Sporulation in saprotrophic and clinical strains of Aspergillus sydowii (Bain. & Sart.) Thom & Church under various environmental conditions

Molecular genetic characteristics and capacity for sporulation under different levels of temperature and humidity were compared for three saprotrophic and four clinical strains of A. sydowii. Analysis of the ITS and D1/D2 loci of these A. sydowii strains revealed two clades, each including both the clinical and saprotrophic strains. The differences in sporulation in the saprotrophic and clinical strains of the potentially pathogenic microscopic fungus A. sydowii under different environmental conditions were demonstrated. In the clinical A. sydowii strains, the level of spore formation was generally higher, especially at humidity levels of 0.90 and 0.95 a(w) and 20-25A degrees C. The level of spore formation for the clinical strains inoculated into sterile soil was several times higher than for the saprotrophic ones. On the contrary, nonsterile soils (sod-podzolic and urban soils) exhibited a fungistatic effect against A. sydowii populations.