Basic Mycology

RUSSELL G. PANEM, RMT

SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
CHINESE GENERAL HOSPITAL
COLLEGES
Mycology – study of fungi

Mycoses- fungal infections/diseases

Fungi represent a ubiquitous and diverse group of organisms the main
purpose of which is to degrade organic matter

All fungi lead a heterotrophic existence as saprobes, symbionts,

commensals or as parasites.
Fungal Taxonomy,
Structure and
Replication
The fungi are classified in Kingdom Fungi.

They are eukaryotic

Structures :
Cell wall
◦ Rigid cell wall composed of chitin and glucan
◦ Provides shape and support

Cell membrane
◦ typical lipid bilayer interspersed with protein
◦ Ergosterol is substituted for cholesterol as the major sterol component
◦ Acts as permeability layer and serves in transport
Contains variety of membrane bound organelles

Nucleus is bound by nuclear envelope

Within nucleus are nucleolus synthesizing riboomes and chromatin

body
Enoplasmic reticulum

Rough ER- contains ribosomes and acts as platform for protein synthesis

Smooth ER- functions for nutrient transport and macromolecular

storage
Mitochondria
Energy factories
The inner mitochondrial membrane contains electron transport chain
(ETC) which provides ATP for cellular function
Classification of Fungi
Molds
Occurs by production of multicellular filamentous colonies

Are multicellular organisms consisting of threadlike tubular structures,

called hyphae that elongate at their tips by a process known as apical
extension

Hyphae are either coenocytic (hollow and multinucleate) or septate

(divided by partitions or cross-walls)
The hyphae form together to produce a matlike structure called a
mycelium.

Mycelium is a mass of intertwined hyphae that accumulates during

active growth
Vegetative mycelium- grows into the medium or organic substrate and
functions as roots of plants

Reproductive mycelium
- the surface growth on agar plate usually show fluffy portion
- Contains reproductive spores and rarely seen in human host
The colonies formed by molds are often described as filamentous, hairy,
or woolly

When growing on agar or other solid surfaces, molds produce hyphae,

termed vegetative hyphae or substrate hyphae , that grow on or
beneath the surface of the culture medium and penetrate the
supporting medium and absorb nutrients
Hyphae that project above the surface of the medium, so-called aerial
hyphae. The aerial hyphae may produce specialized structures known
as conidia
The conidia may be produced by either a blastic (budding) process or a
thallic process, where hyphal segments fragment into individual cells or
arthroconidia.
Characteristics of Molds
- prefer neutral pH but can tolerate very acidic pH(2.0) to alkaline pH
(8.0)
- Prefer room temperature but can grow at freezing temperatures
Yeast
Unicellular, usually spherical to ellipsoid in shape and varying in
diameter from 3 um to 15 um.
Morphologically as a cell that reproduces by budding or by fission
where a progenitor or “mother” cell pinches off a portion of itself to
produce a progeny or “daughter” cell.
The daughter cells may elongate to form sausagelike pseudohyphae
Yeasts are usually unicellular and produce round, pasty, or mucoid
colonies on agar.
Yeast colonies are usually soft, opaque, 1-3mm in size and cream –
colored
Microscopically the organisms appear as oval structures similar to
bacterial cocci but much larger
A distinctive property of yeasts can be seen microscopically as budding
cells, the usual form of yeast reproduction
Capsule – seen by negative stain using India ink that cannot penetrate
the capsule
Fungal Metabolism
Most fungi are obligate aerobes

Some fungi are facultative anaerobes

Most fungi are saphrophytes

Fungal Growth
The usual habitat is the environment thus they grow best at lower
temperature
Fungi are usually cultured at 300 C
Media are usually designed to inhibit bacterial growth containing
minimal nutrients and antibiotics
Majority of fungi grow as either yeast or molds except dimorphic fungi
Fungal Reproduction
Fungi can reproduce both sexually and asexually

In the majority of fungi, asexual reproduction is the primary methods

2 processes of asexual reproduction
-Budding
-Sporulation
Budding
- the parent cell produce buds into daughter which daughter nuclei
migrate
- a septum is laid and daughter bud detaches
- common among yeast
Sporulation
- the parent cell produces asexual spores
- most common in molds (filamentous)
Types of Sporulation

1. Sporangiospores
2. Conidiospores
3. Blastospores
4. Arthrospores
5. Chlamydospores
Sporangiospores
Spores which develop within a sac at the hyphal tip
Conidiospores
- spores are produced at the tips or sides of hyphae
Blastospores
- spores are produced by budding directly off a vegetative cell
Arthrospores
- septate hypahe segments at cross walls. The resultants cells act as
spores
Chlamydospores
- Spores surrounded by a thick wall
Sexual Reproduction
1. Zygospores
2. Basidiospores
3. Ascospores
Zygospores
Spores remain attached to the hypha that fuse to create a spore
Fertile hyphae of 2 different strains fuse together
A diploid cell zygote is formed at he site of the fusion
Ascospores
Created and contained inside a fungal sac known as ascus
Some fungi (e.g. truffles) from large fruiting bodies to hold the
numerous asci
Basidiospores
Sexual spores formed on special club-shaped cells called basidia
Basidia can be found along the gills of mushrooms
Classification
Basis :
1. mode of sexual reproduction
2. phenotypic properties ( morphology & physiology)
3. Type of sporulation , size and shape and color of spores
Perfect fungi
Zygomycota (Zygomycetes)
Sexual reproduction- zygospore
Asexual reproduction- sporangia

Examples: Rhizopus, Absidia, Mucor

Ascomycota (Ascomycetes)
Sexual spores: ascospores
Aexual spores: conidia

Examples: Saccharomyces, Candida, Coccidioides, Blastomyces,

Trichophyton
Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
Sexual reproduction: basidiospores supported by basidium
Asexual reproduction: conidia

Examples: Mushrooms, Cryptococcus

Imperfect fungi
Deuteromycota
Majority of fungi involved in human disease
Do not have sexual state and nomenclature is based on asexual
reproduction
Asexual spores: conidia