Fungi

Classification Mycelium - Network of hyphae

5 Kingdom System (Whittaker, 1969)
- One of the 5 kingdoms which also includes
prokaryota, protista, plantae, and animalia
Three - Domain System of Classification
(Woese,1970s)
- Kingdom under domain Eukarya

Decomposers Saprophytes
• Decomposition • Absorbs
• Break Materials nutrients from
Yeasts
down dead or
▪ Unicellular
decaying
▪ Reproduces by budding
organic matter
▪ Common yeasts ferment sugar to alcohol,
breaks down simple sugar to CO2 and
Characteristic: H2O
- Gets nutrients from dead or decaying organic ▪ Good source of nutrient and vitamins
matter. ▪ Some human pathogens: C, Albicans and
- Found in soil, water and air. Cryptococcus neuformans
- Studied due to its benefits and effects on Moulds
humans. ▪ Often seen in water and soil
- Massive kingdom over 100,000 different ▪ Grow in forms of hyphae
species. ▪ Reproduction by spore
1. Parasite ▪ Used in antibiotic medications, penicillin
- cause disease in plants and animals ▪ Produces amylase, citric acids and other
- absorbs nutrients from tiny organisms organic acids
2. Saprophytes ▪ Also used for flavors in cheese
Fleshy Fungi
Difference from kingdom plantae & algae ▪ Collective term for fungi that are not
microorganisms
Fungi ▪ Includes mushrooms, toadstools,
1. No photosynthesis, No chlorophyll puffballs, and bracket fungi
2. Cell walls Medical Significance
- Chitin • If some fungi are used to manufacture
Plants medications
- Cellulose • There are also fungi that causes infectious
diseases
Types (size) Mycoses
• Macroscopic - Collective term for infectious diseases
• Microscopic caused by fungi

Rhizopus stolonifer - species of fungus

Cap types:
• Bag-like
• Umbrella-like
Stuctures
• Cap
• Stalk
• Hypa (hyphae)
Hyphae Types
(a) Septate hypa (b) Coenocytic hypha
- Has septum (aseptate hypha)

New Section 1 Page 1

 Fungi; Diseases

How do Fungi cause disease? Tinea Cruris Tinea

Unguium
Fungal pathogens cause disease by
- Red, ring- - Thickening
invasion and mechanical destruction of
like of the
tissues and/or obstruction of flow of
patches in ends of
bodily fluids.
the groin the nails
area and - Yellow
1. Dermatomycoses - Cutaneous,
inner color to
Hair, and Nail Mycoses
thighs, but the nails
Tinea or Ringworm Infection
not
- Caused by a group of moulds
scrotum
collectively referred to as
- Itching in
dermatophytes
the groin
- Tinea infections are named based
area
of the anatomy infected
- Pain in the
Pathogens
groin area
- Dermatophytes (e.g Microsporum,
Epidermophyton, and
Trichophyton)
Reservoirs and mode of transmission 2. Subcutaneous Mycoses - Sporotrichosis,
- Reservoir: Humans, animals, soil Chromomycosis, and Mycetoma
- Transmission: direct or indirect - Fungal infections of the dermis and underlying
contact with lesion tissues
Laboratory Diagnosis - Results from traumatic implantation of the mould
- Microscopic examinations of skin through the dermis into the subcutaneous tissue
scrapings, hair or nail clippings Sporotrichosis
- Culture - Caused by Sporothrix schenckii
- Often associated with gardeners and called "rose
cutters disease"
Tinea Pedis Tinea Tinea - Reservoir: soil and on plant matter such as
Corporis Capitis sphagnum moss, rose bushes, and hays
- Itchy, - Red, ring- - Red, scaly - Mode of transmission: contact with fungal spores
burning shaped rash on - Portal of entry: enters skin through a small cut or
rash on the patches the scalp scrape
feet with raised, - Itching of - Most commonly seen in hand and arms
- Whitening scaly edges the scalp Signs and Symptoms
and - Itching - Hair loss - Early: Usually a small, painless bump
breakdown on the - develops any time from 1 to 12
of the skin scalp weeks after exposure to the fungus
between - Enlarged - Bump will eventually grow larger and may look
the toes lymph like an open sore or ulcer that is very slow to heal
- Scaling of nodes Phaeohyphomycosis / Chromomycosis
the feet - Caused by various species of moulds
- Blisters on - often associated with Exophiala,
the feet Cladophialophora and Fonsecaea
- Reservoir: soil and wood
- Localized disease of skin presents with swelling,
Induration, or mass (history of trauma)

New Section 1 Page 2

 Fungi Diseases

Mycetomas
- Caused by various mould 5. Cryptococcosis
- Fungi may enter the body through a • Specifically: Cryptococcal
break in the skin, often on a person's Meningitis
foot • This disease starts as a lung
- The resulting infection causes firm, infection but spreads to the
usually painless but debilitating masses bloodstream to the brain
under the skin that can eventually affect • Causative agents: Cryptococcus
the underlying bone neoformans and Cryptococcus
- Reservoir: soil and water gatii
- Germ enter wound through wounds or • Both are encapsulated yeasts. The
other small injuries like thorn prick capsule cryptococcus to adhere to
- Does not spread between people (CDC, mucosal surfaces and avoid
2020) pathogenesis
Laboratory Diagnosis • Reservoir: pigeon nests; pigeons,
- Histologic examination of biopsy chicken.
specimen Turkey, and bat droppings
- Culture • Transmission: inhalation of yeasts
Treatment
- Surgery and Anti Fungals Signs and Symptoms
• Headache
3. Thrush • Nausea
- A yeast infection of the oral cavity • Vomiting
- Common in infants, elderly patients, • Mental changes, including
and immunosuppressed individuals confusion, hallucinations, and
- White creamy patches occur on the personality changes
tongue, mucous membranes, and • Lethargy
corners of the mouth • Sensitivity to light
- Causative Agent: Candida Albicans and
related species If left untreated:
- Reservoir: infected humans • Brain damage
- Mode of transmission: occurs by • Coma
contact with secretions or excretions of • Hearing loss
the mouth, skin, vagina, or feces of • Hydrocephalus, which is also
patients called "water on the brain"
- Also mother to neonate during
childbirth
Laboratory Diagnosis - microscopic
examination of wet mounts and by culture

Signs and Symptoms

- Slight bleeding if the bumps are scraped
- Soreness or burning in your mouth
- A cotton-like sensation in your mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- A bad taste in your mouth
- A loss of taste
Yeast Vaginitis
- Infection of the vaginal cavity
Signs and symptoms:
Vulvar pruritus (itching), a burning
sensation, dysuria and a white discharge
Vulvar erythema or rash sometime
occur

New Section 1 Page 3