Opportunistic Mycoses

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to opportunistic mycoses, including definitions and characteristics of various pathogens.

Opportunistic Mycoses

A group of fungal infections that occur almost exclusively in immunocompromised patients.

Mucorales

A class of fungi characterized by large, ribbonlike hyphae that may be aseptate and produce sporangiospores.

Sporangium

The characteristic saclike fruiting structure of Mucorales that produces spores internally.

Sporangiophore

An erect structure that bears sporangia and sporangioles, can be covered with spines.

Cunninghamella spp.

A group of fungi known for species like Cunninghamella bertholletiae and Cunninghamella elegans.

Lichtheimia spp.

A genus of molds that can cause vascular invasion and has broad, ribbon-like hyphae.

Rhizoids

Root-like structures that play a role in the positioning of sporangiophores in Mucorales.

Mucor spp.

Fungi that are the most common Mucorales causing human disease, often involved in rhinocerebral mucormycosis.

Rhizopus spp.

A genus of fungi that are rapidly growing and commonly implicated in diabetic patients with ketoacidosis.

Syncephalastrum

A rare fungus sometimes confused with Aspergillus, noted for its erect sporangiophores.

Aspergillus spp.

The second most commonly isolated fungus that can cause diseases, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

Fusarium spp.

Fungi that cause keratitis and can produce macroconidia, typically banana-shaped.

Chrysosporium spp.

A group of fungi implicated in pneumonia and keratitis, characterized by simple conidia.

Geotrichum

Fungi implicated in pulmonary disease showing abundant arthroconidia formed from vegetative hyphae.

Cladosporium spp.

Fungi commonly isolated from nail specimens and associated with chronic sinusitis.

Curvularia spp.

Fungi typically found in grass and decaying vegetation, with crescent-shaped multicellular conidia.

Alternaria spp.

Fungi implicated in tomato rot with rapidly growing colonies in shades of gray to brown.

Ulocladium spp.

Fungi associated with traumatic inoculation, characterized by multicelled conidia.

Pithomyces spp.

Fungi producing pycnidia and associated with moderate rapid growth and gray-to-brown colonies.

Phoma spp.

Fungi that cause disease secondary to traumatic inoculation, producing barrel-shaped conidia.