SNC4M - Fungi & Prions

Fungi

Yeasts, mold, mushrooms

Methylene blue

Stains dead yeast cells

Live yeast cells have an enzyme that breaks down methylene blue

Budding

How yeast asexually reproduces

Spores

How mold sexually reproduces

Hyphae

Filaments on mold

Mycoses

Fungal infection

Yeast cell organelles

Ethanol

Waste product of yeast and sugar

Superficial mycoses

Infection is localised to skin, hair and nails

Subcutaneous mycoses

Infection located under the skin

Systemic mycoses

Deep infection of internal organs

Tinea

Genus responsible for most superficial mycoses

Prion

Misshapen PrP protein

Function of PrP

• Cell to cell communication

• Cell to cell adhesion

• Possible involved with long term memory

PrPᶜ

Normal form of PrP protein

PrPˢᶜ

Infectious form of PrP protein

Recruitment

Prion binds itself to normal PrP proteins, transforming it into a prion

Method in which mammals get prions

Spontaneously & through ingestion

Chain of infection target #1

Susceptible host

Prophylaxis for prion disease (targets 1&2)

Do not engage in cannibalism

Do not eat meat containing brain or spinal cord matter

Chain of infection target #2

Means of transmission

Chain of infection target #3

Reservoirs

Preventing further infection (prion disease)

Quarantine and surveillance

Prion disease cannot be transmitted from human → human (unless cannibalism occurs)

Opportunistic fungi

Superficial mycoses (like thrush) can multiply rapidly - especially if the immune system is weak - and can cause systemic mycoses

Hygiene + prophylaxis for mycoses

Poor blood circulation

Dampness & humidity

Benefit of bacteria in fungal infections

Every part of the human body has good bacteria that protects from fungal infections

Level of acidity that prevents fungal infections

High acidity

Methods used to treat fungal infections

• Antifungal drugs

• oral tablets

• injections

• suppositories