fungal cell biology Flashcards

(35 cards)

1
Q

What can aggregations of amoebae differentiate into

A

Differentiate into spore-bearing fruiting structures

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2
Q

What is a plasmodium

A

Single cell containing many nuclei

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3
Q

What is the life cycle of plasmodial slime moulds

A

Fusion of swarm cells form plasmodium which becomes feeding network for plasmodium growth and movement

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4
Q

What is the cell cycle of yeast

A

1)bud emergence
2) spindle pole body separation
3)nuclear migration
4)nuclear division
5)cytokinesis
6)cell separation

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5
Q

What is a mycelium

A

A fungal network composed of multiple interconnected hyphae

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6
Q

Which cells exhibit tip growth

A

Fungal hyphae
Pollen tubes
Root hairs
Algal and fern rhizoids
Moss cell filaments

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7
Q

What are germ tubes

A

Specialised hyphae which emerge during spore germination and are involved in colony establishment

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8
Q

What do hyphae aggregate to form

A

Rhizomorphic mycelium

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9
Q

What is rhizomorphic mycelium

A

Thick strands of hyphae which have adhered to help fungus cover area, grow quickly and establish feeding network

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10
Q

What membrane fluorescent dye is used to visualise spitzenkorper

A

FM4-64

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11
Q

What is a spitzenkorper

A

Structure found in growing tips of fungal hyphae and key in its growth and development

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12
Q

What do the pores on septa allow for

A

Allow passage of organelles and cytoplasm between adjacent hyphal compartments

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13
Q

How can septal pores be blocked

A

Can be rapidly blocked if hyphae become damaged (e.g eaten by mites)

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14
Q

What are Golgi cisternae involved in

A

Golgi involved in glycosylation. and packaging in vesicles of secreted and integral membrane proteins

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15
Q

Where does hyphal fusion and additional growth occur

A

Occurs in colony interior as the colony matures

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16
Q

What is the term given to fungi which infect humans

17
Q

What can dermatophytes cause

A

Ringworm, athletes foot, nail infection (example of parasitism)

18
Q

How do commensal mycoses grow

A

Grow harmlessly on mucous membranes but can become invasive pathogens

19
Q

How do opportunistic pathogens of the lungs grow

A

Found as saprotrophs but can grow in the lungs and invade tissues of immune-compromised individuals

20
Q

How can an individual get sporothrix basiliensis (yeast-like fungus)

A

Opportunistic pathogen of wounds or traumatised tissue

21
Q

What are characteristics of dermatophytes

A

Ascomycete fungi (sac-like structures)
Primarily asexual
Reproduce by asexual spores called conidia

22
Q

What are features of dermatophytes

A

Living tissues not invaded as canot gorw at 37oC
Irritation leads to scratching => further dmg to tissues enabling bacteria to invade

23
Q

Where can hyphal fronds grow

A

In planes of weakness within stratified substrate e.g skin flakes

24
Q

What ability do dermatophytes have that contributes to disease growth

A

Ability to grow keratin rich substrates

25
What is candida albicans and where does it grow
Type of yeast that grows harmlessly as a commensal on mucous membranes of mouth, gut and vulvo-vagina tract
26
What is the route of infection by cryptococcus neoformans
Spores inhaled into lungs, lodging into alveoli, dissemination to CNS
27
What are pathogenicity factors of cryptococcus neoformans
Ability to grow at human body temp Ability to grow in presence of 5% CO2 Capsule Melanin
28
What are the 4 classes of antifungal compounds used to treat humans
Azoles Polyene antibiotics Echinocandins Flucytosine
29
How do azoles function and what do they treat
Inhibit ergosterol synthesis - often used to treat candida albicans and superficial infections e.g athletes foot
30
What is ergosterol
Important component of the fungal plasma membrane
31
How do polyene antibiotics function
Associates with ergosterol in plasma membrane to form pores disrupting ion homeostasis in fungal cells
32
how do echinocandins function
Inhibit synthesis of B(beta)(1,3)-glucan, a major component of fungal cell walls
33
How does flucytosine function
Inhibits DNA and protein synthesis in fungal cells
34
How is the coprine mushroom toxic
The toxin inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase => accumulation of acetaldehyde in the bloodstream
35
How is the orellanin toxin poisonous
The orellanin toxin affects the proximal tubules of kidneys and result in kidney failure