Learning objectives:

• Describe basic morphological features of fungi and their modes of conidiogenesis
• Understand the difference between taxonomic and descriptive groups of fungi and the existence of cryptic fungal species
• Describe macro- and microscopic features of yeasts
• Describe macro- and microscopic features of hyaline and melanized septate molds
• Describe macro- and microscopic features of dermatophytes and dimorphic fungi
• Describe macro- and microscopic features of pauciseptate molds
• Describe the principal characteristics and staining properties of microsporidia and Pneumocystis jirovecii
• Recall the natural reservoirs, ecologic groups and geographic distribution of the main fungal pathogens