Question
What are dimorphic fungi. Name two dimorphic fungi.
Q7 2 marks Short Notes ★ ✓
Answer
Dimorphic fungi are fungi capable of existing in two distinct morphological forms depending on temperature — a filamentous mould at ambient temperature (25°C) and a yeast (or spherule, one exception) form at body temperature (37°C) in host tissue — a defining feature of the major systemic fungal pathogens, directly relevant to pathogenicity since the yeast form is typically the tissue-invasive phase.
Two examples :
Histoplasma capsulatum — mould with tuberculate macroconidia at 25°C; small intracellular yeast (within macrophages) at 37°C; causes histoplasmosis.
Sporothrix schenckii — mould at 25°C; cigar-shaped budding yeast at 37°C; causes sporotrichosis.
(Other valid examples: Blastomyces dermatitidis , Coccidioides immitis , Paracoccidioides brasiliensis , Talaromyces marneffei .)
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