A fungus is defined as a parasitic plant lacking chlorophyll and leaves and true stems and roots and reproducing by spores. Another definition of fungus is to denote a group of eukaryotic protists, including mushrooms, yeasts, rusts, molds, smuts, etc., which are characterised by the absence of chlorophyll and by the presence of a rigid cell wall composed of chitin, mannans and sometimes cellulose. See the bottom of the page for a definition of protists.

Except for fungus that invade the skin and moist tissues such as the vagina, generally a fungus grows in the human body mostly when the host's immune system is not functioning at its best. This could be in those who have diabetes, are on medicines that damage the immune system, or those who have more serious conditions such as HIV or AIDS.

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Fungus of Skin and Nail
Fungal skin infections are among the most widespread and common infections in humans. These conditions are difficult to treat, especially infections of the nail. Dermatomycoses are caused by filamentous fungi such as Trichophyton, Microsporum or Epidermophyton species. These fungi have a high affinity for keratin, an important component of hair, skin and nails, which are the primary areas of infection by dermatophytes. The antifungal agents currently marketed for dermatomycoses are mainly inhibitors of ergosterol biosynthesis, except for griseofulvin, which interferes with the cytoplasmic and nuclear microtubular system. Three different types of inhibitors of the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway have been proven to be effective in clinic: the azoles (e.g. topical miconazole and topical/oral ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole), the allylamines (e.g. terbinafine) and morpholines (amorolfine). Even today more effective antifungal azoles with less adverse effects and short-term therapy are deemed necessary to treat dermatophytosis. See also ringworm.

Fungus in the Scalp
Scalp skin is unique on the body due to the density of hair follicles and high rate of sebum production. These features make it susceptible to superficial fungal conditions (dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and tinea capitis), parasitic infestation (pediculosis capitis), and inflammatory conditions (psoriasis).

Aspergilius fungus
Aspergilius fungus species can cause infections in people with weak immune systems. Infections with mold pathogens have emerged as an increasing risk faced by patients under sustained immunosuppression. Species of the Aspergillus family account for most of these infections and in particular Aspergillus fumigatus can be regarded as the most important airborne-pathogenic fungus. The improvement in transplant medicine and the therapy of hematological malignancies is often complicated by the threat of invasive aspergillosis.

Candida
Candida species, in particular Candida albicans, represent a major threat to immunocompromised patients. Able to exist on mucosal surfaces of healthy individuals, these opportunistic fungi frequently cause superficial infections of mucosa and skin. Furthermore, in hospital settings, Candida species may cause life-threatening invasive infections in a growing population of vulnerable patients. In fact, candida infection is associated with the highest mortality of all bloodstream infections. Candida cells may enter the bloodstream by direct penetration from epithelial tissues, due to damage of barriers in the body caused by surgery, polytrauma or drug treatment, or may spread from biofilms produced on medical devices. From the bloodstream, cells may infect almost all organs but appear to prefer certain organs depending upon the route of infection. The exact mechanisms by which Candida cells survive the challenge of the blood environment and escape from the bloodstream to cause deep-seated infections have not yet been elucidated, but various investigations are reviewed. It is clear, however, that Candida must have particular attributes which enable the organism to survive and grow within the environment of healthy individuals and to invade tissues in the immunocompromised host.

Cryptococcus neoformans fungus
Cryptococcosis is a relatively common fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans that has high morbidity and mortality.

Fusarium Fungus
In an MMWR Dispatch dated 10 Apr 2006, CDC stated that it received reports of 109 cases of suspected fungal keratitis dur to the fungus Fusarium. Reports have come from 17 states including California. Although the majority of case patients have yet to be interviewed, complete data are available for 30 of them, of whom 28 wore soft contact lenses. Preliminary information obtained by CDC from patient interviews indicates that 26 of these patients remembered which products they used, and that all 26 reported using a Bausch & Lomb ReNu brand contact lens
solution in the month prior to the onset of infection. Patients reported using a variety of different ReNu types from multiple different product lots. Five reported using other solutions in addition to the ReNu product. Nine reported wearing lenses overnight, a known risk factor for microbial keratitis. Eight required corneal transplantation. Strain
typing of the organism is ongoing. CDC and FDA are investigating these case reports. Also, investigations by CDC, state and local health departments, FDA, and manufacturers of contact lens solutions are underway to define specific behaviors or products that place contact lens wearers at increased risk for Fusarium keratitis.
     Hong Kong's government said in April, 2006 tat it alerted Bausch & Lomb Inc. to eye infections in users of its contact lens solution in September 2005, way before the company withdrew its product in February of 2006. Hong Kong's Health Department tested samples of the solution after it noticed four cases of microbial keratitis in July and August 2005.

Molds
Mold definition : a fungus that causes disintegration of organic matter. There are many types of fungi that are considered molds, one example is Penicillium that causes mold on bread or cheese. Other types of molds can grow on walls or ceilings in wet and warm areas. Many homes in New Orleans had toxic mold grown on their walls after the hurricane and floods.

Pneumocystis carinii fungus
This fungus attacks the human body in those who are immunocompromised, for instance, those with HIV.

Definition of Protist
Protists are organisms that are classified into the kingdom Protista which forms a group of organisms that really do not fit well into any other kingdom. Although there is a lot of variety within the protists, they share the following common characteristics: All protists live in moist environments and are eukaryotic, meaning the yhave cells with nuclei. Protists can be made of one cell or multicellular. They can be tiny and microscopic or they can be as long as a football field. Many biologists group protists into three subcategories: animal-like protists, fungus-like protists, and plant-like protists.

Plants that have anti- fungus activity
There are countless plants that can ill fungi or prevent their growth. In fact, one of the reasons certain plants survived for so long is that they had the ability to create substances that could fight a fungus infections. I will add to this list of fungus fighters with time.
Kava
Yellow Dock

Fungus Research Update
Herbicidal and Fungicidal Activities of Lactones in Kava (Piper methysticum).
J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Feb 8;54(3):720-5. Department of Bioscicence and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
This is the first report showing that kava lactones are plant and plant fungus growth inhibitors. Aqueous extract of kava roots showed high allelopathic potential and strongly suppressed germination and growth of lettuce, radish, barnyardgrass, and monochoria. Nine kava lactones were detected using GC-MS including desmethoxyyagonin, kavain, 7,8-dihydrokavain, hydroxykavain, yagonin, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroxyyagonin, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, and 11-hydroxy-12-methoxydihydrokavain. These six major lactones in kava roots showed great herbicidal and antifungal activities. Growth of lettuce and barnyardgrass were significantly inhibited at 1-10 ppm, and four plant fungi including Colletotrichum gloeosporides, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Trichoderma viride were significantly inhibited at 10-50 ppm. The findings of this study suggest that kava lactones may be useful for the development of bioactive herbicides and fungicides.