1

DIMORPHISM
-Dimorphic fungi can grow in >1 form under diff environmental conditions Factors of morphogenesis:
-Several systemic fungal pathogens exhibit either yeast & filamentous forms 1. Nutrients
(dimorphic) 2. CO2
Example: Thermal Dimorphism 3. cell density
▪️ moulds: 25-30 deg C 4. age of culture
▪️ yeasts: 35-37 deg C 5. combination of these factors
Ex: Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum, Penicillium marneffei
2 POLYMORPHISM
-Polymorphic fungi have both yeast & mold forms in same culture.
-Best observed in Exophiala spp (yeast phase ---- mold phase) C. albicans
-C. albicans is also polymorphic – w/ 4 major morphologies: Exophiala
yeast, hyphae, pseudohyphae, chlamydospores

SUBCELLULAR STRUCTURE
1.Capsule 2.Cell Wall
▪️ External coating of slime or more compact capsule Cell wall composed of:
▪️ Composed of amorphous polysaccharides that may be mucilaginous & cause cells ▪️ CHITIN – polysaccharide made up of long chains of N-acetylglucosamine
to adhere & clump together ▪️ BETA-GLUCAN – long polymer of D-glucose;
▪️ Capsular polysaccharides of different species vary in: site of action of antifungal agent capsofungin caspofungin
-

- Quantity ▪️ Chitosan, cellulose, α-glucan & mannan chitosan: deacetylation: chitin deacetylase
- Chemical composition Cell wall is: outer ·

- Antigenicity ▪️ Thicker in yeasts (200-300 nm) than in molds (200nm)

- Physical properties – viscosity & solubility ▪️ Highly refractile under light microscopy
▪️ May influence growth of fungus by preventing dissociation of buds from yeast cells Fx:
or dispersion of yeasts in air or water 1. Provides rigidity & strength
▪️ Capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans has antiphagocytic properties 2. Protects cell from osmotic shock
3. Determines fungal shape (impt in morphogenesis)