Skip to main content
Biology LibreTexts

9.16: Introduction to Fungal Parasites and Pathogens

  • Page ID
    43910
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Identify common fungal parasites and pathogens

    Parasitism describes a symbiotic relationship in which one member of the association benefits at the expense of the other. Both parasites and pathogens harm the host; however, the pathogen causes a disease, whereas the parasite usually does not. Commensalism occurs when one member benefits without affecting the other. Fungi engage in both these types of relationships with other organisms, but as parasites are responsible for economic and environmental damage, as well as some human diseases.

    What You’ll Learn to Do

    • Describe fungal parasites and pathogens of plants
    • Describe the different types of fungal infections in humans
    • Explain why antifungal therapy is becoming less successful in public health

    Learning Activities

    The learning activities for this section include the following:

    • Infections in Plants
    • Infections in Humans
    • Antifungal Therapy
    • Self Check: Fungal Parasites and Pathogens

    Contributors and Attributions

    CC licensed content, Original
    • Introduction to Fungal Parasites and Pathogens. Authored by: Shelli Carter and Lumen Learning. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution
    CC licensed content, Shared previously

    9.16: Introduction to Fungal Parasites and Pathogens is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

    • Was this article helpful?