Mycology Course

Lesson 1 • Fungi in Ecosystems

Explores fungal roles in nutrient cycling, soil health, and food webs. Demonstrates why mycological knowledge matters for ecology and industry.

Lesson 2 • The Fungal Kingdom Overview

Introduces fungi as a distinct kingdom separate from plants, animals, and bacteria. Provides the taxonomic framework used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Fungal Nutrition and Metabolism

Covers heterotrophic feeding strategies including saprotrophic, parasitic, and mutualistic modes. Links metabolic strategy to habitat and ecological role.

Lesson 4 • Fungal Reproduction Basics

Introduces asexual and sexual reproductive cycles and the structures that produce spores. Establishes vocabulary essential for identification chapters.

Lesson 1 • Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota

Covers the earliest-diverging fungal lineages, their aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and key morphological markers. Establishes the basal reference point for the phylum progression.

Lesson 2 • Molecular Approaches to Classification

Introduces DNA barcoding, ITS sequencing, and phylogenetic tree construction as modern classification tools. Bridges traditional taxonomy with contemporary laboratory practice.

Lesson 3 • Basidiomycota: The Club Fungi

Covers basidium structure, basidiocarp development, and the major orders including Agaricales and Polyporales. Prepares students for macrofungal field identification.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Fungal Taxonomy

Explains how taxonomic systems are constructed and revised using morphological and molecular data. Provides the conceptual basis for all classification work.

Lesson 1 • Non-Agaric Macrofungal Groups

Extends identification skills to polypores, puffballs, morels, truffles, and coral fungi. Broadens the student's identification repertoire beyond gilled mushrooms.

Lesson 2 • Spore Print and Microscopy Techniques

Teaches spore print collection, color interpretation, and basic microscopy for spore measurement. Connects macroscopic observation to microscopic confirmation.

Lesson 3 • Using Dichotomous Keys Effectively

Trains systematic use of printed and digital identification keys for macrofungi. Emphasizes error-checking strategies and key limitations.

Lesson 4 • Cap, Gill, and Stipe Anatomy

Describes the structural components of agaric fruiting bodies and their diagnostic value. Forms the vocabulary base for all macrofungal identification work.

Lesson 1 • Introduction to Microfungi

Defines microfungi and distinguishes molds, yeasts, and dimorphic fungi by growth form. Establishes the scope and importance of microfungal study.

Lesson 2 • Culture Media and Growth Conditions

Explains formulation and selection of culture media for isolating and growing microfungi. Covers incubation parameters that affect colony development and identification.

Lesson 3 • Microscopy Skills for Mycologists

Covers compound and stereo microscope operation, calibration, and slide preparation techniques. Builds the technical foundation for all microscopic identification work.

Lesson 4 • Yeast Identification Methods

Covers colony morphology, fermentation tests, and assimilation profiles used to identify yeasts. Links biochemical testing to genus and species determination.

Lesson 1 • Fungal Interactions with Animals

Explores entomopathogenic fungi, gut mycobiomes, and fungal roles in animal nutrition. Broadens ecological perspective beyond plant-fungus interactions.

Lesson 2 • Lichens: Fungal-Algal Partnerships

Defines lichen thallus types, photobiont partners, and secondary metabolite production. Demonstrates lichens as models of mutualistic co-evolution.

Lesson 3 • Mycorrhizal Associations

Covers ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal types, host specificity, and nutrient exchange mechanisms. Central to understanding forest and agricultural ecosystem function.

Lesson 4 • Fungal Pathogens of Plants

Covers major plant pathogenic fungi, disease cycles, and infection mechanisms. Connects ecological knowledge to agricultural and forestry management.

Lesson 1 • Mechanisms of Toxicity

Explains how mycotoxins disrupt cellular processes including DNA damage, protein synthesis inhibition, and immune suppression. Links mechanism to observed clinical signs.

Lesson 2 • Mycotoxin Mitigation and Control

Presents pre-harvest, post-harvest, and processing strategies to reduce mycotoxin contamination. Applies food safety principles to grain, nut, and spice supply chains.

Lesson 3 • Detection and Analytical Methods

Covers ELISA, HPLC, LC-MS/MS, and lateral flow assays for mycotoxin quantification. Connects analytical method selection to regulatory thresholds and sample matrices.

Lesson 4 • Overview of Mycotoxin Classes

Introduces aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, fumonisins, and zearalenone by structure and producing species. Establishes the chemical diversity of fungal toxins.

Lesson 1 • Fungi in Food and Beverage Production

Examines the roles of Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, and Penicillium in fermented foods, beverages, and cheese. Connects metabolic pathways to product quality attributes.

Lesson 2 • Pharmaceutical Compounds from Fungi

Explores penicillin, statins, cyclosporin, and other fungal-derived pharmaceuticals and their biosynthetic pathways. Demonstrates fungi as a source of life-saving compounds.

Lesson 3 • Fungal Enzyme Production

Covers industrial production of cellulases, amylases, proteases, and lipases from fungal sources. Links enzyme properties to industrial application requirements.

Lesson 4 • Bioremediation and Mycoremediation

Covers white-rot fungi, biosorption, and mycelial mat applications for degrading pollutants. Applies ecological knowledge to environmental cleanup scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Aspergillus and Mold Infections

Covers Aspergillus fumigatus biology, invasive aspergillosis pathogenesis, and diagnosis in immunocompromised patients. Extends to mucormycosis and other hyalohyphomycoses.

Lesson 2 • Dermatophytes and Superficial Infections

Covers Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton genera, their keratinophilic biology, and clinical presentations. Connects morphology to laboratory diagnosis.

Lesson 3 • Antifungal Agents and Resistance

Explains mechanisms of action for azoles, polyenes, echinocandins, and allylamines, and the resistance mechanisms that limit their efficacy. Prepares students to interpret susceptibility data.

Lesson 4 • Overview of Human Fungal Pathogens

Classifies fungal infections by anatomical site and causative organism, from dermatophytes to dimorphic pathogens. Establishes the clinical scope of medical mycology.