BIO 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: British Mycological Society, Aflatoxin, Antimicrobial Resistance
Document Summary
Fungi: phylogeny: what are they, anatomy: cells and morphology, ecology: recycling of living (and dead) things; roots. Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants. Fungi in evolutionary context: 3 domains, fungi are in eukarya. How fungi changed the course of human history: penicillin was first discovered by accident (1920s) it is an antibiotic secreted by the fungus. Penicillium: antibiotics (1945 or so) became crucial for treating widespread bacterial infections such as gangrene, tuberculosis, and syphilis. Foe: fungal aflatoxins: ~25% of the world"s food crops are affected by aflatoxins (fungal toxin, 4. 5 billion people are exposed (primarily in developing countries). In sub-saharan african alone, an estimated 26,000 people die annually of liver cancer associated with aflatoxin exposure: us . 2 billion in commerce is lost annually to aflatoxin. African economies lose about million worth of crops to it each year. Sources: un food and agricultural organiza7on (fao), irin. A mushroom is most equivalent to a flower.