Characterization of Aspergillus sydowii (Thom et Church), a fungal pathogen of Caribbean sea fan corals
Alker, A.P.; Smith, G.W.; Kim, K. (2001). Characterization of Aspergillus sydowii (Thom et Church), a fungal pathogen of Caribbean sea fan corals, in: Porter, J.W. (Ed.) The ecology and ethiology of newly emerging marine diseases. Developments in Hydrobiology, 159: pp. 105-111. dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1013145524136
In: Porter, J.W. (Ed.) (2001). The ecology and etiology of newly emerging marine diseases. Reprinted from Hydrobiologia 460. Developments in Hydrobiology, 159. Springer Science+Business Media: Dordrecht. ISBN 978-90-481-5930-7; e-ISBN 978-94-017-3284-0. xvi, 228 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-3284-0, more
In: Dumont, H.J. (Ed.) Developments in Hydrobiology. Kluwer Academic/Springer: The Hague; London; Boston; Dordrecht. ISSN 0167-8418, more
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| Keywords |
Diseases
Eukaryotes > Fungi > Eumycota > Deuteromycotina > Aspergillus > Aspergillus sydowii
Growth rate
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Alker, A.P.
- Smith, G.W.
- Kim, K.
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| Abstract |
In the Caribbean, the fungus Aspergillus sydowii is currently causing an epizootic among sea fan corals (Gorgonia spp.). To elucidate potential factors that may have facilitated the emergence of this disease, we characterized and compared temperature requirements, susceptibility to coral crude extracts, and metabolic profiles of pathogenic (marine) and non-pathogenic (terrestrial) strains of A. sydowii. Growth of all A. sydowii strains were observed at all temperatures tested (22–36 °C) with an optimum of approximately 30 °C. Sea fan crude extracts inhibited growth of A. sydowii but were less effective at higher temperatures. Thus, temperature is likely to have a strong influence on the dynamics of the Gorgonia–Aspergillus interaction by promoting the growth of the pathogen while reducing the efficacy of host resistance. Metabolically, marine A. sydowii strains pathogenic to sea fans were distinct from non-pathogenic terrestrial strains. |
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