Topic N. Eukaryotic Microbes: Fungi & Protozoa

Question 1

What are the two main types of fungi?

Answer 1

1. yeast (unicellular)
2. molds (multicellular)

Question 2

What are the characteristic features of fungi?

Answer 2

1. non-motile
2. cell wall of polysaccharides and glycoproteins
3. ergosterol in membranes
4. produce spores
5. decomposers
6. heterotrophs

Question 3

What are the characteristics of molds?

Answer 3

1. multicellular fungi
2. form hyphae (vegetative for nutrients, aerial for reproduction)
3. primarily aerobic metabolism

Question 4

What are the characteristics of yeasts?

Answer 4

1. unicellular
2. reproduce by budding or binary fission
3. may form pseudo hyphae
4. facultative anaerobes

Question 5

What are the two forms of protozoa?

Answer 5

1. trophozoite (vegetative)
2. cysts (dormant)

Question 6

Name the 4 groups of protozoa

Answer 6

1. amoebae
2. flagellates
3. ciliates
4. apicomplexa

Question 7

How do fungi improve our lives?

Answer 7

1. source of antibiotics
2. contribute to food production (ex: chocolate, cheese, soy sauce, bread, wine)
3. source of genetics research

Question 8

What are the ecological roles of fungi?

Answer 8

1. decomposers
2. mutualistic symbionts (ex: mycorrhizae with plants)
3. some are parasites

Question 9

What is the life cycle of plasmodium (malaria parasite)?

Answer 9

1. sporozoite
2. liver schizont
3. ring stage
4. gametocyte
5. zygote

Question 10

How is plasmodium transmitted?

Answer 10

by bite of infected female anopheles mosquito

Question 11

What are the life stages of Coccidiosis (Valley Fever)?

Answer 11

1. wet season (hyphae)
2. dry season (arthroconidia spores –> enter body –> differentiate into yeast-like form in human tissues)

Question 12

What are the symptoms of Coccidiosis Infection (valley fever)?

Answer 12

1. mild flu-like symptoms
2. severe cases = chronic pneumonia, lung damage, and fatal complications like meningitis

Question 13

What are the risk factors for Coccidiosis (valley fever)?

Answer 13

1. weakened immune system
2. male biological sex
3. african-american ancestry
4. working in agriculture or construction
5. living or traveling in southwest US

Question 14

What are risk factors for plasmodium (malaria)?

Answer 14

1. living in or traveling to tropical/subtropical regions with high mosquito population
2. lack of access to preventative measures