Lecture 19: Fungi III Flashcards
Are spores haploid or diploid?
Spores are overall haploid, but they can spend some time as diploids during their sexual reproduction cycle.
What are the 3 mechanisms by which fungi can cause disease?
- Inappropriate immune responses
- Infections
- Mycotoxins
Inappropriate immune responses due to fungi are called _____.
Hypersensitivity
Explain how fungi can evoke a hypersensitivity response.
They evoke the release of IgE fungal antigens, which causes mast cell degranulation and histamine release.
Give 4 examples of hypersensitivity responses.
Asthma, rhinitis, pneumonitis, and sinusitis
Name an example of a fungus that can cause hypersensitivity reactions.
Aspergillus
What is the typical cause of uncomplicated asthma? It is treatable?
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.
What is the typical cause of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis?
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.
An example of an aspergillus allergic disease is […] (2 names)
Farmer’s lung, extrinsic alveolities
Explain how farmer’s lung works.
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.
What is mycosis?
A fungal infection of the body.
Are mycoses generally acute or chronic? Why?
They are generally chronic, as fungi grow slowly.
Are mycoses easy or difficult to treat? Why?
They are difficult to treat, because fungi are close to animals and share a lot of similarities.
What are the 3 major categories of mycoses?
Superficial, subcutaneous, and systemic.
What are the defining characteristics of superficial mycoses?
They are common, benign, and can infect immunocompetent individuals.
What are the defining characteristics of subcutaneous mycoses?
They affect deeper layers of skin than superficial mycoses. They are more dangerous than superficial but less dangerous than systemic.
What are the defining characteristics of systemic mycoses?
They are less common, severe (often lethal if left untreated), and primarily affect the elderly or immunocompromised.
Systemic mycoses are […] pathogens, because […]
Opportunistic, because they take the opportunity to infect immunocompromised people.
Superficial mycoses are caused by what type of fungi? From which phylum?
Dematophytes (dermatomycoses), from phylum Ascomycota.
Dermatophytes infect what parts of the body?
Hair, skin, or nails (surface layers only)
Athlete’s foot is an example of what kind of infection?
Superficial mycosis.
Athlete’s foot is called by the fungi […]
Trichophyton
Can superficial mycoses be treated? How?
Yes, by antifungal creams or medication.
Subcutaneous mycoses come from what kinds of fungi?
Fungi that inhabit the soil.
Sporotrichosis disease is what kind of infection?
Subcutaneous mycosis.
Sporotrichosis disease is caused by what fungus? From what phylum?
Sporothrix schenkii, a dimorphic fungus from phylum ascomycota.
Explain how sporothrix schenkii infects the body.
It enters through a wound and then forms a small ulcer.
Systemic mycoses are typically caused by what types of fungi?
Mainly yeasts and dimorphic fungi that live in soil.
How do humans become infected by systemic mycoses?
By inhaling spores.