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Mycology
1. What is fungus? What are the properties of fungi? 472/6.5
Fungus:
Fungi are eukaryotic, supraphytic parasitic microbes, unicellular or multicelllular that
contain chitin in their cell wall and ergosterol and zymosterol in their cell membrane.
Fungus: [2]
Fungi are chlorophyll free unicellular or multicellular eukaryotic organisms reproduce
by sexual and asexual sopre formation.
Properties of fungi:
1) They are non-motile.
2) Unicellular or multicellular.
3) Nucleus are eukaryotic.
4) Cell wall contains chitin.
5) Cell membrane presents Ergosterol and zymosterol.
6) Cytoplasm contains Mitochondria & endoplasmic reticulum.
7) Sexual and asexual spores for reproduction not for survival.
8) Some fungi (Dimorphic) shows thermal dimorphism.
9) Most fungi are obligate aerobes and some are facultative anaerobes, but not strict
anaerobes.
10) Some fungi are normal flora. e.g.- Candida albicans
11) Fungi do not have endotoxin in their cell wall and do not produce exotoxin.
Properties of fungi: (By Dr. Adikary)
1) All fungi are eukaryotic organism:
a. Multiple chromosome enclosed by a membrane,
b. 80S ribosome and
c. Mitochondria present.
2) May be Unicellular (Yeast) or Multicellular (Molds)
3) Rigid cell wall, primarily made of polysaccharide (mainly chitin, glucan)
4) Cell membrane contains ergosterol & zymosterol. Some fungi possesses capsule.
e.g. C. neoformans.
5) Need organic source of carbon.
6) Habitat, they have saprophytic & parasitic state.
7) Most are obligatory aerobes. Some are facultative anaerobes. No fungi are strict
anaerobe.
8) Can be culture in artificial media.
2. How fungi differ from bacteria? 473
Difference between fungi and bacteria:
Traits
Fungus
1. Cellularity
Unicellular/ Multicellular
2. Cell wall content
Chitin
3. Cell membrane
Sterol (Ergosterol &
zymosterol) present.
4. Cytoplasm
Mitochondria &
endoplasmic reticulum
present.
5. Nucleus
Eukaryotic

Bacteria
Unicellular
Peptidoglycan
Sterol absent (except
mycoplasma).
Mitochondria &
endoplasmic reticulum
absent.
Prokaryotic

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6. Ribosome
7. Spores

-280S (60S +40S)

Sexual and asexual spores
for reproduction.
Yes (some)

8. Thermal
dimorphism
9. Metabolism
No obligate anaerobes
10. Motility
Non-motile.
[Mnemonic: 4C- NuRS Thermometer May Motile]

70S (50S +30S)

Endospores for survival, not
for reproduction.
No
Many obligate anaerobes.
Motile/ Non-motile.

3. Why penicillin does not act against fungi? 473

Penicillin does not act against fungi, because
Penicillin acts on peptidoglycan layer of cell membrane, But the fungi do not contain
peptidoglycan in their cell membrane, (they contain chitin) thats why penicillin can not act
against fungi.
[Need to check]
4. What are the beneficial and harmful effects of fungi? 6.6
Beneficial effect of fungi:
1) In nature, breaking down & recycling of organic matter.
2) Production of food likebread, cheese, beer, wine etc.
3) Eaten directly as mushroom.
4) Production of antibiotics. (e.g. Penicillin.), Immunosuppressive drugs (e.g.
Cyclosporine.), Anticancer drugs, alkaloids.
5) Production of recombinant vaccine (e.g. HBsAg vaccine)
Harmful effect:
1) As parasites, they can cause disease in plant, animals and human.
2) Food spoilage, toxin production.
[Ref: Dr. Adikary]
5. What is dimorphic fungus? Give example. 476
Dimorphic fungus:
The fungi able to grow in more than one form under different environmental
conditions are known as dimorphic fungi.
[Mold= at 22-25C, Yeast= at 37C ]
Example:
Histoplasma capsulatum
Coccidioides immitis
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Blastomyces dermatitidis
[Ref: Dr. Adikary]
6. What is mycoses? Tell morphological classification of fungi. 6.5 , 474
Mycoses:
Diseases caused by the fungi are called mycoses.
Morphological Classification of fungus:
1) Molds e.g.Dermatophytes
2) Yeast e.g. Cryptococcus neoformans
3) Yeast like e.g. Candida albicans
4) Dimorphic e.g. Histoplasma capsulatum
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-37. Classify superficial fungi. 475

Superficial fungi are(and disease produced by them)
1) Malassezia furfurTinea versicolor / Pityriasis versicolor
2) Exophiala werneckiiTinea nigra
3) Piedriaea hortaeBlack piedra
4) Trichosporon cutaneumWhite piedra
[Mnemonic: MEPT]
8. How can you diagnose superficial fungal infection in the laboratory? 479
Diagnosis of superficial fungal infection:
Specimen: Skin scrapping
Microscopic examination:
A drop of 20% KOH in scrapping material on a slide

Covered with a cover slip

Slightly heated the slide

Examine under microscope

Observation:
Cluster of yeast cells (grapes-like)
Dense meshwork of short non-septate elongated hyphae.
Culture:
Usually not needed, But if needed, culture is done in Sabourauds dextrose
agar (SDA) media at 22 - 25C for 3 4 weeks. Examine the culture media every 3
4 days.
9. What is mycoses? Classify mycoses according to sites of involvement. 475
Mycoses:
Diseases caused by the fungi are called mycoses.
Classification of mycoses according to site of involvement/ Clinical classification:
1) Superficial Tinea versicolor , Tinea nigra
2) Cutaneous Dermatophytosis/ Ring worm
3) Sub-cutaneous Mycetoma, Sporotrichosis, Rhinosporidiosis
4) Systemic/ deep Coccidioidomycosis, Paracoccidioidomycosis,
Histoplasmosis, Blastomycosis,
5) Opportunistic Systemic candidiasis, Aspergillosis, Mucormycosis
[Ref: Dr. Adikary]
10. Define superficial mycoses?
Superficial mycoses:
Fungal diseases of the superficial layer of epidermis of skin are called superficial
mycoses.
[need to check]

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-411. What is mycetoma? Give pathogenesis. 483/6.20

Mycetoma/ Madura foot/ Maduramycosis:
Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous disease of the subcutaneous and deep tissue.
[Agent:
fungus:Madurella mycetomatis
Bacteria: Actinomycetes(most common)]
Pathogenesis:
1. Introduction of the organism by trauma

2. Formation of nodules at the site of injury

3. Formation of abscess mainly in subcutaneous tissue but may involve muscle even
bone.

4. Formation of sinuses

5. Discharge of pus containing coloured granules.

[Ref: Dr. Adikary]
12. What is dermatophytoses? Give pathogenesis. 6.17
Dermatophytoses:
It is a fungal disease that involves only superficial keratinized structure (skin, hair and
nails.)
Pathogenesis of Dermatophytoses:
Dermatophytes first colonize at certain area of the body. Under suitable conditions,
they grow & multiply and produce lesions.
In case of skin, the fungus multiplies & migrates centrifugally, giving an
annular appearance of the lesion. The central portion of the lesion gradually
heals up & becomes fit for fungus. And the fungus remains in the margin of
the lesion.
In case of nail, the fungal infection makes the nail soft, brittle, thickened and
ultimately deformed.
In case of hair, the fungal infections break up the hairs and produce a patchy
area of alopecia.

13. What is dermatophytoses (ring worm infection)? Name the causative genera.6.17
Dermatophytoses (ring worm infection):
It is a fungal disease that involves only superficial keratinized structure (skin, hair and
nails.)
Causative genera:
The most important dermatophytes are classified in three genera:
1. Epidermophyton
2. Trichophyton
3. Microsporum
[Ref: Lange: 11th > 320]
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-514. What is ring worm? Why so called? 6.17

Ring worm:
A group of fungi which are keratinophilic and have the ability to infect the skin and
skin appendages (hair, nail) are called ring worm or dermatophytes.
They are called ring worm, because
Lesions produced by them have an inflamed circular border containing papules and
vesicles surrounding a clear area of relatively normal skin.
[Lange: 11th > 320]
15. How can you diagnose dermatophytoses of the groin (Tinea cruris) in the laboratory?
482
Diagnosis of dermatophytoses of the groin (Tinea cruris):
1) Specimen: Skin scrapping
2) Microscopic examination:
a. Dissolve the specimen (skin) in 10% KOH for at least 1 hour.
b. Findings: Septate hyphae with arthrospore.
3) Isolation & identification from culture:
a. Specimen is incubated in Sabourauds dextrose agar media at 25 30C (room temp.) for 3 4 weeks.
b. Findings:
i. Naked eye:
1. Colour: Green, red, white and brown.
2. Texture: Cottony, powdery and velvety appearance.
ii. Microscopic examination from colony:
1. Microconidia & macroconidia

16. What is dermatophytoses? Name ring worm infection as per distribution in body sites.
Dermatophytoses (ring worm infection):
It is a fungal disease that involves only superficial keratinized structure (skin,
hair and nails.)
Ring worm infection as per distribution in body sites:
Ring worm infections
Tinea capitis
Tinea corporis
Tinea cruris
Tinea pedis
[Ref: Lange: 11th >320]

Body sites
Head
Body
Groin
Foot

Others: (above 4 +)
Tinea unguium: Nails
Tinea barbae: Beard.
[Ref: Lippincott: 2nd > 207]

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-617. How can you diagnose dermatophytoses of the scalp (Tinea capitis) in the laboratory?
Diagnosis of dermatophytoses of the scalp (Tinea capitis):
1) Specimen: Hair plucking
2) Microscopic examination:
a. Dissolve the specimen (hair) in 20% KOH for at least 10 hours.
b. Findings: Ectothrix (fungal spores outside the hair shaft) and endothrix
(fungal spores inside the hair shaft).
3) Isolation & identification from culture:
a. Specimen is incubated in Sabourauds dextrose agar media at 25 30C (room temp.) for 3 4 weeks.
b. Findings:
i. Naked eye:
1. Colour: Green, red, white and brown.
2. Texture: Cottony, powdery and velvety appearance.
ii. Microscopic examination from colony:
1. Microconidia & macroconidia

18. Name the genera of fungus causing ring worm infection?

Causative genera:
The most important dermatophytes (ring worm) are classified in three genera:
1. Epidermophyton
2. Trichophyton
3. Microsporum
th
[Ref: Lange: 11 > 320]

19. Why KOH is used in the laboratory for diagnosis of ring worm infection directly from
clinical specimen? 483
Uses of KOH:
KOH is a keratolytic agent which lyses the keratin present in the skin, hair and nail,
thus facilitates the separation of fungal elements from skin, hair and nail tissue. In case of
ring worm infection (dermatophytoses), the collected specimen contains keratin, so KOH is
used in the laboratory for diagnosis of ring worm infection.

20. What is tinea versicolor? Name its causative agent.

Tinea versicolor:
It is a superficial skin infection of cosmetic importance only.
Causative agent: Malassezia furfur
[Ref: Lange: 11th > 321]

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-721. How can you diagnose tinea versicolor in the laboratory? 479
Diagnosis of superficial fungal infection/ tinea versicolor/pityriasis versicolor:
Specimen: Skin scrapping
Microscopic examination:
A drop of 20% KOH in scrapping material on a slide

Covered with a cover slip

Slightly heated the slide

Examine under microscope

Observation:
Cluster of yeast cells (grapes-like)
Dense meshwork of short non-septate elongated hyphae.
Culture:
Usually not needed, but if needed, culture is done in Sabourauds dextrose
agar (SDA) media at 22 - 25C for 3 4 weeks. Examine the culture media every 3
4 days.
22. What is opportunistic mycoses? Name some opportunistic fungi. 489
Opportunistic mycoses:
Fungal infection in immunesuppressed person is known as opportunistic mycoses.
Some opportunistic fungi are:
1) Candida albicans
2) Rhinosporidium seeberi
3) Pneumocystis carinii
4) Cryptococcus neoformans
5) Mucor
[Ref: Dr. Adikary]
23. What are the conditions that favor vaginal candidiasis? Tell laboratory diagnosis of
vaginal candidiasis. 491,492
Conditions that favour vaginal candidiasis/ Risk factor for Vaginal candidiasis
(monoliasis):
1) Loss of acidic pH of vagina
2) Pregnancy
3) Diabetes mellitus
4) Prolonged use of oral contraceptive pill.
5) Prolonged broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy.

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-824. What is oral thrush? How can you diagnose oral thrush in the laboratory? 492, 491
Oral thrush:
Oral thrush is the infection of the mucous membrane of mouth and tongue by Candida
albicans.
Diagnosis of Oral thrush/ Candidiasis:
1) Specimen: Oral swab.
2) Microscopic examination: Wet film preparation with normal saline.
3) Culture
a. SDA: shows cream-coloured colonies within 24 to 48 hours.
4) Identification
5) Germ tube test.
6) Biochemical test: Ferments glucose and maltose but not lactose.
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