Survey of Mycology

Question 1

Are Fungi Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes?

Answer 1

Eukaryotes

Question 2

Examples of unicellular and multicellular fungi.

Answer 2

unicellular: yeast
multicellular: molds, mushrooms

Question 3

Give 4 facts about fungi.

Answer 3

1. Aerobic or facultatively anaerobic.
2. Grow at lower pH than bacteria.
3. Tolerant of salt and sugar.
4. Asexual or sexual reproduction.

Question 4

What are 4 good functions of fungi?

Answer 4

1. Saprophytes: break down dead and decaying materials to decompose.
2. Use exoenzymes.
3. Food production.
4. Antibiotic production.

Question 5

What do fungal heterotrophs metabolize? 2 Examples?

Answer 5

Metabolize complex carbs (lignin and cellulose).

Question 6

True or false: some fungi are apart of our normal microbiota

Answer 6

True.

Question 7

What are the cell walls of fungi made of?

Answer 7

Chitin.

Question 8

How do yeasts reproduce?

Answer 8

Asexually, by budding.

Question 9

How do filamentous molds and mushrooms reproduce?

Answer 9

Reproduce with spores (NOT like bacterial spores).

Question 10

What can yeasts produce? Can all yeasts produce this?

Answer 10

Yeasts can produce hyphae. Not all yeasts can produce this.

Question 11

What is hyphae?

Answer 11

Tubular, branching filaments of cells.

Question 12

Multicellular yeasts have what?

Answer 12

Hyphae and mycelium.

Question 13

How are multicellular yeasts classified?

Answer 13

By their reproductive spores (sexual and asexual types exist).

Question 14

Systemic pathogens are often what?

Answer 14

Often opportunistic, and are often dimorphic.

Question 15

What does it mean for fungi to be dimorphic?

Answer 15

They are filamentous mold in the environment, but yeast-like in the host?

Question 16

How are dimorphic yeast regulated?

Answer 16

By environmental factors.

Question 17

What is mycoses?

Answer 17

Illness caused by fungal pathogen, some are opportunistic.

Question 18

Fungal pathogens cause disease by what 3 things?

Answer 18

1. Stimulating inappropriate immune responses.
2. Toxins
3. Acting as carcinogens.

Question 19

Fungal growth in the body can be what two things?

Answer 19

1. Superficial

2. Systemic (often opportunistic)

Question 20

How are superficial infections of fungi transmitted?

Answer 20

Via direct contact and formites (combs, hats, etc.)

From other animals (cats are most common)

Question 21

What are two examples of superficial fungal infections?

Answer 21

1. ringworm = tineas

2. dandruff

Question 22

Where do tineas inhabit, and what do they cause?

Answer 22

Tineas inhabit keratinized areas.

They cause an itchy rash.

Question 23

What is tinea pedis?

Answer 23

Athletes foot.

Question 24

What is tinea capitis?

Answer 24

Tinea of the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids

Question 25

What is tinea corporis?

Answer 25

Tinea of the body.

Question 26

What is tinea unguium?

Answer 26

Tinea of nails.

Question 27

How is tinea diagnosed?

Answer 27

A sample is placed in KOH to dissolve keratin, or look for spores.

Question 28

How is tinea treated?

Answer 28

Topical antifungal.

Question 29

What is dandruff?

Answer 29

Overgrowth of fungi (malassezia), which is normal microbiota. It causes a hyper-turnover of cells. Sebaceous gland activity is involved.

Question 30

True or false: bacterial involvement is not likely with dandruff

Answer 30

False. Bacterial involvement (such as staph) is likely.

Question 31

True or false: genetic susceptibility is likely for dandruff.

Answer 31

True.

Question 32

How is dandruff treated?

Answer 32

Topical antifungals.

Question 33

How is candidiasis caused?

Answer 33

Caused by Candida species, which is part of the normal microbiota.

Question 34

Overgrowth of candida leads to what?

Answer 34

1. Thrush (common in mouth and throat) | 2. Vaginitis (common)

Question 35

True or false: systemic infections of candidiasis is rare

Answer 35

True. It is also rarely transmitted from person to person.

Question 36

Most transmissions of candidiasis is what type?

Answer 36

Aireborne/respiratory.

Question 37

Most of candida lives where?

Answer 37

In soil.

Question 38

What 5 things cause systemic predispositions of candidiasis?

Answer 38

1. Chronic debilitating diseases. 2. Change to metabolism 3. Damage to microbiota 4. Antibiotics 5. Steroids

Question 39

Candidiasis often resembles what?

Answer 39

TB and cancer.

Question 40

If candidiasis enters the blood (often through procedures), what can happen?

Answer 40

Endocarditis or pulmonary granuloma. PRIMARY CAUSE OF FUNGAL DEATH.

Question 41

True or false: few molds produce toxins that can be inhaled.

Answer 41

False. MANY molds produce toxins that can be inhaled.

Question 42

High levels of mold can be problematic for those with what 3 things?

Answer 42

1. Allergies 2. Asthma 3. Immunocomproimised

Question 43

How can we control and limit our exposure to mold?

Answer 43

Reducing indoor moisture levels controls mold.