Glossary
Abscess Localized collection of pus in cavity formed by dis-
solution of tissue.
Aerial hyphae Hyphae above the agar surface.
Aerobic Able to grow in the presence of atmospheric oxygen.
Aleurioconidium (pl. aleurioconidia) A conidium produced
by the extrusion from the lateral aspect of a conidiophore or hy-
phal structure that is released by rupture of the attachment base.
Anaerobic Able to grow in the absence of free or atmo-
spheric oxygen.
Anamorph An asexual form of a fungus.
Annellide A cell that produces and extrudes conidia; the tip
tapers, lengthens, and acquires a ring of cell wall material as
each conidium is released; oil immersion magnification may be apex
required to see the rings.
annellide
Anthropophilic Pertaining to dermatophytes that preferen-
tially colonize and infect humans.
Apex (pl. apices) The tip or the top (often referring to the
upper part of a conidia-bearing structure).
Apophysis The swelling of a sporangiophore immediately
below the columella.
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Arthroconidium An asexual spore formed by the breaking
up of a hypha at the point of septation. The resulting cell may be
rectangular or barrel shaped and thick or thin walled, depending
on the genus.
Ascospore A sexual spore produced in a saclike structure
arthroconidia
known as an ascus.
Ascus (pl. asci) A round or elongate saclike structure usually
containing two to eight ascospores. The asci are often formed
within a fruiting body, such as a cleistothecium or perithecium.
Asexual Reproduction of an organism by division or redis-
tribution of nuclei, but without nuclear fusion, i.e., not by the
union of two compatible haploid nuclei. Also known as the
imperfect state. This form of the fungus is called an anamorph.
Assimilation The ability of a fungus to use a specific carbon
or nitrogen source for growth; assimilation is read by the pres-
ence or the absence of growth.
Ballistospore A spore that is forcibly discharged from a
fungal cell.
Basidiospore A sexual spore formed on a structure known
as a basidium. Characteristic of the class Basidiomycetes.
Biseriate With reference to the genus Aspergillus, the phialide
Uniseriate
is supported by a metula as opposed to a uniseriate phialide,
which forms directly on the vesicle. (See “Uniseriate.”)
Biseriate
Blastoconidium A conidium formed by budding along a blastoconidia
hypha, pseudohypha, or single cell, as in the yeasts.
Budding A process of asexual reproduction in which the
new cell develops as a smaller outgrowth from the older par-
ent cell. Characteristic of yeasts or yeastlike fungi.
Capsule A colorless, transparent mucopolysaccharide sheath
on the wall of a cell.
458 Glossary
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Chlamydoconidium An enlarged, rounded conidium that is
thick walled and contains stored food, enabling it to function
as a survival propagule. It may be located at the end of the hy-
pha (terminal) or inserted along the hypha (intercalary), singly
or in chains. Characteristically, it is greater in diameter than the
hypha on which it is borne. Unlike other conidia, it does not
readily separate from the hypha.
Chlamydospore The misnomer applied to the thick-walled
vesicle formed by Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis.
The more accepted term is chlamydoconidium.
Chloramphenicol An antibiotic produced by Streptomyces
venezuelae but usually prepared synthetically. It is a useful
additive to mycology media, as it inhibits the growth of many
bacteria that might contaminate the cultures.
Clade A group of organisms having similar features inherited
from a common ancestor.
Clamp connection A specialized bridge over a hyphal sep-
tum in the Basidiomycetes. During the formation of a new cell,
it allows postmitosis nuclear migration.
Cleistothecium A large, fairly round, closed, many-celled
structure in which asci and ascospores are formed and held
until the structure bursts.
Coenocytic Describing mucormycetes with pauciseptate hy-
phae containing multiple nuclei within the cytoplasm.
Columella The enlarged, dome-shaped tip of a sporangio-
phore that extends into the sporangium. Often the sporangium Columella
bursts, leaving the columella bare and readily visible upon mi-
croscopic examination.
Columnar Forming a column-like arrangement; the term is
most commonly used to describe the phialides that form fairly
parallel to the axis of the conidiophore in some species of
Aspergillus, rather than radiating in many directions.
Conidiogenous cell The cell that produces the conidia.
Glossary 459
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Conidiophore A specialized hyphal structure that serves as
a stalk on which conidia are formed. The shape and arrange-
ment of the conidiophores and the conidia are generally char-
acteristic of a genus. The suffix phore means “carrying” and is
added to the word that denotes what it is carrying; e.g., co-
nidiophores bear conidia and sporangiophores bear sporangia.
(See next page for illustration.)
Conidium (pl. conidia) An asexual propagule that forms
on the side or the end of the hypha or conidiophore. It may
consist of one or more cells, and the size, shape, and arrange-
ment in groups are generally characteristic of the organism. It
is always borne externally, i.e., not enclosed within a saclike
structure such as a sporangium. If a fungus produces two types
of conidia, those that are small and usually single celled are
referred to as microconidia, whereas the larger macroconidia
are usually segmented into two or more cells.
Contaminant An environmental organism that is growing on
a patient’s culture, but is not thought to be actively involved
in the infection. Its source could be the laboratory, but it is far
more likely to have been on the patient, at or near the infection
site, when the specimen was collected.
Cryptic species An organism that is morphologically identi-
cal to another species but can be distinguished by molecular
methods.
Cutaneous Pertaining to the skin.
Cycloheximide An antibiotic (proprietary name, Actidione)
used in selective mycology media to inhibit the growth of sap-
rophytic fungi. Because it is also known to inhibit some patho-
genic fungi, it must be used in conjunction with a medium
without antibiotics.
Dematiaceous Having structures that are brown to black;
this is due to a melanotic pigment in the cell walls.
Denticle Short, narrow projection bearing a conidium.
Denticle
Dermatophyte A fungus belonging to the genus Trichophy
ton, Microsporum, or Epidermophyton with the ability to obtain
nutrients from keratin and infect skin, hair, or nails of humans
or animals.
460 Glossary
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Dichotomous Branching (of hyphae) into two equal branches
that are each equal in diameter to the hypha from which they
originated.
Dimorphic Having two distinct morphological forms. In this
guide, it refers to temperature-dependent changes in the organ-
ism on artificial culture media, i.e., fungi having a mould phase
when cultured at 25–30°C and a yeast phase when cultured at
35–37°C and/or viewed directly in the host’s specimen. Other
sorts of dimorphism are not dependent on temperature, but
exhibit different forms (i) in tissue versus artificial medium,
regardless of temperature; (ii) or on routine media versus when
grown under a coverslip (reducing the oxygen available).
Ectothrix Dermatophyte invasion of hair characterized by
destruction of the cuticle, hyphae within the hair shaft, and a
sheath of arthroconidia on the outer surface.
Endothrix Dermatophyte invasion of hair characterized by ar-
throconidia inside the hair shaft; the outer cuticle remains intact.
Favic chandeliers Terminal hyphal branches that are irregular,
broad, and antlerlike in appearance. Especially characteristic of
Trichophyton schoenleinii.
Fermentation The ability of a fungus to utilize a specific car-
bohydrate in the presence of other organic compounds, result-
ing in the production of gas. Therefore, the production of gas
is the only indicator of a positive fermentation reaction; acid
production (color change in indicator) may simply indicate that
the carbohydrate has been assimilated. All carbohydrates fer-
mented by a fungus are also assimilated, but many compounds
that are assimilated are not necessarily fermented.
Filamentous Long, cylindrical, and threadlike; hyphae forming.
Floccose Cottony; like raw, fuzzy cotton.
Foot cell The base of the conidiophore, where it merges with
the hyphae, giving the impression of a foot; typically seen in
Aspergillus spp.
Fragmentation Breaking of the hyphae into pieces, each of
which is capable of forming a new organism. Arthroconidia are
formed in this manner.
Glossary 461
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Fungus (pl. fungi) An organism that is either filamentous
or unicellular and lacks chlorophyll. It has a true nucleus en-
closed in a membrane and chitin in the cell wall.
Fusiform Spindle shaped, i.e., being wider in the middle and
narrowing toward the ends.
Geniculate Bent like a knee.
Genotype The genetic makeup, as distinguished from the
physical appearance, of an organism or a group of organisms;
deciphered by molecular testing.
Geophilic Pertaining to dermatophytes that grow in soil.
Germ tube A tubelike outgrowth from a conidium or spore;
the beginning of a true hypha. A germ tube is not constricted
at its point of origin from the parent cell (in contrast to a pseu-
dohypha, which is constricted at its point of origin).
Glabrous Smooth; without or almost without aerial hyphae.
Grain or granule An organized mass of hyphae or actino-
mycetous bacterial filaments in a mycetoma.
Hilum (pl. hila) Scar of attachment; it appears at the point(s)
where the conidium was formerly attached to the conidiophore
and/or another conidium.
hila
Host The animal or plant that supports a parasite.
Hülle cells Thickened, large, sterile cells with a small lumen;
they are associated with cleistothecia produced by the sexual
stage of some Aspergillus spp. Droplets of exudate on the sur-
face of a colony may indicate the site of Hülle cells.
Hyaline Clear, transparent, colorless.
Hypha (pl. hyphae) A filamentous structure of a fungus.
Many together compose the mycelium.
Hyphomycete An asexual fungus that produces mycelium that
may be colorless (hyaline) or darkly pigmented (dematiaceous).
Inflammation A local protective response of the body; char-
acterized by redness, pain, heat, and swelling.
Intercalary Situated along the hypha, not at its end.
462 Glossary
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Intracellular Within cells.
Keratin A scleroprotein containing large amounts of sulfur,
such as cystine; the primary component of skin, hair, and nails.
Keratitis Inflammation of the cornea of the eye.
Macroconidium (pl. macroconidia) The larger of two types
of conidia in a fungus that produces both large and small conidia;
may be single celled but usually is multicelled. (See “Conidium.”)
Metula (pl. metulae) The separate structural portion of the
conidiophore that supports the phialide (much like a pedestal)
in genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Paecilomyces.
metula
Microconidium (pl. microconidia) The smaller of two
types of conidia in a fungus that produces both large and small
conidia; usually single celled and round, ovoid, pear shaped,
or club shaped. (See “Conidium.”)
Monomorphic In this guide, refers to fungi having the same
type of morphology in culture at both 25–30°C and 35–37°C
(i.e., if growth occurs at both temperature ranges; some sapro-
phytes are inhibited at 35–37°C).
Monophyletic Describing a group of organisms that share a
close common ancestor.
Mould A filamentous fungus composed of filaments that gen-
erally form a colony that may be fuzzy, powdery, woolly, vel-
vety, or relatively smooth.
Muriform Having transverse and longitudinal septations.
Mycelium (pl. mycelia) A mat of intertwined hyphae that
constitutes the colony surface of a mould.
Mycetoma A localized, chronic, cutaneous or subcutaneous
infection classically characterized by swollen tumorlike lesions
that yield granular pus through draining sinuses.
Mycology The study of fungi and their biology.
Mycosis (pl. mycoses) A disease caused by a fungus.
Nodular body A round, knotlike structure formed by inter-
twined hyphae; seen especially in some dermatophytes.
Glossary 463
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Onychomycosis Fungal infection of the nail caused by any
fungus (a dermatophyte or other fungus). Tinea unguium dif-
fers by referring only to nail infection caused by dermatophytes.
Ostiole A mouth or opening.
Pathogen Any disease-producing microorganism.
Pectinate Resembling a comb.
Pellicle A firm or buttonlike mass formed on liquid medium
by some fungi.
Perithecium (pl. perithecia) A large, round or pear-shaped ascospores
structure usually having a small, rounded opening (which dif-
ferentiates it from a cleistothecium; the opening is called an ostiole
ostiole) and containing asci and ascospores.
perithecium
Phaeo- A prefix meaning dark (brownish or blackish).
Phaeohyphomycosis A subcutaneous or systemic disease
caused by a variety of black fungi that develop in tissue as dark
hyphae and/or yeastlike cells.
Phenotype The observable physical or biochemical charac-
teristics of an organism.
Phialide A cell that produces and extrudes conidia without
tapering or increasing in length with each new conidium pro-
duced. It is usually shaped like a flask, vase, or tenpin.
Phyletic Relating to the evolutionary development or rela-
tionship of a group of species.
Phylogenic Based on the lines of descent or evolutionary
development of the organism.
Pleomorphism The occurrence of two or more forms in the
life cycle of an organism. Also refers to the occurrence of a
form of dermatophyte that ceases to produce conidia (becomes
sterile).
Polyphyletic Describing a group of organisms that do not
share a close common ancestor.
464 Glossary
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Propagule A unit that can give rise to another organism.
Pseudohypha Chain of cells formed by budding that, when
elongated, resembles a true hypha; differs from true hyphae by
being constricted at the septa, forming branches that begin with
a septation, and having terminal cells smaller than the other cells.
Pycnidium (pl. pycnidia) A large, round or flask-shaped
fruiting body containing conidia. Pycnidia usually have an
opening (an ostiole).
Pyriform Pear shaped.
Racquet hypha A hypha with club-shaped cells, the larger end
of one cell being attached to the smaller end of an adjacent cell.
Radiate Spreading out in all directions from a common center.
Rhizoid Rootlike, branched hypha extending into the medium.
Rhizoid
Ringworm Superficial skin disease caused by dermatophytes.
Term derived from the ringlike, circular form of the lesions and
from the belief that these infections were caused by wormlike
organisms. The current accepted term is tinea.
Saprobe/Saprophyte An organism that uses dead organic
matter as a source of nutrients.
Septate Having cross walls.
Sexual state The portion of the life cycle in which the organism
reproduces by the union of two compatible haploid nuclei. Also
known as the perfect state. This form is called the teleomorph.
Sino-orbital Pertaining to the paranasal sinuses and adjacent
socket of the eye (often used in describing mucormycosis, as-
pergillosis, or other mould infection involving these structures).
Glossary 465
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Species complex Composed of phylogenically related spe-
cies that are essentially indistinguishable by their morphology.
Spherule Large (20–100 mm), round, thick-walled structure
containing spores; characteristic of Coccidioides immitis in
infected host material under direct microscopic examination.
Spherules do not grow on routine artificial mycology media.
Spiral hypha Hypha forming coiled or corkscrewlike turns.
Sporangiophore A specialized hyphal branch or stalk bearing
a sporangium.
Sporangiospore An asexual spore produced in a sporangium.
Sporangium (pl. sporangia) A closed, saclike structure in
which asexual spores (sporangiospores) are formed by cleavage.
Spore Propagule that develops by sexual reproduction
(ascospore, basidiospore, or zygospore) or by asexual means
within a sporangium (sporangiospore). Those most commonly
seen in the clinical laboratory are usually enclosed in a saclike
structure (as opposed to conidia, which are free, not enclosed).
Sporodochium (pl. sporodochia) A cushion-shaped mat
of hyphae covered with conidiophores.
Sterigmata Term formerly used to denote phialides of As
pergillus and other genera. More accurately refers to denticles
produced by Basidiomycetes.
Stolon A horizontal hypha, or runner, that grows along the
surface of the medium, often bearing rhizoids that penetrate
the medium and sporangiophores that ascend into the air (see
drawing at Sporangiophore).
Subcutaneous Situated or occurring directly under the skin.
Suppurative Producing pus.
466 Glossary
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Sympodial growth Conidiogenous structure that continues
to increase in length by forming a new growing point just be-
low each new terminal conidium, often resulting in a genicu-
late (bent) appearance.
Synanamorph One of two or more anamorphs of the same
fungus; e.g., the Graphium form of Scedosporium apiosper
mum is considered a synanamorph.
Teleomorph The sexual form of a fungus; demonstrates sex-
ual structures, such as ascospores or large fruiting bodies, e.g.,
cleistothecia.
Terminal At the end. terminal
chlamydoconidium
Thallus The vegetative body of a fungus; the colony surface.
Tinea barbae Infection of the bearded areas of the face and
neck.
Tinea capitis Infection of the scalp and hair shaft.
Tinea corporis Infection of the glabrous skin on body parts
not otherwise specified (usually the trunk of the body).
Tinea cruris Infection of the groin, perineum, and perianal
region.
Tinea manuum Infection of the hand.
Tinea pedis Infection of the feet.
Tinea unguium Infection of the nails (onychomycosis is in-
fection of the nail caused by any fungus, not necessarily caused
by a dermatophyte).
Truncate Cut off sharply; ending abruptly with a flattened edge.
truncate conidia
Tuberculate Having knoblike projections.
Glossary 467
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Uniseriate With reference to the genus Aspergillus, the phialide
Uniseriate
forms directly on the vesicle; a biseriate phialide is supported by
a metula. (See “Biseriate.”)
Biseriate
Vesicle Enlarged structure at the end of a conidiophore or Phialide
sporangiophore. In Aspergillus spp. it bears the phialides, Vesicle
which in turn bear the conidia. Conidia
Whorl A group of cells radiating from a common point.
Yeastlike colony A soft, pasty, smooth colony; usually no
filamentous (fuzzy) growth can be observed macroscopically.
Zoospores Pertaining to dermatophytes that colonize and
cause disease in animals.
Zygospore Sexual spore that is characteristic of the zygomy-
cetes. They are usually large, dark, and rough walled.
468 Glossary
