Question:

Fungal dimorphism is exhibited by

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A standard rule for systemic dimorphic fungi is: "Yeast at $37^\circ\text{C}$ (in the host tissue) and Mold at $25^\circ\text{C}$ (in the environment/culture)."
  • Candida albicans
  • Cryptococcus neoformans
  • Malassezia pachydermatis
  • Trichophyton verrucosum
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Dimorphic fungi are fungi that can exist in two distinct morphological forms, typically changing form in response to environmental conditions (such as temperature, nutrients, or CO$_2$ levels).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let us analyze the morphology of the listed fungi:
- Candida albicans: A highly adaptive, opportunistic pathogen that exhibits dimorphism (polymorphism). It grows as unicellular budding yeast cells at lower temperatures/acidic pH, and transitions into hyphae or pseudohyphae forms (multicellular mold-like structures) inside host tissues at $37^\circ\text{C}$ to facilitate invasion.
- Cryptococcus neoformans: Exists exclusively as an encapsulated budding yeast form in both tissue and culture.
- Malassezia pachydermatis: A lipophilic yeast that does not form true hyphae under standard pathological conditions.
- Trichophyton verrucosum: A dermatophyte that exists primarily as a filamentous mold producing arthroconidia.
Therefore, Candida albicans exhibits fungal dimorphism.

Step 3: Final Answer

The correct option is (A).
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