Which of the following is a fungus?

Which of the following is a fungus?

• A. Salmonella
• B. Plasmodium
• C. Candida
• D. Influenza

Answer: (C)

Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms with cell walls that contain chitin and membranes that use ergosterol, often reproducing by budding in yeasts. Candida is a genus of yeasts in the fungal kingdom, so it fits this fungal profile and is well known for causing candidiasis in susceptible people. The other options come from different kingdoms: Salmonella is a bacterium (prokaryotic, no ergosterol), Plasmodium is a protozoan parasite (eukaryotic but with different cell wall characteristics), and Influenza is a virus (acellular and relies on a host cell to replicate). Therefore, Candida is the fungus.

Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms with cell walls that contain chitin and membranes that use ergosterol, often reproducing by budding in yeasts. Candida is a genus of yeasts in the fungal kingdom, so it fits this fungal profile and is well known for causing candidiasis in susceptible people. The other options come from different kingdoms: Salmonella is a bacterium (prokaryotic, no ergosterol), Plasmodium is a protozoan parasite (eukaryotic but with different cell wall characteristics), and Influenza is a virus (acellular and relies on a host cell to replicate). Therefore, Candida is the fungus.