Department, Titan Cement Co. S.A., Kamari, Greece, for assistance with SEM; Mr James Swezey, ARS Culture Collection (NRRL), Peoria, Illinois, for the kind donation of reference strains; Afroditi Milioni, Stavroula Kritikou and Eirini Ilia for technical assistance; Dr G. Tzanakaki and Dr C. Kessanopoulos, National Reference Laboratory for Meningococcal Disease, School of Public Health, Athens, Greece, for collaborating on the MLST analysis; and Gus and Tina Dimitropoulos of New Berlin, Wisconsin, for the kind donation of Gerber mixed-grain cereal, which is not available in Athens. This work was supported by SARG K.A. 70/4/5905 and 70/ 3/6915, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Bodosakis Foundation, Athens, Greece.