Aspergillus niger var. taxi, a new species variant of taxol-producing fungus isolated from Taxus cuspidata in China.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize and identify a new taxol-producing fungal strain HD86-9 isolated from Taxus cuspidata in China.


RESULTS
Taxol extracted from strain HD86-9 was identified by HPLC and MS analyses. Strain HD86-9 was cultured and its morphology and phenotypes were described. HD86-9 displayed morphology most similar to that of Aspergillus niger but presented differences in the shape and size of the conidia. The growth evaluation showed that the maximal tolerable temperature of the new strain was 43 degrees C, higher than that of the model Aspergillus niger. The 18S rDNA and the internal transcribed spacer region including the 5.8S rDNA of HD86-9 were amplified by PCR; molecular analysis of these sequences revealed their high similarity of 98% to those of Aspergillus niger.


CONCLUSIONS
The morphology and molecular analysis identified HD86-9 as a new variant of taxol-producing endophytic fungi, and it was named Aspergillus niger var. taxi D.P. Zhou, K. Zhao and W.X. Ping, var. nov.


CONCLUSIONS
As the first report of a taxol-producing variant of Aspergillus niger species, this study offers important information and a new resource for the production of an important anticancer drug by endofungus fermentation.
Zhao
K
K
Key Laboratory of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China.
Ping
W
W
Li
Q
Q
Hao
S
S
Zhao
L
L
Gao
T
T
Zhou
D
D
D001230:Aspergillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002681:China; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D025282:Mycelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020946:Taxus / Q000382:microbiology*
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D017239:Paclitaxel