Aspergillus sydowii is an interesting case of a species that, triggered by a change of habitat, simultaneously assumes a different biological function/biological niche. In the terrestrial environment, Aspergillus sydowii is considered a saprophyte, i.e. a decomposer of complex organic substances. In the marine habitat, however, the species becomes a parasite of corals of the genus Gorgonia. The spores of Aspergillus sydowii are probably introduced from the terrestrial environment via soil erosion and reach the sea, where they can infect the algae.

It is well known that molds are among the most important organisms on earth, as they play a role in almost all material cycles. But today we would like to use the example of Cladosporium sphaerospermum to look at two very special areas of application for molds. Mold as an environmental protector and molds on the ISS in space.

The genus Chaetomium provides an outstanding example to illustrate central concepts of microbiology. It differs significantly from other mold genera such as Penicillium or Aspergillus - especially due to its unique reproductive structures and potential applications in biotechnology.

The precise and reliable analysis of microbial contamination is a decisive factor in building diagnostics and material testing. The GBA Group is setting new standards in microbiological analysis with state-of-the-art methods and a constantly growing laboratory capacity.

The mold species was first described in 1901 in the “Annales de la Société Scientifique de Bruxelles” by Dierckx. To this day, and significantly in the period before the Internet, the species Penicillium citreonigrum has been described under four other species names.
As Penicillium citreonigrum is not described as having an increased water requirement, the species is not one of the recognized indoor humidity indicators.