Aspergillus candidus is a species frequently isolated from stored grain, food, indoor environments, soil and occasionally also from clinical material. Recent bioprospecting studies highlighted the potential of using A. candidus and its relatives in various industrial sectors as a result of their significant production of enzymes and bioactive compounds. A high genetic variability was observed among A. candidus isolates originating from various European countries and the USA, that were mostly isolated from indoor environments, caves and clinical material. The A. candidus sensu lato isolates were characterized by DNA sequencing of four genetic loci, and agreement between molecular species delimitation results, morphological characters and exometabolite spectra were studied. Classical phylogenetic methods (maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference) and species delimitation methods based on the multispecies coalescent model supported recognition of up to three species in A. candidus sensu lato. After evaluation of phenotypic data, a broader species concept was adopted, and only one new species, Aspergillus dobrogensis, was proposed. This species is represented by 22 strains originating from seven countries (ex-type strain CCF 4651T=NRRL 62821T=IBT 32697T=CBS 143370T) and its differentiation from A. candidus is relevant for bioprospecting studies because these species have different exometabolite profiles. Evaluation of the antifungal susceptibility of section Candidi members to six antifungals using the reference EUCAST method showed that all species have low minimum inhibitory concentrations for all tested antifungals. These results suggest applicability of a wide spectrum of antifungal agents for treatment of infections caused by species from section Candidi.

Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine Technical University of Denmark Kongens Lyngby Denmark

Department of Botany Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Clinical Medicine University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark

Department of Clinical Microbiology Rigshospitalet Copenhagen Denmark

EMSL Analytical Inc Cinnaminson New Jersey USA

Laboratório de Microbiologia Faculdade de Medicina de SãoJosé do Rio Preto São José do Rio Preto Brazil

Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague Czech Republic

Unit of Mycology Statens Serum Institut Copenhagen Denmark

Unitat de Micologia Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut IISPV Universitat Rovira i Virgili Reus Spain

Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute Utrecht The Netherlands

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