Fungi & Disease Flashcards
Are fungi eukaryotic or prokaryotic
Eukaryotic - contain nucleus
What do fungi feed on and what is the name of this type of organism
- Absorb nutrients from environment
- Decaying matter
- Like moisture & sugar (starches)
This is called being a Saprophytic Chemoheterotroph
Morphology of yeast
Single celled
Morphology of mould
Filamentous
Grow in hyphae which may contain multiple nuclei
Structures within the fungal cell
- Ribosomes
- Golgi
- ER
- Nucleolus
- Nucleus
- Smooth ER
- Vacuole
- Cell wall NB
- Cell membrane
- Mitochondrion
- Lysosome
- Cytoplasm
How does budding occur in yeast
- Normal parent cell
- Nuclear division occurs and a bud develops
- Two daughter nuclei are formed
- A septum forms between bud and a new yeast cell is formed
What is the fungal cell wall made of
- Beta glucans
- Chitin (polymer of NAG)
What is the cell membrane made of
Ergosterol
(it’s still a phospholipid bilayer though)
What is another name for fungal disease/infections
Mycoses
Ringworm can cause what?
- Athletes foot
- Jock itch
- Onychomycosis (white/yellow streaks on nails, crumbly nails that may lift)
fungI that cause ringworm (3)
- Trichophyton
- Microsporum
- Epidermophyton
What parts of the body do ringworm causing fungi affect
- Skin
- Hair
- Nails
Sources of dermatophytes (ringworm)
- Mainly human
- Environment
- Animal contact - cats & dogs
What type of mycosis is sporotrichosis
Subcutaneous mycosis
What fungus causes sporotrichosis
Sporothrix schenkii
Where is sporothrix schenkii found and how does it enter the skin
- Bark of trees
- Shrubs & plants
- Plant debris in soil
Enters body through breaks in the skin (e.g: thorn prick)
How does sporothrix schenkii spread in the body
It spreads along the lymphatics
WHat does Candidiasis being opportunistic mean
It causes disease when it gains dominance
(When antibiotics disturb normal flora or in immunocompromised)
The 3 forms of candidiasis
- Oral Candidiasis - Thrush
- Cutaneous Candidiasis - Nappy rash
- Female Genital Candidiasis - Vaginal Thrush
What kind of fungus is Cryptococcus neoformans
Yeast
What is Cryptococcus neoformans found in
Pigeon droppings
Where does Cryptococcus neoformans affect in the body
Infection via respiratory tract
What does Cryptococcus neoformans usually present as
Meningitis especially in immunocompromised (Tcell deficient NB - HIV)
What kind of fungus is Aspergillus fumigatus
Opportunistic, spore forming mould
How does an Aspergillus fumigatus infection occur
- Usually by inhalation of spores
- Can infect wounds/burns
What is Aspergilloma
A fungus ball that colonizes in a healed lung scar or abcess from a previous disease
