Fungi

Question 1

Vaginal thrush caused by

Answer 1

candida spp (yeast)

Question 2

athlete’s foot caused by

Answer 2

epidermophyton, microsporium, trichophyton spp

moulds

Question 3

pityriasis versicolor caused by

Answer 3

malassezia spp.

Question 4

3 major types of fungus

Answer 4

Basidiomycetes (mushroom)
Ascomycetes (yeast) - biggest type
Zygomycetes (mould)

Question 5

fungus used in production of things we use everyday such as:

Answer 5

antibiotics
medical drugs
organic acids
enzymes
food 
alcohol
agriculture

Question 6

Basidiomycetes spores

Answer 6

sexual spore: basidiospore - located at the tip of hypha

asexual spore: conidium

Question 7

Ascomycetes spores

Answer 7

sexual spore: ascospore - contained within sacs

asexual spore: conidium

Question 8

Zygomycetes spores

Answer 8

sexual spore: zygospore - have rough walls containing one or more zygospore
asexual spore: sporangiospore

Question 9

Basidiomycetes examples

Answer 9

no examples, lol

Question 10

Ascomycetes examples

Answer 10

candida spp
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
malassezia spp
cryptococcus spp (encapsulated )

Question 11

zygomycetes examples

Answer 11

Aspergillus spp

Question 12

Pityriasis versicolor (things you need to know)

Answer 12

• caused by malassezia spp (yeast)

- affects the skin

Question 13

types of candida spp and the infections they cause:

Answer 13

C. albicans - oral 
C. tropicalis - vaginal 
C. glabrata - skin
C. krusei, C. onychomycosis - nail
C. parapsilosis - oesophageal 
C. auris (MDR) - urinary tract 
C. balanitis - penis
C. intertrigo - between the fingers

Question 14

chronic cutaneous candida infection

Answer 14

very severe form of candida infection arising in ppl with combination of endocrine and immune dysfunction (T cells)
- Ex. Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED)

Question 15

things that favors fungal infections:

Answer 15

• favorable environment: wet, warm
• antibacterial agents: reduce competition in the gut
• immunosuppression
• Iatrogenic factors: steroids, chemotherapy, organ transplant, surgery, etc.
• disease process: AIDS, leukaemia, endocrinopathies, autoimmunity

Question 16

things that favors fungal infections:

Answer 16

• favorable environment: wet, warm
• antibacterial agents: reduce competition in the gut
• immunosuppression
• Iatrogenic factors: steroids, chemotherapy, organ transplant, surgery, etc.
• disease process: AIDS, leukaemia, endocrinopathies, autoimmunity

Question 17

Aspergillosis

Answer 17

• caused by aspergillus spp.
• normally found in the lungs
• inhalation of conidia/sexual spore (found in areas with lots of decomposing organic materials)

Question 18

Cryptococcosis

Answer 18

• caused by cryptococcus spp (encapsulated yeasts)
• pulmonary cryptococcosis
• meningitis in AIDS patients

Question 19

Diagnostic methods

Answer 19

Direct detection:

• CT scans
• histopathology

Direct smear and Culture:

• Periodic Acid Shiff (PAS) staining (lipoproteins stained pink)
• Calcofluor White staining (bind to cellulose in hyphal wall)
• growth on selective medium (CHROMagar, different colors for different strains)

Serum test:

• Detection of circulating fungal antigens
• Detection of circulating of fungal antibodies

PCR for fungal DNA

Question 20

3 main antifungal agents:

Answer 20

Polyenes
Azoles
Echinocandins

Question 21

Polyenes:

Answer 21

Target: ergosterol

• Amphotericin B
• Nystatin

Question 22

Azoles:

Answer 22

Target: ergosterol

• Clotrimazole
• miconazole
• Fluconazole
• itraconazole
• voriconazole
• Posaconazole

Question 23

Echinocandins:

Answer 23

Targets: beta-D-glucan synthase

• Anidulafungin
• caspofungin
• micafungin