Module 6: Fungi Flashcards
Mycology
the study of fungi
Macroscopic Fungi
mushroom, puffball, and gill fungi
Microscopic Fungi
molds & yeasts
Fungi Effects
- can cause infection in immunocompromised
- cell walls give off chemical substances that can trigger allergies
- toxins can cause neurological disturbances and even death
Fungi Positives
- plays a role in decomposing organic matter and returning essential nutrients to the soil
- form association with plant roots that increase the ability of the roots to absorb water and nutrients
Basic Characteristics
- eukaryotic
- cell walls contain chitin
- some can be dimorphic (can take either form)
Yeast Cells
- reproduces by budding
- pseudohyphae are chains of yeast cells
Hyphae
- long, thread-like cells
Mycelium
intertwining mass of hyphae which makes up the colony
Septate Hyphae
divided into segments by septa
Non-septate Hyphae
not divided into segments
Vegetative Hyphae
responsible for visible mass of growth on the surface
Reproductive Hyphae
- branch off vegetative hyphae
- responsible for the production of fungal spores
Primary Reproductive Mode
production of spores
Reproduction and Spore Formation
- compact and light weight
- easily dispersed by air, water, and living things
Asexual Spore Formation
division of single parent cell
Asexual Spore Formation - Sporangiospore
successive cleavages within a sac-like head
Asexual Spore Formation - Conidiospore or Condidia
- not enclosed by a sac
- tip pinches off reproduce hyphae or segmentation of vegetative hyphae
Sexual Spore Formation
- fusion of two parent nuclei
- variation - may give offspring advantage in adaptation and survival
Mycoses
- fungal infections
4 Types of Mycoses
- Superficial (hair, nail, skin)
- Cutaneous (hair, nail, skin)
- Subcutaneous
- Deep Mycoses (brain, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidney)
Candida albicans
- normally found in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracks
- antibiotic therapy or immunosupression results in overgrowth
- oral candidiasis or vaginal yeast infections
- whitish lesion on tongue or oral cavity
- when vaginal pH is disrupted = overgrowth
Antifungal Drugs
- macrolide polyenes
- azoles
- echinocandins
- nucleotide cytosine analogs
