APICOMPLEXANS (without the specimens)

Apicomplexans

Parasites of animals, and some cause serious human disease

Apical Complex

complex of organelles specialized for penetrating a host

Apicoplast

nonphotosynthetic plastid

Sexual and asexual stages

Most have ______ that require two or more different host species for completion

Rhoptry

• Club shaped secretory organelle

• Activated during host cell invasion

• Contain numerous enzymes that are released during process of host penetration

• Enzymatic action manipulates the immune response of the host allowing the parasite to establish a chronic infection

Microneme

• convulated tubular organelles

• often associated with, or give rise to rhoptries

• also called sarconeme

Adhesive micronemal protein

involved in recognition of host cell receptors

Polar ring

• Ring shaped microtubular structure

• aids in the release of enzymes/proteins which erode extracellular material and allow parasite to enter host cell

Subpellicular microtubules

• Systems of singlet microtubules which extend like lines of longitude from regularly spaced attachment points on the outer polar ring

• same function as polar ring

Conoid

• Small cone-shaped structure composed of a spiral of filaments

• Plays mechanical role in invasion of host cells and is present in only some apicomplexans

Merogony, Gamogony and Sporogony

Reproduction of Apicompexans

Merogony

asexual reproductive process or multiple fission; produces trophozoites

Gamogony

• Process of gamete production

• Macrogamete and Microgamete

Sporogony

• Sexual and Asexual Reproduction

• Involves karyogamy that leads to the formation of zygote which is followed by meiosis and multiple fission

Karyogamy

Fusion of the nucleus

Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Plasmodium vivax

Plasmodium malariae

Plasmodium ovale

Four common species that causes malaria

Plasmodium falciparum

• The most serious type of species that causes malaria

• Life threatening

• Cerebral maaria

Plasmodium vivax

Plasmodium malariae

Plasmodium ovale

generally less serious and usually not life-threatening

Plasmodium kowlesi

• relatively new species, also a dangerous species that is typically found only in long-tailed and pigtailed macaque monkey

Eimeria tenella

Toxoplasma gondii

Plasmodium falciparum