Gourt > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Infectious Diseases > Fungal (8)
A fungus (plural fungi) is a eukaryotic organism that digests its food externally and absorbs the nutrient molecules into its cells. Fungi are used extensively by humans: yeasts are responsible for fermentation of beer and bread, and mushroom farming is a large industry in many countries. Fungi are the primary decomposers of dead plant and animal matter in many ecosystems, and are commonly seen on old bread as mold. However, the complex biology of fungi extends beyond this common knowledge and experience of them.
Phylogeny of fungi
Fungi were originally classified as plants, however have since been seperated as they are heterotrophs. This means they do not fix their own carbon through photosynthesis, but use carbon fixed by other organisms for metabolism. Fungi are now thought to be more closely related to animals than to plants, and are placed with animals in the monophyletic group of opisthokonts. Fungi absorb their food while animals ingest it, and their cells have cell walls. For these reasons, these organisms are placed in their own kingdom, Fungi.
The Fungi are a monophyletic group, meaning all varieties of fungi come from a common ancestor. Mycologists believe they are monophyletic because they have chitin in their cell walls, they are absorbtive heterotrophs, along with other shared characteristics.
More on [ Fungus ]
Fungi :: Flora and Fauna
Fungal :: Eukaryotic
Mycology :: Biology
Fungal :: Conditions and Diseases
CDC - DBMD - Mycotic Diseases Branch - Factsheets on several fungal diseases.
CDC DBMD - Sporotrichosis - Features cause, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
CDC Division of Parasitic Diseases - Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia - Includes factsheets on the organism and the disease it causes, news releases, and reports.
Doctor Fungus - Includes images and information, how fungi infect people, animals, and plants and how fungal infections are treated with antifungal drugs.
Meta Description: [ Images & info on fungi; How fungus infects people, animals, & plants; How fungal infections are treated with antifungal drugs ]
eMedicine Health - Sporotrichosis - Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of an infection of the skin caused by a fungus, Sporothrix schenckii.
Meta Description: [ Sporotrichosis is an infection of the skin caused by a fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. This infection-causing fungus is related more closely to the mold on stale bread or the yeast used ... ]
MedlinePlus: Fungal Infections - Directory of news releases, factsheets and articles.
Meta Description: [ Fungal Infections ]
MedlinePlus: Molds - Directory of factsheets, news, and articles.
Meta Description: [ Molds ]
404
Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and other Molds - Includes FAQ, reports, news releases, and links.
Meta Description: [ Page Not Found ]
Sporotrichosis Facts - Factsheet with caise, signs, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Stachybotrys Pulmonary Hemorrhage And Hemosiderosis In Infants - Medical article on the dangers of exposure to Stachybotrys black mold.
The Merck Manual: Systemic Fungal Diseases - Provides detailed information on each of the major mycotic infections, including symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
| Tullio Simoncini - The Fungal hypothesis 2/3 | |
| Next Video | |
