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Fungi that can exist as mold or yeast From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A dimorphic fungus is a fungus that can exist in the form of both mold[1] and yeast. As this is usually brought about by a change in temperature, this fungus type is also described as a thermally dimorphic fungus.[2] An example is Talaromyces marneffei,[3] a human pathogen that grows as a mold at room temperature, and as a yeast at human body temperature.
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The term dimorphic is commonly used for fungi that can grow both as yeast and filamentous cells, however many of these dimorphic fungi actually can grow in more than these two forms. Dimorphic is thus often used as a general reference for fungi being able to switch between yeast and filamentous cells, but not necessary limiting more shapes.[4][lower-alpha 1]
Several species of dimorphic fungi are important pathogens of humans and other animals, including Coccidioides immitis,[lower-alpha 1][5] Paracoccidioides brasiliensis,[lower-alpha 1][5] Candida albicans,[6][lower-alpha 1] Blastomyces dermatitidis[lower-alpha 1],[4] Histoplasma capsulatum,[lower-alpha 1][4] Sporothrix schenckii,[lower-alpha 1][4] and Emmonsia sp.[7] Some diseases caused by the fungi are:
Many other fungi, including the plant pathogen Ustilago maydis[6] and the cheesemaker's fungus Geotrichum candidum also have dimorphic life cycles.
In medical mycology, these memory aids help students remember that among human pathogens, dimorphism largely reflects temperature:
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