Some fungus have symbiosis with animals. Some fungi share their digestive services with animals to help break down plant material in the guts of cattle and other grazing mammals. Some fungi are pathogens. For example, Ophiostoma ulmi is an ascomycete that causes Dutch Elm Disease. This has harmed many of the plants in America. Some fungi attack food crops which turn toxic. For example Asperiglluscontaminate grain and peanuts by excreting carcinogenic compounds called alfotoxins. Some mycoses (mycosis: fungal infection in animals) cause ringworms, athletes foot and other similar infections. Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis that produces tuberculosislike symptoms in lungs. Candida albicans is a common cause to yeast infections.
Although fungi is parasitic it can be helpful as well. Without mycorrhizae our agriculture would be far less productive. Also mushrooms are a popular food and do not cause us harm. Fungi is also used o ripen certain cheeses. Also, penicillin the most common, needed and first discovered antibiotic is from Penicillum.
