title: Potential of Aspergillus flavus genomics for applications in biotechnology.
abstract: Aspergillus flavus is a common saprophyte and opportunistic pathogen that produces numerous secondary metabolites. The primary objectives of the A. flavus genomics program are to reduce and eliminate aflatoxin contamination in food and feed and to discover genetic factors that contribute to plant and animal pathogenicity. A. flavus expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and whole-genome sequencing have been completed. Annotation of the A. flavus genome has revealed numerous genes and gene clusters that are potentially involved in the formation of aflatoxin and other secondary metabolites, as well as in the degradation of complex carbohydrate polymers. Analysis of putative secondary metabolism pathways might facilitate the discovery of new compounds with pharmaceutical properties, as well as new enzymes for biomass degradation.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS), Southern Regional Research Center, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124, USA. ed.cleveland@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cleveland
authors.forename: Jiujiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fedorova
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Nierman
authors.forename: Joan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000502:physiology*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D016681:Genome, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000639:trends*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins