39 Mycology Flashcards
Define saprophytic
Eats dead/decaying matter
What is unique about fungal digestion?
Extracellular digestion and then nutrients absorbed
What are conidia?
A spore produced asexually at the tip of a specialized hyphae
____ is the unicellular form of fungus.
Yeast
____ and ______ are the multicellular forms of fungus.
Mold and mushrooms
What kind of environment do fungi prefer? (pH and temp)
Acidic pH (5ish) and about 25C
Most fungi are ____ (aerobic/anaerobic).
Aerobic
What is mycelium?
The growing form of mold
What does it mean if a fungus is dimorphic?
Both a yeast and mold form
Define dematiaceous.
Fungus w/ dark pigment
Define hyaline.
Non-pigmented fungus
Conidia are produced _____ (sexually/asexually).
Asexually
What is a conidiophore/sporangiophore?
Stalklike structure containing conidia
What triggers dimorphic fungi to switch from the mycelial form to yeast?
Temperature increase
List the 3 mechanisms of asexual fungus reproduction.
-Sporulation and germination of spores
-Fragmentation of hyphae (arthroconidia)
-Budding of yeast
What is the capsule of fungi made of?
Polysaccharides
What is the function of the capsule?
-Aid in adherance/clumping
-Can be antigenic or anti-phagocytic
Fungal cell walls are made of _____
Chitin
Fungal cell walls have beta glucans; what are beta glucans used for in both human/vet med?
Immunostimulants, vaccine adjuvants
What are the sterols found in the cytoplasmic membrane of fungi?
Ergosterol and zymosterol
Why is amphotericin B an effective antifungal?
Greater affinity for fungal sterols than mammalian cholesterol
Immunity to fungal disease is mainly ______ (cellular/humoral).
Cellular
Fungi typically produce _______ lesions.
Granulomatous
What is a dermatomycoses?
Opportunistic infection of skin or muco-cutaneous junctions from fungal overgrowth
What are dermatophytes?
Molds that only parasitize keratinized epidermal structures (no systemic dz)
What yeast is commonly responsible for otitis externa and dermtitis in dogs?
Malassezia pachydermatis
What yeast is part of the normal flora of mammals and birds?
Candida albicans
What fungus is found in dolphins?
Lobomycosis
What fungus is linked to a worldwide decline in amphibian populations?
Chytridiomycosis
What animal is affected by white nose syndrome?
Bats
What fungus is associated with disease in snakes?
Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola
