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Define Mycology
Mycology is the scientific study of fungi. This includes the study of their genetic and cellular makeup, their ecology, their use in biotechnology and in the production of food and drugs, and their impact on human health and the environment. Mycology – Definition Medical.
Historically, mycology was a branch of botany because, although fungi are evolutionarily more closely related to animals than to plants,[1] this was not recognized until a few decades ago.[2] Pioneer mycologists included Elias Magnus Fries, Christian Hendrik Persoon, Anton de Bary, Elizabeth Eaton Morse, and Lewis David von Schweinitz. Beatrix Potter, author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, also made significant contributions to the field.[3]
Many fungi produce toxins,[4] antibiotics,[5] and other secondary metabolites.
Fungi are fundamental for life on earth in their roles as symbionts, e.g. in the form of mycorrhizae, insect symbionts, and lichens. Many fungi are able to break down complex organic biomolecules such as lignin, the more durable component of wood, and pollutants such as xenobiotics, petroleum, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. By decomposing these molecules, fungi play a critical role in the global carbon cycle.
Fungi and other organisms traditionally recognized as fungi, such as oomycetes and myxomycetes (slime molds), often are economically and socially important, as some cause diseases of animals (including humans) and of plants.[7]
Fungi
Apart from pathogenic fungi, many fungal species are very important in controlling the plant diseases caused by different pathogens. Medical Mycology
is the study of fungi that are pathogenic to humans. It is a branch of medical microbiology that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of fungal infections in humans.
Medical mycology is a branch of medical microbiology that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of fungal infections in humans. Types of fungi that can cause infections in humans include dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds. Yeasts are fungi that can cause infections in the mouth, vagina, and gut. Molds are fungi that can cause infections in the lungs and sinuses.
Fungal infections can be difficult to diagnose because they can mimic the symptoms of other diseases. Fungal infections can be treated with antifungal drugs, which are available as oral medications, topical creams, and injections. Prevention of fungal infections includes proper hygiene and preventive measures against infection.
Mycology – Definition Medical.
