Introduction to Medical Mycology

Which of the following is NOT a type of dermatophytosis?

Which mode of transmission for dermatophyte infections is considered indirect?

Tinea unguium primarily affects which part of the body?

Which of the following is an example of an opportunistic mycosis?

Which fungal toxin is associated with liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma?

What distinguishes systemic mycosis from other fungal infections?

Cryptococcosis is particularly common in which group of individuals?

Which component is found in the cell wall of fungi?

What type of fungi exist in both yeast and mould forms depending on environmental conditions?

Which of the following is an example of a superficial mycosis?

Which group of fungi typically cause infections in immunocompromised individuals?

What type of mould consists of branching filaments known as hyphae?

In which type of mycosis do fungal infections extend deeper into the dermis, hair, and nails?

What structure do yeasts utilize during reproduction?

Which type of cell membrane component is characteristic of fungi?

Introduction to Medical Mycology

Medical mycology is the study of fungi that cause disease in humans.
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with a cell wall made up of chitin, β-D-glucan and mannan (in some species).
Fungi have a cell membrane containing ergosterol, distinguishing them from bacteria.
Fungi reproduce through budding, or in filamentous fungi, by forming hyphae, that make up a mycelium.
Fungi can be broadly categorized as molds and yeasts.
Molds are filamentous fungi, while yeasts are unicellular fungi.
Some fungi are dimorphic, meaning they can exist as either molds or yeasts depending on the environmental conditions.
Fungi cause various infections in humans, from superficial ones to systemic ones.

Types of Mycoses

Superficial mycoses: Affect the outermost layers of the skin (example: Pityriasis versicolor). Frequently caused by skin normal flora.
Cutaneous mycoses: Affect the skin, hair, and nails (example: Dermatophytosis). Caused by dermatophytes, which are keratin-loving fungi. Different types based on affected zones. Spread by direct or indirect contact.
Subcutaneous mycoses: Affect the subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and fascia (example: Mycetoma).
Systemic mycoses: Affect many organ systems (example: Aspergillosis, Cryptococcosis, Mucormycosis, Candidiasis). Occur commonly in immune-compromised individuals.

Mycotoxicosis

Mycotoxicosis is poisoning by fungal toxins after consuming contaminated food
Common examples are aflatoxin (produced by Aspergillus flavus) and ochratoxin.
Aflatoxin causes liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).
Ochratoxin is associated with kidney damage

Q&A

Q1: Which of these is a component of the cell membrane of fungi?
- Ergosterol
Q2: Tinea pedis or ("Athlete's foot") means:
- Fungal infection of the toe web.

This quiz covers the essential concepts of medical mycology, focusing on the study of fungi that cause diseases in humans. It highlights the categorization of fungi, their reproductive methods, and various types of mycoses affecting human health. Test your understanding of these critical topics in mycology.