Opportunistic Fungi (Exam 3)

Zygomycetes species

- Absidia

- Mucor

- Rhizopus

Absidia grow at a ______ rate.

rapid

Absidia microscopic

Pear shaped sporangia

Absidia macroscopic

Olive/gray

Cotton candy-like

Absidia disease

- Zygomycosis: Nose, face, brain, blood vessels, lungs, GI tract, skin

- Keratomycosis: Cornea

- Otomycosis: Ear infection

Mucor doesn't grow well at ______C.

37C

Mucor microscopic

Large, round sporangium

No rhizoids!!!

Mucor macroscopic

White/gray/brown

Fluffy

Mucor disease

- Zygomycosis: Nose, face, brain, blood vessels, lungs, GI tract, skin

- Keratomycosis: Cornea

- Otomycosis: Ear infection

Rhizopus has a ______ growth rate.

rapid (3 days)

Rhizopus microscopic

Spherical sporangia

Coarse rhizoids, spiked

Rhizopus macroscopic

White/gray

Cotton candy

Rhizopus disease

- Zygomycosis: Nose, face, brain, blood vessels, lungs, GI tract, skin

- Keratomycosis: Cornea

- Otomycosis: Ear infection

What are some risk factors associated with the Zygomycetes?

- Diabetes

- Immunosuppression

- Trauma, burns

- Malnutrition

- Prolonged use of broad-spectrum antibiotics

Curvularia macroscopic

Wooly

Gray/white, olive green

Black reverse

5 days

Curvularia microscopic

Branched twisted conidiophores

Alternaria macroscopic

Black reverse

5-7 days

Alternaria microscopic

Turkey drumsticks in chains

Aspergillus spp. cause the diseases ______.

fungus balls (lungs)

What are the S/Sx of fungus balls?

- Commonly asymptomatic

- Hemoptysis, cough, dyspnea, weight loss, chest pain

- Chronic S/Sx often confused with other pulmonary diseases

Aspergillus flavus macroscopic

Granular to wooly

Yellow/brown

Gold/red/brown reverse

3-5 days

Aspergillus flavus microscopic

Spiny conidiophores end in round vesicle

Aspergillus fumigatus macroscopic

3 days

White, gold/brown reverse

Aspergillus fumigatus microscopic

Long chains of conidia

Unbranched conidiophores with club-shaped vesicle

Aspergillus fumigatus causes ______ in the lungs.

fungus balls

Aspergillus niger macroscopic

White/yellow, wooly = young

Black/white, granular = mature

3 days

Aspergillus niger microscopic

Smooth conidiophores with spherical vesicles

Conidia are dark

Penicillium macroscopic

Powdery with radial grooves

White, red/brown reverse

4 days

Penicillium microscopic

Brush-like

Paecilomyces macroscopic

Flat, velvety/powdery

White/brown reverse

5 days

Paecilomyces microscopic

Long chains of conidia

Conidiophores are wispy

Scopulariopsis macroscopic

Powdery with grooves

Tan reverse

5 days

Scopulariopsis microscopic

Can be in chains, clusters, or on branches

Acremonium macroscopic

Young = yeast-like

Older = cottony

Colorless/pink reverse

Acremonium microscopic

Long delicate conidiophores

Balls of elliptical conidia

Fusarium macroscopic

4 days

Fusarium microscopic

Macroconidia are banana-shaped

Zygomycete direct smear

No extensions

Aspergillus spp. direct smear

Extensions

What are the groups of antifungal agents?

- Polyenes

- Azoles

- Echinocandins

- Allylamines

- Imidazoles

- Triazoles

- Griseofulvin

- Flucytosine

What are the Polyenes?

- Amphotericin B

- Nystatin

The Polyenes function via targeting the ______ in membranes.

ergosterol

What are the Imidazoles?

End in -azole

- Clotrimazole

- Miconazole

- Fluconazole

- Itraconazole

- Ketoconazole

The Imidazoles function via blocking the synthesis of ______.

ergosterol

Flucytosine is an ______.

anti-metabolite

Flucytosine inhibits ______, ______ and ______ synthesis.

DNA, RNA, protein

Griseofulvin affects ______.

mitosis/reproduction

Griseofulvin binds ______.

kertain

Griseofulvin is used orally against ______.

dermatophytes

Tolaftate is an ______.

allyamine

Tolaftate inhibits ______ synthesis.

ergosterol