Microparasitology - Mycology

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, organisms, diseases, diagnostics, and treatments discussed in the mycology lecture notes.

Mycology

The scientific study of fungi.

Fungi

Eukaryotic, non-photosynthetic organisms with rigid cell walls and ergosterol-containing membranes.

Eukaryotic

Having membrane-bound organelles, including a true nucleus.

Chitin

Polymer of N-acetyl-glucosamine that forms the rigid carbohydrate matrix of fungal cell walls.

Ergosterol

Sterol unique to fungal cell membranes; target of many antifungals.

Hyphae

Thread-like tubular structures composing a mold colony.

Septate Hyphae

Hyphae divided by cross-walls (septa).

Non-septate Hyphae

Hyphae lacking cross-walls; characteristic of lower fungi like Zygomycetes.

Pauci-septate

Hyphae that appear non-septate but have very few, small septa on close inspection.

Hyaline

Describes hyphae that lack pigment.

Dematiaceous

Darkly pigmented hyphae or spores.

Mycelium

Mass of branching hyphae forming the fungal colony.

Vegetative Mycelium

Substrate-anchoring portion of mycelium that absorbs nutrients.

Aerial Mycelium

Above-surface portion that produces reproductive spores.

Conidia

Asexual spores of molds, borne externally on hyphae or conidiophores.

Macroconidia

Large, complex conidia.

Microconidia

Small, simple conidia.

Chlamydoconidium

Thick-walled, large, round spore formed within or on hyphae.

Conidiophore

Specialized hyphal stalk that bears conidia.

Sporangiospore

Asexual spore produced inside a sporangium (sac).

Sporangium

Enclosed sac containing sporangiospores; typical of Zygomycetes.

Yeast

Unicellular, oval eukaryotic fungus reproducing mainly by budding.

Blastoconidia

Buds formed during asexual reproduction of yeasts.

Budding

Asexual process where a daughter cell forms as an outpouching of the parent yeast cell.

Pseudo-hyphae

Chains of elongated yeast cells resembling true hyphae.

Dimorphic Fungus

Fungus that grows as mold at 25 °C and yeast at 37 °C.

Opportunistic Fungus

Fungus that causes disease mainly in immunocompromised hosts.

Zygomycetes

Class with non-septate hyphae producing sexual zygospores and asexual sporangiospores.

Ascomycetes

Fungi with septate hyphae that form sexual ascospores inside an ascus.

Basidiomycetes

Fungi producing basidiospores on a club-shaped basidium.

Deuteromycetes (Fungi Imperfecti)

Fungi with only asexual reproduction known; septate hyphae.

Zygospore

Thick-walled sexual spore of Zygomycetes.

Ascospore

Sexual spore of Ascomycetes formed within an ascus.

Basidiospore

Sexual spore of Basidiomycetes formed on a basidium.

Conidiospore

General term for externally produced asexual spores (conidia).

Fermentation (Fungal)

Metabolic process used by yeasts to produce products like bread and beer.

Mycosis

Disease caused by infection with a fungus.

Superficial Mycosis

Fungal infection limited to the outermost skin and hair layers.

Cutaneous Mycosis

Infection of epidermis, hair, or nails by dermatophytes.

Subcutaneous Mycosis

Infection of deeper dermis or subcutaneous tissue acquired via trauma.

Deep/Systemic Mycosis

Fungal infection involving internal organs; may be pathogenic or opportunistic.

Tinea Versicolor

Superficial infection causing hypo-/hyper-pigmented patches; due to Malassezia spp.

Malassezia

Lipophilic yeast causing tinea versicolor; produces azelaic acid.

Azelaic Acid

Melanin-interacting metabolite from Malassezia leading to depigmentation.

Tinea Nigra

Brown macular palm/sole lesion caused by Hortea werneckii.

Hortea werneckii

Halotolerant dimorphic fungus responsible for tinea nigra.

Piedra

Nodular infection of hair shaft; exists as white (Trichosporon) or black (Piedraia) forms.

Trichosporon ovoides

Yeast causing white piedra.

Piedraia hortae

Dematiaceous fungus causing black piedra.

Woods UV Light

Long-wave UV lamp used to examine fluorescent fungal or bacterial skin infections.

Tinea Barbae

Dermatophyte infection of beard/mustache area; “barber’s itch.”

Tinea Corporis

Ringworm of the body.

Tinea Cruris

Jock itch; dermatophyte infection of groin.

Tinea Pedis

Athlete’s foot; infection of interdigital or plantar foot skin.

Tinea Unguium (Onychomycosis)

Fungal infection of nails.

Mycetoma (Madura Foot)

Chronic subcutaneous granulomatous disease of foot caused by actinomycetes or fungi.

Actinomycetoma

Bacterial form of mycetoma caused by aerobic actinomycetes.

Eumycetoma

Fungal mycetoma caused by filamentous fungi.

Chromoblastomycosis

Warty nodular skin infection by dematiaceous fungi with muriform cells.

Rhinosporidiosis

Granulomatous polypoid lesions of mucous membranes due to Rhinosporidium seeberi.

Rhinosporidium seeberi

Aquatic protist-like lower fungus causing rhinosporidiosis.

Histoplasmosis

Systemic mycosis from inhalation of Histoplasma capsulatum spores.

Histoplasma capsulatum

Dimorphic fungus living in soil; yeast forms replicate in macrophages.

Blastomyces dermatitidis

Dimorphic fungus causing systemic blastomycosis.

Candida

Genus of yeasts that are normal flora but opportunistic pathogens.

Candida albicans

Common Candida species causing thrush, vaginitis, and systemic candidiasis.

Oral Thrush

Creamy white lesions in oral cavity due to Candida overgrowth.

Vulvovaginitis

Candida infection of female genital tract with itching and discharge.

Cutaneous Candidiasis

Candida infection of moist skin folds; can lead to onychomycosis.

India Ink Test

Negative stain used to visualize capsules of Cryptococcus in CSF.

Cryptococcus neoformans

Encapsulated yeast causing meningoencephalitis, especially in HIV patients.

Meningoencephalitis

Concurrent inflammation of brain tissue and meninges.

Brudzinski Sign

Involuntary hip/knee flexion when neck is flexed; suggests meningeal irritation.

Kernig Sign

Back pain/resistance on knee extension with hip flexed; indicates meningitis.

Aspergillus fumigatus

Blue-green mold causing invasive aspergillosis.

Aspergillus flavus

Yellow-green mold; may produce aflatoxins.

Aspergillus niger

Black mold causing otomycosis and allergic disease.

Zygomycosis (Mucormycosis)

Rapidly progressive infection by Mucorales (Mucor, Rhizopus, Absidia) in diabetics/immunosuppressed.

Mucor

Zygomycete without rhizoids; causes rhinocerebral mucormycosis.

Rhizopus

Zygomycete with rhizoids at base of sporangiophores.

Absidia

Zygomycete with rhizoids between sporangiophores.

Amphotericin B

Polyene antifungal that binds ergosterol; used for severe systemic mycoses.

Itraconazole

Triazole antifungal effective against many systemic and cutaneous infections.

Flucytosine (5-FC)

Antimetabolite antifungal often combined with amphotericin B for cryptococcosis.

Nystatin

Topical/oral polyene antifungal for mucocutaneous Candida infections.

Selenium Sulfide

Keratolytic shampoo/ointment used in tinea versicolor and piedra.

Whitfield’s Ointment

Topical antifungal containing benzoic and salicylic acids for superficial mycoses.

REDA Mnemonic

Redness, Edema/Exudate, Discharge, Approximation—skin lesion description tool.

ABCDE Mnemonic

Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Elevation/Evolution—assesses pigmented lesions.