Thermally dimorphic fungus

Dimorphic fungi are fungi that can reproduce as either a mycelial or a yeast-like state. Generally the mycelial saprotrophic form grows at 25° C, and the yeast-like pathogenic form at 37° C. This dimorphism is important in the identification of mycoses, as it makes rapid identification of many pathogenic organisms possible.

Some diseases caused by dimorphic fungi are:

• sporotrichosis
• blastomycosis
• histoplasmosis
• coccidioidomycosis
• paracoccidioidomycosis
• penicillosis

External links

• http://microbiology.mtsinai.on.ca/mig/difungi/index.shtml
• http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mycology/mycology-6.htm
• http://www.gsbs.utmb.edu/microbook/intomyco.htm