MYCOLOGY

BASIC MYCOLOGY

I. STRUCTURES & GROWTH

FUNGI – multicellular heterotrophic members of the plant kingdom that lack roots & stems & are referred
to as THALLOPHYTES
- bec fungi are eukaryotic organisms whereas bacteria are prokaryotic they differ in several
fundamental respects (Table 47-1)

** Eukaryotes ** Prokaryotes
- larger ribosomes (80s) - smaller ribosomes (70s)
- possess a true nucleus w/ nuclear membrane - noncompartmentalized
- compartmentalized (w/ membrane bound organelles) - ex. Bacteria
-ex. Fungi, algae, viruses, protozoa, animal & plant cells

2 Fungal cell structures are important medically:

1. the fungal cell wall consists primarily of chitin (not peptidoglycan as in bacteria); thus fungi are insensitive
to antibiotics such as penicillin, that inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis
2. the fungal cell membrane contains ergosterol & symosterol, in contrast to human cell membranes, w/c
contain cholesterol

2 Types of fungi:
1. yeasts = grow as single cells that reproduce by asexual budding
2. molds = grow as long filaments (hyphae) & form a mat (mycelium)

THALLUS = actively growing vegetative portion

HYPHAE = filaments or threadlike fungal structures
A. septate hyphae – when hyphae form transverse walls
B. nonseptate hyphae – doesn’t form a transverse wall & are multinucleated (coencytic)
MYCELIA (MYCELIUM) = mass or group of countless intertwined hyphae
* TWO TYPES OF MYCELIA *
1. Aerial mycelium – that part of the growth that projects above the surface of the substrate &
produce the spores
2. Vegetative mycelium – that part of the growth that penetrates the substrate & absorbs food

@ Several important fungi are thermally DIMORPHIC (they form different structures at different temp.)
 exist as molds in the saprophytic, free-living state at ambient temp
 as yeasts in host tissues at body temp
@ Most fungi are obligate aerobes, some are facultative anaerobes; but NONE are OBLIGATE
ANAEROBES.
@ ALL fungi REQUIRE a preformed organic source of CARBON, hence their frequent association w/
decaying matter.
@ Normal habitat of fungi is the ENVIRONMENT; except Candida albicans (w/c is a part of human
normal flora)
SPORES – structure set aside for reproduction
* KINDS OF SPORES *
1. SEXUAL SPORES - some fungi reproduce sexually by mating & forming sexual spores
* Fungi that exhibit a sexual phase are called perfect fungi & those that don’t form sexual spores
are termed “imperfect” & are classified as Fungi imperfecti.
A. Ascospores = sexual spores contained/formed in special sacs called asci (ascus)
B. Basidiospores = sexual spores formed externally at the end of club-shaped structures
called basidia (basidium)
C. Zygospores = formed by conjugation between two morphologically identical cells; are
single large spres w/ thick wall
D. Oospores = sexual spores formed by heterogenous fertilization
2. ASEXUAL SPORES – must fungi of medical interest propagate asexually by forming CONIDIA
(asexual spores) from the sides or ends of specialized structure (Fig. 47-1)
- some important conidia:
A. Blastospores = buds formed by a process of sprouting from the surface of the parent
cell (ex. Candida, Cryptococcus)
B. Arthrospores = spores resulting from a hyphae fragmentized into individual cells & are the
mode of transmission of Coccidioides immitis
(ex. Coccidioides)
C. Chlamydospores = large, round, thick-walled unicellular structures formed by the
enlargement of a hyphal cell & quite resistant (ex. Candida albicans)
D. Sporangiospores = are formed w/in a sac (sporangium) on a stalk by molds such as
Rhizopus & Mucor
@ CONIDIA – asexual spores produced singly or in groups by specialized vegetative hyphal strands called
conidia spores
1. Macroconidia or Fuscaux – large, spindle-shaped or club-shaped bodies divided into 2 or
more cells by septa
2. Microconidia – small, unicellular, round, elliptical or pyriform shaped conidia

PHIALIDE – a flask-shaped projection from the mycelium of certain fungi

PENICILLUS – a brush-like structure arising from conidia spores

@ Though we focus on the fungi that are human pathogens, it should be remembered that fungi are used in the
production of important foods (ex. bread, cheese, wine, & beer). Fungi are also responsible for the spoilage of
certain foods, fruits, grains, vegetables, & jams, bec molds can grow in a drier, more acidic, & higher osmotic
pressure environment than bacteria.

II. PATHOGENESIS
 Granulomas = is the form/response to infection w/ many fungi; are produced in the
major systemic fungal diseases
= involves a cell-mediated immune response w/c is suppressed
 DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITY SKIN TEST response to certain fungal Ags injected
intradermally
= a (+) skin test indicates exposure to the fungal Ag not a current infection
 Fungi do not have endotoxin in their cell walls & do not produce bacterial-type exotoxins
 Intact skin is an effective host defense against certain fungi
 Fatty acids in the skin inhibit dermatophyte growth
 Hormone-associated skin changes at puberty limit ringworm of the scalp caused by Trichophyton
 Normal flora of the skin & mucous membranes suppress fungi = when NF are inhibited
ex by antibiotics, overgrowth of fungi such as C. albicans can occur
= mucous membrane of the nasopharynx trap inhaled fungi

@ The transmission & geographic locations of some important fungi are described in Table 47-2:
III. FUNGAL TOXINS & ALLERGIES
 In addition to mycotic infections, there are 2 other kinds of fungal disease:
1. mycotoxicoses = caused by ingested toxins
= among the most potent hepatotoxins: a) amanitin
b) phalloidin
= ergotism is an mycotoxicosis caused by mold Claviceps purpura
= aflatoxins, an ingested toxins produced by Aspergillus flavus, that cause liver damage
& tumors in animals & human hepatic carcinoma

2. allergies = to fungal spores

= are manifested primarily by an asthmatic reaction (rapid bronchoconstriction mediated
by IgE), eosinophilia, & a “wheal & flare” immediate skin test rxn

IV. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

@ 3 Approaches to lab diagnosis of fungal diseases:

1. direct microscopic examination = specimen used are sputum, lung biopsy material, & skin
scrapings depends on the finding characteristic asexual spores, hyphae, or yeasts in the
light microscope
= the specimen is either treated with 10% KOH to dissolve tissue material, leaving the
alkali-resistant fungi intact
= stained w/ special fungal stains
= diagnostically important findings made by direct examination are:
A. the spherules of Coccidioides immitis
B. the wide capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans seen in India Ink preparation of spinal
fluid

2.culture of the organism = fungi are frequently cultured on Sabouraud’s agar

3.serologic tests = test for the presence of Abs in the patient’s serum or spinal fluid are useful in
diagnosing the systemic mycoses; but less so in diagnosing other fungal infections
= a significant rise in the Ab titer must be observed to confirm a diagnosis
= complement fixation test is most frequenly used
= in cryptococcal meningitis, the presence of the polysaccharise capsular Ags of
Cryptococcus neoformans in the spinal fluid can be detect by the latex agglutinatiojn test
V. ANTIFUNGAL THERAPY
@ Amphotericin B = most important antifungal drug; used in the treatment of a variety of
disseminated fungal diseases