Introduction to Fungi 2

Question 1

<p>What does the cell wall of a fungus contain?</p>

Answer 1

<p>Polysaccharides, often chitin or cellulose.</p>

Question 2

<p>Does a fungi form spores?</p>

Answer 2

<p>Yes</p>

Question 3

<p>Does a fungi contain chlorophyl?</p>

Answer 3

<p>No</p>

Question 4

<p>What is the informal classification of fungi?</p>

Answer 4

<p>moulds yeasts or mushrooms</p>

Question 5

<p>What is the cell type of a fungi?</p>

Answer 5

<p>They favour a unicellular habit</p>

Question 6

<p>What kind of infections are by dermatophytes?</p>

Answer 6

<p>It is a pathogenic fungus that grows on body surfaces and causes ringworm and related diseases</p>

Question 7

<p>What is the prefix for a ringworm infection?</p>

Answer 7

<p>tinea</p>

Question 8

<p>What is the action of dermatophytes on keratin?</p>

Answer 8

<p>Moulds with a predilection to degrade keratin as a nutrient source.</p>

Question 9

<p>What does a pityriasis versicolor cause on the skin?</p>

Answer 9

<p>Forms hyphae in infected skin</p>

Question 10

<p>What do candida species infect?</p>

Answer 10

<p>Deep organs of patients with various types of immune dysfunction</p>

Question 11

<p>What do aspergillus spp infect?</p>

Answer 11

<p>Infects deep organs of patients undergoing e.g chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation</p>

Question 12

<p>What is a favourable micro-environment that will contribute to pathogenicity of a fungal infection?</p>

Answer 12

<p>Warm moist areas - encourages the growth of fungi on skin and mucous membranes. Broad spectrum antibacterial agents reduce competition for epithelial colonization sites in the gut. Immunosuppression of all types may create a window of opportunity for fungal invasion</p>

Question 13

<p>Describe the immunosuppression of host defences</p>

Answer 13

<p>Iatrogenic (caused by medical examination or treatment)</p>

<p>Steroids</p>

<p>Anti-cancer chemotherapy</p>

<p>Solid organ transplantation</p>

<p>Disease processes - Aids Leukaemia</p>

<p>Endocrinopathies</p>

Question 14

<p>Where are candida species commensal to?</p>

Answer 14

<p>The GI tract</p>

Question 15

<p>What are risk factors for candidiasis?</p>

Answer 15

<p>Age, antibiotic therapy, endocrine disorders, immune defects, immune suppression, surgery</p>

Question 16

<p>What are the diseases possible as a result of candida?</p>

Answer 16

<p>Oral infections</p>

<p>Vaginal infections</p>

<p>Skin infections</p>

<p>Nail infections</p>

<p>Oesophageal infections</p>

<p>Disseminated infections - in seriously immunocompromised patients</p>

Question 17

<p>What is hyphae?</p>

Answer 17

<p>The fine branching tubes which make up the body (mycelium) of a multicellular fungus</p>

Question 18

<p>Give examples of superficial candida infections</p>

Answer 18

<p>Mouth, vagina, penis, skin, nails</p>

Question 19

<p>Give examples of a seriously immunocompromised host</p>

Answer 19

<p>Suffering from neutropenia, abdominal surgery, major burns</p>

Question 20

<p>Give examples of human diseases caused by Aspergillosis</p>

Answer 20

<p>Simple asthma Asthma with eosinophilia</p>

<p>Aspergilloma</p>

<p>Invasive bronchopulmonary aspergillosis Disseminated aspergillosis.</p>

Question 21

<p>How does infection by aspergillus spp occur?</p>

Answer 21

<p>They are moulds ubiquitous in the enviroment - infection occurs by inhalation of conidia</p>

Question 22

<p>Define conidium</p>

Answer 22

<p>A spore produced asexually by various fungi at the tip of a specialised hypha</p>

Question 23

<p>Aspergillus is said to be angioinvasive, what does this mean?</p>

Answer 23

<p>Penetrates the walls of the blood vessels.</p>

Question 24

<p>What is the causative species for cryptococcosis?</p>

Answer 24

<p>Cryptocuccus........(something)</p>

Question 25

<p>What are the main diseases caused by cryptococcosis?</p>

Answer 25

<p>Pulmonary cryptococcosis</p>

<p>Meningitis (prevalent in AIDS patients)</p>

Question 26

<p>What are the diagnostic methods for fungal infections?</p>

Answer 26

<p>Direct detection - histopathology (including direct smears and growth on selective medium) also the use of High resolution CT scans Detection of fungal antigens as well as antibodies to fungi</p>

<p>PCR for fungal DNA Culture of fungus from normally sterile site</p>

Question 27

<p>What are the technical names for the three types of fungi?</p>

Answer 27

<p>Basidiomycetes (mushrooms)(cryptococcus)</p>

<p>Ascomycetes (candida, Aspergillus)</p>

<p>Zygomycetes (bread mould)</p>