Dimorphic fungi
Encyclopedia
Dimorphic fungi are fungi which can exist as mold
/hyphal/filamentous form or as yeast
. An example is Penicillium marneffei
:
Several species are potential pathogens, including Coccidioides immitis
, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
, Candida albicans
, Ustilago maydis, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Sporothrix schenckii
.
Mold
Molds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. Molds are not considered to be microbes but microscopic fungi that grow as single cells called yeasts...
/hyphal/filamentous form or as yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
. An example is Penicillium marneffei
Penicillium marneffei
Penicillium species are usually regarded as unimportant in terms of causing human disease. Penicillium marneffei, discovered in 1956, is different...
:
- At room temperatureRoom temperature-Comfort levels:The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers has listings for suggested temperatures and air flow rates in different types of buildings and different environmental circumstances. For example, a single office in a building has an occupancy ratio per...
, it grows as a mold. - At body temperature, it grows as a yeast.
Several species are potential pathogens, including Coccidioides immitis
Coccidioides immitis
Coccidioides immitis is a pathogenic fungus that resides in the soil in certain parts of the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and a few other areas in the Western Hemisphere....
, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a dimorphic species of fungus responsible for paracoccidioidomycosis. While the route of infection is assumed to be via inhalation, the environmental habit of P. brasiliensis is unknown...
, Candida albicans
Candida albicans
Candida albicans is a diploid fungus that grows both as yeast and filamentous cells and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans. Systemic fungal infections including those by C...
, Ustilago maydis, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Sporothrix schenckii
Sporothrix schenckii
Sporothrix schenckii is a thermally dimorphic fungus that can be found world-wide.The species is present in soil, and in vital and decomposing plant material such as peat moss. Colonies grow moderately rapidly at . They are moist, leathery to velvety, and have a finely wrinkled surface...
.