Micro: Intro to Mycology Flashcards
Are fungi eukaryotes or prokaryotes, and where are they found?
eukaryotes; found almost exclusively in soil, water, or on plants
____ are asexual reproductive elements.
Conidia
Spores are _________.
sexual reproductive elements.
What are the two differences between fungi and animal cells that are medically exploited?
- fungi have cell walls containing chitin
2. fungal membranes contain ergosterol instead of cholesterol
____, a component of fungi cell membranes, that is a target for several anti-fungal drugs.
Ergosterol
Regarding fungal morphology, ____ are single-celled and ____ are multi-celled fungi.
yeasts; molds
Molds develop tube-like extensions called ____ that can be ____ or non-____.
hyphae; septate or non-septate
An intertwined mass of hyphae is called a ____.
mycelium
What is a dimorphic fungus?
a fungus that can grow in both yeast and mold form; yeast in tissue/37˚C in culture, and mold in culture at room temp
Fungi cause 3 types of problems (in humans). Funging name them.
- allergies
- mycotoxicoses (eg, mushroom poisoning)
- mycoses (true infections)
Zygomycetes, ascomycetes, basidomycetes, and deuteromycetes are 4 ____ of fungal human pathogens.
phyla
In increasing severity, working classifications of fungi include: superficial mycoses; ____ mycoses; subcutaneous mycoses; ____ mycoses, and ____ mycoses.
cutaneous; systemic; opportunistic
Superficial mycoses often develop because of ____ ____.
poor hygiene
What causes athlete’s foot and what working class of pathogen it is?
tineas; it’s a cutaneous mycosus
Subcutaneous mycoses are often from wounds to the ____ and can involve the ____.
skin; lymphatics
Inhalation of conidia or spores mostly causes what type of mycoses?
systemic
What type of pathogenic fungal class can cause chronic infection resembling tuberculosis?
systemic mycoses
____ mycoses can cause disease in healthy individuals, whereas ____ mycoses are found predominantly in immunocompromised patients.
systemic; opportunistic
Do opportunistic mycoses respond to antibiotics?
Nope
True or false: in general, fungi produce subacute, self-limiting infections in normally healthy individuals.
True .. so boring
Among what patient population are fungal infections the most likely?
Among the immunocompromised, e.g., AIDS, chemotherapy, transplant patients
What are some examination dimensions for diagnosing fungal infections?
- clinical appearance
- microscopic exam of samples treated with 10% KOH
- culture on Sabouraud’s medium
- biochemical assays
- serology
What is the general rate of fungal metabolism, and how does this impact treatment?
their metabolism is generally slow, therefore treatment is for long periods of time (order of months)
True or false: Antifungals are fairly toxic to the host.
True because fungi are eukayotes
What are the 3 common targets of antifungal drugs?
- ergosterol
- cell wall
- genome replication
True or false: immunocompromised patients are not treated for fungal infections because something is going to kill them eventually. It’s probably going to be PKU.
False - you heartless SOB. On the contrary, immunocompromised patients are on prophylactic antifungals 4lyfe. And you can’t catch PKU.
Do yeasts produce sexually or asexually?
they like it both ways–those dirty spores.
acospores = sexual
budding = asexual
Candida albicans is what type of fungal pathogen (working class)?
opportunistic
True or false: a popular virulence factor of many fungi is toxins.
False, there are actually no known toxins involved in human infection
What key players of the immune system get really excited when they see fun guys coming?
- neutrophils - opportunistic molds are super sensitive to neutrophils
- T-cell immunity - real important
- antibodies - play a part in preventing reinfection
DIsseminated infections are treated with ____ and/or ____.
amphotericin B and/or azoles
Deutoermycetes - how do they do their sexual stage?
they don’t. like at all. and they’re still alive.
What is sporotrichosis?
a disease marked by nodules or ulcers of the lymph nodes and skin; caused by sporothrix schenckii, a dimorphic fungus
What is histoplasmosis?
infection by a fungus found in the droppings of birds and bats in humid areas. It is not serious if confined to the lungs but can be fatal if spread throughout the body.
What is coccidioidomycosis?
the fungus that can be inhaled and cause valley fever
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by ____ and appearing as what?
Candida albicans; appearing as oral or vaginal thrush
