Lecture 19: Fungi III Flashcards

1
Q

Are spores haploid or diploid?

A

Spores are overall haploid, but they can spend some time as diploids during their sexual reproduction cycle.

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2
Q

What are the 3 mechanisms by which fungi can cause disease?

A
  1. Inappropriate immune responses
  2. Infections
  3. Mycotoxins
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3
Q

Inappropriate immune responses due to fungi are called _____.

A

Hypersensitivity

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4
Q

Explain how fungi can evoke a hypersensitivity response.

A

They evoke the release of IgE fungal antigens, which causes mast cell degranulation and histamine release.

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5
Q

Give 4 examples of hypersensitivity responses.

A

Asthma, rhinitis, pneumonitis, and sinusitis

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6
Q

Name an example of a fungus that can cause hypersensitivity reactions.

A

Aspergillus

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7
Q

What is the typical cause of uncomplicated asthma? It is treatable?

A

It is usually due to sensitization to conidial antigens of Aspergillus. The IgEs and histamine cause the airways to tighten. It is usually controllable with medication.

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8
Q

What is the typical cause of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis?

A

It necessitates a pre-existing airway disease such as cystic fibrosis. It introduces large quantities of the IgE to fight hyphal antigens, which can be lethal.

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9
Q

An example of an aspergillus allergic disease is […] (2 names)

A

Farmer’s lung, extrinsic alveolities

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10
Q

Explain how farmer’s lung works.

A

It requires the inhalation of decomposing hay, which has high quantities of thermophilic bacteria and fungi. These antigens can cause pneumonia (IMPORTANT) and the tightening of the airways.

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11
Q

What is mycosis?

A

A fungal infection of the body.

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12
Q

Are mycoses generally acute or chronic? Why?

A

They are generally chronic, as fungi grow slowly.

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13
Q

Are mycoses easy or difficult to treat? Why?

A

They are difficult to treat, because fungi are close to animals and share a lot of similarities.

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14
Q

What are the 3 major categories of mycoses?

A

Superficial, subcutaneous, and systemic.

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15
Q

What are the defining characteristics of superficial mycoses?

A

They are common, benign, and can infect immunocompetent individuals.

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16
Q

What are the defining characteristics of subcutaneous mycoses?

A

They affect deeper layers of skin than superficial mycoses. They are more dangerous than superficial but less dangerous than systemic.

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17
Q

What are the defining characteristics of systemic mycoses?

A

They are less common, severe (often lethal if left untreated), and primarily affect the elderly or immunocompromised.

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18
Q

Systemic mycoses are […] pathogens, because […]

A

Opportunistic, because they take the opportunity to infect immunocompromised people.

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19
Q

Superficial mycoses are caused by what type of fungi? From which phylum?

A

Dematophytes (dermatomycoses), from phylum Ascomycota.

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20
Q

Dermatophytes infect what parts of the body?

A

Hair, skin, or nails (surface layers only)

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21
Q

Athlete’s foot is an example of what kind of infection?

A

Superficial mycosis.

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22
Q

Athlete’s foot is called by the fungi […]

A

Trichophyton

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23
Q

Can superficial mycoses be treated? How?

A

Yes, by antifungal creams or medication.

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24
Q

Subcutaneous mycoses come from what kinds of fungi?

A

Fungi that inhabit the soil.

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25
Q

Sporotrichosis disease is what kind of infection?

A

Subcutaneous mycosis.

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26
Q

Sporotrichosis disease is caused by what fungus? From what phylum?

A

Sporothrix schenkii, a dimorphic fungus from phylum ascomycota.

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27
Q

Explain how sporothrix schenkii infects the body.

A

It enters through a wound and then forms a small ulcer.

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28
Q

Systemic mycoses are typically caused by what types of fungi?

A

Mainly yeasts and dimorphic fungi that live in soil.

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29
Q

How do humans become infected by systemic mycoses?

A

By inhaling spores.

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30
Q

Give 4 examples of systemic mycoses.

A

Histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, cryptococcosis, candidiasis

31
Q

Name 4 predisposing conditions for systemic fungal infections.

A

Impaired immune system, pregnancy, antibiotic use, and age

32
Q

How can antibiotic use affect vulnerability to systemic mycoses?

A

Antibiotic use disrupts the normal microbiota, which can lead to fugal overgrowth and infection.

33
Q

What are the main 3 categories of fungi that cause invasive fungal diseases?

A

Yeasts, dimorphic fungi, and (some molds)

34
Q

What fungus (name and type) causes candidiasis?

A

It is caused by the overgrowth of Candida albicans, a yeast.

35
Q

In candidiasis, what is the effect of the fungus on the body?

A

The Candida albicans forms pseudohyphae, making it resistant to phagocytosis.

36
Q

Where does candidiasis occur?

A

In the skin and mucous membranes of the genitourinary tract and mouth.

37
Q

What is thrush?

A

It is a case of candidiasis where C. albicans infects the oral cavity.

38
Q

What is the cause of candidiasis (2)?

A

It results when antibiotics suppress competing bacteria or a change occurs in the mucosal pH that is favourable to fungi.

39
Q

What type of fungus is candida albicans? How does it grow?

A

It is a yeast that grows using pseudohyphae.

40
Q

In candida albicans, […] is required for virulence.

A

Morphological switching.

41
Q

What is distinctive about the sexual cycle of C. albicans?

A

The diploid fungi combines to form tetraploids, which can affect virulence. The chromosomes then shed over time to return to diploid form.

42
Q

What is candida auris? How does it work?

A

It is another Candida yeast that starts by colonizing the skin, then enters the organs and the blood stream.

43
Q

Why is Candida auris such a major health risk?

A

It is multi-drug resistant, making its infections very difficult to treat.

44
Q

What type of fungus is cryptococcus?

A

It is an encapsulated yeast.

45
Q

Describe the sexual cycle type and phylum of crytococcus.

A

It is heterothallic and is a basidiomycete

46
Q

What are the 2 common species of cryptococcus?

A

Neoforms and gatti

47
Q

What environments are cryptococcus found in?

A

Soil, particularly associated with bird droppings in the case of neoformans, and eucalyptus trees.

48
Q

How do individuals get infected with cryptococcus?

A

They inhale yeast cells or basidiospores.

49
Q

What are the typical symptoms of C. neoformans?

A

It often presents as chronic meningitis, and is typically associated with HIV disease or other immune deficiency.

50
Q

What are the 3 virulence factors of cryptococcus? Explain the function of each.

A

Capsule: inhibits phagocytosis
Thermotolerance: permits growth in CSF
Melanin: antioxidant, resists phagocyte killing

51
Q

What is the source of cryptococcus gatti?

A

It came from Vancouver island and was first seen in marine mammals.

52
Q

How does cryptococcus gatti affect its host?

A

It causes pneumonia and meningitis IN IMMUNOCOMPETENT patients. It also infects native trees and soils.

53
Q

Name the 2 systemic diseases that are caused by yeasts.

A

Candidiasis and cryptococcus

54
Q

Name 3 systemic diseases caused by dimorphic fungi.

A

Histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis

55
Q

Dimorphic fungi grow as mold in […] and as yeast in […]

A

Soil, humans

56
Q

What type of individuals do yeast systemic infections affect?

A

Immunocompromised individuals

57
Q

What types of individuals do dimorphic fungi infect?

A

They can infect immunocompetent individuals

58
Q

What fungus causes histoplasmosis?

A

Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus.

59
Q

How does histoplasma capsulatum affect the body?

A

It grows intracellularly in macrophages

60
Q

Where is histoplasmosis acquired?

A

Spores are acquired in areas with bird or bat droppings.

61
Q

What is the main symptom of histoplasmosis?

A

Lung lesions

62
Q

What is the geographical range of histoplasmosis?

A

It is limited to central-eastern USA

63
Q

What is another name for coccidioidomycosis?

A

Valley fever/San Joaquin fever

64
Q

What fungus causes coccidioidomycosis?

A

Coccidioides immitis, a dimorphic fungus

65
Q

What is the geographic range of coccidioidomycosis?

A

It is found in alkaline desert soils in the American southwest.

66
Q

What are the symptoms of a coccidioidomycosis infection?

A

Fever, coughing, weight loss

67
Q

What fungus causes blastomycosis?

A

Blastomyces dermatitidis, a dimorphic fungus

68
Q

Where does the fungus responsible for blastomycosis grow?

A

On soil in forests - associated with rotting wood

69
Q

What are the symptoms of blastomycosis?

A

Cutaneous abcesses, extensive tissue damage. It is hard to distinguish from histoplasmosis.

70
Q

What individuals are most affected by blastomycosis?

A

Dogs

71
Q

What respiratory disease do aspergillus fumigatus case? Where do they grow?

A

Aspergillosis. The conidia grow in compost piles

72
Q

Name 2 other fungi than aspergillus involved in respiratory disease that are neither yeasts nor dimorphic fungi.

A

Rhizopus and Mucor

73
Q

Name 3 predisposing factors to respiratory disease.

A

Immunocompromised state, cancer, diabetes (when insulin not taken)