Lecture 5: Fungal Disease

Question 1

what is the scientific name for rice blast?

Answer 1

magnaporthe oryzae

Question 2

what are the symptoms of rice blast?

Answer 2

grey-green lesions/spots, broken culm (stem)

Question 3

what are some control measures of rice blast?

Answer 3

using less fertilizer, plant resistant species, fungicides

Question 4

what are 5 pathogen associated structures?

Answer 4

• penetration via stomata or wounds
• direct penetration
• mechanical force
• enzymatic penetration (cutinase, pectinase)
• haustoria

Question 5

what 4 criteria must fungi meet to cause disease?

Answer 5

ability to:
- grow at/above host temperature
- reach internal tissues via penetration or evading host barriers
- lyse tissues and absorb components
- evade host immune defences

Question 6

what are the 5 types of human mycoses?

Answer 6

Skin: superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous
Systemic: due to either primary or opportunistic pathogens

Question 7

what are 4 common approaches for diagnostic techniques?

Answer 7

• direct microscopic examination (histopathology)
• culture of the organism
• serology/ antigen detection tests
• molecular diagnositcs

Question 8

what is an example of a mycotoxin?

Answer 8

alfatoxins that are produced by many aspergillus species

Question 9

what is a mycetism?

Answer 9

mushroom poisoning

Question 10

what causes the hallucinogenic properties of shrooms?

Answer 10

ibotenic acid and muscimol