Background Information

Question 1

Molds

Answer 1

Multicellular
Thread like filaments called hyphae that make up a mycelium, a network of hyphae.

Question 2

Yeast

Answer 2

Unicellular, pasty or mucoid circular colonies

Question 3

Hyphae Identification Methods

Answer 3

Shape
Septate or aseptate
Color: hyaline or dematiaceous

Question 4

Spectrum of Disease of Fungi

Answer 4

Superficial, cutaneous, mucosal (typically local)
Systemic (highly invasive)

Question 5

Innate Resistance to Fungi

Answer 5

Core temperature of the body, fungi are unable to adapt

Health immunocompetent individual: high innate resistance

Question 6

Polyenes

What is it? How do they work? Toxicity? Spectrum? Status?

Answer 6

Antifungal

Binds to ergosterol in fungi, produces ion channels and destroys the osmotic integrity of cell membrane and leads to leakage of the cell.

Toxic because it binds to cholesterol in mammalian cells, nephrotoxicity

Broad spectrum
Fungicidal

Question 7

Azoles

What is it? How do they work? Status?

Answer 7

Antifungal

Inhibit enzymes that convert lanosterol to ergosterol, disrupts membrane synthesis

Fungistatic in yeast and fungicidal in mold