Aspergilli: Systems biology and industrial applications

Aspergilli are widely used as cell factories for the production of food ingredients, enzymes and antibiotics. Traditionally, improvement of these cell factories has been done using classical methods, that is, random mutagenesis and screening; however, advances in methods for performing directed genetic modifications has enabled the use of metabolic engineering strategies. Genome sequencing of Aspergilli was originally trailing behind developments in the field of bacteria and yeasts, but with the recent availability of genome sequences for several industrially relevant Aspergilli, it has become possible to implement systems biology tools to advance metabolic engineering. These tools include genome-wide transcription analysis and genome-scale metabolic models. Herein, we review achievements in the field and highlight the impact of Aspergillus systems biology on industrial biotechnology.