Fungi Flashcards
What are fungi?
Eukaryotic, most feed on dead or decaying organic material (saprophytes).
Most are multicellular, but some are unicellular (yeasts)
Are fungi microbes
Yes most of them are
Fungi cell wall is made of
Chitin, very strong and flexible
Fungi are composed of?
Slender filaments called hyphae. A mass of hyphae is called mycelium.
What do hyphae do?
They grow into a food source and secrete enzymes to break it down and release nutrients.
Fungi reproduce
Both sexually and asexually
The first 3 divisions are?
Characterised of the sexual stages of reproduction, however they do not cause disease so are not dealt with here.
What is the fourth division?
All the species that are unable to reproduce sexually, called imperfect fungi.
What do imperfect fungi do?
These reproduce by the production of spores and they include some important disease - producing fungi.
Example of imperfect fungi?
Penicillium
Candidiasis or Thrush
caused by infection with the opportunistic yeast (candida albicans) which can affect the mouth, skin and vagina.
What are diseases caused by fungi called?
Mycoses, which can be superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous or systemic.
What are dermatophytes
Filamentous fungi cause superficial infections on the skin, hair, nails called dermatomycosis
Example of dermatomycosis
Ringworm, Tinea infections
Types of filamentous fungi?
Dermatomycosis, Microsporum, Epidermophyton and Trichophyton
