Fungi, Algae, & Protists Lecture Review

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering classification, structure, ecology, diseases, toxins, and notable examples of fungi, algae, and protozoa discussed in the lecture.

Into which kingdom are unicellular eukaryotes such as algae and protozoa grouped?

Protista

What is the scientific study of fungi called?

Mycology

What term describes diseases caused specifically by fungi?

Mycoses

What is a mycotoxicosis?

An illness caused by inhalation or ingestion of mycotoxins produced by fungi

What are true fungi’s primary mode of reproduction?

Both sexual and asexual reproduction

Which polysaccharide typically composes fungal cell walls?

Chitin

What ecological role do most fungi play in nature?

Major decomposers (saprophytes)

Give two medically important antibiotics produced by fungi.

Penicillin and griseofulvin

Name one major negative impact fungi have on agriculture.

They cause major plant diseases

What nutritional strategy describes fungi that obtain nutrients from decaying organic matter?

Saprophytic nutrition

Which facultative yeast commonly causes vaginal and oral infections?

Candida albicans

How do yeasts reproduce asexually under nutrient-rich conditions?

By budding

Why do yeasts switch to sexual spore production?

To survive less favorable conditions and increase genetic diversity

What is the general structure of a mold’s body called?

Mycelium (a mass of hyphae)

What is YM dimorphism in fungi?

Ability to switch between yeast (Y) and mold (M) forms based on environment, often temperature

In animal infections, which form does a dimorphic fungus display inside the host?

Yeast form

What fungal structure aids long-distance dissemination during hard times?

Spores

Why are fungal spores often brightly colored or fluffy?

Their appearance helps identify genus and aids wind dispersal

What toxin-containing fungal structure infects rye and is linked to ergotism?

Ergot, produced by Claviceps

Which mycotoxin from Aspergillus species is highly carcinogenic to the liver?

Aflatoxin

What historical event is theorized to involve ergot-contaminated rye?

The 1692 Salem Witch Trials

Which drug family was accidentally discovered while trying to derive circulatory drugs from ergot?

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

What airborne mold is associated with “sick building syndrome”?

Stachybotrys (black mold)

Which disease mimics tuberculosis on X-ray and is endemic to the Ohio & Mississippi River valleys?

Histoplasmosis (Histoplasma capsulatum)

What common respiratory mycosis results from inhaling spores yet rarely affects immunocompetent people?

Aspergillosis

What are photoautotrophic protists with cell walls and chloroplasts called?

Algae

What term refers to toxic chemicals synthesized by algae?

Phycotoxins

Which dinoflagellate causes red tides and produces airborne brevetoxins?

Karenia brevis

Name the dinoflagellate that releases a neurotoxin causing irreversible neurological damage in humans.

Pfiesteria piscicida

Which toxin causes paralytic shellfish poisoning?

Saxitoxin

Which algal toxin causes amnesic shellfish poisoning?

Domonic acid

What flexible protein-based covering replaces a cell wall in protozoa?

Pellicle

What organelle in protozoa expels excess water like a primitive kidney?

Contractile vacuole

What dormant, resistant structure allows protozoa such as Giardia to survive harsh conditions?

Cyst

What is encystation?

Formation of a cyst in response to adverse conditions

What is the vegetative stage emerging from a protozoan cyst called?

Trophozoite (through excystation)

Which double-membrane organelle in some anaerobic protozoa produces H₂ and ATP instead of using mitochondria?

Hydrogenosome

Name the two notable protozoan parasites that contain hydrogenosomes.

Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis

What is the most frequently reported protozoan infection worldwide, often called “beaver fever”?

Giardiasis caused by Giardia lamblia

Which waterborne parasite is highly resistant to chlorine and led to the 1993 Milwaukee outbreak?

Cryptosporidium

Which protozoan is nicknamed the “brain-eating amoeba” and causes PAM after entering through the nose?

Naegleria fowleri

What is the definitive host for Toxoplasma gondii?

Cats

Why should pregnant women avoid changing cat litter?

Risk of contracting Toxoplasma gondii, which can cause miscarriage

How is Trypanosoma cruzi typically transmitted to humans?

Feces of the kissing bug contaminating the bite site or mucous membranes

What chronic conditions are associated with Chagas disease?

Heart and digestive tract disease

Which sandfly-borne protozoan causes cutaneous and visceral ulcers in soldiers and travelers?

Leishmania species

What protozoan genus causes malaria by infecting red blood cells?

Plasmodium

Which mosquito vector transmits malaria?

Female Anopheles mosquito

What historical beverage was developed to help British soldiers ingest quinine?

Gin and tonic

What is saproxylic nutrition in fungi?

Obtaining nutrients from decaying wood (a form of saprophytic nutrition)

What asexual process allows mold fragments to grow into new individuals?

Fragmentation of the mycelium

Why are hydrogenosomes absent in organisms living long aerobic lifestyles?

They evolved as adaptations to anaerobic environments and do not coexist with mitochondria

How can urinalysis be used in mycotoxin exposure?

Detection of mycotoxins or their metabolites in urine

Which mold toxin category can remain harmful even after spores are killed?

Satra toxins from Stachybotrys

What feature distinguishes protozoa from algae and fungi regarding cellular structure?

Lack of a true cell wall

Which two U.S. river regions have high endemic rates of Histoplasmosis and dimorphic fungi?

Ohio and Mississippi River regions

What shellfish-related illness involves airborne toxin exposure as well as ingestion?

Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning from brevetoxin during red tides

What is the mechanism behind hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by black mold?

Combined allergic response plus toxin production in lungs

Which fungal metabolite derivatives remain clinically useful for migraines and postpartum hemorrhage control?

Ergotamine derivatives (e.g., cabergoline)