PLNTPTH 2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Mycosis, Siderophore, Aspergillus
23 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
In the us, mycoses (a fungal disease) was the #7 cause of death due to infectious diseases in 1997. In africa, cryptococcus (a fungal pathogen) was #4 at 504,000. Yeasts look more like bacteria, are dots. Fungi are primarily decomposers, as they live on organic matter. They are biochemically versatile (they can break down just about anything) Break down complex organic molecules into simpler compounds. They secrete enzymes outside to break things down (similar to what flies do!) Just growing into a tissue--doing just as it would into a piece of bread. This is how penicillin was found--which breaks down bacteria. They secrete mycotoxins, which will kill cells of the predators. Produces siderophores that are strong enough to capture the iron off that host molecule. They are similar to an amoeba: wrap themselves around something and kill it. In actuality, we have a pretty efficient and effective immune system. Already present in our intestines and on our skin.
