Medical Microbiology Specialties

OBJECTIVES
List and define additional areas of medical microbiology
specialization and study to include virology, mycology, and
parasitology.
Differentiate among parasites, fungi, viruses, and prions.
Relate diseases caused by parasites, fungi, viruses, and
prions.
Describe medical treatments for microbial infections related
to parasites, fungi, viruses, and prions
 VIROLOGY
iIs the branch of science that studies viruses
 VIRUS

A. © 2016 Cengage Learning®; B. © Michael Taylor/Shutterstock.com

A. Schematic representation of a virus

. B. The human papillomavirus (HPV)
 PARASITOLOGY

Is the branch of
science that studies
parasites
 A segmented portion of a
tapeworm with ova (eggs)
contained within the segments.
© Jubal Harshaw/Shutterstock.com
PARASITOLOGY
Protozoa

Helminths
Ectoparasites
 Mycology
Is the study of fungi.
Types of fungi.
A. Mushrooms and
toadstools. B. Grass
mold. C. Mold on
bread D. Penicillin.
A. © Christopher Elwell/Shutterstock.com.; B. © Sarah2/Shutterstock.com.; C.
© RoyStudio.eu/Shutterstock.com. D. © Christopher Meade/Shutterstock.com.
 Mycology

Examples of various
fungal diseases.
A. Toenail fungus.
B. Yeast infection of
armpit.
C. Tinea imbricata, a
fungal infection called
“Tokelau.”
A. © deepspacedave/Shutterstock.com.; B. © Rob Byron/Shutterstock.com.; C. Source: CDC/K. Mae Lennon, Tulane Medical School;
Clement Benjamin
 Prions
Infectious agents that are in a class all by
themselves. They are unique in that they are
infectious proteins that lack nucleic acid.
Another distinguishing feature is their
resistance to a number of routine sterilization
techniques.