Aspergillus niger is a fungus responsible for food spoilage and can cause ear infections in healthy people. It is often confused with toxic black mold, but is mainly a plant pathogen. It is used industrially to produce enzymes and can produce mycotoxins under certain conditions. It is a common food contaminant and can be harmful to those with compromised immune systems.
Aspergillus niger is a widely distributed filamentous fungus responsible for the spoilage of many foods. There are some cases where it has caused disease in humans, but it is mainly a plant pathogen. This fungus is often found indoors and grows as black colonies. Known as black mold, it is often confused with the toxic black mold, Stachybotrys chartarum, which can infest water-damaged homes and cause severe symptoms in people.
Black mold is always present in soil and decaying plant matter, such as compost heaps. Its spores are very common in the air. Healthy people can get sick with this fungus if they inhale a large number of spores at the same time. The resulting disease can be a type of pneumonia or an inflammation of the walls or air sacs in the walls of the lungs. This condition usually gets better after several weeks of rest and treatment. It is also possible to get aspergillosis, a more serious syndrome of lung conditions, from breathing in these spores.
People who are especially vulnerable to aspergillosis are those who have compromised immune systems. This may be due to illnesses, such as HIV infection. It can also come from medical treatments that suppress the immune system, such as those that prevent organ or bone marrow rejection. This disease, however, is usually caused by Aspergillus fumigatus.
One disease that Aspergillus niger frequently causes in healthy people is ear infection. This can cause pain and temporary hearing damage. Severe cases can cause damage to the ear canal and the tympanic membrane or eardrum.
This fungus is widely used industrially to produce a variety of organic compounds, including many types of enzymes. For example, it helps produce the enzymes pectinase, alpha-galactosidase, and glucose oxidase, among others. Large quantities of the fungus are typically grown in giant pots, known as fermenters, to produce a substantial amount of the desired product.
There have been some reports of asthma induced by this mushroom. In one case, a particular strain was used industrially to alter molasses, to produce citric acid. A number of the workers involved developed asthma. The factor causing the asthma appeared to be specific to the individual mushroom strain used.
There is some debate, but Aspergillus niger appears to produce compounds known as mycotoxins. These are fungal compounds that are toxic to humans and animals. They are produced by some strains under particular growth conditions.
Aspergillus niger is a common food contaminant. It can grow on a wide range of crops and is a particular problem for onions, both in storage and in the field. It also appears on preserved grains, such as wheat and rice, and legumes, such as soybeans and peanuts. In laboratory studies, mice and chicks died after being fed food contaminated with Aspergillus niger, such as moldy soybeans, which presumably contained mycotoxins. Human food that is known to be prone to mycotoxin contamination is usually screened for its presence to ensure public safety.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
