Filamentous Fungi, Yeasts, and Pathogenic Fungi: Key Concepts and Pathogens

What are Filamentous Fungi (AKA MOLD)

mass of hyphae called mycelium

Chiten

Acrylated amino-polysaccharide, cell wall of fungi

Filamentous fungi trait

Expand by asexual division

Gametes

reproductive cells of mold, produce spores, fuzzy

Fungi are

Opportunistic pathogens

Single cell yeast advantage

Rapid growth, better in aqueous environment

Candida albicans (yeast)

Causes oral thrush/yeast infections from disrupted microflora - antibiotics

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast)

Bakers and brewers yeast

Candidozyma auris problems (yeast)

Global temp, agriculture and farming make it more prevalent in populated areas (infectious)

Saprophytic fungi

break down, recycle organic material

Cryptococcus neoformans causes

Lung infection, meningitis in immunocompromised individuals

Pnemocystis jirovecii

yeast like fungus, Inhalation leads to serious pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts, picked up from dust, dirt, respiratory droplets - can be asymptomatic

Dimorphic fungi

Form both as mold and yeasts

Dimorphic fungi cause

Immunocompromised people at highest risk and sometimes pets. Rarely healthy people usually requires they inhale a large number of spores.

Histoplasma species aka Histo, Blastomyces species aka Blasto, Coccidioides species

Histoplasmosis comes from 

Soil, infected feces from bats, or birds, and can cause respiratory issues.

Coccidioides causes

Valley fever

Blastomycosis infection

Inhaled spores from environment

Amebas are 

Voracious predators - consume protists and bacteria, can reach several mm in size

Two groups of amebas

Lobed - large pseudopods

Filamentous - needlelike pseudopods

Entamoeba histolytica

Serous intestinal illness in developing world, create cysts viable for many weeks, excyst into trophozoites in intestines, eat RBCs and proteins, transmit fecal-oral route

Ameba cysts

Spore like

Intestinal amebas

Severe cases invade lungs, Liver and other organs

Wheatley’s trichrome stain

Revels parasites among human cells and fecal matter

Amebic Dysentery 

Repeat infection leads to malabsorption - Entamoeba histolytica 

Naegleria Fowleri is

Meningoencephalitis - Brain eating amoeba

Acanthamoeba

Corneal infections - Keratitis

Legionella pneumophila 

causes legionellosis

Apicomplexans

Major group of parasites that infection humans and animals, Apical complex facilitates entry into host cell - Alveoli, pores, microtubules

Malaria

Plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium

Toxoplasmosis 

Toxoplasma gondii - manipulates fear response in mice

Malaria life cycle

Mosquito - liver - red blood cells - mosquito

Malaria cyclic fevers cause

Changes antibodies, WBCS eradicate first strain, second strain emerges - Antigenic Variation