Fungi are eukaryotic
organisms that do not contain chlorophyll, but have cell walls,
filamentous
structure, 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 300 species are presently known to be
pathogenic for man
and animals
There are five
kingdoms of living things. The fungi are in the Kingdom Fungi
KINGDOM
CHARACTERISTICS EXAMPLE
Monera Prokaryocyte
Bacteria
Actinomycetes
Protista Eukaryocyte
Protozoa
Fungi Eukaryocyte Fungi
Plantae Eukaryocyte
Plants
Moss
Animalia Eukaryocyte Arthropods
Mammals
Man
This
common characteristic is responsible for therapeutic dilemma in anti-mycotic
therapy
The taxonomy of the
Kingdom Fungi is evolving and is controversial. Formerly based on
gross and light
microscopic morphology, studies of ultra structure, biochemistry and
molecular biology
provide new evidence on which to base the taxonomy positions.
Medically important Fungi are in four phyla.
1. Ascomycota- Sexual
reproduction in a sack called an ascus with the production of
ascospores
2. Basidiomycota-
Sexual reproduction in asack called basidium with the production
of basidiospores
3. Zygomycota- Sexual
reproduction by gametes and asexual reproduction with
formation of
zygospores
4. Mitosporic Fungi
(Fungi imperfect)- no recognizable form of sexual reproduction,
includes most
pathogenic Fungi
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