Terminology

Question 1

What is a hypha (hyphae for plural)?

Answer 1

Fundamental tube-like structural units of fungi

Question 2

What’s the difference between septate and aseptate hyphae?

Answer 2

Septate: divided by crosswalls (aka contains septum)
Aseptate: Lacks crosswall separation

Question 3

Define mycelium and the two different types

Answer 3

Mycelium: mass/matt of hyphae forming vegetative part of fungus. There are two types:

1. Aerial: grows in the air portion above media
2. Vegetative: in the media, absorbs nutrients

Question 4

Define ascospore

Answer 4

It’s a spore that is specifically formed inside a sac called an ascus. Usually, there are 8 spores per ascus. Note this is a sexually reproductive spore. This spore is specific to Ascomycetes

Question 5

Define zygospore

Answer 5

A type of sexual spore that is specific to Zygomycetes due to its shape. It’s formed by the fusion of 2 compatible hyphal arms that each have a nucleus, forming the shape of an H

Question 6

Define basidiospore

Answer 6

A type of sexual spore that is specific to Basidiomycetes, due to its shape. It’s shaped like a club with spores on top

Question 7

Define conidia

Answer 7

These are asexual fungal spores borne from a conidiophore. Other ways you will see conidia referred to are macroconidia (multicellular) and microconidia (unicellular)

Found in Ascomycetes and Deuteromycetes

Question 8

Define arthroconidia

Answer 8

This is a spore that is formed from fragmented hyphae. Their shapes can take on various forms such as: square, rectangular, or barrel-shaped with thicckkqq walls

Question 9

Define blastoconidia

Answer 9

Also known as blastospore.

This is an asexual spore formed from a budding process along the mycelium or from another blastospore.

Found in Ascomycetes

Question 10

Define chlamydoconidia

Answer 10

These are round thick-walled spores and may be found within the hyphae (intercalary) or on the ends of hyphae (terminal)

Question 11

Define sporangiospore

Answer 11

This is an asexual spore that is contained in a sporangium at the end of a sporangiophore. Found in Phycomycetes.

Question 12

Define annelide

Answer 12

This is a tube- or vase-shaped conidiogenous cell (this means that it gives rise to conidia)

Question 13

Define annelloconidium

Answer 13

This is a conidium that arose from an annelide. Remember that annelide refers to a cell that produces conidia

Question 14

Define asexual reproduction

Answer 14

Spores are formed directly from vegetative mycelium or specialized hyphae

Question 15

Define chromoblastomycosis

Answer 15

This is a subcutaneous mycosis that is often caused by the traumatic inoculation of dematiaceous (pigmented) fungus into the skin.

Etiologic agents include: Cladosporium, Exophiala, and Phialophora

Question 16

Define conidiophore

Answer 16

A specialized branch of hyphae on which conidia (spores) are developed. Picture spores connected to hyphae

Question 16

Define dimorphic

Answer 16

Ability of some fungi to grow as a yeast OR mold (filamentous) stage. This depends on the growth conditions

Question 17

Define dematiaceous

Answer 17

Pigmented, dark in color, usually gray or black

Question 17

Define dermatophyte

Answer 17

This is a fungus that causes superficial mycoses (skin, hair, and nails)

Question 18

What is Fungi imperfecti?

Answer 18

This is a large class of fungi with the synonym Deuteromycete and have septate hyhae. We know their asexual state of reproduction but not their sexual state. These include the majority of medically significant fungi

Question 19

What is a germ tube?

Answer 19

This is a small projection from certain yeasts (such as C. albicans). Indicates onset of hyphal formation

Question 20

Define hyaline

Answer 20

Colorless, clear

Question 21

What is a mold?

Answer 21

Filamentous form of a fungus

Question 22

What is a yeast?

Answer 22

Pasty or mucoid form of fungus growth, microscopically shows a predominance of budding cells

Question 23

What is a perfect fungus?

I swear, there is a term called “Perfect fungi” in the Mycology definitions sheet that Darrell uploaded to Canvas

Answer 23

A fungus that has both sexual and asexual reproductive stages

Question 24

Define Phaeohyphomycosis

Answer 24

Superficial or subcutaneous infections causing nodules in the skin. Etiological agents include Alternaria spp., Bipolaris spp., Curvularia spp., Phialophora spp.

Question 25

Define phialide

Answer 25

A single, slender, tubular conidiophore

Question 26

Define phialoconidium

Answer 26

Conidium that arose from phialide

Question 27

Define pseudohyphae

Answer 27

These are not true hyphae. They’re a chain of elongated budding cells that have failed to detach

Question 28

Define ringworm

Answer 28

Circular or ring-like skin lesions caused by dermatophytes

Question 29

What are rhizoids?

Answer 29

Root-like structures that anchor the fungus to tissue

Question 30

Define saprophytic

Answer 30

An organism that feeds on dead or decaying matter

Question 31

What is a sporangiophore?

Answer 31

A special aerial hypha or stalk bearing a sporangium

Question 32

What is sporangium?

Answer 32

A sac or cell containing spores produced asexually

Question 33

What is a spore?

Answer 33

Generally the reproductive body of a fungus

Question 34

Define Sporotrichosis

Answer 34

Mycosis that is the result of inoculation with Sporothrix schenckii, lymphocutaneous type is most common. Also known as Rose Gardener’s Disease

Question 35

Define Tinea

Answer 35

Prefix used with the infected area of the body to indicate a cutaneous mycosis