lecture 14) human fungal pathogens Flashcards
in what type of people are fungal infections most dangerous?
immunocompromised
what type of organisms are fungi?
eukaryotic
where and how is DNA in fungal cells stored?
DNA in chromosomes in nucleus
why are fungal infections harder to treat than bacterial and viral infections?
treatments for infections involve targeting essential processes of the cell to deem them unharmful
as fungal cells are eukaryoties, their essential processes would be the same as ours
how do fungi feed?
absorb nutrients by breaking down organic material into simple molecules using hydrolytic enzymes
what type of fungi are moulds?
filamentous
how quick can filamentous spores grow?
3 days (v quick)
name 3 types of fungi
moulds
yeasts
dimorphic
describe the cell composition of yeasts
mainly unicellular
do all yeasts bud?
no
what is a dimorphic fungi?
fungi that switches between 2 forms in response to changes in the environment
what is a key virulence factor of dimorphic fungi?
their ability to switch morphology
what are the 3 types of diseases that fungi can cause?
superficial mycoses (skin, hair, nails, mucous membranes) subcutaneous mycoses (through wound) deep seated/systemic mycoses (single deep organ or disseminated)
what sort of diseases are subcunateous fungal diseases?
rare tropical diseases
what is a primary pathogen?
directly cause disease
what is an opportunistic pathogen?
in normal situations the pathogen wont cause disease but in certain situations they will
what are the infection of dermatophytes like?
superficial infection of skin, hair or nails
what are the 3 genera that cause dermtophyte infections?
microsporum sp.
epidermophyton sp.
trichophyton sp.
what is the morphology of dermatophytes?
filamentous
where do dermatophytes come from?
soil, animals, people
what do dermatophytes produce?
keratinase
digest keratin as growth substance
infect keratin rich tissues
name the 3 groups dermatophytes are divided into based on habitat
anthropophillic
zoophillic
geophillic
what are anthropophillic dermatophytes?
reservoir and host is man
what are zoophillic dermatophytes?
reservoir is animales, can infect man