Secondary metabolites (sometimes referred to as extrolites) are natural products synthesised by fungi, bacteria and plants. They are not directly required for the growth and development of the organism, but their function instead is to provide biological advantages for its survival and reproduction. For instance, the antibiotic penicillin is a secondary metabolite produced by the fungi Penicillium; Alexander Fleming famously identified the substance’s bactericidal effect when he discovered mould contaminating and killing Staphylococcus aureus on petri dishes he had been working on.

These low-weight molecules can display a vast range of biological activities, and often have beneficial applications in industries from pharmaceutics to agriculture. However, a sub-group of fungal secondary metabolites, called mycotoxins, can be very harmful to human and animal health.

Aspergillus species produce a large number of secondary metabolites. We attempt to list them all below and collect any published literature on the subject (see bottom of page).

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Aspergillus Metabolites

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Metabolite Papers