Sketchy Microbiology: Aspergillus Fumigatus

Asparagus Farm — Aspergillus Fumigatus

Cat — Catalase Positive

Peanut plant – Peanuts are associated with aflatoxins produced by Aspergillus Flavus

Wheat field – Aflatoxins (produced by Aspergillus Flava) is associates with grain

Cow with liver and Crab on the tractor — Aspergillus can cause Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Plant has acute angles and Septations – Aspergillus hyphe form Acute Branching with septations
(A)cute / (S)eptate ←→ (A)(S)pergillus

Fruiting bodies on the peanut plant — Condiophores with fruiting bodies (its what’s inhaled by humans)

What are the 3 types of Infections Aspergillus can cause?

1. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillus (ABPA)

2. Aspergillomas (in lung)

3. Angioinvasive Aspergillosis

Crop duster with Sweaty, migrant farmer running with inhaler — Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillus (ABPA), causes wheezing, fever, and migratory pulmonary infiltrate.

Inhaler says IgE on it — Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillus (ABPA) is a Type I hypersensitivity, IgE response

Coughing farmer w/ TB Cactus – Susceptibility increases with TB cavities. Aspergillosis causes Aspergillomas

Peanuts under ground — Aspergillomas are gravity dependent; so fungus balls will be at the bottom of the cavity (in lung)

Farmer w/ immunocompromised cane – Angioinvasive aspergillosis in patients with neutropenia from leukemia or lymphoma

Red sprinkler system — Angioinvasive aspergillosis invades blood vessels and the surrounding tissues

Scarecrow with a straw heart, kidneys, and black dots on head, black dot on nose – Angioinvasive aspergillosis can cause kidney failure, endocarditis, ring enhancing lesions in the brain. It also invades nasal sinus

Pine cones and vortex – treat with Voriconazole for less serious infections

(Vortex - Voricon / Pine Cone - Azole)

Frogs – Amphotericin B for angioinvasive disease