Linking secondary metabolites to gene clusters through genome sequencing of six diverse species.

The fungal genus of is highly interesting, containing everything from industrial cell factories, model organisms, and human pathogens. In particular, this group has a prolific production of bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs). In this work, four diverse species (, , , and ) have been whole-genome PacBio sequenced to provide genetic references in three sections. and also were sequenced for SM elucidation. Thirteen genomes were analyzed with comparative genomics to determine phylogeny and genetic diversity, showing that each presented genome contains 15-27% genes not found in other sequenced Aspergilli. In particular, was compared with the pathogenic species This suggests that can produce most of the same allergens, virulence, and pathogenicity factors as , suggesting that could be as pathogenic as Furthermore, SMs were linked to gene clusters based on biological and chemical knowledge and analysis, genome sequences, and predictive algorithms. We thus identify putative SM clusters for aflatoxin, chlorflavonin, and ochrindol in , , and , respectively, and novofumigatonin, -cycloechinulin, and -aszonalenins in Our study delivers six fungal genomes, showing the large diversity found in the genus; highlights the potential for discovery of beneficial or harmful SMs; and supports reports of pathogenicity. It also shows how biological, biochemical, and genomic information can be combined to identify genes involved in the biosynthesis of specific SMs.