Adimorphic fungus is afungus that can exist in the form of bothmold^[1] andyeast. As this is usually brought about by a change in temperature, this fungus type is also described as athermally dimorphic fungus.^[2] An example isTalaromyces marneffei,^[3] a human pathogen that grows as a mold atroom temperature, and as a yeast at humanbody temperature.

The term dimorphic is commonly used for fungi that can grow both as yeast and filamentous cells, however many of these dimorphic fungi actually can grow in more than these two forms. Dimorphic is thus often used as a general reference for fungi being able to switch between yeast and filamentous cells, but not necessary limiting more shapes.^[4][a]

Several species of dimorphic fungi are important pathogens of humans and other animals, includingCoccidioides immitis,^[a][5]Paracoccidioides brasiliensis,^[a][5]Candida albicans,^[6][a]Blastomyces dermatitidis^[a],^[4]Histoplasma capsulatum,^[a][4]Sporothrix schenckii,^[a][4] andEmmonsia sp.^[7]Some diseases caused by the fungi are:

• sporotrichosis
• blastomycosis
• histoplasmosis
• coccidioidomycosis
• paracoccidioidomycosis
• talaromycosis
• candidiasis^[a]

Many other fungi, including the plant pathogenUstilago maydis^[6] and the cheesemaker's fungusGeotrichum candidum also have dimorphic life cycles.

In medical mycology, these memory aids help students remember that among human pathogens, dimorphism largely reflects temperature:

• Mold in theCold,Yeast in theHeat (Beast)
• BodyHeatProbably (Changes)Shape
  • Blastomyces dermatitidis,Histoplasma capsulatum,Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, (Coccidioides immitis) is in parentheses because it changes to aspherule of endospores, not yeast, in the heat),Sporothrix schenckii.
  • This phrase says "Probably" because there is always an exception (in this case fungi likeCandida albicans) which change in the opposite direction: to mold in the heat!

• Fungal morphology and anatomy

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata