Fungi: Molds and Yeasts

Types of Fungi
Yeast:

unicellular
Molds: multicellular

Molds
The cells are filamentous structures called hyphae
(singular = hypha). Hyphae are little tubes.
Some have individual cells separated by crosswalls
called septum. These are known as septate
hyphae. Those without septums are called aseptate
or non-septate hyphae. You can only see this under
a microscope.
The cell walls are made of polysaccharide (chitin or
cellulose).
When a mass of hyphae are visible, it is called
mycelium.

Two kinds of hyphae in

mycelium

1. Vegetative hyphae: these procure nutrients by secreting

enzymes into the substrate (food source) which catabolize (break
down) the nutrients, which are then sucked up through the hyphae.
The vegetative hyphae also serve as an anchor on which they are
growing. These hyphae are heterotrophs because they get energy
by breaking down organic matter. Molds are the decomposers of the
food chain, and that is also their ecological niche. Ecology is the
study of the interrelationships of living things with each other and
their environment. An environment contains both living and nonliving things. These relationships should be balanced. Every living
thing has a place. We can disturb the balance with our waste
products. Fungi return organic matter to the earth by breaking it
down with their vegetative hyphae.

Two kinds of hyphae in

mycelium

2. Aerial hyphae: living things also need to

reproduce; that is the role of the aerial hyphae.
They reproduce by spore production. How are
these spores different than bacterial spores?
One hyphae produces thousands of spores, for
reproduction. One bacterium produces one
spore, for survival. Very few soil bacteria also
make reproductive spores.

YEASTS

The term yeast refers to just the morphology

(single cell fungus, reproduces by asexual
budding, may or may not have sexual cycle);
yeast is not the taxonomy. Yeasts look like
bacteria; they are smooth with no mycelium.
They divide asexually by either binary fission
(symmetrical) like bacteria, or by budding
(asymmetrical). One yeast that produces alcohol
is Saccharomyces, and is used in fermentation
of beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Pathogenic Fungi and Their Diseases

OPPORTUNISTIC MYCOSES
Candida albicans (Candidiasis: yeast infection in women and thrush in children)
Aspergillus (Aspergillosis)
Cryptococcus neoformins (Cryptococcus)
Pneumocystis (Pneumocystis pneumonia; most common pneumonia)
CUTANEOUS MYCOSES (most common; fungus of the hair, skin, nails)
Microsporum (scalp infections and ringworm)
Epidermophyton (ringworm, jock itch, athletes foot)
Trichophytum (ringworm, jock itch, athletes foot)
SYSTEMIC MYCOSES (most serious; most often occurs in lungs)
Coccidiodes immitis (Valley Fever)
Histoplasma capsulatum (Histoplasmosis)
Blastomyces dermatitidis (Blastomycosis)

Opportunistic pathogens
Candida
Aspergillus
Cryptococcus
Pneumocystis pneumonii
Dermatophytes
True Pathogens
Histoplasma (true pathogen)
Blastomyces (true pathogen)

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
A. Subdivision Zygomycota
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
C. Subdivision Basidiomycota
D. Subdivision Deuteromycota

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
A. Subdivision Zygomycota
1. Rhizopus stolonifer (zygote)
2. Rhizopus stolonifer (sporangiospore)

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
A. Subdivision Zygomycota
1. Rhizopus stolonifer (black bread mold)

Zygote (sexual spore)

Hyphae

Fungi Classification

Kingdom Mycetae (Fungi)

Division Amastigomycotina
A. Subdivision Zygomycota
2. Rhizopus stolonifer (black bread mold)

Sporangiospores (asexual spores)

Hyphae
Sporangium
Sporangiophore
Rhizoids
Columnella

e
a
h
p
y
H

lla
e
n
m
Colu

Hyphae

Rhizopus

Zygospore

A Young Rhizopus Zygospore

Mature Rhizopus Zygospore

Rhizopus Zygospores

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
A. Subdivision Zygomycota
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
C. Subdivision Basidiomycota
D. Subdivision Deuteromycota

Fungi Classification

Kingdom Mycetae (Fungi)

Division Amastigomycotina
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
3. Penicillium notatum- ascospores (sexual spore)
4. Penicillium notatum- phialospore (asexual spore)
5. Morchella spp- ascospores (sexual spore)
6. Aspergillus niger - phialospore (asexual spore)
7. Saccaromyces cerevisiae -yeast- (asexual spore)

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
3. Penicillium notatum- ascospores
(sexual spore)

Cleistothecium (completely closed fruit body)

Hyphae
Ascus (sexual spore-bearing cell)
Ascospore

Penicillium notatum
sexual spores

Cleistothecium
(enclosed fruiting body)

Ascus with
ascospores

Fungi Classification

Kingdom Mycetae (Fungi)

Division Amastigomycotina
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
3. Penicillium notatum- phialospore (asexual
spore)

Phialospores
Phialophore
Phialide
Metulae
Septa
Hyphae

Penicillium notatum
asexual spores
Phialospores
Phialide

Phialophore

PENICILLIUM

(Latin for penicillus = paint brush)

The branches off its phialophores are called metulae.
This mold is famous for its use by Alexander Fleming in
making penicillin, but it is also used to make aged
cheeses like Brie, Blue cheese, and Roquefort.

The

white top layer of Brie cheese is

where the vegetative hyphae are. The
cheese is made with lactic acid bacteria
(the curd is the cheese) and it is inoculated
with Penicillium for flavor.
The colony of Penicillium is green with a
white ring.

Penicillium

Penicillium

Penicillium

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
5. Morchella spp- ascospores
(sexual spore)

Hyphae
Ascus
Ascospore

Morchella

Edible mushrooms with

honeycomb appearance.
Mushroom hunters refer to
them by their color (e.g.,
gray, yellow, black morels)

Yellow Morel

Black Morel

Fungi Classification

Kingdom Mycetae (Fungi)

Division Amastigomycotina
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
6. Aspergillus niger - phialospore

(asexual spore; a type of conidiospore)

Phialospores
Phialophore
Hyphae
Vesicle
Phialide

Aspergillus

Aspergillus

Aspergillus gets its name from aspergillum, the

name of the item a Priest uses to bless with Holy
water. Aspergillus is a very common fungi,
pervasive (found everywhere). There are more
than 600 species. Most are saprobic (nonpathogenic) and live off dead matter. In a young
fruiting body, the handle of the conidia is called
the conidiophore. The bulb at the top is called the
vesicle. The philiae radiate out from the vesicle,
and the spores form chains in the philiae. The
older fruiting bodies look like a toilet brush
because they are covered with spores at all
angles.

Aspergillum

Aspergillus

Some Aspergillus fungi can ferment. Thats where we get citric acid
for soft drinks and also soy sauce.
One pathogenic species is called Aspergillus flavus. It produces a
toxin called aflatoxin (a mycotoxin) which is carcinogenic, especially
in the liver (liver cancer). This species is fond of grains (corn,
wheat), and peanuts, and jelly. Therefore, a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich is a triple whammy for aflatoxin. It dissolves in the jelly, so
scooping it off the top surface of the jar will not do any good.
To prevent aflatoxin, only buy peanut butter and jelly in the size jars
you use up in a week, keep them refrigerated (the bread, too), and
use a clean knife each time. Dont leave the lid off for long, because
thats when it gets in.
Another disease Aspergillus causes is aspirgillosis, a lung disease.

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis: can occur anywhere in the body, but

is most common in the lungs.
Some people just have allergies to this mold.
X-ray of aspergillosis shows aspergilloma (fungus
balls) which are mycelium and white blood cells.
Although opportunistic diseases are usually seen in
immunocompromised people, healthy people who
are overexposed can also get sick.
Since this mold loves grains, farmers are especially
at risk.

Aspergillus

Aspergillus

Aspergillus

Aspergillus

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis
Aspergilloma
(Fungus balls)

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
7. Saccaromyces cerevisiae -yeast(asexual spore)

Parent cell
Blastospore

Saccaromyces (sugar mold)

cerevisiae (beer)

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
A. Subdivision Zygomycota
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
C. Subdivision Basidiomycota
D. Subdivision Deuteromycota

Fungi Classification

Kingdom Mycetae (Fungi)

Division Amastigomycotina
C. Subdivision Basidiomycota
Club fungi; mushrooms, rusts, smuts.
8. Coprinus spp.

Basidium
Basidiospores
Basidiophore
Hymenium
(cup area where spores develop)

Coprinus (mushroom)

Coprinus with Basidiospores

Coprinus

Coprinus with Basidiospores

Coprinus

MYCOTOXINS
Basidiomycota are mushrooms which are either
edible or deadly. The species agaricus is the
edible Button mushroom in stores.

The species amanita is

deadly and produces a
mycotoxin called phaloidin
(damages liver).

The species psilocibe (called

magic mushrooms) produces a
mycotoxin called psilocybin, which
is a hallucinogen like LSD.

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
A. Subdivision Zygomycota
B. Subdivision Ascomycotina
C. Subdivision Basidiomycota
D. Subdivision Deuteromycota

Fungi Classification
Kingdom

Mycetae (Fungi)
Division Amastigomycotina
D. Subdivision Deuteromycota
Fungi imperfecti
Species of fungi that are asexually
reproducing members of the fungal phyla
Ascomycota and Basidiomycota.

Other Pathological Fungi

The following are other important fungi
because of the diseases they cause.
We do not have slides of these, but you are
required to know them; they are on the exam.
Many pathological fungi are molds
(multicellular) in the environment, but change
to a yeast form (unicellular) once they have
invaded the human body. This is called
thermodimorphism.

Blastomyces dermatitidis

DISEASE: Blastomycosis
Caused by inhalation of conidia; only a few spores are
needed to establish infection.
Spores germinate to yeast and are engulfed by
macrophages. This is followed by inflammation and
granuloma formation.
Most cases are asymptomatic or mild. Symptoms may
include cough, chest pain, hoarseness, fever.
Dissemination in severe cases can overwhelm the patient.
Organisms may cause granulomas in the lungs that have
been mistaken for malignancies.
They tend to spread to the bones (arthritis), brain
(headache-coma), and skin (ulcerating nodules from
subcutaneous tissue).

Blastomyces dermatitidis

Histoplasma capsulatum

This organism is found in soil that is rich in nitrogen,

especially caves with bat droppings (guano).
Such caves are moist, rich in nitrogen, and have dead
organic material there, which are ideal conditions for
molds.
Spelunkers are people who explore caves, usually on
their hands and knees. Their nose is close to the floor, so
they inhale the conidia spores. Hunting dogs get it the
same way.
When you hear the word cave, think of Histoplasma.

Histoplasma capsulatum

DISEASE: Histoplasmosis
Microconida are inhaled.
The disease starts with flu-like symptoms and a cough.
In the immunocompromised (those with emphysema,
bronchitis, or HIV), the organisms are ingested by
macrophages but not killed, and are disseminated (spread
throughout the body). These patients develop fever, weight
loss and night sweats, and the condition becomes chronic
and relapsing.
This form is called Chronic Pulmonary Histoplasmosis.
X-rays show lesions that are similar to TB, but the medicines
are different, so making the differential diagnosis (DDx) is
important.

Histoplasmosis

There is a skin test for histoplasmosis, similar to

the one for TB. You can also do a KOH wet
mount on a skin lesion; a budding yeast is
diagnostic.
Treatment is Amphotericin B or Fluconazole.
These just treat the disease, but it wont cure it.

Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis is the cause of the

"Mummy's curse" after unearthing King

Tut's tomb in the 1920's.
Approximately 80% of the population in
central states are skin positive for
exposure to the organism.
Approximately 500,000 cases each year in
the USA.

Histoplasma capsulatum

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis

Coccidioides immitis

DISEASE: San Joaquin Valley Fever

Also called Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis.
Approximately 100,000 cases per year in USA. Cases
occurred in So. California following the earthquakes in
San Fernando in the late 1980's.
It is a recurring disease with treatment but no cure.
Treatment is Amphotericin B or Fluconazole.
Note that there are only a few drugs for the mycoses,
while there are many antibacterial medicines.

Coccidioides immitis

Arthrospores are inhaled and thermodimorphism occurs

(changes shape with body heat), and the sporangia form into
spherules in the lungs. The spherules mature and release the
spores which disseminate and develop into more spherules.
Many cases are asymptomatic; others may have flu-like
symptoms. Most will recover without incident and then have
lasting immunity.
Individuals with impaired cell-mediated immunity (T-cell
dysfunction) will progress into chronic symptoms.
In those cases, nodules form in other tissues, especially the
bone marrow, brain and epidermis.
Prevention: oiling roads, wearing masks, planting vegetation
to reduce aerosols.

Valley Fever

The people are not contagious because the infectious stage in the
environmental phase.
This organism differs from Histoplasmosis and Blastomyces in that it
requires long periods of dry (arid) weather, and then a heavy rain.
That makes it endemic to west Texas, Mexico, Baja, South America,
Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The blood of everyone who lives in the San Joaquin Valley tests
positive for the organism, but they dont usually get the disease.
Thats because you need to be exposed to a large amount to get
sick; therefore farmers are at risk.
Caesar Chavez fought for the rights of immigrant farm workers, who
were given short tools to weed the farms, so their noses were close
to the ground and they inhaled the spores often. They also were not
paid well and had poor nutrition, so they would get the disease.

San Joaquin Valley Fever

Coccidioides immitis arthrospores

San Joaquin Valley Fever

Cryptococcus neoformans

DISEASE: Cryptococcosis
The organism is an encapsulated yeast cell; a normal
soil inhabitant.
Lives in soil rich in nitrogen, especially bird droppings. It
is most often associated with pigeon droppings, so it is
common in urban areas (cities). It is not as common in
rural (country) areas.
People do not get sick unless their immune system is not
healthy.

Cryptococcosis

Spores are inhaled, and the disease starts out as a primary pulmonary
infection with flu-like symptoms of cough, congestion, fever. Nodular lesions
may develop in the lungs. Most people recover easily, but may have scars
called cryptococcomas.

In the immunocompromised, the disease disseminates (spreads) to the

blood and then to the CNS (central nervous system). It causes neurological
damage in those who survive.

The Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) does not allow compounds of large

molecular weight to cross into the brain, so most drugs cannot treat CNS
infections.
Treatment is either Amphotericin B (injected or IV), which is potent, but side
effects include kidney damage, or Fluconazole (or other azole medicines)
which is oral (pill form).

Cryptococcosis

This disease can cause meningitis (headache, fever, stiff neck), but
so do many other diseases, including bacteria and viruses.
The meds for each disease are different, so it is important to make
the correct differential diagnosis (DDx: to differentiate this organism
from others). The azole medicines affect the sterols in the plasma
membrane, so they work on fungi, but most bacteria do not have
sterols.
A sample of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) is taken from the patient and
cultured and stained with India ink. Seeing a budding yeast with a
huge capsule around it is diagnostic. The capsules serve to resist
phagocytosis (being eaten) by white blood cells.

Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcus

Filobasidella (Cryptococcus) neoformans

Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis, disseminated

Pneumocystis carinii

DISEASE: Pneumocytosis, or pneumocystis

pneumonia (PCP).
This disease is associated with infections in
immunocompromised persons, especially HIV.
It is a normal inhabitant of soil.
The organism is inhaled and multiplies extracellularly.
This results in the alveolar
spaces filled with
foamy material. The person eventually has difficulty
with obtaining enough oxygen and the become
hypoxemic.
Symptoms include fever, dry cough, tachypnea (fast
breathing) and cyanosis (blue skin).

Pneumocystic carinii

Pneumocystis pneumonia

Candida albicans

This is a yeast which is a common normal inhabitant of

the human skin and mucus membranes. 30% females
have Candida in the vaginal tract and 50% of humans
are colonized in their GI tracts.
Endogenous flora compete with each other and should
remain balanced. If one organism dies off (such as after
antibacterial medicines) one other organism (like
Candida) can take over and cause disease.
Most common disease patterns include thrush (oral
candidiasis) and vaginal yeast infections.

Candidiasis

DISEASE: Candidiasis
The oral form of this disease is called thrush. It can occur in
newborns after passing through a birth canal, since babies dont
have a fully formed immune system until after they are a year old.
Thrush can also occur in diabetics, elderly, and AID patients. When
it occurs in the esophagus, it makes it hard to swallow.
When the disease is in the vagina, it is called vulvovaginitis
(affects 5% of women right now).
It can also occur in wet areas of the skin and is common among
dishwashers. This form is called Cutaneous Candidiasis, and can
be mistaken for a bacterial jock itch or diaper rash. Although it
looks like a dermatophyte infection, those creams wont work here.

Candida albicans

Candida

Candidiasis: thrush

Thrush in an adult

Cutaneous Candidiasis

II. Dermatophytes

There are greater than 30 species that infect

humans but the most common six follow.
A. Epidermophyton floccasum
B. Microsporum canis
C. Microsporum gypseum
D. Trichophyton rubrum
E. Trichophyton mentagrophytes
F. Trichophyton tonsurans

Epidermophyton floccasum
Infects

groin, body, feet, occasionally

nails, but does not infect hair.

Microsporum canis
Causes

tinea capitis in humans, and

ringworm in pets.

Microsporum gypseum
Causes

tinea capitis, tinea corpus,

ringworm. It does not fluoresce under
Wood's ultra-violet light.

Trichophyton rubrum
This is the most common cause of
athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm.
Causes the dry, red, thick-skinned type of
athletes foot.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes
Causes

athlete's foot, ringworm, jock itch,

and infections of the nail, beard, skin and
scalp.
Causes the wet, macerated type of
athletes foot between the toes.

Trichophyton tonsurans
This is the most common cause of tinea

capitis (scalp infection).

Dermatophyte Infections

Dermatophytes are fungi that live on keratin (found in skin, hair, and nails).
Dermatophyte infections are the most common fungal infections in humans. The diseases
they cause are known as tinnea. When a person has tinnea, doctors dont know which
dermatophyte is the causative agent unless they culture it, so they name the disease
according to its location. Fungi like moisture, and feet are in a dark, moist environment, so
infection is common there.
Athletes foot is known as tinnea pedis. You get it by just walking barefoot, exposing the skin
to the air where spores are. If there is a slight scratch in the skin, the fungi can get in. They
form itchy vesicles. When scratched, the fungus spreads. Treatment is topical creams.
When dermatophytes infect the nails it is called onychomycosis. The nails get thick, chalky,
discolored. Topical creams dont penetrate the nails. Oral medicines like griseofulvin kill the
fungus but are also toxic to the liver. Onychomycosis is common with age.
Ringworm: these skin lesions are circular, so they look like a worm. Ringworm can also
occur in the scalp, usually in children. The hyphae are fluorescent, so you can use a Woods
Lamp, which shines with ultraviolet light, and see the hyphae glow.
When dermatophytes cause a skin rash, they can be diagnosed by scraping a bit of the skin
onto a slide, and adding KOH, which dissolves the skin cells and leaves the hyphae. The
hyphae, when observed under the microscope, are diagnostic for dermatophytes.

Dermatophyte Infections
Tinea capitis - scalp
Tinea corporis - body
Tinea barbae - beard
Tinea cruris - groin (Jock itch)
Tinea pedis - feet (athletes foot)
Tinea unguium nails (onychomycosis)
Ringworm: term for any fungus that forms a ring shape
in the skin
Diagnosis of Dermatophytes
1. Yellow fluorescence with Wood's lamp
2. KOH wet mount
3. Culture
Oral Medicines if topicals dont work
1. griseofulvin
2. fluconazole

Tinea capitis - scalp

Tinea corporis - body

Tinea barbae - beard

Tinea cruris - groin

Tinea pedis - feet

Tinea unguium nails

Dermatophytes: Ringworm