Fungal infections Flashcards

1
Q

Are fungi eukaryotic or prokaryotic?

A

Eukaryotic

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2
Q

Describe yeasts

A

Single celled
Budding organisms
With or without hyphae

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3
Q

what is a hyphae?

A

Long branching structure which is a non-sexual growth

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4
Q

How can you stain fungi?

A

Gram staining and Lactophenol blue staining

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5
Q

Describe moulds

A

Multicellular filamentous organisms
organised in hyphae that collectively form mycelium
contains fruiting structure

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6
Q

On what can you grow fungi?

A

Sabouraud’s agar

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7
Q

What are mycelium?

A

Thread-like collection of hyphae

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8
Q

How to yeasts reproduce?

A

Via asexual reproduction, budding

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9
Q

How do moulds reproduce?

A

Spore grows into mycelium which makes a sheet. Hyphae make frutin that make spores.

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10
Q

How does Candida albacans reproduce?

A

Daughter cells bud from the elongated hyphal structure

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11
Q

A less common type of fungal reproduction

A

Formation of pseudohyphae that occur from the mother cells and allow the filaments to stretch to the surrounding environment

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12
Q

How to fungi obtain nutrients?

A

Release enzymes from the hyphae. These are secreted into the environment and break down the substrates. The broken down substrates dissolve back into the hyphal tips.

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13
Q

What is the fungal niche for yeasts?

A

They live endogenously in the GI tract and skin and exogenously on fruits, plants and water

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14
Q

What is the fungal niche for moulds?

A

They are ubiquotous in the environment. Can live as parasites or in soil (saprophytic).

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15
Q

What protects us from fungal infections?

A

Temperature
Endogenous yeasts
Immune system

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16
Q

How does the immune system prevent fungal infections?

A

Alveolar macrophages phagocytose spores.

Neutrophils and tissue macrophages act as second lines of defence against spores infiltrating the barrier.

17
Q

How does body temperature prevent fungal infections?

A

Above 30 degrees, most fungi won’t germinate

18
Q

What are the most common fungal disease?

A

Infections of superficial layers

19
Q

Common infections of superficial layers by fungi

A

Candida caused by overgrowth of the colonising flora happens in warm areas of the body.

Filamentous moulds grow on skin, nails and hair as they use keratin as their nutrient source.

20
Q

What are dimorphic fungal infections

A

A dimorphic fungus can exist as both a yeast and mould. Commonly moulds become yeasts when subjected to the 37 degree body temperature

21
Q

How do yeasts cause disease

A

By multiplying in lungs, macrophages and neutrophils. These burst and release their contents.

22
Q

WHat are some examples of dimorphic fungal infections?

A

Histoplasma capsulatum - infect macrophages

Blastomyces dermatidis - infect neutrophils