3.What are the important characteristics of fungi which make them different from virus and bacteria; and why are fungal diseases difficult to treat?

Answer 1

Some important characteristics of fungi that differentiate them from viruses and bacteria are:

1. Fungi are eukaryotic organisms, meaning they have complex cells with a nucleus and other organelles, while bacteria are prokaryotic and viruses are acellular.

2. Fungi have a cell wall made of chitin, which is different from the cell walls of bacteria and viruses.

3. Fungi reproduce through spores, which are larger and more complex than the genetic material in viruses and bacteria.

Fungal diseases are often difficult to treat for several reasons:

1. Fungal infections are often chronic and difficult to eradicate, as fungi are able to form resistant structures like spores or hyphae which allows them to survive even in harsh conditions.

2. Fungi are more similar to human cells than bacteria or viruses, making it harder to develop drugs that specifically target the fungal cells without harming human cells.

3. Fungal infections can be localized and deep-seated within tissues, making them harder to reach and treat with antifungal medications.

Overall, the unique characteristics of fungi, including their complex cellular structure and difficult-to-treat infections, make fungal diseases challenging to manage and require specialized treatments and medications.