Fungi on whole

Fungi

Fungi are called micro-organisms but some can easily be seen with the naked eye. Mushrooms, toadstools and bread mould are all types of fungi. Individual fungus cells have a nucleus, cell wall and structures like mitochondria can be seen in their cytoplasm. They can join together to form long tubes, called hyphae, that grow as a network of fibres in the material the fungus is feeding on. Mushrooms and toadstools are specialised structures involved in reproduction and the formation of fungal spores that can spread for many miles on the wind.

Fungi play a vital role in decomposing dead material and recycling the nutrients to make them available for the growth of other plants. Brewers' and bakers' yeast are a types of fungi that grow as individual cells. They have been used for many centuries in the production of beer, wine and bread.

The fungus Penicillium notatum helps to save lives by producing the antibiotic penicillin.




Picture 5. Fungi grow as microscopic fibres. Some can grow in the top layer of the skin.

Pathogenic fungi
Pathogenic fungi tend to be ones that cause infections to the surface of the body. Their fibres grow in the upper layer of the skin which causes inflammation and damage. This can also provide a route into the body for other opportunistic infections. Diseases such as athlete's foot, ringworm, oral and vaginal thrush are examples of fungal infections.

On page 7, you can find out more about Candidiasis, a fungal disease.
http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/content/4/biology/abpi/diseases/disease6.html