MICROBIOLOGY

Fundamentals of Mycology
Dr. Ferrer
INTRODUCTION This structure seen in Candida albicans is called pseudohyphae (fake hyphae)
Mycology – a branch of Microbiology that deals with the study of fungi because it came from the yeast cell, it is not a mold

General Characteristics of Fungi: Depending on the specie of fungi, there are certain terminologies on what
 Saprophytes – they live in dead or decaying environment type of yeast cell it emanates, some yeast cell produce blastoconidia and
some produce blastospores.
 Heterotrophs – they obtain nutritional requirements from organic
substances. They can survive on different sources of nutrition
B. Molds
 Thallophytes – they possess root-like structure to obtain nutrition
 Grow as long filaments
 Chemotrophic organism – they obtain their energy from oxidation
o Hyphae – single filament
of electron donors in the environment
– a tube-like strand of fungal element
 Natural habitat is the environment
o Mycelium (mat) – collection of hyphae
 All fungi are Gram (+)
– mass of hyphae
 Most of them are facultative anaerobes
Types of Mycelium:
a. Vegetative body or Thallus –
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FUNGI & BACTERIA hyphae that penetrates the
supporting medium and absorb
FEATURES FUNGI BACTERIA nutrients
Prokaryotic – no b. Aerial or Conidia – hyphae
Eukaryotic – true nuclear
Nucleus nuclear membrane  projects above the surface of
membrane
Nucleoid medium and bear the
Mitochondria Present Absent reproductive structure called
Endoplasmic conidia
Present Absent
Reticulum
Cell Sterols  Ergosterols  site of TYPES OF REPRODUCTION
Cholesterols
Membrane action of anti-fungal drugs Spores of fungi functions for reproduction and there are 2 types:
Chitin  responsible for the 1. Sexual Reproduction:
durability and firmness of  Typically occurs when mating compatible strains of a
Cell Wall Peptidoglycan
fungal cell  site of action of
species are stimulated by pheromones to undergo
anti-fungal drugs
plasmogamy, nuclear fusion & meiosis  exchange of
Spores For reproduction For survival
genetic information
Binary Fission, Budding
Replication formation Binary fission
(for yeast) The sexual (perfect, meiotic) state is referred to as teleomorph
Ribosomes 80 s 70 s
2. Asexual Reproduction:
Additional Information:  Spores reproduce clonally
While all molds are described as aerobic, many yeasts can grow facultatively
a. Under anaerobic condition, glucose can be converted to alcohol The asexual (imperfect, mitotic) state of a fungus is termed as
and CO2 via Embden-Meyerhoff Pathway (Glycolysis) anamorph
b. Under aerobic condition, glucose can be oxidized completely to
CO2 and H2O by some yeasts via Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)  Many fungi can have both states, especially Ascomycota
 Most have either one or the other
The cell wall, made up of chitin polysaccharides, can activate the
complement cascade. Once it has been activated it will trigger the Classification of Fungi:
inflammatory reaction. I. Zygomycetes
 Sexual reproduction: zygospores
MORPHOLOGIC FORMS OF FUNGI
 Asexual reproduction: sporangia
Fungi exists in two forms (dimorphic): Yeast or Molds
 Vegetative hyphae sparsely septate
A. Yeast
 Ex: Rhizopus, Mucor
 At 37oC, they grow as single cells (spherical) which are
round to oval in shape
II. Ascomycetes
 Reproduce asexually by the process termed as:
 Sexual reproduction: sac or ascus  ascospores
o Fission formation
 Asexual reproduction: conidia
o Blastoconidia formation (budding)

Conidia is a term that refers to asexual spores of filamentous fungi

Certain yeast cells reproduce by budding, a portion of yeast cells will pinch
It is a structure in aerial mycelium responsible for fungal reproduction
off to form a new yeast cells but sometimes can also produce elongation. This
 Septate hyphae
elongation fail to butt off and keeps on elongating to form a sausage shape
mass.  Ex: Blastomyces , Histoplasma, Microsporum, Trichophyton,
Saccharomyces

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Fundamentals of Mycology
Dr. Ferrer
III. Basidiomycetes Identification of Yeast Cultures:
 Sexual reproduction: basidiospores supported by basidium  Is based on morphologic characteristics & biochemical tests
 Hyphae with complex septa
 Ex: Mushrooms, Filobasidiella neoformans (anamorph, 3. Histologic Stains:
Cryptococcus neoformans) a. Periodic Acid Shift
b. Gomori Methenemine Silver Stain
IV. Deuteromycetes c. Calcofluor White
 Artificial grouping of imperfect fungi d. Fluorescent Antibody Stain – for rapid diagnosis of fungal cell
 No sexual reproduction discovered wall
 (+) ASEXUAL conidia
 Ex: C. immitis, P. brasiliensis, C. albicans 4. DNA Probe Test:
 Identifies colonies growing in culture at an earlier stage of
SEXUAL ASEXUAL PARASEXUAL growth
e.g. H. capsulatum  Available for coccidiodes, histoplasmasis, blastomyces,
a. Zygospores a. Sporangiospores cryptococcus
Ajellomyces capsulatum
b. Ascospores b. Chlamydospores
c. Basidiospores c. Arthrospores 5. Immunologic
d. Blastospores  For detection of antigen or antibody
 Complement-fixation, Agglutination, Precipitin test
Dimorphic Fungi can exist in 2 forms:  Useful only for systemic & opportunistic mycoses
a. Tissue or Yeast phase – is assumed by the fungi at body temperature o Compliment Fixation is frequently used in
of 37oC suspected cases of coccidiodomycoses,
b. Mycelial or Filamentous phase – is assumed the mold form at room blastomycoses, histoplasmosis
temperature of 24oC
6. Wood’s Light
Fungal Diseases:  Used in determining the prognosis of the patient
 Fungal allergies  E.g. T. captis – yellowish green in color
 Mycotoxicosis- potent toxins produces P. versicolor – golden yellow
o Phalloidin
o Amanitin 7. Wood’s Lamp
o Ergotism  Detect fluorescence in skin and hair illuminated by a special
o Aflatoxin device
 Fungal infections (Mycosis)
TREATMENT
LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS Antifungal Agents
1. Direct Microscopic Examination
a. Wet preparation – uses KOH or NaOH as clearing agent A. Inhibitors of Cell Membrane Synthesis
b. Calcofluor white stain I. Polyenes
o Shows fungal elements & small skin scales  MOA: combines sterol in cell membrane causing
under fluorescent microscope disruption & leakage of the cytoplasmic contents
c. Nigrosin or India Ink  Ex: Amphotericin B, Nystatin
d. Wright stain or Giemsa stain
II. Azole Derivatives
2. Culture  MOA: blocks the microsomal P450 dependent
 Slow growers demethylation of lanosterol
 Medium:  Divided into: Imidazole
SDA (Sabouraud Dextrose Agar), Potato Dextrose Agar, Triazole
Blood agar, Corn Meal agar a. Imidazole
o Clotrimazole, Miconazole, Ketoconazole
Note: SDA is the most common culture medium for fungi o Inhibit synthesis of cortisol testosterone
o S/E: gynecomastia, impotence, ↓ libido
Identification of Fungus:
a. Macroscopic examination b. Triazole
 Study mycotic colony, mycelium & pigment o Fluconazole – shown to best penetrate CNS
produced o Voriconazole – causes reversible visual impairment
o Posaconazole – used against fluconazole-resistant
Candida sp.
b. Microscopic examination
 Uses a drop of LPCB (Lactophenol Cotton Blue)
 Size, shape, septation & color of spores

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 MICROBIOLOGY
Fundamentals of Mycology
Dr. Ferrer
III. Allylamines
1. Terbinafine (Lamisil)
2. Naftifine

 MOA for both: inhibits squalene epoxidation

 Higher cure rates for onychomycosis (Fungi in Nails)

B. Inhibitors of Chitin Synthetase

A. Griseofulvin – derived from a species of Penicillium

 MOA: inhibit microtubule assembly
 Used for treatment of dermatophytoses
 Inhibits hyphal growth

B. Echinodins
 Inhibits synthesis of cell wall ß-glucan
 E.g. Caspofungin, Nikkomucin, Pradimicin, Sordarin
inhibits the elongation factor 2

C. Metabolite
 Flucytosine
 MOA: deaminate to 5-flurouracil, which inhibit DNA
synthesis & RNA synthesis
 A pyrimidine analog
 Active only on yeast
 Side Effects: neutropenia & jaundice

C. Other Topical Agents

 Whitfield’s ointment tolnaftate, ciclopirox halprogin and naftifine

Flucytosine + Amphotericin B  Synergistic

Ketoconazole + Amphotericin B  Antagonistic

REFERENCES
 Microbiology Manual (2019)
 Dr. Ferrer Recordings

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