Penicillium purpurogenum

This is another example of a Penicillium with a worldwide distribution in soils. This species also occurs on foods, plants and occasionally on optical lenses. P. purpurogenum tends to grow in environments with low pH (acidic). A mycotoxin, known as rubratoxin, can be produced when growth occurs on foods. P. purpurogenum is not currently recognized as a pathogen, but it has caused a few pulmonary infections in humans and a systemic infection in a dog.