2013 class: you are not responsible for material that Dr. Galgiani did not cover. We did not discuss Q's 10 , 11, 15 and 18)

Study Questions- Medical Mycology

1. What is the difference between a "real" or endemic pathogen and an opportunistic pathogen? What are superficial pathogens and what type of diseases do they cause? Which type of pathogens cause the majority of fungal infections of humans?

b. How does the concept of a mycological iceberg describe how previously unobserved infections have become important?

2. What types of fungal pathogens do we encounter most frequently? What type do we encounter only occasionally?

3. Under what conditions are people more susceptible to infection by opportunistic pathogens? Name one opportunistic fungus and the disease it causes.

4. What are two means by which pathogens gain entry into their human host? What is the main mode of entry of real (endemic) pathogens? What about superficial pathogens?

b. What are natural (anatomic) barriers to prevent fungal infection?

5. What are three methods that doctors use to determine whether a patient has been infected by a fungal pathogen?

6. What does selectivity mean in terms of antifungal drugs?

a. Do you think it is easier to find a selective drug for treatment of a bacterial pathogen, or a fungal pathogen? Why?

7. For treating which group of fungi is the most money spent on drugs, annually?

8. Is Candida albicans a true (endemic) pathogen or an opportunistic pathogen? How do we become exposed to C. albicans? Is it commonly or rarely encountered?

b. What about Aspergillus fumigatus? How are we exposed to this fungus?

9. Is Coccidioides immitis a true (endemic) pathogen or an opportunistic pathogen? How do we become exposed to C. immitis?

10. What family of drugs is use to treat Candida spp. infections? Do you know their mode of action?

11. Described the three types of infection that are caused by Candida spp.

12. What does it mean to be a dimorphic pathogen? Name a dimorphic pathogen and the disease it causes.

13. Upon exposure to Coccidioides, do most people exhibit symptoms? For those who do, what type of symptoms are observed?

14. What are three different methods to diagnose a fungal infection?

15. Why are early diagnoses of people infected with Coccidioides often incorrect?

16. Why is Nikkomycin Z considered to be a promising drug for treatment of coccidioidomycosis? What is its mode of action?

17. Name three different targets for antifungal drugs. Are these targets found in all fungi? Are they selective for the fungus over the host? Explain.

18. Are T-cells or B-cells important in adaptive defenses to fungal pathogens? Do either paly a role in diagnosis of an infection?