Week 5 Flashcards
Fungal Cell walls contain
Chitin and Beta-glucan
Fungi cell membranes contain
Ergosterol
Antifungals which target ergosterol are
Azoles and Polyenes
Beta-glucan is targeted by
Echinocandins
What is a dimorphic fungi
A yeast or mold depending on environment
-25C its a mold
-37C its a yeast
A way to remember it
-yeast in beast mold in cold
Polyenes work by
Binding to ergosterol to create pores in the cell membrane killing the cell
-this means its fungicidal
Azoles work by
Inhibiting ergosterol synthesis disrupting cell membrane formation
-fungistatic
Echinocandins works by
Inhibiting beta-D-glucan synthesis a key component in the cell wall leading to cell death
-fungicidal
Morphology of a yeast
Single celled, reproduced by budding
Morphology of molds
Multicellular fungal bodies made of filaments called hyphae
When there are walls between hyphae it is called
Septate hyphae
When there are no walls between hyphae it is called
Nonseptate hyphae
Most fungi are saprobes which means they
Feed on dead and decaying organic matter
What is the mycobiome
Part of microbiome consisting of fungi
The human mycobiome includes what parts of the human body
Oral cavity
Lungs
Gastro-intestinal
Skin
Thrush (oral candidiasis) is an example of
An opportunistic infection
What is hypersensitivity
Allergic reaction to molds and their airborne conidia
What is a cutaneous infection
Infection of keratinized layers of hair skin and nails
What is systemic mycoses
Able to disseminate regardless of immune system
Opportunistic infections can be
Anything
What are fungi virulence factors
Adhesion
Capsules
Biofilms
Melanin
Shape shifters
Thermotolerance
What do adhesions do for fungi
Allow them to adhere to endothelial cells to invade tissues
What does melanin do for fungi
Melanin in cell wall makes fungi resistant to phagocytosis and killing
What does it mean that fungi can be shape shifters (virulence factor)
They can grow in different tissue forms to facilitate tissue invasion
