1. Fungi Mycology Avascular, typically not motile
Aerobes or facultative anaerobes
Chemoorganoheterotrophs
Many are saprophytes
Some are parasites

2. Cell walls similar in structure to plants but vary in chemical composition
Chitin, glucan, mannan
Thallus (body)
unicellular (yeasts) or multi-cellular (molds)
Mycelium (molds)
loosely organized mass of filamentous hyphae

3. Aspergillus niger

4. Dimorphic Fungi Most serious fungal pathogens Grow as yeast or mold
Depends on environmental conditions

5. Fungi typically reproduce by means of spores
sexual (meiotic) and asexual (mitotic) spores may be produced
asexual fragmentation may occur

6. Spores are typically released from aerial hyphae in molds
Vegetative hyphae are involved in nutrient absorption

7. Asexual spores Typically wind dispersed
Commonly used to identify fungal pathogens
Two types of asexual spores:
Sporangiospore (inside sporangium sac)
Conidiospore (Various forms, not formed in a sac)

8. Conidiospores
Coccidioides
Aspergillus
Crypotococcus

9. Sporangiospores
Rhizopus

10. Most yeasts reproduce asexually through budding
Form psudo-hyphae
Saccharomyces
Fission yeasts divide evenly to produce two cells
Schizosaccharomyces

11. Fungi classified into divisions (phyla) according to sexual reproductive process:
Chytridiomycota (primitive fungi)
Zygomycota (conjugation fungi)
Ascomycota (sac fungi)
Basidiomycota (club fungi)
Deuteromycota (imperfect fungi)
anamorphic fungi

12. Pathogenic Fungi Stachybotrys Aspergillus
the spores are inhaled causing serious forms of hemorrhagic pneumonia
Produce several toxic chemicals called mycotoxins
Aspergillus
commonly grows as “mildew” in shower
can cause opportunistic infections
Inhaled soil spores can cause Aspergillosis

13. Pneumocystis Candida albicans severe pneumonia in AIDS patients
Causes skin level fungal infections of the mouth (oral thrush), groin (diaper rash), and the vagina (candida vaginitis) or “yeast infection”
Dimorphic fungi that can cause serious systemic mycoses

14. Cryptococcus neoformans
cryptococcosis, one of the most serious fungal diseases worldwide
major manifestation is meningoencephalitis
has become increasingly important with the AIDS epidemic

15. Beneficial fungi Fungi decomposers in food webs
Most plants require association with Mycorrhizae
Many fungi are a source of food
                 

16. Saccharomyces Torulopsis Aspergillus Trichoderma
Fermentation of bread and alcoholic beverages
Torulopsis
protein supplements for humans and cattle
Aspergillus
produce citric acid for food and beverages
Trichoderma
fruit juice production