Walsh & Hoyt: General Concepts

Fungi (from the Latin fungus, meaning ""mushroom"") are nonmotile organisms composed of eukaryotic cells whose nuclei contain multiple chromosomes and are surrounded by membrane. They differ from bacteria in that they have a rigid cell wall that usually contains chitin and polysaccharides. Inside the cell wall of most fungi is a cytoplasmic membrane that contains sterol. This membrane is the site of action of the polyene macrolide antibiotics such as amphotericin B. Fungi do not produce endotoxins, and although some fungi produce exotoxins in vitro, such substances do not seem to be produced in vivo.