Introduction to fungi &

Mycoses (form & structure)

PTM 4310

D. Mwenya
2016-2017
 Fungi

• Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that exist as

saprophytes.
• Some fungi are:
- Pathogenic.
- Commensals.
- Parasites.
 Characteristics of fungi
• Lacks chlorophyll.
• Cell wall contain chitin.
• Cell membrane contains sterols.
• Fungal cell contains membrane bound
organelles.
 Characteristics of fungi

• Have true nucleus.

• May be unicellular or multicellular.
• Reproduce asexually , sexually or both.
 Characteristics of fungi
(Spores)
• There are 3 types of sexual spores produced:
- zygospores, basidiospores, and ascospores.
• These spores form the basis of systematic
classification of fungi.
 Characteristics of fungi
(Spores)
• There are 2 types of asexual spores:
- Conidia: Naked spore (microconidia,
macroconidia) produced by transformation of
a vegetative yeast or hyphal cell.
•Athroconidia: Are produced by
fragmentation of hyphae.
- Sporangiospores: Are produced within a
sporangium.
 Fungi Classification

Fungi

• Morphological • Systematic
1. Yeasts 1. Zygomycetes
2. Molds 2. Ascomycetes
3. Dimorphic fungi 3. Basidiomycetes
4. Chytridiomycota
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 Morphological
classification of fungi

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 Yeasts
• Unicellular fungi which reproduce by
budding or fission e.g. Candida spp.
• Some yeasts produce capsules in-vivo
(capsulated yeast) e.g. Cryptococcus
neoformans.
• On culture - round, pasty, or mucoid
colonies on agar.
 Yeasts
• Reproduction method:
- Fission: Divide evenly to produce two new cells
(Schizosaccharomyces spp.).
- Budding: A small cell grows from the body of the
parent, breaks away and lives on its own
(Saccharomyces spp.).
 Yeast
• When budding off daughter cells may elongate
to form sauge-like pseudohyphae.
 Yeasts
Cryptococcus neoformans in India ink wet
preparation.
 Yeasts
• Gram stain of yeast cells.

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 Molds

• Molds are multicellular fungi consisting of

thread like structures called hyphae.
• Septate hyphae: Cells are divided by cross-walls
(septa).
• Coenocytic (Aseptate) hyphae: Long,
continuous multinucleated cells that are not
divided by septa.
Molds
 Molds
• Mycelium: Large, visible, filamentous mat-like
mass made up of tangled hyphae.
 Molds
• Colonies are filamentous, hairy, woolly.
 Molds/Filamentous fungi
• Form true mycelia &
reproduce by
formation of
different types of
spores. e.g. -
Rhizopus, Mucor
spp.
 Molds

• When growing on agar molds produce two types

hyphae:
- Vegetative haphae.
- Aerial hyphae.
 Dimorphic Fungi
• Can exist both as molds and yeasts e.g. Histoplasma
capsulatum.

• Dimorphism in pathogenic fungi typically depends

on temperature:
o
- At 37 C: Yeast form.
o
- At 25 C: Mold form.
Systematic classification
of fungi

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 Systematic classification

•Classification is based on reproduction method,

sexual spore formation, and genotype.
 Systematic classification of fungi of
medical importance
•Phyla containing most fungi of medical importance.
• Phylum Reproduction method
1 Zygomycota Perfect fungi: Have both sexual
2 Basidiomycota (teleomorph) and asexual
(anamorph) reproduction.
3 Ascomycota Contains both Perfect fungi &
Imperfect fungi
4 Deuteromycota Imperfect fungi: Reproduce
(artificial group; asexually (mitotic) only. Have
NOT a Phylum). no sexual reproduction.
 Zygomycetes
•Broad, sparsely
septate or non-
septate hyphae, with
non-parallel sides.
•Asexual spores -
Sporangiospores:
present within a
swollen sac-like
structure called
Sporangium.
 Zygomycetes
• Sexual spore is
called a
zygospores: A Hypha
resting, thick
walled cell in
between
hyphae.
• E.g. Rhizopus,
Mucor,
Absidia,
Saksenaea.
 Basidiomycetes

•Asexual: Some are yeasts, others filamentous

with athroconidia.
•Hyphae has characteristic clamp connections.
•Insert Figure
•Asexual: Some are yeasts, Basidiomycetes
others filamentous with
athroconidia.
•Sexual fusion results in
the formation of a club
shaped organ called base
or basidium which bear
spores called
basidiospores.
•E.g. Cryptococcus,
Malassezia,
Trichosporon, and.
 Ascomycetes

•Includes both yeasts (e.g. Saccharomyces,

Candida) & molds (Coccidioides, Blastomyces,
Penicillium).
•Narrow, septate hyphae.
•Asexual spores are called conidia borne on
conidiophore.
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 Ascomycetes
•Sexual spores called
ascospores are present
within a sac like
structure called ascus
(Pleural asci).
•Several asci may be
seen within a fruiting
body called
cleistothecium.
•Each ascus has 4 to 8
ascospores.
 Taxonomy of fungi of medical
importance
Taxonomic Disease Organism
Designation
Class: Zygomycetes Zygomycosis
Order: Mucorales Opportunistic Rhizopus,
Infections: burns, Mucor, Absidia,
leucaemia, diabetes, Saksenea
malnutrition,
rhinocerebral
infections
Order: Gastrointestinal & Basidiobolus,
Entomorphthorales Subcutaneous Conidiobolus
Infections
 Taxonomy of fungi of medical importance
Taxonomic Disease Organism
Designation
Class: Cryptococcosis Teleomorphs of
Basidiomycetes & other Cryptococcus,
numerous Malassezia,
mycoses. Trichosporon spp.

Class: Pneumocystis Pneumocystis

Achiascomycetes pneumonia jirovecii
Class: Numerous Teleomorphs of
Hemiascomycetes mycoses Candida spp.,
 Taxonomy of fungi of medical importance
Taxonomic Disease Organism
Designation
Class:
Euascomycete
s
Order: Aspergillosis Teleomorphs of
Eurotiales Aspergillus spp.
Order: Keratitis, & Teleomorphs of
Hypcreales invasive mycoses Fusarium spp.
Order: Pneumonia, Pseudallescheria
Microascales mycetoma, & (Teleomorphs of
 Taxonomy of fungi of medical importance
Taxonomic Disease Organism
Designation
Class:
Euascomycete
s
Order: Dermatophytoses, Arthroderma
Onygenales systemic mycoses (teleomorphs of
Trichophyton,
and
Microsporum);
Ajellomyces
(teleomorphs of
Mycoses

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 Fungal infections
• Fungal infections are mycoses and can be
classified according to type of tissue affected,
and pathogenicity of the fungi.
- Based on type of tissue fungi may affect the
skin or a body system.
- Based on pathogenicity fungi may be true
pathogens or opportunistic pathogens.
 Fungal infections
• Skin infections are classified as:
- Superficial infections.
- Cutaneous infections.
- Subcutaneous infections.
 Fungal infections
• Fungi which affect human body systems are
classified as systemic infection.
• Some systemic fungal infections are caused by
pathogenic fungi and others by opportunistic
fungi.
• In summary mycoses may be classified as
superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous,
systemic, or opportunistic infections.
•END

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