72. PATHOGENIC FUNGI

Question 1

1. What can be said about 30% of Fungi?

Answer 1

• they are parasites
• or they are pathogenic
• they are mostly plant pathogens

SOME PLANT PATHOGENIC FUNGI:
- are also toxic to humans

Question 2

2. What are the 3 main groups of Pathogenic Fungi?

Answer 2

1. Pathogenic Zygomycetes
2. Pathogenic Ascomycetes
3. Pathogenic Basidiomycetes

Question 3

3. What do Pathogenic Zygomycetes cause in Humans?

Answer 3

• they cause skin and ear infections
• they can cause Bronchitis- Pneumonia

Question 4

4. What are 3 examples of Pathogenic Zygomycetes?

Answer 4

1. Genera Mucor
2. Rhizopus
3. Absidia

Question 5

5. What are the 2 main types of Pathogenic Ascomycetes?

Answer 5

1. Aspergillus Flavus
2. Claviceps Purpurea

Question 6

6. What does Aspergillus Flavus produce

Answer 6

• it produces Mycotoxins
  (such as Aflatoxins)

THESE INFECT:
- peanuts
- what

Question 7

7. What does Aflatoxin B1 cause in Human beings?

Answer 7

• it causes liver cancer
• this is due to p53 mutations

P53:
- this is a tumour suppressor Protein
- it induces Apoptosis
- this stops the cell cycle

Question 8

8. What does Claviceps Purpurea produce?

Answer 8

• it produces Ergotamine
• it produces Lysergic Acid
• these are the precursors for LSD Synthesis

THESE INFECT:
- cereals
- rye

Question 9

9. What do Ergotamine and Lysergic Acid cause in human beings?

Answer 9

• they cause Psychotropic Effects
• Convulsions
• Gangrene

Question 10

10. What are 2 examples of Psychotropic Effects?

Answer 10

• hallucinations
• temporary insanity

Question 11

11. What are the 3 main types of Pathogenic Basidiomycetes?

Answer 11

1. Amanita Phalloides
2. Amanita Muscaria
3. Psilocybe Cubensis

Question 12

12. What are Amanita Phalloides?

Answer 12

• these are poisonous mushrooms
• they contain lethal toxins

Question 13

13. What lethal toxins do the Amanita Phalloides contain?

Answer 13

• Phalloidin
• Amantin

Question 14

14. What effect does Alpha (⍺) Amantin have?

Answer 14

• it inhibits Eukaryotic RNA Polymerase II
• this stops the production of mRNA

Question 15

15. What effect does Phalloidin have?

Answer 15

• it inhibits F-actin Polymerisation

Question 16

16. What are the immediate effect in the human body after Amantin Phalloides have been induced?

Answer 16

• diarrhoea
• nausea

AN ANTI-TOXIN IS NEEDED URGENTLY:
- this ensures that the individual does not die

Question 17

17. How else are Amanita Muscaria and Psilocybe Cubensis called?

Answer 17

• they are called “Magic Mushrooms”

Question 18

18. What are Amanita Muscaria and Psilocybe Cubensis?

Answer 18

• these are Psychoactive mushrooms
• they cause hallucinations
• they have psychotropic effects