- A fungus is actually a primitive vegetable.
- Fungi can be found in air, in soil, on plants, and in water.
- Thousands, perhaps millions, of different types of fungi exist on Earth.
- The most familiar ones to us are mushrooms, yeast, mold, and mildew.
- Some live in the human body, usually without causing illness.
- Only about half of all types of fungi cause disease in humans.
- Those conditions are called mycoses.
- Mycoses can affect your skin, nails, body hair, and internal organs.
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| Some fungi have made our lives easier. Penicillin and other antibiotics, which kill harmful bacteria in our bodies, are made from fungi. Yeast is a type of fungus that is used to make healthy foods such as some breads and cheeses. |
Adapted from National Health Institute. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/publications/microbes.htm#a
