Morphological classification of fungi

Practical Mycology Dr. Kareema Amine Al-Khafajii , professor ,Department Of Microbiology, College Of Medicine, University of Babylon.
Mycology: is science that study the fungi. Fungal infections called mycoses
Morphological classification of fungi:
1-Yeast 2-Mold 3-Dimorphic
All fungi are eukaryotic organisms, non-motile. Most of them are obligate aerobic, some are facultative aerobic. Some of them are capsulated. Among the microscopic fungi, yeast are unicellular and molds are multicellular. Some species of fungi are dimorphic and capable of growth as a yeast or mold depending on environmental conditions and temperature.
Yeasts are single cells, usually spherical to ellipsoid in shape and varying in diameter from 3-15µm. Most yeasts reproduce by budding (asexeual). Some species produce buds that fail to detach and become elongated; then produces a chain of elongated yeast cells called pseudohyphae.
Yeast colonies on solid media resemble bacterial colonies (such as staphylococcal colonies), are usually soft, opaque, 1-3mm in size, and cream-colored. Because the colonies and microscopic morphology of many yeasts are quite similar, yeast species are identified on the basis of physiologic tests and a few key morphologic differences.
Candida and related yeasts are members of the normal microbial flora and considered as endogenous opportunists. Candidiasis is the most common cutaneous and systemic mycosis, and the most common agents are Candida albicans. It can cause paronychia, dermatitis, oral thrush and vulvovaginitis.