L85-L88 Flashcards
Fungi are ___ cells; bacteria are ___ cells.
Eukaryotic; prokaryotic
What are two unique features of fungi that distinguish them from human eukaryotic cells?
- Chitin (rigid cell wall)
2. Ergosterol (predominant sterol)
What is budding?
Asexual fungal reproduction of single-celled yeasts
How do fungi with hyphae reproduce?
Asexually - bits of the hyphae break off and continue to grow as separate entities, or form stalks containing spores
How do fungi produce spores?
Sexually - two mating cells from hyphae of different strains fungi can mate by fusing together and forming a spore stalk
A solitary yeast cell can morph into either a ___ or ___.
Germ tube; blastoconidia
What do germ tubes become?
True hyphae with septa
What do blastoconidia become?
Pseudohyphae
What is the collective term for a mass of hyphae?
Mycelium = mold
What is the difference between sporangium and conidiophore?
Sporangium: enclosed sac containing spores
Condidiophore: specialized hyphal structure that bear conidia (spores)
What are arthroconidia?
Small barrel shaped structures that become spores by breaking off from hypha at septation points
What are chlamydoconidia?
Spores at the end of hyphae; contains stored food
What are macro and microconidia?
Small and large types of conidia in a fungus
What are dimorphic fungi?
Fungi that are yeast-like at 35 C and mold-like at 25 C
What are 4 important examples of dimorphic fungi?
- Histoplasma capsulatum
- Blastomyces dermatitidis
- Coccidioides immitis
- Sporothrix schenckii
How are fungi transmitted?
- Person-to-person (Athletes’ s foot)
- Contact with environment (inhalation of spores, traumatic inoculation)
- Contact with animals (poop, skin/hair)
Fungal ___ mediate colonization of epithelial surfaces.
Adhesins
What are some examples of fungi invading natural barriers?
- Trauma (rose thorns)
- Inhalation of spores (Coccioides in dust)
- Breakdown of mucosal barriers (catheters)
What are some examples of fungi avoiding phagocytosis?
- Histoplasma multiply in macrophages
2. Cryptococcus has a capsule
What type of host immunity is required to eradicate infection with fungi?
Cellular immunity (humoral is not protective)
What is the most common opportunistic fungal pathogen?
Candida
Where is Candida normal flora?
GI and GU tracts
How does Candida appear in body fluids?
Oval budding yeasts
How does Candida appear in tissues?
Yeasts with pseudohyphae
What two species of Candida have germ tubes?
C. albicans
C. dubliniensis
C. dubliniensis typically infects what patient population?
Patients who are HIV-positive
Which two species of Candida are resistant to fluconazole?
C. glabrata
C. krusei (intrinsic resistance)
What type of Candida is associated with UTIs?
C. glabrata
In addition to adherence to mucosal cells, how does Candida invade the host?
Production of lytic enzymes to facilitate invasion of epithelial surfaces
What are important host defense mechanisms against Candida?
- Intact skin
- Normal bacterial flora
- Recognition of cell wall mannan, which activates the alternate complement pathway and leads to Ab formation
- Neutrophils and macrophages
Mucocutaneous forms of candidiasis are associated with defects in ___, while system spread is generally associated with ___.
Cell-mediated immunity; neutropenia
What are risk factors for infection with Candida?
- Antibiotic therapy
- Steroids
- Decreased T cell function
- Diabetes
What are the major clinical manifestations of Candida?
- Skin and nail infections
- Mucocutaneous infection (thrush)
- Vulvovaginal
- Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (disfiguring rash)
- Candida endopthalmitis (blindness)
- Candida Esophagitis
- Systemic infections
What is chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis?
Hereditary immunodeficiency disorder due to malfunction of T cells
What are the two forms of Candida endopthalmitis?
- Exogenous - trauma/surgery leads to direct inoculation of anterior chamber
- Endogenous - candidemia with seeding of retina and choroid
How is Candida albicans diagnosed in the lab?
- Gram stain - produces clusters of round blastoconidia along the hyphae; can also see pseudo and true hyphae
- Calcofluor - white fluorescent brightener that binds chitin
- Sabouraud dextrose agar - white to cream-colored, pasty, smooth colonies
- Production of germ tube
Aspergillus is a rapidly growing mold found in ___, ___, and ___.
Soil; air; construction dust
Describe the shape and appearance of Aspergillus.
Dichotomous branching (Y-shape, acute angle) and septate hyphae
Discuss the pathogenesis of Aspergillus.
- Inhale spores.
- Spores bind to fibronectin
- Inhibition of alternate complement
What are the clinical manifestations of Aspergillus?
- Allergic aspergillosis
- Fungal ball
- Invasive aspergillosis
- Dissemination infection
- Angioinvasion
Describe the color and structure of Aspergillus fumigatus.
Blue-green and fluffy
___ refers to angiotropic infection produced by various fungi.
Mucormycosis
Where are agents of mucormycosis found?
Fruit, bread, soil, decaying organic debris
The species most commonly associated with mucormycosis is ___.
Rhizopus arrhizus
Discuss the pathogenesis and prognosis of infections with R. arrhizus.
Invade major blood vessels, cause ischemia/necrosis/infarction, produce black pus
Acute, rapidly fatal
What are some host risk factors for mucormycosis?
- Acidotic diabetes
- Malnourished children
- Severe burns
- Severe leukopenia
- Immunosuppressive disorders
- Steroids
Discuss the pathogenesis of mucormycosis.
Inhalation and deposition of spores in the nasal turbinates or direct inoculation of abraded skin
What are the clinical manifestations of mucormycosis?
- Rhinocerebral mucormycosis
- Pulmonary
- GI tract
- Cutaneous
- Dissemination
- Periorbital mucormycosis (may invade brain cavity)
What populations most frequently experience rhinocerebral mucormycosis?
People with diabetes/ketoacidosis
How does rhinocerebral mucormycosis present?
Face/eye pain, proptosis, progressive signs of involvement of orbital structures; results in death
What populations most frequently experience pulmonary syndromes related to mucormycosis?
People with neutropenia
What populations most frequently experience GI syndromes related to mucormycosis?
Patients with severe malnutrition
What are the treatment strategies for mucormycosis?
- Early diagnosis
- Reverse underlying risk factors (immunosuppression, hyperglycemia)
- Debridement
How is mucormycosis diagnosed in the lab?
- Broad, ribbon-like hyphae with 90 degree irregular branching
- Wooly white/grey growth
- Characteristic sporangia
Fungal infections of keratinized tissues are typically caused by ___.
Dermatophytes
What is onychomycosis?
Nail infections caused by any fungus
Transmission of dermatophytosis requires what?
Close personal contact
What are the 3 genera of dermatophytes?
- Epidermophyton
- Microsporum
- Trichophyton
Describe tinea pedis.
Athlete’s foot, most common dermatophyte infection
Weeping, peeling lesion between 4th and 5th toes; scaling, fissuring, maceration, erythema, itching, burning
Describe tinea capitis.
Dermatophytosis of scalp due to invasion of hair
Hair becomes dull, lusterless, breaks near the follicle
Describe tinea corporis.
Dermatophytosis of glabrous skin (face, shoulder, arms)
Classic ringworm
Describe tinea cruris.
Infection of groin, perineum, scrotum, perianal area
More common in men
Erythema, pustule formation, hyperpigmentation, itching, burning
Discuss the pathogenesis of dermatophytes.
Inoculation via minor trauma, penetration of stratum corneum, proliferation, lateral spread
How is dermatophytosis diagnosed in the lab?
- KOH preparation
2. Examine hair under Wood’s light
Describe the shape of Cryptococcus neoformans.
Round (not oval) with polysaccharide capsule
Where is C. neoformans found?
Worldwide, pigeon poop, soil
C. gattii is endemic to what locations?
SoCal, Mexico, Pacific Northwest
What does a positive skin test for Cryptococcosis indicate?
Exposure (not illness)
Discuss the pathogenesis of Cryptococcosis.
Inhalation from environment to lungs, from there to CNS
Capsule blocks complement
What are the clinical manifestations of Cryptococcosis?
Meningoencephalitis
What are the symptoms of meningoencephalitis?
Headache, nausea, gait abnormalities, dementia, irritability, CN abnormalities, hydrocephalus, fever, nuchal rigidity, coma, death
What types of skin lesions may be seen in Cryptococcosis?
Raised skin lesions with dissemination
How is Cryptococcosis diagnosed in the lab?
- Fast growing, soft, mucoid, cream/pink/yellow-brown
- Encapsulated yeast in India ink preparation
- Standard: flow assay/latex agglutination for Ag detection
- Gram stain
- GMS
- Mucicarmine stain
How is C. neoformans differentiated from other forms of Cryptococcus?
Ability to grow at 37 degrees C
Where is Histoplasma capsulatum found?
Soil, bird/bat droppings