Example Organisms of Fungi

Basidiobolus

Basidiobolusranarum

This produces spherical asexual spores that are forcibly discharged (a commensal of frogs).

Trichophyton

Trichophytoninterdigitale

Produces penicillin

Causes ringworm in animals and most commonly in rodents.

Candida

Candida albicans

Grows as yeast and filamentous cells.

An agent of oral and genital infections in humans

Pichia

Pichia pastoris

Species of methylotrophic yeast.

Used for genetic research because of it’s protein expression abilities using recombinant DNA techniques.

Brettanomyces

Brettanomycesbruxellensis

Yeast native to Belgium.

It lives on the skin of fruit.

Brettanomyces

Brettanomycesclaussenii

Yeast that shares the same mtDNA as Brettanomycesbruxellensis.

Used in wine and beer fermentation as well as ethanol production.

Also on skin of fruit

Candida

Candida dubliniensis

Fungal pathogen in AIDS patients.

Yeast that is commonly in the oral cavity but can be on any anatomical site.

Candida

Candida glabrata

Haploid yeast

Doesn’t mate

Usually of no harm to humans but in immunocompromisedindividuals like the elderly or AIDS patients, it can prove to be harmful.

Euceratomyces

Euceratomycesterrestris

Found in temperate zones.

Parasitic- attach to the exoskeleton of insects.

Sarcoscypha coccinea

Commonly known as the scarlet elf cup

This fungus grows on decaying sticks and damp spots on forest floors

Has been used medicinally by the Oneida Indians and as a coloring component in table decorations in Europe

Neolecta irregularis

Found in North America among coniferous plants

Grows on the ground or on moss

Can grow up to 7 cm in height and is inedible

Lycoperdon umbrinum

Lives in coniferous woods on sandy soil

Shots puffs of spores into the air, which explains why they are commonly referred to as puffball mushrooms

Phallus indusiatus

Commonly called maiden veil fungus because of their structure

Emanates an odor of rotting meat

This mushroom is rich in protein, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber

Pilobolus crystallinus

Grows on herbivore dung

Can shoot its sporangia at light so that animals will ingest the spores and then distribute them around the environment

Tuber magnatum

Commonly known as the white truffle

Grows in northern Italy symbiotically with hazel, poplar, beech, and oak

Highly esteemed in the culinary world, one truffle weighing 1.5 pounds sold for $330,000