Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fungal infections

A branch of biology that concerns with the study of fungi, with their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source of wine, cheese, edible mushrooms and their harmful effects such as toxin or infection. Fungi and other organisms recognized as fungi, such as oomycetes and myxomycetes (slime molds), often are economically essential, as some of them cause diseases in animals such as histoplasmosis. Food spoilage caused by fungi and yeasts can be more significant, particularly in a number of key food groups, those that are acidic in nature or have low moisture content. Mycotoxicology is another branch of mycology that focuses on study of toxins produced by fungi, called as mycotoxins.