What is mycology. Formation and development of mycology as a science

The Greek word "mykos" means mushroom. Mycologists are specialists who study fungi. But there are not very many such "narrow" specialists in our country.

Mycology - the science of fungi, including pathogenic ones, studies the biological diversity of the world of fungi, their phylogeny and ontogenesis, relationships with each other and with other organisms, role in biogeocenoses, methods for identifying harmful fungi and protecting plants, animals and humans, industrial products and works of art from them, the practical use of fungi as food and feed raw materials, producers of biologically active substances, etc.

Mycologist's Dictionary

Hyphae are the thinnest, like cobwebs, underground fungal threads.

Mycelium, or mycelium, is a moldy felt, consisting of a dense interweaving of hyphae, is the fungus itself.

The fruiting body is what we all incorrectly call a fungus. After all, people do not call an apple an apple tree, and an apple tree an apple. But mushrooms are called so, because we see only the fruiting bodies, and the mushroom itself (mycelium) is hidden.

Plates - folds on the lower surface of the hats (remember russula).

Pores - round holes - tubules or angular narrow tubules, also on the lower surface of the caps (remember the boletus).

Both plates and pores serve to grow, mature and disperse spores.

The inner cover is a cobweb, or membranous, border with an iodine hat (remember champignon).

The ring is the part of the veil that remains on the leg of the old mushroom (remember the fly agaric).

Volvo, or vagina, is a cover, a cup-rim, where a tuberous “root”, for example, fly agaric, is inserted.

A tubercle is a swelling on a hat (remember a toadstool or another fungal species).

Field of study:

Branch of science:

• biological sciences
• medical sciences
• agricultural sciences

Application of Science

Specialized diagnostic and treatment-and-prophylactic care for patients with fungal infections, allergic diseases and patients with immunodeficiencies.

Training and retraining of medical personnel of various specialties in clinical mycology, allergology and immunology.

Training of scientific personnel (candidates and doctors of science) in medical mycology for the Russian Federation and foreign countries.

Basic and applied research in medical mycology (clinical, veterinary, sanitary, etc.)

Study of various drugs for antifungal activity and testing of diagnostic tools.

Tests for fungus resistance of building materials, fabrics, paints, etc.

General mycology

The place of mycology in the system of biological sciences. Mycology as a scientific basis for medical and veterinary mycology. The main stages in the development of medical mycology as a science.

1.1. The position of fungi in the general system of living organisms and the basis of ideas about their evolution.

The idea of ​​mushrooms as a separate kingdom of the organic world. Complexes of signs that bring mushrooms closer to plants and animals. Hypotheses about the origin of fungi. The main directions of the evolution of fungi.

1.2. Morphology of mushrooms.

The structure of the cell of fungi. Cell wall and its composition in different groups of fungi. The nature of the fungal septa. Pigments of fungi, their biological and diagnostic significance. Fungal cell organelles. The nucleus of fungi and features of its division.

The structure of the thallus of fungi, its evolution. Unspecialized somatic structures. Morphological and physiological classification of fungal structures.

1.3. Mushroom reproduction.

Vegetative and asexual reproduction. Types of sexual process in different groups of fungi. Homoi heterothallism. Heterokaryosis and parasexual process.

Ecological functions of spores. Disputes are propagative and resting. Morphogenesis, functions and evolution of fruiting bodies in different groups of fungi.

1.4. Fundamentals of physiology of fungi.

Nutrition, metabolism. Sources of organic and mineral nutrition. The main metabolic pathways, biologically active metabolites (enzymes, antibiotics, toxins, etc.).

1.5. Ecology of mushrooms.

1.6. Fundamentals of taxonomy of fungi.

Principles of construction of modern mushroom systems. Basic taxonomic criteria. Basic principles of mycological nomenclature.

Slime department. Origin and position in the system. Main classes, their characteristics.

Department of Oomikota. Group volume.

Class Oomycetes. General characteristics. Basic orders and families. Ecology. Meaning. Evolution in connection with landfall.

Class Hyphochytridiomycetes. General characteristics. Origin, phylogenetic relationships, position in the system.

Eumicote department. Group volume.

Class Chytridiomycetes. Thallus types. Asexual and sexual reproduction. Orders and families. Ecology. Practical value.

Class Zygomycetes. General characteristics. direction of evolution. Orders and families. Ecology. Meaning.

Class Trichomycetes. Structure, biology. Origin and position in the system.

Class Ascomycetes. General characteristics. The scope of the class and the principles of its division into subclasses.

Subclass Hemiascomycetes. General characteristics. Orders. Yeast. Class Endomycetes.

Subclass Euascomycetes. General characteristics. Types of fruiting bodies and their development. Principles of classification. Order groups: plectomycetes (cleistomycetes), pyrenomycetes, discomycetes. Orders and families, their characteristics.

Fundamentals of systematics of lichens. Ecology. Meaning.

Ascomycetes. Phylogenesis.

Class Basidiomycetes. General characteristics. The scope of the class and the principles of its division into subclasses.

Subclass Homobasidiomycetes. General characteristics. Order groups: hymenomycetes, gostromycetes. Exobasidial order.

Hymenomycetes. The structure of fruiting bodies: morphogenesis, microscopic features; their taxonomic importance. Principles of modern classification. Orders and basic families. Ecology. Poisonous and edible mushrooms. Cultivation of edible mushrooms.

Gasteromycetes. Types of ontogeny of fruiting bodies, their structure. Principles of classification. Orders. Ecology.

Subclass Heterobasidiomycetes. The volume of the group and its position in the system. Phylogenetic relationships of the group. General characteristics.

Subclass Theliomycetes. General characteristics. Rusty order. Features of biology. Families. Origin.

The order of the smuts. Biology. Phylogenetic relationships and position in the system. Families.

Origin and evolution of basidiomycetes.

Deuteromycete class. position in the mushroom system. Biology. Ecology. Modern principles of classification.

Phylogenetic relationships between individual groups of fungi and their reflection in the general system of fungi.

Clinical Mycology

2.1. Classification, epidemiology of mycoses.

Classification of mycoses. Epidemiology of dermatomycosis (dermatophytosis). Epidemiology of candidiasis. Epidemiology of nosocomial mycoses. Epidemiology of endemic mycoses.

2.2. Mycosis pathogenesis.

Factors of pathogenicity of causative agents of mycoses. Highly contagious and opportunistic micromycetes. Immune and non-immune mechanisms of antimycotic defense of the organism. Ecological, professional, domestic risk factors for the development of mycoses. Modern drug therapy, invasive methods of treatment as risk factors for the development of mycoses.

2.3. Diagnosis of mycoses.

The main methods of diagnosis of mycoses. Microscopic and cultural diagnostics. Histological diagnosis. Serological diagnosis. Instrumental methods for diagnosing mycoses (radiography, computed tomography, ultrasound, etc.). Criteria for the diagnosis of mycoses. Diagnosis of mycogenic allergy.

2.4. antifungal drugs.

Classification, general characteristics of antifungal drugs. Characteristics (drugs, mechanism of action, spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics, indications for use, adverse reactions, drug interactions, use in various patient groups) of polyenes. Characterization of azoles. Characterization of glucan synthesis inhibitors. characterization of allylamines. Determination of the sensitivity of micromycetes to antifungal drugs. Methods of application of antifungal drugs: treatment of established disease, empirical therapy, primary and secondary prevention.

2.5. Dermatomycosis.

Mycosis of the skin: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Mycotic hair lesions: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Onychomycosis: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Skin-lymphatic sporotrichosis: risk factors, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment.

2.6. Candidiasis.

Causative agents of candidiasis, pathogenesis of superficial and invasive candidiasis. Skin candidiasis, candidal paronychia, onychomycosis: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Candidiasis of the gastrointestinal tract: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Genital candidiasis in women: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Urinary tract candidiasis: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Candidemia, acute disseminated candidiasis: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment, primary and secondary prevention. Chronic disseminated candidiasis: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment, primary and secondary prevention.

2.7. Aspergillosis.

Causative agents of aspergillosis, pathogenesis of various variants of aspergillosis. Invasive aspergillosis: risk factors, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment, primary and secondary prevention. Aspergilloma: risk factors, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: risk factors, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment.

2.8. Cryptococcosis.

Epidemiology, pathogenesis of cryptococcosis. Cryptococcosis of the lungs: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment, prevention of relapse. Cryptococcal meningitis: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment, relapse prevention.

2.9. Zygomycoses.

Pathogens, pathogenesis of various clinical variants of zygomycosis. Rhinocerebral zygomycosis: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Zygomycosis of the lungs: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Zygomycosis of soft tissues: risk factors, clinic, diagnosis, treatment.

2.10. Hyalogyphomycosis.

Pathogens, pathogenesis of various clinical variants of hyalologhomycosis. Fusarium: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Penicilliosis: epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Pseudalesheriosis: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment.

2.11. Pheohyphomycosis.

Pathogens, pathogenesis of various clinical variants of pheogyphomycosis. Chromomycosis: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Mycetomas: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Mycotic keratitis: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Invasive pheogyphomycosis: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment.

2.12. endemic mycoses.

Histoplasmosis: epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Blastomycosis: epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Coccidioidosis: epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment. Paracoccidioidomycosis: epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, treatment.

2.13. Mycoses in children.

The main risk factors for the development of mycoses in children. Mycosis in newborns. Dermatomycosis in children: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis and treatment. Candidiasis in children: etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis and treatment. Chronic candidiasis of the skin and mucous membranes: pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis and treatment. Features of the use of antifungal drugs in children.

2.14. Mycotoxicosis.

Toxigenic micromycetes, their role and significance in mycopathology. Aflatoxicosis: clinic, treatment, prevention. Ochratoxicosis: clinic, treatment, prevention. Mycotoxicoses of the trichothecene group (alimentary toxic aleukia, stachybotryotoxicosis). Mycotoxicoses caused by gliotoxins.

Fungi, distribution of fungi in nature, ecology, morphology and ultrastructure, physiology, genetic and biochemical properties, applied aspects:

• practical application of mushrooms to humans:

• as food (edible mushrooms, in the production of cheese, wine, beer),
• for recycling,
• in the biotechnology of products, including drugs (for example, penicillin), immunomodulatory polysaccharides,
• fungi as pathogens of plant pests
• as medicines
• as objects in biological research

• mushroom damage:

• food spoilage,
• destruction of wooden, textile and other products,
• plant pathogens,
• mycotoxicoses (fungal toxins - mycotoxins),
• mycetism (poisoning by fungi and their metabolic products),
• mycogenic allergies (caused by fungi),
• mycoses (human and animal diseases caused by fungi).

Story

Antiquity

The first mention of mushrooms in scientific literature is believed to be from Aristotle. A student of Aristotle, Theophrastus, called the "father of botany", is probably the first of the ancient thinkers who tried to systematize the knowledge about mushrooms known in antiquity. He mentions morels, truffles and champignons, which he calls μύκης , from this word later came one of the scientific names of mushrooms - lat. mycetes, and the name of the science of mycology. In addition, in his works under the general title έρυσιβη (lat. erysiphe) describe plant diseases - powdery mildew and rust. The ancient scientists, of course, could not yet associate the origin of these diseases with fungi, but explained the influence of excess moisture. . Around 150 B.C. e. the poet, grammarian and physician Nicander of Colophon first divided mushrooms into edible and poisonous, this is considered the beginning of the classification of mushrooms.

In ancient Rome, descriptions of some mushrooms were also made. Dioscorides dedicated two chapters of his De materia medica to mushrooms. In addition to describing edible and poisonous mushrooms, he describes the medical use of the larch tinder fungus called agaricus, since then this name has been preserved in the pharmacopoeia (pharmacy agaric, lat. Agaricus officinalis). Among the mushrooms, Dioscorides singled out terrestrial, underground and growing on trees, such a classification can be called a division into ecological groups. Pliny the Elder considered mushrooms as a separate group fungi, like Nicander, he classified them as edible ( fungi esculenti) and poisonous ( fungi noxici and perniciosi). In his Natural History, Pliny described "species" of porous mushrooms ( fungus porosus), horn mushrooms ( fungus ramosus), Judas ear ( fungus sambuci), raincoats ( fungus pulverulentus), truffles ( tubera terrae), oyster mushrooms ( pezicae Plinii), larch tinder fungus ( fungus laricis, or agaricum). Pliny points to the abundance of tinder fungi on tree trunks and stumps in Gaul, correctly interprets these formations as mushrooms, and notes that at night there is a glow of stumps with mushrooms.

In the Roman Empire, the properties of certain mushrooms were obviously well known. Caesar mushroom, called boletus, is mentioned in the "Satyricon" by Petronius and "Satires" by Juvenal (Satire V). It is believed that political opponents could be eliminated by serving them dishes prepared from pale toadstool instead of Caesar mushrooms. According to one version, the emperor Claudius was poisoned in this way.

Middle Ages

Ancient scientists did not conduct scientific research on mushrooms, but only briefly described them, mainly as food. With the fall of the Roman Empire, the classical ancient sciences also declined. Some medieval authors only recounted ancient information about mushrooms. The only known original work of this era belongs to the German nun Hildegard of Bingen, her manuscript "The Book of Plants" contains descriptions of mushrooms that are unique for that time in number and completeness. Mentions of mushrooms in Russian written documents have been known since 1378 (a charter of the Paleostrovsky Monastery), and the Domostroy, a monument of Russian literature of the 16th century, contains teachings on how best to harvest mushrooms.

From Dolinnaean botanists to students of Linnaeus

With the beginning of the Renaissance, European scientists again began to study various groups of living organisms, including mushrooms. Their descriptions and drawings are found in herbalists appearing in Germany, Flanders since the 16th century (eng. Herbal ). In "Herbal" (German. Krauterbuch) Hieronymus Bock (1498-1554) there is a chapter on 5 pages containing descriptions of about 10 cap mushrooms and tinder fungi, distribution, season, edibility or toxicity and methods of preparing mushrooms are indicated. Bock has comparisons of descriptions with classical antique works. In The Herbalist (Dutch. Cruydeboeck, or Cruijdeboeck, Cruydt-Boeck) Rembert Dodons, who for two centuries served as a classic reference to botany, mushrooms are one of six groups of plants, and are classified according to various criteria: form, toxicity, season of occurrence.

A contemporary of Dodons, the Italian naturalist Pier Andrea Cesalpino is called the founder of this scientific approach to the study of fungi. In his work De Plantis libri XVI, Cesalpino first pointed out the special position of fungi in the plant kingdom:

Cesalpino identified three "classes" of mushrooms - tuber, or Tartufi- underground; Pezicae- ground mushrooms without a leg; Fungi- cap mushrooms and tinder fungi. The last class was divided into 16 "taxa", whose names were based on Italian vernacular names. For example, for tubular fungi, which now belong to the order of boletes, the name was taken Suilli, or Porcini- "pork mushrooms". In modern nomenclature Suillus used as the name of a genus of oilers.

In Robert Hooke's Micrography, published in 1664, the first drawings of the microscopic structures of fungi appear - "blue mold" and "rose rust". Hooke's "Rose Rust" can be identified as a fungus of the genus Phragmidium, and "blue mold" probably Aspergillus sp., although the pattern resembles more Myxomycete sporangia than Aspergillus conidiophores. Hooke only superficially described the discovered structures, without trying to give them any scientific interpretation. There are images of mushrooms and another pioneer of microscopic research - M. Malpighi. In his drawing of a tumor of a hawthorn, made in 1675, a rust fungus can be recognized. Gymnosporangium clavariiforme .

In Russia, Samuel Collins, the English court physician to Alexei Mikhailovich, wrote a small book on "the current state of Russia" which was published in 1671 in London. It contains two tables of drawings of "Russian mushrooms", made, however, rather in popular style. In the second half of the 17th - early 18th centuries, a number of herbalists and medical books appeared in Russia, some of which were translated from Western European languages, for example, translated in 1672 from German “The Book of a Cool Heliport Calling” or translated in 1705 “The Book of Calling Agricultural<…>composed by Agapios the Cretan monk<…>in Venice 1674<…>". The translated books contain information about mushrooms as heavy food and causing harm to health, especially with frequent use. In the medical book of 1672 there is a recipe for gargling with a milk decoction of the mushroom “ Judas ears”. In another medical book, the exact year of writing of which is unknown, a detailed description is given of making an extract from porcini mushroomused for frostbite II and III degrees. The drawing in this medical book is probably the first image of mushrooms made in Russia.

There were no scientists directly specializing in mycology in the 17th-18th centuries, fungi were studied only by some systematic botanists along with flowering plants. For higher plants, significant material had already been accumulated, which made it possible by the 18th century to distinguish some natural groups, but the principles suitable for the natural classification of fungi did not yet exist. S. Veillant (1669-1722) proposed a criterion for the classification of mushrooms, which was included in the book "De plantes", published in 1727, after the author's death. Veillant's classification was based on the structure of the undersurface of the cap, i.e. the hymenophore. This classification turned out to be very convenient and is still used in the collection of mushrooms, and the signs of the structure of the hymenophore, studied by modern methods, continue to be used in taxonomy. Veillant drew attention to the structure of fungi associated with their reproduction, but its function was unknown, and nothing was known at all about the reproduction of fungi. Weillant hardly believed in folk legends about the appearance of mushrooms from a lightning strike, from rot, dew, even from a shadow, but he could not explain how they reproduce. In 1729, this mystery was partially solved by P. A. Micheli, who discovered microscopic “seeds” in mushrooms that germinate if placed in a drop of water. Micheli described microscopic "flowers without stamens and corolla" in mushrooms, probably these structures were actually cystids or basidia without spores. In addition, Micheli was the first to make scientific descriptions of microscopic fungi, some of the genera he introduced are accepted in modern taxonomy ( Aspergillus, Botrytis, Mucor), and also studied the mechanism of the spread of the fungus Sphaerobolus stellatus, shooting from the fruiting body peridiol with spores. Micheli called the spores "seeds" and the peridiole the "fruit" of this fungus. In 1778, I. Hedwig showed that the "seeds" of cryptogams are fundamentally different from the seeds of flowering plants and proposed a name for them disputes. .

Representatives of the scientific school of Linnaeus, both his direct students and followers, made a significant contribution to the development of mycology. J. F. Earhart in 1793 published the first ever exsikat (replicated herbarium), which included several types of mushrooms. E. Acharius in 1798-1814 developed the first detailed system of lichens and laid the foundation for a new branch of biological sciences - lichenology. G. F. Link directly continued the work of Linnaeus on systematics and in 1824-1825 prepared descriptions of new types of mushrooms for the 4th edition of Species plantarum. The place of fungi in the system of the living world, indicated by Linnaeus, did not satisfy all scientists. O. von Munchausen proposed to separate mushrooms together with polyps into an “intermediate kingdom” ( Regnum Intermedium), and in 1795 J. Paul first used the term mycology. The author of the term is also called the English botanist M. J. Berkeley, who used it only from 1836. Berkeley, since 1860, in some of his works used the term fungology. H. Nees von Esenbeck in 1816 for the first time proposed to distinguish the kingdom of fungi ( Regnum Mycetoideum), its priority, however, was forgotten for a long time.

Floristic period in Russia

In addition to expeditionary reports and periodicals of the Academy of Sciences (“Academic News”, “New Monthly Works”), non-academic publications also began to appear in Russia, of which the journals published by A. T. Bolotov - “Country Resident ...” and the appendix to "Moskovsky Vedomosti" "Economic store". They published practical articles. In particular, Bolotov (he was also the author of many articles in his publications) in 1780-1789 wrote a number of articles about champignons, which describe the signs of difference between these mushrooms and pale grebe, provide information on cultivation, storage and cooking, there are also articles about truffles, morels and some medicinal mushrooms - puffball and underground "deer mushroom" (probably Elaphomyces granulatus) .

In the last years of the 18th - the first half of the 19th century, floristic research became widespread, although state-funded academic expeditions ceased. Research began to be carried out near the places where scientists worked, works began to appear specifically dedicated to mushrooms. By the 1850s, floristic lists of mushrooms appeared in the Baltic, Moscow and St. Petersburg provinces, the Volga region, Ukraine, Bessarabia, Crimea, and the Arctic. Of particular importance from the works of this period is the work of I. A. Veinman “ Hymeno et Gasteromycetes hujusque in imperio Rossico observatas recensuit” (“Hymeno- and Gasteromycetes Observed in the Russian Empire”), published in 1836. This was the first major report on the fungal flora of Russia, which included 1132 species, indicating synonyms and locations, and a brief description of the habitat conditions. For the first time in Russia, Weinman consistently used the mushroom system of E. Fries. About 100 species included in this monograph are described by Weinman himself. In subsequent years, Weinman's work was continued by a number of scientists. V. M. Chernyaev in 1845 described 5 new genera of Gasteromycetes in Ukraine, three of which are accepted in modern taxonomy ( Discised, Trichaster and Endoptychum). I. G. Borshchov compiled reports on fungal floras and described new species from the St. Petersburg province, Arctic Siberia, the Aral-Caspian region, and the Chernigov province. In 1855-1856 Borshchov wrote the manuscript " Mycology Petropolitana”, containing descriptions and watercolor drawings of 200 species of mushrooms, however, this work was not published.

Creation of a taxonomy of mushrooms

Mycology and Phytopathology

Phytopathology is a section of biology and agriculture that studies the development and reproduction of phytopathogens on plants, methods of protection against damage. It is closely related to mycology, since a large number of phytopathogens are distinguished among mycological objects.

see also

• Application: list of mycological terms

Notes

1. , With. 7
2. , With. 416
3. , With. eight
4. , With. 417
5. , With. 9
6. , With. 13-14
7. , With. 417-418
8. , With. ten
9. , With. 418
10. , With. eleven
11. , With. 423
12. Collins S. The Present State of Russia, in a letter to a friend at London, written by an Eminent Person residing at the Great Tzars court at Mosco for the space of nine years. Illustrated with many copper plates. - London, 1671. - 144 p.

Depending on the object of study, mycology is divided into industrial, agricultural, veterinary and medical. Thus, industrial M. studies various yeast fungi (fungi) used in bread baking, the production of alcohols, brewing, the production of cheese, and fermented milk products (see Yeast). Some types of yeast are used in the production of protein concentrates, as well as for medicinal purposes in honey. industry. In pharmakol, for the purpose, mold fungi are studied as producers of antibiotics (see), enzymes, organic acids, etc. Industrial M. conducts research on the protection of various raw materials - cotton, wood, technical materials, textiles, paper, etc. - from their destruction by microscopic fungi. Many diseases of cultivated plants, vegetables, and fruits caused by fungi cause enormous damage to the national economy and require the study of their etiology and the development of methods to combat them. This work is carried out within the limits of page - x. and vet. M.

Sanitary M. studies methods for identifying pathogenic and opportunistic fungi in the environment - soil, water, and air.

Diseases of humans and animals caused by microscopic fungi are called mycoses (see). Honey. M. studies features of biology of fungi pathogenic for the person, their antigenic activity, the mechanism of pathogenic action, reservoirs in the nature, ways of distribution, a wedge, manifestations and pathogenesis of mycoses, protective immunological reactions of a human body in response to introduction of fungi into it, methods a lab. diagnostics, means and methods of treatment of patients with mycoses. The study of allergic reactions in patients with fungal infections as a result of sensitization of the body by the waste products of fungi is becoming increasingly important. A special section of honey. M. is the doctrine of mycotoxicoses (see), the occurrence of which is associated not with the primary invasion of fungi into tissues, but with poisoning by the metabolic products of the fungi themselves. So, after prolonged contact with moldy grain, the so-called. grain fever, the cause of which is the inhalation of fungal spores. M.'s value in studying of epidemiology of mycoses, in development of methods of fight against them and prevention is great.

The beginning of the development of honey. M. is considered the discovery of the causative agent of favus by J. L. Schoenlein in 1839. In the second half of the 19th century. and the first years of the 20th century. honey. M. was formed against the background of the rapid development of microbiology, the greatest discoveries of L. Pasteur:, J. Lister, R. Koch, and others. The causative agents of dermatomycosis were described (see Fungal diseases of the skin) and their clinical manifestations. Although the works of the first period were predominantly descriptive, clinical and morphological in nature, even then an attempt was made to experimentally identify the polymorphism of the causative agent of the favus - achorio (N. P. Tishutkin, 1894).

In the second half of the 20th century studies of the pathogenesis, immunology of mycoses, the study of the state of the body's reactivity to the introduction of pathogenic fungi, the development of serological methods for the detection of appropriate antibodies prevail. Much attention is drawn to the research of new antifungal drugs. A huge role was played by the creation of experimental models of mycoses, which made it possible to study their wedge, pathogenetic, immunol. features, as well as the therapeutic efficacy of antifungal drugs. The study of the features of the clinic and the pathogenesis of trichophytosis in adults led to the creation by Soviet dermatomycologists of the doctrine of chronic trichophytosis (see). The important role of adult patients in the epidemiology of trichophytosis in children was proved, a mandatory dispensary examination of all family members of a sick child was introduced, which led to a natural decrease in the incidence of trichophytosis in the USSR. In the study of pathogens, epidemiology and pathogenesis of mycoses of the feet, important data were obtained on the mechanism of allergic complications arising from these infections, on the mechanism of development of onychomycosis and generalized forms of these diseases (see Onychomycosis). Many years of research into new methods of treating mycoses of the scalp led to the development of a sparing technique for x-ray hair removal with fractional doses, to the creation of thallium and epiline patches, which made it possible to cure these patients without the use of x-rays. A wide study and introduction into practice of antibiotics nystatin and levorin for the treatment of candidiasis (see) and griseofulvin for the treatment of patients with dermatomycosis. The widespread use of antibacterial antibiotics, corticosteroid hormones, cytostatic drugs, biologically highly active agents contributed to an increase in the number of diseases with certain deep mycoses, caused mostly by opportunistic fungi of the genus Candida and aspergillus. There was a need to find means and methods for the prevention and treatment of these complications, involving, along with dermatomycologists, also therapists, pediatricians, surgeons, as well as doctors of other specialties. In the USSR, a program was developed to combat dermatomycosis, including a preventive direction, a dispensary method for servicing patients, their active detection, and the creation of a wide network of mycological institutions. The implementation of this program has led to the practical elimination of diseases of the favus (see), a significant decrease in the incidence of other dermatomycosis.

Socio-economic value of honey. M. is defined by nek-ry statistical data on incidence and mortality from mycoses. According to Green (E. Grin), by 1964, 15,000,000 patients with ringworm were registered in all countries of the world. In almost all countries of the world, hundreds of thousands of patients with mycosis of the feet, with lesions of the nails of the hands and feet, annually turn to medical institutions. Often these mycoses lead to repeated disability, spending huge amounts of money on the treatment of patients, contribute to the development and unfavorable course of prof. skin diseases.

Bibliography: Arievich A. M. and Stepanishcheva 3. G. Candidiasis and other mycoses as complications of antibiotic therapy, M., 1965, bibliogr.; Bilay V. I., etc. Methods of experimental mycology, Kyiv, 1973; Kashkin P.N. and Sheklakov N.D. Guide to medical mycology, M., 1978, bibliogr.; Multi-volume guide to microbiology, clinic and epidemiology of infectious diseases, ed. H. N. Zhukov-Verezhnikova, vol. 10, p. 177, 252, M., 1966, bibliogr.; Feyer E. et al. Medical mycology and fungal diseases, trans. from Hungarian., Budapest, 1966, bibliogr.; Khmelnytsky O.K. Histological diagnosis of superficial and deep mycoses, L., 1973, bibliogr.; Sh e to l and - to about in N. D. and M and l and h M. V. Fungal diseases of the person, M., 1973, bibliogr.; Conant N.a. about. Manual of clinical mycology, Philadelphia, 1971; E m ~ mons G h. W.a. o. Medical mycology, Philadelphia, 1977; The fungi, an advanced treatise, ed. by G. C. Ainsworth a. o., v. 4A, N.Y., 1973; Libero A j e 1 1 o L. a. o. Laboratory manual for medical mycology, Washington, 1963.

A. M. Arievich.

The Tulian brothers depicted mushrooms in the form of an "unexplored new land" in a drawing in their book dating back to the middle of the 19th century. Mushroom sporulation - pycnidia look like mountains and volcanoes on this mysterious island; fruiting bodies of marsupial fungi with numerous branched processes form a forest, and smaller sporulation of fungi form thickets of shrubs

This is how the spore-bearing layer of the capped agaric fungus looks like in a modern scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 8 thousand times, seen with such details only in the 70s of the current century.

A special place is occupied by the work of the Italian mycologist P. A. Saccardo, who from 1882 to 1931 published a 25-volume work containing descriptions in Latin of all the species of mushrooms known at that time (about 80 thousand). This summary is still a necessary aid in the work of mycologists.

At the end of the XIX century. the differentiation of mycology into various branches began, connected, on the one hand, with the increased needs of the practical activities of people and, on the other hand, with the improvement of the research methods themselves, which made it possible not only to study the structure and development of the organism itself (details of the cell structure, features of its growth and etc.), but also to trace the results of the activity of this organism: its influence on the environment, the changes that it produces in it during growth and development.

The development of mycology in Russia is associated with the name of the outstanding scientist Mikhail Stepanovich Voronin (1838-1903), who is rightfully considered the father of Russian mycology. MS Voronin made a serious contribution to the study of the developmental cycles of a number of fungi, and was the first to discover trapping rings on the mycelium of predatory fungi. His studies of the causative agent of cabbage clubroot, sunflower rust and the causative agent of white rot of a number of vegetables are still relevant at the present time. Academician S.G. Voronin, an outstanding mycologist and researcher of the development cycles of many fungi, became a student and successor of Voronin's work. Navashin, who was a famous microscopist and researcher of the intracellular structures of fungi.

A.A. Yachevsky (1863-1932), who was not only a major researcher in the field of mycology and phytopathology, but also a talented popularizer and organizer of science. On his initiative, in 1902, a central phytopathological station was established at the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden, and in 1907, a bureau for mycology and phytopathology of the agricultural scientific committee, which took over the coordination of research work on the study of fungi.

The fundamental work of A.A. Yachevsky "Fundamentals of Mycology", published after his death, in 1933, has not lost its significance even now.

The development of Soviet mycology is also associated with the names of outstanding mycologists N. N. Voronikhin, who compiled a reference book on fungal diseases of agricultural plants, V. A. Transhel, a researcher of rust fungi, A. S. Bondartsev, who created the most complete monograph on tinder fungi, and L. I. Kursanov, the author of the first fundamental textbook on mycology and founder of the Department of Lower Plants of Moscow State University, as well as N. A. Naumov, who conducted extensive and important research in various fields of mycology and phytopathology.

Twenties of the XX century. were marked by the rapid development of many branches of knowledge, including mycology. Classical mycology, which deals with the description and classification of fungi, was supplemented by physiology, biochemistry and genetics of fungi, soil mycology, which studies the role of fungi in the soil-forming process, etc. The greatest event in the field of mycology was the discovery in 1929 by the English microbiologist Alexander Fleming antibiotic penicillin - a substance that suppresses the development of certain pathogenic bacteria.

At present, mycology has become a very multifaceted science and its development is proceeding in several directions. Mushrooms - causative agents of diseases in humans and animals are engaged in medical mycology. Fungi and bacteria have been discovered that destroy, especially in conditions of high humidity, wood, books, paintings, frescoes and other works of art, varnish coatings, optical instruments, etc. Not only mycologists, but also microbiologists have joined in the fight against these biodamages, chemists. Their joint efforts discovered the mechanism of action of fungi and bacteria on various objects and materials and selected chemicals that prevent their development.

An important direction in mycology is the search for new raw materials for the microbiological industry. There are several directions here. One of them is the search for sources (producers) of new antibiotics, enzymes, and growth substances among fungi. Mushrooms from some genera of molds and from the genus of dung beetles were found, which secrete the active enzyme cellulase, which is necessary for the processing of raw materials in the paper industry, suitable for the preparation of roughage and the destruction of paper waste. The microbiological method, using microscopic fungi, produces the enzyme pectinase, which is used to improve the quality of fruit juices, and amylase, which is used to hydrolyze starch. The mold Aspergillus niger is used to produce citric acid. And more recently, russula, from which the enzyme russulin was obtained, was widely used in the manufacture of a number of different, especially hard, cheeses, replacing the deficient drug rennin, or rennet, obtained from the stomachs of calves. In the future, it is planned to use russulin as a drug, and extensive research is currently underway in this direction.

One of the areas of mycology is the study of the conditions under which producing fungi will produce the greatest amount of active substance. In these studies, the selection of producers in order to obtain more and more active forms of them is also of great importance. Selected forms of the penicillium fungus, for example, are 100 times more active than natural ones. Now mycology has a large arsenal of tools, among which is the use of mutagenic factors (chemicals, ultraviolet rays, radioactive substances, etc.) that cause hereditary changes in the body - mutations.

Naturally, none of the areas of modern mycology is able to develop successfully without an accurate knowledge of the fungus organism itself, its place in the fungal system, which often determines its properties. Hence, another important area of ​​research is the study of the fungi themselves, since not all of their species have been discovered and studied. Every year dozens of new fungi are described by scientists from different countries. Their system is constantly being improved.

Modern taxonomy, which is a compass in the complex world of fungi, is armed with the most modern electron microscopic, physiological, biochemical and mathematical methods, which provide great opportunities for improving the taxonomy of fungi, establishing evolutionary and phylogenetic (related) relationships between their individual groups.

Mycology is the science that studies fungi, itself a branch of biology. A mycologist is a doctor with a higher education, often whose primary specialty is a dermatologist who studies fungal diseases, as well as fungal infections of the skin, nails, and hair. Mycology itself is closely related to dermatology and venereology.

A mycologist is engaged in the identification, treatment and prevention of mycotic lesions of the human body. He has in his arsenal various diagnostic methods, knows how to identify the causative agent of a particular disease and how to get rid of it. Prevention of disease transmission is also within the competence of the mycologist. He must inform the patient that not only the infected person himself, but also hygiene items, personal items, and animals can be carriers and sources of fungi.

Therefore, the mycologist is obliged not only to identify the cause of the disease, but also to determine its source, which must be eliminated. Only in this case, the treatment will be complete and effective, and the person, after getting rid of the disease, will not be re-infected.

What does a mycologist do?

The mycologist identifies the type of pathogen, selects drugs for its irradiation, controls the course of therapy and is engaged in the prevention of the disease. A mycologist should be consulted if the scalp or nail plates have also been affected.

A mycologist should be able to distinguish a mycotic lesion from diseases similar in clinical manifestations. Many diseases of non-fungal origin, although they give the same symptoms, are not provoked by mycotic organisms at all, but, for example, by smoking, chronic ENT pathologies, malnutrition, allergies, etc.

What diseases does a mycologist treat?

The specialist deals with the therapy of mycoses, as well as non-fungal diseases of the nail plates.

The competence of the doctor is:

Onychomycosis, which consists in the defeat of the nail plate by a dermatophyte fungus (its various types) or other fungi. Requires long-term treatment (at least 3 months), sometimes therapy can reach a year.

Actinomycosis, which develops as a result of ingestion of radiant fungi into the human body. Any organs can be affected, but the face, jaw, and neck are most often affected. Treatment is carried out in a hospital, consists in the surgical treatment of the lesion and further conservative therapy.

Panniculitis, a disease of unknown etiology, characterized by damage to the subcutaneous fat and acute inflammation. The role of fungi in the development of the disease has not been elucidated, however, a mycologist can deal with this problem, as he has a specialty of a dermatologist.

Aspergillosis is caused by a fungus belonging to the genus Aspergillus. These mycotic organisms most often affect the lungs and bronchi, although they can penetrate the internal organs through the hematogenous route, causing severe complications.

Mucormycosis, which is provoked by mold fungi, affects the nose and brain, often ends in death.

Fungal pneumonia is a deep mycotic lesion of the lung tissue. The disease can be caused by various fungi - mold, yeast-like, pneumocystis, endemic dimorphic.

Paronychia, which is characterized by damage to the nail folds and other tissues surrounding the nail. Most often caused by yeast-like fungi.

Candidiasis or damage to organs or organ systems by yeast-like fungi. Candidiasis occurs on the mucous membranes of the mouth, on the nails, in the intestines, in the female and male genital organs, etc.

Pityriasis versicolor, which is the result of skin lesions with yeast-like fungi.

Dermatoses and pruritus.

These are the most common diseases in the practice of a mycologist. In addition to them, any mycoses are within the competence of this specialist, so they must be correctly interpreted and cured.

When to Consult a Mycologist

A mycologist's consultation is an examination of the diagnostic plan for the detection of fungal infections of the nails, skin and hair. Most often, a dermatologist recommends contacting a mycologist, as a more highly specialized doctor.

Symptoms that should alert a person:

• Itching of the scalp and body;

  Ulcers on the skin, accompanied by itching;

  Cracking of the dermis, its peeling;

  Unusual color of nails, change in their structure;

  Exfoliation of the skin with its rupture in the future.

It is quite difficult not to pay attention to a fungal infection of the skin or nails. Starting with a slight itching and redness, microorganisms will gradually capture all new areas of the body and nails. An untreated infection causes the development of serious health complications, as well as a deterioration in the appearance of the patient and a decrease in his quality of life.

How is the appointment with the mycologist

The initial consultation with a specialist comes down to the fact that the doctor will listen and evaluate the patient's complaints. The next stage is the collection of anamnesis and examination of the affected areas of the skin and nails, as well as the examination of the integument using a Wood's lamp.

Wood's lamp is used in dermatology to detect fungal skin lesions, as well as to detect ringworm. Therefore, such a device must be in the mycologist's office.

In addition, the initial appointment includes the collection of scraping material for further research. In this regard, you should not apply any ointments, tinctures, powders or creams to the dermis. The skin must be clean before visiting the mycologist.

Diagnostic methods used by a mycologist

Taking swabs from the mucous membrane of the throat, ear, paranasal sinuses, pharynx. After the material is obtained, a microscopic examination of the discharge and inoculation on various nutrient media is performed, which makes it possible to isolate the culture of the fungus and determine its type. A similar diagnostic method is appropriate for detecting mycoses of the upper respiratory tract.

Crystallographic method for the determination of fungi of the genus Candida.

Taking a section of the affected skin with a disposable scalpel, removing the marginal part of the nail and hair with sterile scissors. Subsequent laboratory study of the obtained materials using KOH.

Electropuncture diagnostics according to R. Voll.

The use of the PCR method, which is of value in detecting deep candidiasis and disseminated infection. In addition, in some cases, only the PCR method allows genotyping and determining the species of the fungus.

Express diagnostics of mycoses using the immunobisensory method. To perform the analysis, the serum part of the patient's blood is required.

Chemiluminescent analysis in the immunodiagnosis of fungi of the genus Candida.

Most often, the result can be obtained 2-7 days after the material for the study was taken. However, there are also express diagnostic methods that, after a few hours, can provide information about the type of fungal infection in a person, which means they will allow you to make a diagnosis faster and start treatment.

At the consultation, the mycologist informs each patient about fairly simple methods for the prevention of fungal diseases that will minimize the risk of infection:

Maintaining cleanliness in the house, taking care of personal belongings. It is especially important to regularly carry out wet cleaning for people prone to developing allergies.

Compliance with hygiene rules. It is important to prevent the formation of diaper rash, prickly skin.

When the first symptoms of candidiasis are detected, you should not be treated on your own. It is necessary to consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis and prescribe therapy.

Proper nutrition and intake of vitamins depending on the season.

Expert editor: | MD general practitioner

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. I. M. Sechenov, specialty - "Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".