LEARNING OUTCOMES
Objectives and expected learning outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate understanding of the physiology and morphology of fungi.
• Demonstrate acquired practical skills in the isolation, cultivation and identification of fungal microorganisms.
The aim of the Mycology course is to provide theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the isolation, culture and identification of fungi.
Students will be enabled to:
1. Understand the meaning of fungi, their structures, genetics and their capacity to cause diseases. Differentiate the fungi from other microorganisms.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the reproduction cycle of fungi, their mode of transmission and types of fungal infections.
Students after the end of the course will have:
• Understand the basic principles of genetic modification of cells or whole cells
organizations aiming at the production of medicines and food
• understand the importance of using stem cells in new therapies
• understand the principles of gene therapy
• be informed about the latest biotechnological techniques (such as Nanobiotechnology)
applicable to diagnosis or treatment
SYLLABUS
Lectures:
1. Introduction to Mycology.
2. Biology of fungi (morphology, structure, nutrition, metabolism-development).
3. Taxonomy – Reproduction
4. Human fungal diseases and Mycotoxins
5. Superficial mycoses.
6. Skin fungal infections
7. Dermatophytes
8. Subcutaneous fungal infections
9. Systemic or deep mycoses
10. Endemic dimorphic fungi & diseases
11. Zygomycoses.
12. Opportunistic fungal infections, Onychomycosis
13. Antifungal drugs. Prevention and Treatment. Clinical cases.
Laboratory exercises:
The laboratory activities are performed in the mycology lab equipped with the necessary devices, reagents and consumables (staining, cultivating materials) and tools for microscopic observation of fungi. Lab activities include:
1. Laboratory-Safety rules and regulations in the Mycology lab, cultivating methods and nutrient media for fungal cultures. Isolation and inoculation techniques.
2. Inoculation of samples (from food and environmental fungi). Hair baiting test using soil as a source of dermatophytes.
3. Scraping samples from skin, nails and hair. 4. Preparation of wet mounts, processing of nail and hair samples, potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparations. Staining of fungi samples using lactophenol and methylene blue.
5. Dry preparation-Staining procedures with methylene blue (acetic acid).
6. Culture of samples from superficial skin and subcutaneous fungal infections. Use of Riddell slide culture test.
7. Filamentous fungi (Aspergillus-Penicillium), macroscopic and microscopic observation of colonies. Plate culture interpretation, Identification of Aspergillus and Penicilli according to the microscopic images. Visualization of the Riddell slide test using the compound light microscope.
8. Dermatophytes-laboratory diagnosis: Observation and processing of the Hair baiting test that was started in the 2nd lab activity. Transfer and inoculation of hair baiting test samples in fresh Dermatophyte Test Medium (DTM). Presentation and discussion of clinical cases.
9. Dermatophytes: Evaluation of Dermatophyte test medium (DTM) cultures. Identification of dermatophytes based on the macroscopic interpretation of colonies and on the observation of spores (conidia) morphology under the microscope.
10. Blastomyces: Identification of Blastomycosis, visualization of chlamydospores. Discussion on clinical cases.
11. Identification of Candida spp., culture of Candida spp. in CROMAgar medium. Use of Germ tube test for the differentiation of Candida albicans from other Candida species.
12. Basidiomycetes: Identification of Cryptococcus neoformance. Morphologic characteristics and capsule visualization using India ink suspensions of the cells.
13. Serological and molecular tests in diagnostic Mycology.
Susceptibility to antifungal drugs-MIC, E-test. Prevention and Treatment