Animalcules

Eukaryotic microbes: fungi, protists, and parasitic worms

Organelles

Membrane compartments within a cell that have specific functions

Eukaryotic cell cytoskeleton

• Highly ordered

• Cell shape

• Locomotion

• Cell division

• Phagocytosis

• Endocytosis

• Vesicle tracking

How are food particles acquired in eukaryotic cells

Phagocytosis, endocytosis, or transport

Fungi overview

• Decomposers

• Exists as pathogens or symbionts in hosts

• Degrade cellulose and lignin in plants

• Mushrooms, molds, and yeast

Mycelium

Structure of fungi that produce hydrolytic enzymes that break down structured organic material (e.g., plant cell walls)

Sporangium

Produced by molds, contains spores to promote reproduction when mold conditions no longer favor growth

Fungi cell wall

• Chitin

• Varies in additional polysaccharides from fungi to fungi

Fungi as pathogens

• Some fungi can replicate in macrophages

• Others invade other cells

Protists overview

• Morphologically and evolutionarily diverse

• Flagellates, amobeoids, ciliates, apicomplexa

• Varies in locomotion and nutrition

Amoeba feed on

Algae, bacteria, other protozoans, and tiny particles of dead plant or animal matter. Feed through phagocytosis

Amoeba are dormant until

Food is available

Ciliates feed on

Algae, bacteria, other ciliates, and plant material. Feed through absorption

Helminths (worms) overview

• Multicellular animal organisms

• Identified through their unique morphology and eggs

• Need multiple alternate hosts to complete their life cycle

• Larvae are microscopic