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    Saprophytes

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    Rami Aldalistar
    This document provides information on fungi (mycology). It states that fungi are widely distributed in nature and come in diverse forms from multicellular molds and mushrooms to unicellular yeasts. Their cell walls contain chitin. Over 300,000 fungal species have been identified, with only about 100 causing disease in humans or animals. Fungi play important ecological roles in decomposition and some cause diseases in plants or humans.

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    Saprophytes

    Uploaded by

    Rami Aldalistar
    82 views40 pages
    This document provides information on fungi (mycology). It states that fungi are widely distributed in nature and come in diverse forms from multicellular molds and mushrooms to unicellular yeasts. Their cell walls contain chitin. Over 300,000 fungal species have been identified, with only about 100 causing disease in humans or animals. Fungi play important ecological roles in decomposition and some cause diseases in plants or humans.

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    Introduction Fungi

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    This document provides information on fungi (mycology). It states that fungi are widely distributed in nature and come in diverse forms from multicellular molds and mushrooms to unicellular yeasts. Their cell walls contain chitin. Over 300,000 fungal species have been identified, with only about 100 causing disease in humans or animals. Fungi play important ecological roles in decomposition and some cause diseases in plants or humans.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    82 views40 pages

    Saprophytes

    Uploaded by

    Rami Aldalistar
    This document provides information on fungi (mycology). It states that fungi are widely distributed in nature and come in diverse forms from multicellular molds and mushrooms to unicellular yeasts. Their cell walls contain chitin. Over 300,000 fungal species have been identified, with only about 100 causing disease in humans or animals. Fungi play important ecological roles in decomposition and some cause diseases in plants or humans.

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    FUNGI (Mycology)

    Widely distributed in nature (air, water, soil, decaying organic debris) Diverse group of heterotrophs. Many are ecologically important saprophytes (consume dead and decaying matter)

    Others are parasites.


    Most are multicellular, but yeasts are unicellular. Most are aerobes or facultative anaerobes.

    Cell walls are made up of chitin (polysaccharide).


    Over 300,000 fungal species identified. Only about 100 are human or animal pathogens.

    Most human fungal infections are nosocomial and/or occur in immunocompromised individuals (opportunistic infections).
    Fungal diseases in plants cause over 1 billion dollars/year in losses.

    Terminology
    Mykos: Fungus Mycoses: A disease caused by a fungus
    Mycology: Study of fungi

    Biological significance of fungi


    Natural decomposers of organic matter saprophytic Plant pathogens Obligate parasites, species dependent eg:- rusts fungi Facultative parasites eg:- smut fungi Industrial importance Fermentation processes eg yeasts in beers, wines (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Antibiotic production eg Penicillium notatum (penicillin) Human and animal pathogens superficial and systemic mycoses & allergies Mycotoxins Research genetics,biochemistry, molecular biology

    Fungal cell walls Resemble plant cell walls architecturally but not chemically 80 90% polysaccharide cytoplasmic (plasma) membrane: predominant sterol ergosterol cell wall: rigid, plant-like cell wall composed of chitin, mannans, glucans, proteins

    Fungi- Morphological Classification


    Yeast Mould Mushrooms Dimorphic fungi that have both a yeast stage and a mould stage

    CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI
    1. Yeasts
    Unicellular fungi, nonfilamentous, typically oval or spherical cells. Reproduce by mitosis:
    Fission yeasts: Divide evenly to produce two new cells (Schizosaccharomyces). Budding yeasts: Divide unevenly by budding (Saccharomyces). Budding yeasts can form pseudohypha, a short chain of undetached cells. Candida albicans invade tissues through pseudohyphae.

    Yeasts are facultative anaerobes, which allows them to grow in a variety of environments.
    When oxygen is available, they carry out aerobic respiration. When oxygen is not available, they ferment carbohydrates to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide.

    YEAST
    Unicellular Micr.: Oval to round (Dia: 3-15 m) Reproduce by budding Bud=Blastospore Pseudohyphae Macr.: Pasty colonies (resemble bacteria)

    CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI (Continued)


    2. Molds and Fleshy Fungi Multicellular, filamentous fungi. Identified by physical appearance, colony characteristics, and reproductive spores.
    Thallus: Body of a mold or fleshy fungus. Consists of many hyphae. Hyphae (Sing: Hypha): Long filaments of cells joined together. Septate hyphae: Cells are divided by cross-walls (septa). Coenocytic (Aseptate) hyphae: Long, continuous cells that are not divided by septa. Hyphae grow by elongating at the tips. Each part of a hypha is capable of growth. Vegetative Hypha: Portion that obtains nutrients. Reproductive or Aerial Hypha: Portion connected with reproduction. Mycelium: Large, visible, filamentous mass made up of many hyphae.

    MOULD
    Multicellular Micr.: Hypha(e) (dia: 2-10 m) Spores Macr.: Surface texture: Cottony/ wooly/ velvety/ granular... Pigmentation: observed from the reverse

    Mould-Definitions
    Hypha Mycelium: a. Vegetative b. Aerial

    Characteristics of Fungal Hyphae: Septate versus Coenocytic

    Mycelium: Large, Visible Mass of Hyphae

    Classification of Hyphae
    BASED ON: A. Existence of septa Septate Nonseptate B. Shape and Morphology Racquet Spiral Nodular Root-like (rhizoid) Pectinate Chandler

    CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI (Continued)


    Dimorphic Fungi
    Can exist as both multicellular fungi (molds) and yeasts.

    Many pathogenic species.


    Mold form produces aerial and vegetative hyphae. Yeast form reproduces by budding.

    Dimorphism in pathogenic fungi typically depends on temperature:


    At 37oC: Yeast form. At 25oC: Mold form.

    Dimorphism in nonpathogenic fungi may depend on other factors: Carbon dioxide concentration.

    DIMORPHIC
    Capable of growing in mould or yeast form under different environmental conditions (temperature, CO2, nutrients) Thermal dimorphism (a group of pathogenic fungi)

    Subcellular Structure of Fungi


    Capsule (present only in some fungi) Cell wall Cell membrane Cytoplasm Nucleus, nuclear membrane, nucleolus, ER, mitochondria, vacuoles

    Structure: Polysaccharide Functions: -Antiphagocytic -Virulence factor Exist only in some fungi

    CAPSULE

    Cryptococcus neoformans
    (encapsulated yeast)

    CELL WALL
    Antigenic in nature Structure: Multilayered a. polysaccharides (~90%): hexose and hexosamine polymers b. proteins and glycoproteins (~10%) Functions: Provides shape, rigidity, strength and protection from osmotic shock

    POLYMER Chitin Chitosan Cellulose -Glucan -Glucan Mannan

    Major polysaccharides of fungal cell wall


    MONOMER N-acetyl glucosamine D-Glucosamine D-Glucose D-Glucose D-Glucose D-Mannose

    The type and amount of the polysaccharide vary from one fungal species to other.

    CELLULAR MEMBRANE
    Structure: Bilayered Phospholipids Sterols (ergosterol, zymosterol) Functions: a. Protects cytoplasm b. regulates the intake and secretion of solutes c. facilitates capsule and cell wall synthesis

    LIFE CYCLE OF FUNGI


    Filamentous fungi can reproduce asexually by fragmentation of their hyphae. Fungal spores are formed from aerial hyphae and are used for both sexual and asexual reproduction.
    1. Asexual spores: Formed by the aerial hyphae of one organism. New organisms are identical to parent.

    Conidiospore: Unicellular or multicellular spore that is not enclosed in a sac.


    Chlamydospore: Thick-walled spore formed within a hyphal segment. Sporangiospore: Asexual spore formed within a sac (sporangium). 2. Sexual spores: Formed by the fusion of nuclei from two opposite mating strains of the same species. New organisms are different from both parents.

    FUNGAL SPORES
    Spores function in reproduction of fungi.
    1. Sexual reproduction --Sexual spores 2. Asexual reproduction--Asexual spores 3. Parasexual reproduction--Genetic exchange

    SEXUAL SPORES
    1. Zygospore 2. Ascospore
    3. Basidiospore 4. Oospore

    ASEXUAL SPORES
    1. Arthrospore 2. Blastospore 3. Chlamydospore 4. Macroconidium 5. Microconidium 6. Sporangiospore

    Fungi-Taxonomic classification
    Depends primarily on the type of sexual spore
    Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species -mycota -mycetes -ales -ceae

    Fungi-Taxonomic classification
    SEXUAL SPORE CLASS Zygospore----------Zygomycetes Basidiospore--------Basidiomycetes Ascospore----------Ascomycetes None/Unknown---- Deuteromycetes (Fungi Imperfecti)

    IMPORTANT DIVISIONS OF FUNGI

    1. Deuteromycota
    Not known to produce sexual spores.

    Reproduce asexually.
    Contain-all category for unclassified fungi:
    Pneumocystis carinii : Causes pneumonia in AIDS patients. Leading cause of death in AIDS patients. Originally classified as a protozoan. Candida albicans : Causes yeast infections of vagina in women. Opportunistic infections of mucous membranes in AIDS patients.

    Opportunistic Infection by Candida albicans in an AIDS Patient

    Source: Atlas of Clinical Oral Pathology, 1999

    IMPORTANT DIVISIONS OF FUNGI

    2. Zygomycota (Conjugation Fungi)


    Also known as bread molds. Saprophytic molds with coenocytic hyphae (lack septa). Asexual Reproduction: Used most of the time. Sporangiospore: Asexual spore enclosed within a sporangium or sac at the end on an aerial hypha. Sexual Reproduction: Occurs through conjugation, the joining of hypha of two different strains (plus and minus). Zygospores: Sexual spores which are enclosed in a thick, resistant wall. Generally not pathogens.
    Rhizopus nigricans: Common black bread mold. May cause opportunistic infections in diabetes patients

    Life Cycle of a Zygomycete: Black Bread Mold (Rhizopus) Reproduces Asexually and Sexually

    Reproductive Structures of Zygomycete (Rhizopus) Sporangia (asexual) and Zygospore (sexual)

    IMPORTANT DIVISIONS OF FUNGI 3. Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)


    Molds with septate hyphae and some yeasts. Asexual Reproduction: Conidiospores not enclosed in a sac. Become airborne easily. Form chains (broom-like structures). Sexual Reproduction: Ascospores enclosed in a sac-like structure (ascus). Include common antibiotic producing fungi and yeasts, and several human pathogens.
    Penicillium notatum (Produces penicillin) Saccharomyces (Brewers yeast) Trychophyton (Athletes foot) Aspergillus (Carcinogenic aflatoxin in peanuts), Blastomyces (Respiratory infections) Histoplasma capsulatum (Respiratory and systemic infections)

    Life Cycle of Eupenicillium (Ascomycete) Reproduces Asexually and Sexually

    Severe nail infection with Trichophyton rubrum in a 37-year-old male AIDS patient. Source: Intern. J. Dermatol. 31(1992): 453.

    Disseminated Histoplasma capsulatum, skin infection. Source: Microbiology Perspectives, 1999.

    IMPORTANT DIVISIONS OF FUNGI

    4. Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)


    Have septate hyphae. Include mushrooms, toadstools, rusts, and smuts. Sexual Reproduction: Produce basidiospores: Spores formed externally on a club shaped sexual structure or base called basidium. Asexual Reproduction: Through hyphae. Examples:
    Cryptococcus: Causes opportunistic respiratory and CNS infections in AIDS patients. Amanita: Mushroom produces lethal toxins to humans. Claviceps purpurea: Produces ergot toxin in wheat .

    Life Cycle of a Basidiomycete Mushrooms are Produced Sexually

    NUTRITIONAL ADAPTATIONS OF FUNGI


    Fungi absorb their food, rather than ingesting it.
    Fungi grow better at a pH of 5, which is too acidic for most bacteria.

    Almost all molds are aerobic. Most yeasts are facultative anaerobes.
    Fungi are more resistant to high osmotic pressure than bacteria. Fungi can grow on substances with very low moisture. Fungi require less nitrogen than bacteria to grow.

    Fungi can break down complex carbohydrates (wood, paper), that most bacteria cannot.

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