Mycoses in Pictures [antikvár]

There is justification for speak- ing of the independent king- dom of the fungi, for they occu- py a special position within the world of plants. They differ from green plants in that they can- not form chlorophyll and are hence incapable of photosyn- thesis. They obtain their energy from the breakdown and trans- formation of organic com- pounds. The role which they play in human life is one which should not be underestimated. Fungi serve to enrich our diet and some of them are delica- cies for the connoisseur. They give flavour to cheese and cer- tain kinds of sausage and they are absolutely indispensable for fermentation. They are utiliz- ed in baking, brewing and in wine-making. Nowadays, when a doctor hears or reads of the growing significance of fungal diseases, it is the mycoses as diseases caused by parasitic fungi which first come to mind. There are, however, various other diseases caused by fungi. 1. Mycetism An illness caused by the in- gestion of poisonous fungi, example: death cap toadstool 2. Mycotoxicoses Illnesses caused bymycotoxins in foodstuffs which have been affected by mould fungi, example: aflatoxins 3. Mycoallergies Illnesses caused by contact with fungal spores from the air, example: yeast allergies Münster; Spring 1982 Prof. Dr. S. Nolting