Fungi

1. INTRODUCTION
- Mycology is the study of fungi.
- Fungi ate aerobic or facultatively anaerobic chemoheterotrophs.
- Most fungi are decomposers, and a few are parasites of plants, animals.
2. CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNGI
a. A fungal thallus consists of filaments of cells called hyphae, a mass of
hyphae is called a mycelium.
b. Yeast are unicellular fungi. To reproduce, fission yeast divide symmetrically, whereas budding yeast divide asymmetrically.
c. Buds that do not separate from the mother cell form pseudophyphae.
d. Phatogenic dimorphic fungi are yeastlike at 37 C and moldlike at 25 C.
e. Reproduction sexually and or asexually.
f. Fungi are classified according to the the type of sexual spore.
g. Fungi can grow in acidic, low-moisture, aerobic environments.
h. Fungi are able to metabolize complex carbohydrates.

3. MEDICALLY IMPORTANT PHYLA OF FUNGI

a. The Zygomycetes have coenocytic hyphae and produce sporangiospores
and zygospores.
b. The Ascomycetes have septate hyphae and produce ascospores and
frequently conidiospores.
c. The Basidiomycetes have septate hyphae and produce basidiospore,
some produce conidiophores.
d. Teleomorphic fungi produce sexual and asexual spores,
Anamorphic fungi produce asexual spores only.
4. ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF FUNGI
a. Saccharomyces and Trichoderma are used in the production of foods.
b. Fungi are used for the biological control of pests.
c. Molds spoilage of fruits, grains, and vegetables in more common than
bacterial spoilage of the products.
d. Many fungi cause disease in plants (e.g : in potatoes, chestnuts).

5. FUNGAL DISEASES
a. Systemic mycoses are fungal infections deep within the body that
affect many tissues and organs.
b. Subcutaneous mycoses are fungal infections beneath the skin.
c. Cutaneous mycoses affect keration-containing tissues such as hair,
nails, and skin.
d. Superficial mycoses are localized on hair shafts & superficial skin cells
e. Opportunistic mycoses are caused by normal microbiota or fungi that
are no usually pathogenic.
f. Opportunistic mycoses include
- mucormycosis caused by some zygomycetes
- aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus
- candidiasis caused by Candida
g. Opportunistic mycoses can infect any tissues. However, they are
usually systemic.

ALGAE
1. INTRODUCTION
- Algae are unicellular, filamentous, or multicellular (thallic).
- Most algae live in aquatic environments.
2. CHARACTERISTICS OF ALGAE
a. All algae are eukariotic photoautotrophs.
b. The thallus (body) of multicellular algae usually consists of
stipe, a holdfast, and blades.
c. Algae reproduce asexually by cell division & fragmentation.
d. Many algae reproduce sexually.
e. Algae are photoautotrophs that produce oxygen.
d. Algae are classified according to their structures and pigments.

3. SELECTED DIVISION OF ALGAE

a. Brown algae (kelp) may be harvested for algin.
b. Red algae grow deeper in the ocean than other algae because their
red pigments can absorb the blue light that penetrates to deeper
levels.
c. Green algae have cellulose and chlorophyll a and b & store starch.
d. Diatoms are unicellular and have pectin and silica cell walls; some
produce a neurotoxin.
e. Dinoflagellates produce neurotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish
poisoning and ciguatera.
4. ROLES OF ALGAE IN NATURE
a. Algae are the primary producers in aquatic food chains.
b. Planktonic algae produce most the molecular oxygen in the Earths
atmosphere.
c. Petroleum is the fossil remains of planktonic algae.
d. Unicellular algae are symbionts in such animals as Tridacna

LICHENS

a. A lichens is a mutualistic combination of an algae (or cyanobacterium) and a fungus.

b. The algae photosynthesizes, providing carbohydrates for the
lichens; the fungus provides a holdfast.
c. Lichens colonize habitats that are unsuitable fo either the algae
or the fungus alone.
d. Lichens may be classified on the basis of morphology as crustose,
foliose, or fruticose.
e. Lichens are used for their pigments and as air quality indicators.