Fungi

Lecture 4

Mycelium (pl. Mycelia)

Collection of single strands called hyphae

Septate Hypha

Separation between cells in hyphae

Coenocytic hypha

No separation between cells in hyphae

Fungi Reproduction

Via. Asexual (conidia) and sexual spores

Enzymes that breakdown spores

Cellulases, hemicellulases, ligniases, polygalacturonases, xylanases

Chytridionmycota

Motile spores found in soils and freshwater, gametes are produced and released, often parasites that target hosts using chemotaxis

Batrachochytrium

Use frogs as a host, penetrates tissues and kills them via heart attack

Zygomycota

Weeds of fungal world, poor competitors, use simple sugars, both asexual and sexual spores to reproduce.

Glomermycota

Mutualists with plants (specifically roots) and exchange nutrients

Arbuscutar Mychorrhizae (AM)

Intracellular nutrient exchange with hyphae, form vesicles for lipid storage

Ectomycorrhizae

intercellular hyphae, common in woody plants

Ascomycota

Largest fungal group, formation of ascus where 8 sexual spores are produced. Includes human + plant pathogens (penicillium and black mold!)

Aspergillus

aflatoxin production (a carcinogen) metabolizes to cause liver damage, found in peanut butter and corn

Stachybotrys

Black mold, cellulose as carbon source, inhaled + produces toxins

Atranones

Within Stachybotrys, inflammatory and cytotoxic

trichothecenes

within Stachybotrys, inhibit protein synthesis

Yeast

unicellcular saccaromyces (budding yeast) for bread and wine! Causes yeast infections and changes to filamentous (more cells) at human body temperature

Basidomycota

Mushroom formers, breaks down wood, very strong plant pathogens. Sexual and Asexual production, sexual results in mushroom that releases spores

Basidium

structure that produces spores

White Rot

Breaks down lignin, wood is left soft + spongey

Soft Rot

Breaks down cellulose, leaves wood soft and cubed

Brown Rot

Breaks down cellulose + hemicellulose, leaves wood hard

Rusts

2 hosts, 5 spore types (puccinia graminis)

Smuts

1 host, 1 spore type (ustilago maydis) produces plant hormones and changes from white to gray as spores develop

Cryptococcus

Within Basidiomycetes, associated with birds nests, yeast sticks to lungs after inhilation, germinates and leads to meningitis

Armillaria Root Disease

Within Basidiomycetes, largest organism on earth (10km²)

Antibiotics

Founded by Alexander Flemming in 1929 after leaving petry dish of staphylococcus, colony of penicillium contaminated plate stopping staph growth.