Introduction to Clinical Mycology

Question 1

Are fungal cells eukaryotic or prokaryotic?

Answer 1

eukaryotic

Question 2

Differences between fungi and human cells

Answer 2

fungi cells have a cell wall and their membrane is made of ergosterol instead of cholesterol

Question 3

Yeast

Answer 3

unicellular
reproduce via budding
can form pseudohyphea under some conditions

Question 4

What produces germ tubes that you can use to help diagnose?

Answer 4

candida albicans

Question 5

Hyphae

Answer 5

individual strands of mold - think blue streaks in blue cheese

Question 6

Mold reproduction

Answer 6

can be asexual or sexual

Question 7

Dimorphi

Answer 7

can grow as both yeast and mold

Question 8

Superficial mycoses

Answer 8

colonization of mold on outer layers of skin and hair

Question 9

Cutaneous mycoses

Answer 9

extends deep into epidermis as well as invasive hair and nail infections

Question 10

Subcutaneous mycoses

Answer 10

involve the dermis, subcutaneous tissues, muscles and fascia

Question 11

Systemic mycoses

Answer 11

originate in the lung but may spread to any organ in the body

Question 12

Opportunistic mycoses

Answer 12

also originates in lung. Associated with immunosuppressed patients

Question 13

Ways the innate immune system helps fight

Answer 13

i. Intact skin
ii. pH
iii. normal bacterial flora
iv. epithelial turnover rate
v. desiccated nature of the stratum corneum
vi. mucous membranes

Question 14

What is the role of humoral immunity

Answer 14

none known

Question 15

Tropical therapy

Answer 15

good for superficial and most cutaneous infections

Question 16

Systemic therapy

Answer 16

good for subcutaneous and systemic infections as well as some cutaneous

Question 17

Polyenes

Answer 17

bind to membrane sterols

Question 18

What types of drugs inhibit ergosterol synthesis

Answer 18

Azoles, Allyamines, Thiocarbamates, morpholines

Question 19

Amphotericin B

Answer 19

a polyene

makes pores

Question 20

Echinocandins

Answer 20

inhibit beta glucan synthesis
attacks the cell wall
useful in treating candida and aspergillus

Question 21

KOH prep

Answer 21

used to examine hair, nails, skin scraping, fluids, exudates or biopsies

Question 22

What happens to substances with fungi in KOH prep

Answer 22

dissolves slower

Question 23

What can you see with KOH prep

Answer 23

hyphae, large yeast, spherules, and sporangia

Question 24

Stains you can use to help see the cell wall

Answer 24

chlorazol black

calcofluor white

Question 25

Stains to help advance detection of fungi

Answer 25

GMS

PAS

Question 26

India Ink Stain

Answer 26

helps you find cryptococcus neoformans

Question 27

Do fungi stain gram positive or negative

Answer 27

positive