Molecular methods for the identification of Aspergillus species.

Using molecular methods for Aspergillus species identification can be a cost-effective, rapid, discriminatory, and objective approach for delineating Aspergillus species in a clinical microbiology laboratory. Identification of Aspergillus to species level is important for therapeutic decision-making, since different species have variable susceptibilities to available antifungal drugs. Standardization of loci and methods, availability of appropriate guidelines for species definitions using sequence information, and robust sequence databases will make these technologies more conducive to use in a clinical microbiology laboratory. This book section focuses on utilization of molecular methods, specifically comparative sequence identification methods, for the identification of Aspergillus at the species level.