FUNGI

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Mycology: The Study of Fungi
Fungi
 FUNGI
 Chemoheterotroph,
aerobic (molds) or
facultatively anaerobic
(yeasts).
 Mycology is the study of
fungi.
 # of serious fungal
infections is increasing.
 Most fungi are
decomposers, a few are
parasites of plants and
animals.
 Characteristics of Fungi
 Hyphae: Filaments of cells,
mostly septate
 Mycelium: Mass of hyphae.
 Fungal spores differ from bacterial spores. Form
from aerial hyphae.
 Growth in acidic, low-moisture, high osmotic
pressure environments.
 Metabolize complex carbohydrates ( e.g.: lignin).
 Molds
 The fungal thallus consists of hyphae; a mass
of hyphae is a mycelium.

Figure 12.2
 Yeasts
 Unicellular fungi
 Fission yeasts divide symmetrically
 Budding yeasts divide asymmetrically
 Dimorphism
 Pathogenic
dimorphic fungi
are yeastlike at
37°C and
moldlike at
25°C
 Asexual Spores
 Sporangiosphore
 Conidiospore
 Arthrospore
 Blastoconidium

 Chlamydospore
Conidiospores
 Sexual Reproduction
 Plasmogamy: Haploid donor cell nucleus (+)
penetrates cytoplasm of recipient cell (–).
 Karyogamy: + and – nuclei fuse.
 Meiosis:Diploid nucleus produces haploid
nuclei (sexual spores).
 Sexual Spores
 Zygospore: Fusion of haploid cells produces
one zygospore.
 Sexual Spores
 Ascospore: Formed in a sac (ascus).
 Sexual Spores
 Basidiospore: Formed externally on a pedestal
(basidium).
Basidiomycete Life Cycle

Figure 12.8
 Anamorphs
 Teleomorphic fungi
 Produce sexual and asexual spores.
 Anamorphic fungi
 Produce asexual spores only.
 rRNA sequencing places most in Ascomycota; a few are
Basidiomycota.
 Penicillium
 Sporothrix (subcutaneous mycosis)
 Stachybotrys, Coccidioides, Pneumocystis (systemic mycoses)
 Candida albicans (Cutaneous mycoses)
 Ascomycota
 Sac fungi
 Septate
 Produce ascospores and frequently conidiospores.
 Aspergillus (opportunistic, systemic mycosis)
 Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum
(systemic mycoses)
 Microsporum, Trichophyton (cutaneous mycoses)
Ascomycete Life Cycle

Figure 12.7
 Zygomycota
 Conjugation fungi
 Coenocytic
 Produce sporangiospores and zygospores
 Rhizopus, Mucor (opportunistic, systemic
mycoses)
Zygomycete Life Cycle
 Oomycota
 Water molds
 Cellulose cell walls
 Multicellular
 Chemoheterotrophic
 Produce zoospores
 Decomposers and plant parasites
 Phytophthora infestans responsible for Irish potato blight
 P. cinnamomi infects Eucalyptus.
 P. ramorum causes sudden oak death.
 Economic Effects of Fungi
Fungi Positive Effects Negative Effects
Saccharomyces Bread, wine, beer Food spoilage

Trichoderma Cellulose used for Cryphonectria

juices and fabric parasitica
(chestnut blight)
Taxomyces Taxol production Ceratocystis ulm
(Dutch elm
disease)
Entomorphaga Gypsy moth control
 Fungal Diseases (Mycoses)

 Systemic mycoses: Deep within body

 Subcutaneous mycoses: Beneath the skin
 Cutaneous mycoses: Affect hair, skin, and nails
 Superficial mycoses: Localized, e.g., hair shafts
 Opportunistic mycoses: Caused by normal
microbiota or environmental fungi
 Fungal Diseases

1. Systemic mycosis: infection deep within

body, affects many tissues and organs.
Histoplasmosis and coccidiomycosis.
2. Subcutaneous mycosis: Saprophytic
fungi, e.g.: Sporotrichosis.
3. Cutaneous mycosis = Dermatomycosis:
affects keratin-containing tissues (hair,
nails, skin).
4. Superficial mycosis: localized on hair
shafts and superficial skin cells.
 Fungal Diseases
Opportunistic mycoses:
 caused by normal microbiota or
fungi that are not usually
pathogenic (E.g.: candidiasis,
Pneumocystis pneumonia,
aspergillosis.
 usually systemic.
Human eyelash
with unknown
fungus infection.
Minimal damage to
skin or underlying
tissues.
However, impaired
IS can encourage
the infecting fungus
to proliferate.