Intro to Fungi

Question 1

What 4 things can fungi infect?

Answer 1

• Plants
• Insects
• Amphibians
• Mammals

Question 2

Name of kingdom

Answer 2

Fungi

Question 3

What is mycology?

Answer 3

Study of fungi

Question 4

Define fungus

Answer 4

Chemo-organotrophic eukaryote that lacks chlorophyll and spores

Question 5

What do fungi walls contain and what is the function?

Answer 5

Polysaccharides - absorb nutrients

Question 6

What do fungi membranes contain?

Answer 6

Ergosterol

Question 7

Describe a dermatophytic fungal infection

Answer 7

Moulds that degrade keratin as a nutrient source - produce ring shape on skin

Question 8

Describe systemic fungal infections

Answer 8

Fungi that enter the body and affect the organs

Question 9

What is opportunistic fungi

Answer 9

Fungi that causes diseases in individuals with compromised immune systems

Question 10

What can candida and aspergillus cause in immunocompromised hosts?

Answer 10

Disseminated infections

Question 11

What are the three mains types of fungi?

Answer 11

• Basidiomycetes
• Ascomycetes
• Zygomycetes

Question 12

What are they sexual and asexual spores in basidomycetes?

Answer 12

• sexual: basidiospore

- asexual: conidium

Question 13

What are they sexual and asexual spores in ascomycetes?

Answer 13

• sexual: ascospore

- asexual: conidium

Question 14

What are they sexual and asexual spores in zygomycetes?

Answer 14

• sexual: zygospore

- asexual: sporangiospore

Question 15

Define yeast

Answer 15

Fungi that favour unicellular habitats

Question 16

Host factors that contribute to fungal infections

Answer 16

• warm, moist environments - growth on skin and mucous membrane
• Broad spectrum antibacterial agents reduce competition for colonisation in the gut
• immunosuppressed patients

Question 17

Detection methods

Answer 17

• Direct detection (histopathology)
• Direct smear
• Growth on selective medium