MEDICAL MYCOLOGY

Dr Tadayo Hashimoto M.D.
Professor
Department of Microbiology & Immunology

4. All of the following statements concerning fungal spores are true EXCEPT that:

a conidium is an asexually formed fungal spore
in the majority of fungi pathogenic to humans, sexual cycles of spore formation are not demonstrated
morphologic characteristics of conidia are a useful aid for the identification of fungi
fungal spores are as resistant to heat as bacterial spores
fungal spores cause allergies in some people

(D) Unlike bacterial spores, which are highly resistant to heat, chemicals, and other deleterious agents, all types of fungal spores are not so resistant to various physical and chemical agents. For example, most fungal spores are completely killed when heated at 80°C for 30 minutes. Such heat treatment does not inactivate bacterial spores. Fungi in which no sexual cycles have been discovered are called "fungi imperfecti" or Deuteromycetes or Deuteromycotina. Interestingly, many fungi that infect humans belong to this group. All other statements are true. (Joklik et al, p. 1079; Ryan et al, pp. 573-574)

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Last Reviewed: Feb 11, 2009
Created: Aug 8, 1996