11.10 Medical Mycology & Parasitology

Question 1

Why are fungi considered very similar to plants?

Answer 1

• They aren’t
• They’re closer to animals than plants

Question 2

Are fungi heterotrophs or autotrophs?

Answer 2

Heterotrophs (rely on other organisms for nutrients)

Question 3

Are fungi eukaryotes or prokaroytes?

Answer 3

Eukaryotes

Question 4

What structural difference causes antibiotics to be ineffective on fungi?

Answer 4

Difference in cell wall structure

Question 5

What is the name of the filaments made of multicellular fungi?

Answer 5

Hyphae

Question 6

is a mass of hyphae called?

Answer 6

Mould/mycelium

Question 7

How do moulds typically reproduce?

Answer 7

Producing spores (this gives them their fuzzy appearance)

Question 8

What are yeasts?

Answer 8

Fungi that are unicellular through their life cycle

Question 9

How do yeast reproduce?

Answer 9

Budding off other yeast cells

Question 10

Septate vs aseptate hyphae

Answer 10

Septate: separate cells
Aseptate: fungi contain all cell components in undivided mass of cytoplasm

Think: septum -> border

Question 11

Describe superficial mycosis

Answer 11

• Infection of dead skin and hair
• No living tissue invasion
• No immune response

Question 12

Describe cutaneous mycosis

Answer 12

• Infection of skin, nails, mucosa
• Minimal invasion of living tissue
• Does elicit host immune response

Question 13

Describe subcutaneous mycosis

Answer 13

• Infection of skin, muscle, fascia or lymphatic system
• Usually due to traumatic injury

Question 14

What fungi often causes subcutaneous infection?

Answer 14

Zygomycete fungi

Question 15

Describe systemic mycosis

Answer 15

• Invasive disseminated infections (multi-organ)
• Often acquired by inhalation (e.g. opportunistic fungi)
• Could also be hospital acquired
• High mortality

Question 16

What is a parasite?

Answer 16

Organism that resides on or in another living organism in order to gain nutrients for growth and reproduction

Question 17

Is parasitism the same as disease?

Answer 17

No; doesn’t have to result in disease

Question 18

Why would you want to be an intracellular parasite?

Answer 18

• Free food/transport
• Relatively sheltered from predators
• Constant environment

Question 19

Why would you not want to be an intracellular parasite?

Answer 19

• Immune system may kill you
• If the host dies, you may die
• Need an escape plan

Question 20

Facultative vs obligate intracellular parasites

Answer 20

Facultative: can reproduce outside host cell
Obligate: cannot reproduce outside host cell