Block C Microbiology

Most fungi are…..

……terrestrial, microscopic, and inhabit soil or dead plant matter

(examples of) Asexual spores

Conidia

(Examples of) sexual spores

ascospores and basidiospores

Brown rot (mechanism)

the cellulose is attacked preferentially, and the lignin is left unmetabolized

Systemic fungal pathogens are often referred to as ‘opportunistic’ because…

they normally live in the environment and humans become infected through contact with spores or mycelium

Aspergillosis is a disease primarily of

the lungs

The spitzenkörper is a fungal organelle located at

the hyphal tip

What polymer comprises fungal cell walls?

chitin

The most serious types of fungal infections

Systemic infections

A common mechanism in fungal diseases

hypersensitivity reactions

Many fungi produce what that can cause significant disease

Mycotoxins

Athlete’s foot is an example of what?

superficial fungal infection

All fungal infections can broadly be termed…

mycoses

Cutaneous candidiasis results from infection with

Candida albicans

Many pathogenic fungi are dimorphic, which means

They exist either in yeast or filamentous form

Histoplasmosis can be….

….subcutaneous

What is histoplasmosis?

an infection caused by a fungus that's often found in bird and bat droppings

Pneumocystis is often associated with which disease?

AIDS

Give an example of a good target for antifungal therapy

Ergosterol

Penicillin G is produced by which organism?

Penicillium chrysogenum

Lovastatin is made by which fungus?

Aspergillus terreus

Give four examples of industrial products that are produced by fungi

Antibiotics, Organic acids, Ethanol, Immunosuppressants

‘QuornTM’ is a meat substitute made of

Fusarium venenatum

Blue cheese is often made by use of

Penicillium roqueforti

Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus are examples of…

edible muchroom

What are ‘white rot’ fungi useful for?

Biodegradation

Give four examples of pollutants that can be degraded by fungi

Insecticides, Herbicides, Heavy fuels, Uranium oxides

Fungi can be used in agriculture to protect against

insects

Name a yeast that is used as a model organism for cell biology

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mycosis is…

..a disease caused by a fungus

Histoplasmosis, a fungal lung infection, is trasmitted by

airborne spores, often from bird or bat droppings

A example of an opportunistic fungal infection in AIDS patients is

Pneomocytosis, Cryptococcosis

Azoles and allylamines innhibit fungi by

interrupting ergosterol (cell membrane) synthesis

What is thhe causitive aget of ringworm

Microsporum

Bakinng yeast is

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

mycorrhizae are

fung thati live on the roots of the plants

White rot fungi digest

moist wood

Give an example of a product that uses acetic acid, produced by yeasts

Food additive (vinegar), component of cellulose acetate for photographic film, polyvinyl acetate for wood glue, synthetic fibres and fabrics ad as a descaling agents

The anntifungal agent griseofulvin is produced by

Penicillium griseofulvum

What type of fungus is Candida albicans?

Yeast

Candida albicans is known as dimorphic because….

It can grow in both unicellular and filamentous forms

Pneumocystis capsulatum is normally associated with which organ?

The Lung

Polyene antifungal drugs target which fungal cellular component?

Ergosterol

Superficial mycoses genrally affect the……

Skin

Jock itch affects the…..

genitals

Ringworm is a superficial infection caused by….

Microsporum fungi