182 A MANUAL OF THE ASPERGILLI 



Antibiosis 



Working with a culture of Aspergillus flavipes from Thorn (No. 4303.46), 

 NRRL No. 287, White (1943) has recently demonstrated the production of 

 an antibacterial substance which in its action against Staphylococcus aureus 

 strongly resembles penicillin. The substance was produced in greatest 

 amount in a medium containing 5 to 10 percent corn steeping liquor as the 

 sole nutrient. The addition of sugar is reported as definitely deleterious. 



Occurrence and Economic Importance 



Members of the Aspergillus flavipes group like hose of the A. ustus, 

 versicolor, and terreus groups are cosmopolitan in distribution, and are 

 especially common in fertile soil and upon decaying vegetation. They are 

 not known to be active agents of decomposition but are capable of growing 

 in the presence of a limited amount of water, hence are probably significant 

 in initiating or continuing processes of decay where most micro-organisms 

 are incapable of growing. Little is known of the biochemical activities or 

 products of these forms. 



