BIOL 4376 Lecture Notes - Lecture 33: Black Yeast, Onychomycosis, Complement System
3 Jul 2020
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Document Summary
Conidia: asexual reproductive structures produced with from the transofmration of vegetative yeast. Composed of long chains of carbohydrates, glycoproteins and lipids. Certain polymers are unique to certain fungi. Cell walls also release immunodominant antigens that activate the complement cascade and provoke an inflammatory reaction. Dematiaceous: in some cell walls, brown or black melanin can be protective from host defenses and is associated with virulence. Nails develop from cells in the basal layer of the epidermis. Densely compacted heavily keratinized, dead skin cells, virtually impossible to penetrate. Infections start out as a primary fungal infection of the healthy nail place and hyponychium (skin under the distal end of the nail) Otc: not effective; do not cure and not fda approved. Around the nail treatment but not treatment of the infection. Caused by dozens of environmental molds associated with vegetation and soil. Infections are usually acquired when minor scrapes and cuts introduce soil/plant debris containing the pathogenic fungus.
