228 Fungal disease Flashcards
Which sterol is found in fungal plasma membranes?
Ergosterol
Which polysaccharide is found in the cell walls of fungi?
Chitin
What is the benefit of having seperate cells/compartments in a fungi?
Damaged cells can be separated off and shed
What form are yeasts in when causing infection?
pseudohyphal
What substance do vacuoles produce which contributes to the fungal virulence?
Exoenzymes
What are: Histoplasmosis Coccidiomycosis Blastomycosis Paracoccidioidomycosis examples of?
‘True’ fungal pathogens usually associated with travel
What is the mortality rate in immunodeficient patients with invasive candidiasis?
30%
What is a Wood’s lamp used for?
To see the fluorescence of certain micro-organisms
What is hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
Mix of type 3 and 4 hypersensitivity reactions causing inflammation in the lungs
Why is KOH used to stain for fungi?
It dissolves everything but chitin so fungal cells are easily visualised
Which type of hypersensitivity reaction can cause formation of granulomas?
Type 4 - recruitment of macrophages by lymphocytes which become highly active causing cell damage with the products they release
What is released by the hyphae in a mycetoma causing haemoptysis?
Oxalic acid - causes erosion of bv’s
What is released by aspergillus and causes hepatocellular carcinoma in Asia?
Aflatoxin
What is a mycetoma?
Ball of fungus within an old cavitating lesion e.g. old TB/abscess
Which antifungals are used to treat invasive aspergillosis?
Amphotericin
Flucytosine