Aspergillus Diseases E-mail Discussion Group
Frequently Asked Questions
What's good about Aspergillus?
All of the members of the Aspergillus E-mail discussion group know what's bad about Aspergillus, but the Aspergillus fungi also have lots of benefits to mankind that you may not know about. This page is dedicated to the good side of our much maligned bug.
- Aspergillus fungi are are major agents of decomposition and decay and are responsible for recycling nutrients, without them we would experience a massive build up of rubbish.
- Aspergillus nidulans is a simple organism that is easy to grow and is used by scientists for a lot of basic research into cell function including cancer research.
- Several Aspergillus fungi have been used by man for at least 3000 years to produce fermented foods such as soy sauce and miso. More recently Aspergillus niger fermentations have been used to produce citric acid.
- Many Aspergillus enzymes are used in the food, brewing and textile industries.
- Recent research suggests that Aspergillus fungi could be used to remove toxic and radioactive metals from the environment.