Exam 2- Fungi Flashcards
What are fungi?
heterotrophic eukaryotes that acquire nutrition through absorption
What domain do fungi belong to?
the eukarya domain with plants, animals, & protists (not bacteria)
What does heterotrophic mean?
unable to fix carbon
What does absorptive nutrition mean?
enzymes breakdown larger molecules into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the fungus
How do most fungi grow?
as hyphae
What do fungi usually produce?
spores (both sexual & asexual)
What are hyphae?
branching tubes
What is a network of hyphae called?
the mycelium
Some fungi grow as…
yeasts
Some fungi are….
dimorphic
Explain asexual spores.
produced through mitosis, clonal reproduction
Explain sexual spores.
either produced through meiosis or meiosis occurs within the spore, meiotic spores
What are cell walls mainly composed of?
chitin & beta-glucan
What do fungi contain in the cell membranes?
ergosterol
Examples of poisonous & hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Amanita phalloides & Amanita muscaria
What does fermentation produce as waste products?
alcohol & gas
What antibiotic is produced by a fungus?
Penicillin
What are the 2 main types of mycorrhizae?
ectomycorrhizae & endomycorrhizae
What’s the estimated amount of fungal species?
1.5-5 million
How many fungal species can infect people?
~300
What is needed for fungi to cause disease in humans?
needs to grow at or above 37C, need to invade human tissue, need to digest & absorb nutrients from human tissue, & need to escape the human immune system.
What usually causes superficial infections of skin & nails?
Microsporum or Trichophyton spp.
What usually causes mucosal infections?
Candida species
