PMI02-2010 Flashcards
Are fungi eukaryotic or prokaryotic?
Eukaryotic
What are the two main types of fungi?
Yeast
Mould
Contrast yeast and mould.
Yeast = unicellular, reproduce by budding, some produce hyphae and pseudohyphae
Mould = multicellular, reproduce using specialised spore structures, always produce hyphae
Which type of fungi always produces hyphae?
Mould
Which type of fungi is unicellular and how does it reproduce?
Yeast
Reproduce by budding (making copies of itself)
What is budding?
Small cell forms off yeast cell and enlarges until its a complete cope
Separates and process repeats
Describe the growth of pseudohyphae.
Bud elongation
At max length, it buds again and elongates
What food do pseudohyphae resemble?
String of sausages
Describe true hyphae.
Produced by apical extension
Even and parallel sides which may have buds on its sides
What kind of appearance is produced by most yeasts?
Moist-looking colonies
Describe mould colonies.
Round (looking for nutrition in all directions)
Sub-surface growth occurs - hyphae above and below surface
Specialised spore structures on surface (to be distributed by air or water)
How could you tell the difference between a mould or yeast infection in skin using microscopy?
Mould = parallel-sided, regularly septate hyphae (true hyphae)
Yeast = budding yeasts, pseudohyphae and true hyphae
Name a species which is known to show budding, pseudohyphae and true hyphae.
Candida albicans
Name some commensal yeasts and where they’re typically found.
Candida albicans = GI tract and oral cavity
Other Candida species = GI tract
Malassezia species = skin
What does the presence of mould indicate?
Always infection (no commensal moulds)
Which yeasts cause candidiasis?
Candida species
List some factors that predispose for candidiasis.
Age - infancy and elderly due to immune function
Endocrine disorders (eg diabetes)
Defects in cell-mediated immunity
Cancer (impaired immunity)
Drug addiction - contaminated needles
Drug therapy - antibiotics, corticosteroids, immunosuppression
Surgery
Intravenous catheters - Candida biofilm
Are most Candida infections endogenous or exogenous?
Endogenous (found in GI tract)
Name some common Candida species in the body.
C. albicans
C. glabrata
C. tropicalis
C. parapsilosis
C. krusei
Which Candida species has some strains which are resistant to fluconazole?
C. glabrata
Which Candida species is completely resistant to fluconazole?
C. krusei
What is the most common type of exogenous Candida infection?
Nosocomial (in hospital)
Which Candida species is the most common culprit for hospital outbreaks?
C. albicans
Why is Candida auris a recent nosocomial issue?
Colonises people very quickly
Persistent in environment
Highly resistant to many antifungals
What are some oral manifestations of candidiasis?
Acute pseudomembranous candidiasis (detachable plaques)
Chronic pseudomembranous candidiasis - AIDS associated
Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis
Angular cheilitis
What is chronic pseudomembranous candidiasis associated with?
AIDS
Describe chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.
Presents in infancy/childhood and is usually inherited
Associated with hypothyroidism or hypoparathyroidism or hypoadrenalism or idiopathic
Recurrent oral, skin and nail infections
Skin lesions crusted on face and scalp = “Candida granuloma”
Immunological abnormality involved
Describe angular cheilitis.
4-8% of infants
HIV+ = much increased risk
Affects corners of mouth, across lips and tongue