Fungal Diversity & Microbiome Lecture Notes

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes about fungal diversity and the microbiome.

Fungi

Organisms that belong to the domain Eukarya, distinct from plants and animals, characterized by chitin in cell walls.

Mycelium

The main body of a fungus, consisting of a network of hyphae.

Hyphae

The thread-like structures that make up the mycelium of a fungus.

Sporangium

A structure in fungi where spores are produced.

Eukaryote supergroup Opisthokonta

A group that includes animals, fungi, and certain protists.

Glycogen

A form of stored glucose in fungi, similar to its role in animals.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain their food by consuming other organisms, as fungi do.

Cryptomycota

A group of fungi that are believed to be among the earliest-diverging modern fungi.

Decomposers

Organisms, such as fungi, that break down dead organic matter.

Parasitic fungi

Fungi that extract nutrients from living hosts.

Penicillium mold

A genus of fungi that is a source of the antibiotic penicillin.

Yeast

Unicellular fungi used in fermentation and baking.

Septate hyphae

Hyphae that have septa (cross walls) dividing them into cells.

Aseptate hyphae

Hyphae that lack septa, appearing as a continuous cell.

Mycorrhizae

Mutualistic associations between fungi and plant roots.

AM fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic relationships with many plants.

Dikaryotic

A fungal stage where cells contain two nuclei, one from each mating type.

Ascomycetes

A class of fungi known as sac fungi, which include yeast and morels.

Basidiomycetes

A class of fungi known as club fungi, which include mushrooms.

Fruiting body

The reproductive structure of fungi that produces spores.

Zygospore

A thick-walled resting spore formed by the fusion of two compatible hyphae.

Symbiotic relationships

Interactions between different organisms, often beneficial to both.

Osmotrophy

Nutrition through the absorption of dissolved organic matter.

Antibiotic production in fungi

Fungi produce antibiotics to inhibit bacterial growth.

Lichen

A symbiotic association between fungi and photosynthetic organisms.

Microbiome

A collection of microbial communities living in and on a host organism.

Emerging viruses

Viruses that have recently appeared within a population or are rapidly increasing in incidence.

Zoonotic diseases

Diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans.

Vaccination

The process of exposing the immune system to an antigen to build protection.

Herd immunity

When a large percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, thereby protecting those who are not immune.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating spores in fungi.

Viral genome

The genetic material of a virus, which can be DNA or RNA.

Capsid

The protein coat surrounding a virus's nucleic acid.

Lytic cycle

A viral replication cycle in which the virus hijacks a host cell to produce new viruses, ultimately causing cell lysis.

Lysogenic cycle

A viral replication cycle wherein the virus integrates its DNA into the host's genome and can remain dormant.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)

A clinical procedure in which fecal matter from a healthy donor is transferred to a patient to restore gut microbiome balance.

Bacteriophage

A virus that specifically infects bacteria.

Curvularia protuberata

An endophytic fungus that provides heat tolerance benefits to host plants.

Bacterial microbiome

The community of bacteria that resides in a specific environment, such as the gut of an organism.

Pathogenic fungi

Fungi that cause disease in plants, animals, or insects.

Fungal spores

Reproductive units produced by fungi, often for asexual reproduction.

Fungal cell wall

Composed mainly of chitin, providing structure and protection to fungal cells.

Spore dispersal

The process through which fungi release spores to colonize new environments.

Chitin

A polysaccharide that forms the structural component of fungal cell walls.

Virulence

The degree of pathogenicity or ability of an organism to cause disease.

Alpha and beta diversity

Types of diversity in ecology; alpha refers to diversity within a particular area, while beta refers to diversity between different areas.

Endophyte

A fungus or bacterium that lives within a plant for part of its life cycle without harming the host.

Biological control

Using living organisms to suppress pest populations.

Microbial signaling

Chemical communication between microorganisms that can affect their behavior and interactions.

Capsid proteins

Proteins that make up the capsid, which protects the viral genetic material.