ETYMOLOGY AND FUNGAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Greek word: mukes → fungus
  • Logia → study
  • Study of fungus
  • Eukaryotic
    • True organisms; genetic material encased in a membrane
  • Facultative anaerobic/strictly aerobic
    • Acquire oxygen; some can survive without
  • Chemotrophic; nutrition by absorption
    • Survive with different chemicals; absorbs things
  • Non-photo-synthetic; achlorophyllos
    • Does NOT have chlorophyll / chloroplast
  • pH 5-6 (Acidic)
    • Survive in acidic areas
  • High sugar concentration favors growth
  • Break down dead or decaying matter
  • Food
    • Blue cheese → veins are Fungal Mycelia (molds)
    • Yeast is needed for the growth of bread
  • Therapeutics/Antimicrobials
    • Pencillium notatum → Penicillin
      • P. notatum is a member under Penicillium chrysogenum
      • P. rubens → The best source of Penicillin
    • Tolypocladium inflatum → Cyclosporin