34. Mycology 💢 Flashcards
(179 cards)
What are the two main phyla of fungi?
Ascomycota Basidiomycota
Which fungus out of the basidiomycetes causes the largest burden of disease?
Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gatii Causes cryptococcal meningitis
What three types of illness do fungi cause?
Allergies Mycotoxicoses Mycoses
Define mycotoxicosis.
A toxic reaction to the ingestion/inhalation of toxins produced by fungi
What is known as the most carcinogenic natural compounds and what produces it?
Aflatoxin – Aspergillus flavus
Define mycosis.
Disease caused by fungi that is classified based on the level of tissue affected
What are the four types of mycosis?
Superficial Cutaneous Subcutaneous Systemic
What are superficial mycoses? Give some examples.
Mycoses that affect the skin and hair No tissue is invaded so there is no cellular response Black piedra White piedra Dandruff Tinea nigra
What are cutaneous mycoses? Give some examples.
Produce keratinases – causes inflammation Trychopyton and Microsporum are main examples Other examples: Tinea capitis Tinea corporis Tinia pedis
What are subcutaneous mycoses?
Chronic, localised infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue following traumatic implantation of the aetiological agent.
What type of fungal infection is a big problem in transplant settings?
Aspegillosis
What are the three types of candida infection that can occur in the immunocompromised?
Mucosal Systemic Superficial
What are the three types of mucocutaneous candidiasis that occurs in people with HIV?
Oesophageal Vulvovaginal Oropharyngeal
What are the main risk factors for systemic candida infections?
Chemotherapy Gut-related surgery Catheters
What are the three main targets for antifungal therapy?
Cell membrane DNA synthesis Cell wall
How do antifungals that target the cell membrane work? Give some examples.
Fungal cell membranes contain ergosterol instead of cholesterol Some antifungals inhibits ergosterol synthesis Examples: azole (itraconazole) Polyene antibiotics (Amphotericin B and Nystatin)
How do antifungals that target DNA synthesis work? Give an example.
Pyrimidine analogues are used to interfere with DNA synthesis Example: Flucytosine (used for Cryptococcus)
How do antifungals that target the cell wall work? Give an example.
They inhibit the assembly of fungal cell wall components such as glucans and chitin Example: Caspofungin (a type of Echinocandin)
What components are found in fungal cell walls but not in mammalian cell walls?
Glucan Chitin
What are the four main phyla of fungi and which most commonly causes human fungal infection?
Ascomycota – MAIN ONE Basidiomycota Chytridiomycota Zygomycota
Give examples of how the morphogesis of fungi contributes to its ability to cause disease in the host.
Candida albicans exist as single spores but they can become hyphae, which allows tissue invasion Cryptococcus forms a capsule to evade phagocytosis Aspergillus sp. are inhaled as conidia and invade tissues as hyphae
Which pattern recognition receptors are important in detection of fungal pathogens?
TLR
Name 2 deficiencies that are associated with an increased risk ofchronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.
Dectin 1 (involved in activation of an inflammatory cytokine response) CARD 9 (downstream of Dectin 1)