Dimorphic fungi are those species that occur as either molds or yeast, depending on environmental conditions such as temperature and nutrient availability.
Dimorphic fungi are fungi that can exist in the form of both mold and yeast. This is usually brought about by change in temperature and the fungi are also described as thermally dimorphic fungi. An example is Talaromyces marneffei, a human pathogen that grows as a mold at room temperature, and as a yeast at human body temperature.
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.
Some diseases caused by this fungi are:
- sporotrichosis
- blastomycosis
- histoplasmosis
- coccidioidomycosis
- paracoccidioidomycosis
- talaromycosis
- candidiasis
Several species of dimorphic fungi are important pathogens of humans and other animals which includes :
- Coccidioides immitis
- Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
- Candida albicans
- Blastomyces dermatitidis
- Histoplasma capsulatum
- Sporothrix schenckii
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