General Characteristics of Fungi
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Questions and Answers

What method can be used to visualize the polysaccharide capsule of C. neoformans?

  • Negative staining with India ink (correct)
  • Staining with potassium hydroxide
  • Culture on a formaldehyde-treated plate
  • Direct examination under bright light
  • What is the optimum temperature range for most moulds to grow?

  • 35°–40° C
  • 25°–30° C (correct)
  • 30°–35° C
  • 20°–25° C
  • Which solution can be used to dissolve distracting tissue when examining specimens?

  • 4% formaldehyde solution
  • Potassium hydroxide (KOH) (correct)
  • Saline solution
  • Calcofluor white stain
  • What type of microscopy is recommended for observing specimens treated with calcofluor white stain?

    <p>Fluorescence microscopy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can culture plates be sterilized before microscopic examination?

    <p>Flooding with 4% formaldehyde solution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary structural unit of molds?

    <p>Hyphae</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of fungi reproduces asexually by budding?

    <p>Yeast</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term describes the mass of hyphae in fungi?

    <p>Mycelium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic distinguishes septate hyphae from aseptate hyphae?

    <p>Presence of cross walls</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following terms refers to a ringed structure formed during asexual reproduction?

    <p>Annellides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of spores are produced at the tips or sides of hyphae?

    <p>Conidia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In fungal reproduction, what process follows the joining of two compatible nuclei?

    <p>Meiosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of fungal pigmentation is characterized as nonpigmented?

    <p>Hyaline</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which systemic mycosis primarily affects middle-aged men and is also known as Gilchrist’s disease?

    <p>Blastomyces dermatitidis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the major characteristic of the yeast form of Histoplasma capsulatum?

    <p>Intracellular yeast</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organism's infection is transmitted through the feces of birds and bats?

    <p>Histoplasma capsulatum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Identify the organism that causes desert fever and has a distinctive barrel-shaped arthroconidia in its mold form.

    <p>Coccidioides immitis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic feature of the colony form of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis?

    <p>Thick walled multiple buds (Mariner's wheel)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which compound medium is suitable for culturing Histoplasma capsulatum?

    <p>Pines medium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which systemic mycosis is often associated with skin lesions and lymph node involvement in the African variant?

    <p>Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the morphology of Blastomyces dermatitidis in culture?

    <p>Broad based budding yeast cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organism is most commonly associated with Phaeohyphomycosis?

    <p>Dreschlera spicifera</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic feature is associated with Chromoblastomycosis?

    <p>Sclerotic bodies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following fungi can result in Mycetoma?

    <p>Actinomadurae</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of cells are found in the tissue form of Lacazia loboi?

    <p>Multiple budding cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which fungal colony is described as flask-shaped with collarettes?

    <p>Phialophora verrucosa</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is A.k.a Madura foot?

    <p>Mycetoma</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organism produces dark colonies with jet black reverse?

    <p>Cladophialophora carrionii</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of hyphae is associated with nonseptate tissue forms?

    <p>Coenocytic hyphae</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which stain is used to identify all fungi by staining them black?

    <p>Gomori Methylene Stain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of fungi includes a mold phase at room temperature and a yeast phase at 37°C?

    <p>Dimorphic fungi</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following fungi is known to cause tinea barbae?

    <p>Microsporum gypseum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic structure do Microsporum canis macroconidia have?

    <p>Spindle shaped with echinulate walls</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the appearance of Trichophyton rubrum colonies on agar?

    <p>Red surface with white reverse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these fungi is characterized as having 'bamboo hyphae'?

    <p>Microsporum ferrugineum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common symptom of tinea pedis?

    <p>Itching and peeling skin on feet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following conditions is caused by Epidermophyton floccosum?

    <p>Tinea unguium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term 'keratinophilic' relates to fungi that have an affinity for which type of substance?

    <p>Keratin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the reverse color of colonies formed by Microsporum gypseum?

    <p>Brown to red</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    General Characteristics of Fungi

    • Aerobic, nucleated, and eukaryotic organisms.
    • Achlorophyllous with a cell wall made of chitin (N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units).
    • Maintains a neutral pH.

    Mycological Terminologies

    Yeast

    • Unicellular, round to oval organisms (2-60 µm).
    • Asexual reproduction via budding; sexual reproduction through meiosis.

    Hyphae

    • Long, slender branching tubes, fundamental units of molds.
    • A mass of hyphae is termed mycelium; types include septate (crosswalls) and aseptate (coenocytic).
    • Specialized forms include spiral, rhizoids, vegetative, and aerial hyphae.

    Spores

    • Act similarly to seeds in higher plants; can be sexual (karyogamy & meiosis) or asexual (mitosis).
    • Asexual spores include sporangium (sac-like) and conidia (produced at hyphae tips/sides).

    Reproduction of Fungi

    • Asexual reproduction via conidia formation (imperfect fungi).
    • Sexual reproduction (telomorph) involves joining compatible nuclei and meiosis.

    Fungal Pigmentation

    • Hyaline (non-pigmented) versus phaeoid (darkly pigmented).

    Stains Used in Mycology

    • Gomori Methylene Stain: stains all fungi black.
    • Mason-Fontana Stain: stains melanin; hyaline appears pink/red and phaeoid appears brown.

    Forms of Fungi

    • Dimorphic fungi exhibit both mold phase (room temperature) and yeast phase (37°C + CO2); examples include Blastomyces dermatitidis and Coccidioides immitis.
    • Polymorphic fungi can exist in both forms simultaneously, exemplified by Exophiala.

    Systemic Dermatophyte/Cutaneous Mycoses

    • Generally keratinophilic; deep infections are rare.
    • Characterized by reproductive cells (microconidia & macroconidia).

    Ringworm Infections (Tinea)

    • Tinea capitis: scalp.
    • Tinea corporis: body; "moccasin foot" refers to Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot).

    Specific Dermatophytes and Their Characteristics

    • Microsporum canis: Spindle-shaped macroconidia, fluffy white colony, positive fluorescence in Wood’s lamp.
    • Epidermophyton floccosum: Smooth, thin-walled macroconidia, yellow-green suede appearance.
    • Trichophyton rubrum: Macroconidia pencil-shaped, colonizes foot and toenails, surface white, reverse red.

    Other Mycoses

    Phaeohyphomycosis

    • Caused by darkly pigmented fungi; displays irregular/beaded septate hyphae in tissues.
    • Organisms include Dreschlera spicifera and Alternaria.

    Chromoblastomycosis

    • Chronic skin infection presenting with cauliflower-like surface; includes sclerotic bodies.

    Mycetoma

    • Characterized by chronic infections and tumor-like swellings; can be caused by fungi like Madurella.

    Systemic Mycoses

    • Primarily pulmonary infections that can disseminate.

    Specific Systemic Mycoses

    • Blastomyces dermatitidis: Gilchrist’s disease; yeast form exhibits broad-based budding.
    • Histoplasma capsulatum: Transmitted via feces; microconidia are infective, leading to histoplasmosis.
    • Coccidioides immitis: Infective arthroconidia; causes desert fever, with characteristic barrel-shaped spores.

    Diagnostic Techniques

    • Use of KOH solution can assist in visibility of fungal elements among tissue debris.
    • Calcofluor white stain fluoresces upon binding to chitin in fungal walls under UV light.

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    Description

    Explore the essential features of fungi, including their cellular structure and reproduction methods. This quiz covers mycological terminologies such as yeasts, hyphae, and spores. Test your knowledge on the diversity and characteristics of these fascinating organisms.

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