Yeasts

Yeast

A unicellular fungus that can be found in mucosal membranes of the human body and is important in the food industry.

Endogenous infection

An infection caused by organisms that normally live in the host's body.

Exogenous infection

An infection that originates from outside the body.

Colonization

Organisms are present but not dividing or invading tissues.

Infection

Organisms are active, dividing, and invading, showing signs of growth like pseudohyphae.

Pseudohyphae

A form of yeast that resembles hyphae but is characterized by being septated and constricted at points of attachment.

Germ tube

A slender, tubular outgrowth from a yeast cell that can aid in the identification of certain species like Candida albicans.

Candidiasis

An infection caused by yeast species, most commonly Candida albicans.

Invasive candidiasis

A severe form of candidiasis where the fungus invades internal organs.

Cryptococcus neoformans

An opportunistic fungal pathogen primarily associated with avian excreta, particularly pigeons, that can cause severe infections.

Biofilm

A cluster of microorganisms attached to a surface and embedded in a self-produced matrix.

Candida auris

An emerging multidrug-resistant yeast that causes serious infections and spreads easily in healthcare settings.

Antifungal medication

Drugs used to treat fungal infections, available in various forms like creams or intravenous formulations.

Nakaseomyces glabrata

A commensal yeast that can cause invasive candidiasis with a mortality rate that can be as high as 20-50%.

Candida tropicalis

A yeast that can be part of the normal flora but may cause invasive infections with considerable mortality rates.

Pneumocystis jirovecii

An opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals.

India ink test

A traditional method to detect encapsulated yeasts like Cryptococcus neoformans.

Carbohydrate assimilation test

A method to determine a yeast's ability to utilize carbohydrates as a carbon source.

Germ tube test

A laboratory test used to identify Candida albicans based on the formation of germ tubes.

MALDI-TOF

A technique used for the rapid identification of microorganisms based on mass spectrometry.