Introduction To Fungi

Question 1

What is a fungi and describe the structure?

Answer 1

It is a chemo-organotrophic eukaryote that can form spores. It’s cell wall is made from polysaccharides such as chitin or glucan. The membrane contains ergosterol. It contains hyphae branches and conidiophores with chains of conidia (spores).

Question 2

What are the three groups of fungi and what are their sexual and asexual spores?

Answer 2

Basidiomycetes and ascomycetes both produce conidium as their asexual spores. Zygomycetes produce sporangiospores.
(Sexual Spore for each is the prefix+spore)

Question 3

What are dermatophytes and name two examples?

Answer 3

Moulds that can degrade keratin as a nutrient source. Epidermophyton and microsporum.

Question 4

Name some Candida species and what pathos they cause

Answer 4

Albicans causes oral infection.
Tropicalis causes vaginal infection.
Glabrata causes skin infection.
They are yeasts.

Question 5

Name some aspergillosis and what diseases they cause

Answer 5

Fumigatus causes asthma
Flavus causes eosinophilic asthma.
They are moulds.

Question 6

Name some cryptococcus and what diseases they cause.

Answer 6

Neoformans causes pulmonary cryptococcus.
Gattii causes meningitis.
These are yeasts with a capsule.

Question 7

Name four antifungals and how they work

Answer 7

Triazoles and allylamines target sterols.
Echinocandins target the wall.
Polyenes target the membrane.
Flucytosine target DNA synthesis.

Question 8

What are some problems with antifungals?

Answer 8

They’re only specific to one fungi
They’re only static drugs so it stops the fungi multiplying but the host’s immune system has to kill it. 
They have toxic side effects. 
The fungi develop resistance. 
They’re expensive.