Kingdom Fungi
Introduction
Objectives
Introduction of fungi
Biology of fungi
Cell structure, growth and development
Physiology of fungi
Nutrition, Temp, UV light, and water
Classification of fungi
Some terms
Mycology
study of fungi
Mycologists
scientists who study fungi
Mycotoxicology
study of fungal toxins and their effects
Mycoses: diseases caused by fungi
Fungal Characteristics
Eukaryotic
Most are Multicellular and some are unicellular.
Heterotrophic
Absorb nutrients - may be saprobes (absorb from dead
material), parasites, or mutualistic symbionts (with algae
make lichen).
Secrete powerful hydrolytic enzymes.
Cell walls contain chitin, an amino sugar polysaccharide
also found in arthropod exoskeletons
Lack flagella
Characteristics of fungi
A. eukaryotic, non- vascular organisms
B. reproduce by means of spores (conidia), usually wind-disseminated
C. both sexual (meiotic) and asexual (mitotic) spores may be
produced, depending on the species and conditions
D. typically not motile, although a few (e.g. Chytrids) have a motile phase.
E. like plants, may have a stable haploid & diploid states
F. vegetative body may be unicellular (yeasts) or multicellular moulds
composed of microscopic threads called hyphae.
G. cell walls composed of mostly of chitin and glucan.
H. Complex cytoplasm with internal organelles, microfilaments and
microtubules
H. fungi are heterotrophic ( “other feeding,” must feed on preformed
organic material), not autotrophic ( “self feeding,” make their own
food by photosynthesis).
- Unlike animals (also heterotrophic), which ingest then digest, fungi
digest then ingest.
-Fungi produce exoenzymes to accomplish this
I. Most fungi store their food as glycogen (like animals). Plants store
food as starch.
K. Fungal cell membranes have a unique sterol, ergosterol, which
replaces cholesterol found in mammalian cell membranes
L. Tubule protein—production of a different type in microtubules
formed during nuclear division.
M. Most fungi have very small nuclei, with little repetitive DNA.
N. Mitosis is generally accomplished without dissolution of the
nuclear envelope
Introduction of fungi
Eukaryotic, Heterotrophic
(chemoheterotrophic) microorganism
No chlorophyll, non-motile
Thread of cells (hyphae), transverse cell
walls (septate), hyphal anastomosis
Storage compound; glycogen
Molds
filamentous fungi
hyphae (s., hypha)
the filaments of a mold
may be coenocytic (no cross walls) or have
septate (with cross walls)
mycelium (pl. mycelia)
bundles or tangled masses of hyphae
Yeasts
unicellular fungi
reproduce asexually, often by budding
reproduce sexually by formation of spores
Hyphae
Hyphae are designed to increase the surface area of fungi
and thus facilitate absorption
May grow fast, up to 1 km per day, as they spread throughout
a food source
May be coenocytic, having no septa between cells, or septa
may be present with pores through which cytoplasm can flow
moving nutrients through out the fungus
Parasitic fungi have modified hyphae called
haustoria, which penetrate the host tissue but
remain outside cell membrane
Hyphae
Hyphae
Pores
Septa
Coenocytic
The Body of a Fungus
Fungi exist mainly in the form of slender
filaments (hyphae).
long chains of cells joined end-to-end divided by
cross-walls (septa)
rarely form complete barrier
cytoplasm freely streams in hyphae
mycelium - mass of connected hyphae
grows through and penetrates substrate
MYCELIUM
Intertwined filamentous mass formed by hyphae,
visible to the unaided eye
Forms when environmental conditions are right
Vegetative mycelium: Mycelial portion remaining
INSIDE the substrate to obtain nutrition
Reproductive mycelium: Mycelial portion extends
into air ,responsible for SPORE reproduction
hypha
mycelia
Structure
Cell wall
Plasma membrane
Microtubules
Nucleus
Fungal wall
Shape of fungi
Protect against osmotic lysis
It the wall contains pigments (melanin) protect
the cell against ultraviolet radiation or the lytic
enzymes of other organisms
It can have antigenic properties
Cell wall components
Predominance of polysaccharides, lesser
amounts of proteins and lipids
Cell wall components
The major polysaccharides
of cell wall matrix consist of
glucans such as manans,
chitosan, and galactans
Plasma membrane
The main role of the plasma membrane
To regulate the uptake and release of materials
Integral membrane protein (chitin syntase,
glucan syntase)
Signal transduction
Plasma membrane
regulates the passage of
materials into and out of the cell
by being selective permeable
Several antifungal agents
interfere with ergosterol synthesis
(i.e., amphotericin B)
Microtubules
Composed of the protein tubulin, which
consists of a dimer composed of two
protein subunits.
Microtubules are long, hollow cylinders ~ 25
nm in diameter
Involved in the movement of organelles,
chromosomes, nuclei, and Golgi vesicle
containing cell wall precursor
Nucleus
The nucleus is bounded by a double
nuclear envelope and contains
chromatin and a nucleolus
Fungal nuclei are variable in size,
shape, and number
The number of chromosomes varies
with the particular fungus
CLASSIFICATION
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that do not contain
chlorophyll, but have cell walls, filamentous
structures, and produce spores. These organisms grow
as saprophytes and decompose dead organic matter.
There are between 100,000 to 200,000 species depending
on how they are classified. About 300species are
presently known to be pathogenic for man. There are five
kingdoms of living things. The fungi are in the Kingdom
Fungi.
:Medically important fungi are in four phyla
1. Ascomycota - Sexual reproduction in a sack called an ascus
with the production of ascopspores.( Aspergillus, Blastomyces
dermatidis, Histoplasma capsulatus) DECOMPOSERS
2. Basidiomycota -Sexual reproduction in a sack called a
basidium with the production of basidiospores.( Cryptococcus
neoformans) WOOD DECOMPOSERS (CO2 CYCLING)
3. Zygomycota - sexual reproduction by gametes and asexual
reproduction with the formation of zygospores.( Rhizopus,
Mucor) (LACTIC ACID PRODUCTION)
4. Deuteromycota(Fungi Imperfecti \Mitosporic Fungi) - no
recognizable form of sexual reproduction. Includes most
pathogenic fungi ( Sporothrix, Coccidioides immitis, Candida,
Pneumocystis). (IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT)
