Species Diversity and Distribution of Non-fumigatus Aspergillus Species in Ogasawara Islands, Japan

A study on the Ogasawara Islands reveals that soil environments significantly influence the distribution of non-fumigatus Aspergillus species, including sections Flavi, Nigri, and Terrei. Researchers isolated 172 strains from 18 sites across three islands—Mukojima, Hahajima, and Chichijima—and identified seven section Flavi, five section Nigri, and three section Terrei species using calmodulin gene sequencing. Notably, Aspergillus tamarii, A. nomiae, A. niger, and A. tubingensis were dominant in forests (>60% frequency), while A. floccosus prevailed in bare land and grassland (>40%). A. pseudonomiae exhibited high occurrence across landscapes. The findings mirror previous observations for section Fumigati, suggesting environmental factors shape the dominance of these pathogenic fungi.

Tachikawa, R., Hagiuda, R., & Hirose, D. (2025). Species Diversity and Distribution of Non-fumigatus Aspergillus Species in Ogasawara Islands, Japan. Medical Mycology Journal, 66(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.3314/mmj.24-00017