18.04.1 Introduction to Fungi

The word fungi means mushroom, and mushrooms were one of the first fungi characterised. Fungi are eukaryotic (they have a nucleus) and are harder to kill than prokaryotic bacteria (which do not have a nucleus). Common examples of fungi are moulds and yeasts. Fungi are symbiotic, which means they live in close association with a host, and are parasitic. Fungal infections are known as mycoses. Examples of mycoses include tinea (Athlete’s foot, Jockstrap itch, nails), Candida albicans (Thrush), Meningitis (which can be fungal or bacterial) and pulmonary aspergillosis (serious for bone marrow recipients, people with asthma or cystic fibrosis).