[Classification of Fungi in modern view].

Fungi are a heterogeneous jumble coming together from three kingdoms of organisms. The True Fungi represent a kingdom of its own and are positioned closer to the Animalia than to the Plantae. At present the Fungi are divided into five Divisions. Species pathogenic for humans are found in the Divisions Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The Pneumocystidales are now classified in the Ascomycota. The Malasseziales are included in the Class Ustilaginomycetes. Essential characteristics for the classification of Fungi are derived from ultrastructure, chemistry, and more recently also from molecular biology of these organisms. None of these methods can stand for its own, all characteristics must be included.