Mushrooms Prelim 2

Why are trees hard to infect and kill?

Trees are strong, have bark as armor, and actively fight infections

What are the main functions of xylem and phloem?

Xylem transports water (roots to leaves); phloem transports sugar (leaves to roots)

What is wilt disease?

Plugs xylem, preventing water from reaching leaves, causing browning

What are the three main types of tree diseases?

Wilt diseases, canker diseases, rot diseases

What is dutch elm disease?

a wilt disease caused by a fungus carried by beetles

How does global trade affect tree diseases?

It increases the spread of foreign pathogens to trees with no natural resistance

What are the four requirements for a fungus to infect humans?

Grow at body temperature, enter the body, evade the immune system, and consume human tissue

What are the three types of fungal infections?

Superficial (on surface), Subcutaneous (under skin), and systematic (throughout the body)

What is Coccidiodomycosis (Valley fever)?

A fungal disease caused by inhaling spores from soil in the Southwest US and Mexico

What are common anti fungal drugs?

Amphotericin B and Azole drugs which target fungal cell membranes

What is fungal meningitis?

A deadly infection caused by contaminated steroid injections in 2012

What are statins, and how do they work?

Drugs that lower cholesterol, discovered from fungi; they reduce “bad cholesterol”

How was penicillin discovered?

By Alexander Fleming in 1928, it kills bacteria by inhibiting cell wall formation

What is cyclosporine A?

A drug from fungi used to prevent organ transplant rejection by surprising the immune system

What is insulin production using yeast?

Human insulin genes are inserted into yeast, which then produces insulin for diabetics

What is ergotism?

A disease caused by consuming ergot-contaminated grain, leading to hallucinations or gangrene

What are the two types of ergotism?

Gangrenous (vasoconstriction) and convulsive (hallucinations, seizures)

What is LSD, and how is it related to ergot?

LSD is a psychedelic drug derived from ergot alkaloids, discovered by Albert Hoffman

How was ergot used historically?

In midwifery to induce childbirth or abortions, and to treat migraines

What is the role of yeast in fermentation?

yeast converts sugars into alcohol and CO2 through anaerobic respiration

What is the difference between ales and lagers?

Ales use top-fermenting yeast at warmer temps; lagers use bottom-fermenting yeast at cooler temps

What is malted barley?

Barley that has been germinated and roasted to convert starches into sugars for brewing

What are hops used for in beer?

Hops add bitterness, flavor, and act as a preservative

What is Koji, and how is it used?

A mold (Aspergillus orzyae) used to ferment soy sauce, miso, and sake

How is cheese made using fungi?

Fungi like penicillin are added to curdled milk to create flavors and textures (ex: blue cheese)

What is Quorn?

A meat substitute made from mycoprotein, a fungus (Fusarium)

What is citric acid, and how is it produced?

An acid used in food and industry, produced by aspergillum niger through fermentation

What do oyster mushrooms eat?

Cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from wood or substrates like straw

What is corn smut, and why is it considered a delicacy?

A fungal disease of corn that forms galls; it’s high in lysine and beta-glucans

What are the signs and symptoms of powdery mildew?

White mycelial growth on leaves (asexual stage) and black fruiting bodies (sexual stage)

How does the Dutch Elm disease spread?

Through beetles that carry fungal spores from infected to healthy trees

What is oak wilt, and how does it spread?

a fungal disease that plugs xylem, spread by beetles or root connections

What causes Beech Bark disease?

A combination of beech scale insects and Nectria fungi

What is Chytridiomycosis?

a fungal disease that has caused massive amphibian declines worldwid

What is white nose syndrome, and how does it affect bats?

A fungal disease that disrupts bat hibernation, leading to energy depletion and death

what are the harmful effects of ergot?

Muscle spasms, hallucinations, gangrene, and miscarriage

What are dermatophytes, and what do they eat?

Fungi that infect the skin, causing athlete’s foot, ringworm, and jock itch

What is Rapid Ohia Death?

A deadly disease in Hawaiian Ohia trees caused by Certocystis fungi

How do humans contribute to tree diseases?

By stressing trees (planting too close), transporting firewood, and climate change worsening fungal spread

What is dimorphism in fungi?

Some fungi can switch between yeast (in warm environments) and hyphae (in cool environments)

What is Exserohilum, and why is it dangerous?

A fungus that normally eats grass but can infect humans if it enters the spinal fluid through contaminated injections

What is the role of fungi in producing insulin?

Human insulin genes are inserted into yeast, which then produces insulin for diabetic people

What is the significance of Penicillium in antibiotic production?

Penicillium molds produce penicillium, the first antibiotic that revolutionized medicine by killing bacteria

What is cordycepin,, and where is it found?

A compound from Ophiocordyceps sinuses (Himalayan fungus) with stamina-boosting and immunomodulating effects

What is the connection between ergot and witchcraft?

Symptoms of ergotism (hallucinations, spasms) were often mistaken for witchcraft in historical outbreaks

What is the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002

A law that identifies high-risk plant and animal pathogens to prevent their use in bioterrorism

what is the role of fruit flies in spreading yeast?

Fruit flies carry yeast from fruit to fruit, aiding in fermentation and disperal

What is Pruno, and how is it made?

a prison-made alcoholic drink fermented from rotting fruit, sugar, and bread using wild yeast

What is mycelium bacon?

A plant-based bacon alternative made from fungal mycelium, developed by MyForest Foods

What is pullulan, and how is it used?

A fungal slime used as edible plastic or gel, found in products like Listerine strips

What are the steps to diagnose a plant disease?

Identify symptoms, check for signs, ask about growing conditions, and conduct lab tests

What is a symptom?

the plant’s reaction to a pathogen — yellowing, wilting, stunted growth

What is a sign?

the visible presence of the pathogen itself — fungal mycelium or fungal spores