Mycology

Recognize and discern how fungi differ structurally from bacteria

Fungi: Cell wall - Chitin + beta-glucan and long polymer of D-glucose / Cell Membrane - Ergosterol

Bacteria: Peptidoglycan / Cholesterol

Recognize and discern two fungal cell structures that are medically important

Chitin and Ergosterol - med important b/c antibiotics targeting peptidoglycan and cholesterol will not affect fungi

beta-glucan is the site of action of the antifungal drug caspofungin

ID the two types of fungi and recognize how they differ

Yeasts: Unicellular reproduction by budding, producing daughter cells with different sizes

Mold: Multicellular consisting of hyphae (long filaments) and reproduction via cell division producing daughter cells of equal sizes

ID the route of transmission and habitat of medically important fungi

ID four commonly used approaches to the laboratory diagnosis of fungal diseases

Direct Microscopic Examination

Medium Culture

PCR - DNA probe collection sample, fast ID of colonies

Seroligc Testing - blood sample to test serum for presence of antibodies and complement activation indicating infetion

ID what structures in fungi allow antifungal drugs to be effective

Drugs will either target the inhibition or altercation synthesis of chitin (cell wall) & ergosterol (cell membrane)

Recognize four categories of medical mycoses and list 1-2 examples of disease in each category

Cutaneous - Ringworm

Subcutaneous - sporotrichosis + mycetoma

Systemic - Histoplasmosis + Blastomycosis

Opportunistic - Candidiasis + Aspergillosis

Recognize the important clinical findings associated with Coccidioides, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Paracoccidioides

Clinical findings

Cocc - asymptomatic or symptomatic lung infection (fever, cough)

Hist - usually asymptomatic, Severe exposure - lung infections/lesions, bone involvement, coughing up blood/SOB/chest pain

Blast - usually self limiting and mild, spread to CNS, bones, joints, skin

Para - asymptomatic infection, oral mucous membrane lesion, lymph node enlargment

Recognize the definition of opportunistic fungi and ID the five genera of medically important fungi

Oppor - thrive in immunocompromised patients

1. Candida

2. Cryptococcus

3. Aspergillus

4. Mucus and Rhizopus