Aspergillus is among the economically most important fungal genera. Aspergillus species are used in the fermentation industry for the production of various enzymes, organic acids and pharmaceutically important compounds, and in Oriental food fermentations. At the same time, Aspergilli can cause opportunistic infections, and produce a range of secondary metabolites also known as mycotoxins which are harmful to humans and animals. Due to its importance in biotechnology, medicine and foods, Aspergilli are in the forefront of studies dealing with various aspects of fungi. This is well illustrated by the fact that projects aiming at sequencing the genomes of nine species are in progress. In this book, some aspects of the biology of this genus are covered, including the biotechnological importance of Aspergilli, their role in mycotoxin contamination of food products including grapes and coffee products, and implications of biodiversity of Aspergillus populations for agriculture. Among the clinical aspects, the role of Aspergilli in eye infections, the mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance and their molecular identification in the clinical setting are covered. Several chapters deal with the genomic aspects of Aspergilli, including the genomics of pigment biosynthesis, extracellular enzyme production, aflatoxin biosynthesis and the identification of genes taking part in sexual processes. Additional chapters cover the variability and inheritance of mycoviruses in Aspergilli and multilocus approaches are given to clarify the evolutionary history of the genus. Finally, a new taxonomic classification of the various Aspergillus sections is given based on multilocus sequence data.

Fungi research and knowledge grew rapidly following recent advances in genetics and genomics. This book synthesizes new knowledge with existing information to stimulate new scientific questions and propel fungal scientists on to the next stages of research. This book is a comprehensive guide on fungi, environmental sensing, genetics, genomics, interactions with microbes, plants, insects, and humans, technological applications, and natural product development.

In this book leading Aspergillus researchers review and summarise the most important aspects of Aspergillus molecular biology and genomics. The book opens with a fascinating overview of the genus Aspergillus. This is followed by in-depth reviews of the Aspergillus molecular systematics, comparative genomics, bioinformatics and systems biology of Aspergillus, transcriptional regulation, genetics and genomics of sexual development of A. nidulans, genomics and secondary metabolism, ecology, development and gene regulation in A. flavus, functional systems biology, and novel industrial applications.

Due to its importance in biotechnology, medicine and foods, Aspergilli are in the forefront of studies dealing with various aspects of fungi.

In our view, the First International Penicillium and Aspergillus Workshop held in Baarn and Amsterdam in May, 1985, was a great success. The assembly in one place of so many specialists in these two genera produced both interesting viewpoints and lively discussions. But more particularly, a remarkable cohesion of ideas emerged, borne primarily of the realisation that taxonomy has passed from the hands of the solitary morphologist. The future of taxonomy lay in collaborative and multidisciplinary studies embracing morphology, physiology and newer methodologies. Penicillium and Aspergillus Workshop was borne logically The Second International from the first, and was held in Baarn on May 8-12, 1989. It was attended by 38 scientists from 16 countries. At this Workshop we have attempted to move further into new methods, especially by bringing together molecular biologists, medical and food mycologists and biochemists as well as more traditional taxonomists. We feel that the meeting contributed greatly to dialogue between taxonomists, and also fundamental and applied mycologists. At the meeting, we became aware that the approach to taxonomy of these genera is now becoming more pragmatic, with an increasing emphasis on consensus, and on stability of names. This is a noteworthy development, which we, as editors, welcome. So many species in Penicillium and Aspergillus are economically important in biotechnology, foods and medicine, and practical, stable taxonomy is of vital importance. These Proceedings comprise 40 papers divided into 9 chapters.

Spirochetes comprise a fascinating group of bacteria. Although diverse in terms of their habitat, ecology and infectivity for vertebrate and non-vertebrate hosts, they are often considered together because of their similar cellular morphologies. This volume brings together an international group of experts to provide essential insights into spirochete biology, with an emphasis on recent advances made possible by the availability of genome sequences. As such, it offers a valuable resource for microbiologists and other scientists with an interest in spirochete biology.

Frank E. Zachos offers a comprehensive review of one of today’s most important and contentious issues in biology: the species problem. After setting the stage with key background information on the topic, the book provides a brief history of species concepts from antiquity to the Modern Synthesis, followed by a discussion of the ontological status of species with a focus on the individuality thesis and potential means of reconciling it with other philosophical approaches. More than 30 different species concepts found in the literature are presented in an annotated list, and the most important ones, including the Biological, Genetic, Evolutionary and different versions of the Phylogenetic Species Concept, are discussed in more detail. Specific questions addressed include the problem of asexual and prokaryotic species, intraspecific categories like subspecies and Evolutionarily Significant Units, and a potential solution to the species problem based on a hierarchical approach that distinguishes between ontological and operational species concepts. A full chapter is dedicated to the challenge of delimiting species by means of a discrete taxonomy in a continuous world of inherently fuzzy boundaries. Further, the book outlines the practical ramifications for ecology and evolutionary biology of how we define the species category, highlighting the danger of an apples and oranges problem if what we subsume under the same name (“species”) is in actuality a variety of different entities. A succinct summary chapter, glossary and annotated list of references round out the coverage, making the book essential reading for all biologists looking for an accessible introduction to the historical, philosophical and practical dimensions of the species problem.