Kevin the Aspergillus makes his debut with the Genetics Society of America!

We are thrilled to announce that SciAnts is contributing Kevin the Aspergillus (one of our newest SciComm characters) to the marketing and promotion of the Genetics Society of America (GSA) and their 31st Fungal Genetics Conference (March 15-20 2022).  The GSA is an amazing non-profit organization, dedicated to furthering research in genetics and supporting scientists at all levels in their training.  Amongst their many contributions to the field, they organize international conferences, fostering a sense of community and facilitating scientific discussion.  We are happy and extraordinarily honored to support them in their efforts.

Meet Kevin:

Kevin is modeled to represent Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus found throughout the world recycling environmental carbon and nitrogen.  Outside of its key role in many ecosystems, it is also one of the most important pathogenic fungi in humans.  The condia (spores) grow in chains forming specialized stocks (conidiophores) and are eventually release into the air, spreading and to new fertile soils, and sometime inhaled by animals and humans.

Aspergillus is highly adaptable, with an ability to thrive in a relatively wide range of temperatures and pH.  This flexibility allows it to transition from an ecosystem helper to a pathogen in the respiratory tract of humans, making it an important fungus to investigate; both in for its unique biology and for its clinical relevance.