BIOL 2460 Chapter 5 - tagged

Eukaryotic microbes

Diverse organisms including protozoa, fungi, algae, lichens.

Protozoa

Animal-like, unicellular, heterotrophic eukaryotic microbes.

Helminths

Parasitic worms affecting various hosts.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms, including molds and yeasts.

Algae

Photosynthetic organisms, unicellular or multicellular.

Lichens

Symbiotic association between fungi and algae.

Protists

Not classified as plants, animals, or fungi.

Plankton

Microorganisms drifting in water, moved by currents.

Zooplankton

Motile, nonphotosynthetic plankton.

Phytoplankton

Photosynthetic plankton, primary producers in aquatic systems.

Trophozoites

Feeding and growth stage of protozoa.

Cysts

Encapsulated stage for protection in harsh environments.

Asexual reproduction

Includes binary fission, budding, or schizogeny.

Sexual reproduction

Involves fusion of haploid gametes (syngamy).

Cytostome

Structure for nutrient uptake in protozoa.

Holozoic protists

Ingest whole food particles.

Saprozoic protists

Absorb smaller organic molecules.

Cytoproct

Exocytosis structure for waste removal.

Flagella

Whip-like structures for motility in protozoa.

Cilia

Hair-like structures aiding in locomotion.

Pseudopodia

Cytoplasmic extensions for attachment and movement.

Contractile vacuoles

Regulate osmotic pressure in protozoa.

Amoebozoa

Group of protists with amoeba-like movement.

Entamoeba histolytica

Causes amoebic dysentery in humans.

Naegleria fowleri

Causes amoebic meningoencephalitis, a severe infection.

Acanthamoeba spp.

Associated with keratitis in contact lens users.

Cellular slime molds

Aggregate into mobile 'slug' for reproduction.

Plasmodial slime molds

Large cells with multiple nuclei forming reproductive stalks.

Dictyostelium discoideum

Example of a cellular slime mold.

Fuligo septica

Example of a plasmodial slime mold.

Excavata

Group characterized by a surface depression.

Chromalveolata

Group with plastids containing photosynthetic pigments.

Plastids

Membrane-bound organelles with photosynthetic pigments.

Apicomplexans

Intracellular parasites with an apical complex.

Apical complex

Organelles aiding in establishing infection.

Sporozoites

Infective stage in Apicomplexan life cycle.

Schizogeny

Asexual reproduction process in Apicomplexans.

Plasmodium spp.

Causes malaria; complex life cycle.

Cryptosporidium parvum

Contaminates water; causes intestinal symptoms.

Babesia microti

Causes babesiosis; transmitted by ticks.

Toxoplasma gondii

Causes toxoplasmosis; transmitted via cat feces.

Ciliates

Protozoa using cilia for movement and feeding.

Balantidium coli

Only pathogenic ciliate affecting humans.

Paramecium

Model organism studied in biology labs.

Conjugation

Reproductive process in ciliates involving genetic exchange.

Oomycetes

Water molds resembling fungi; cellulose cell walls.

Phytophthora infestans

Causes potato blight; significant agricultural pathogen.

Amoebozoa

One of the major groups of protozoa.

Fornicata

Excavata group lacking mitochondria but possessing flagella.

Giardia lamblia

Causes giardiasis; spread via contaminated water.

Parabasalia

Endosymbionts in termites; modified mitochondria present.

Trichomonas vaginalis

Causes trichomoniasis; sexually transmitted infection.

Euglenozoa

Group with flagella; includes pathogenic Trypanosoma.

Trypanosoma

Causes African sleeping sickness and Chagas disease.

Helminths

Multicellular parasites with complex life cycles.

Nematoda

Phylum of roundworms; includes many parasites.

Ascaris lumbricoides

Largest human roundworm; intestinal parasite.

Enterobius vermicularis

Common pinworm; infects humans, especially children.

Toxocara spp.

Common in dogs and cats; zoonotic potential.

Platyhelminthes

Phylum of flatworms; includes flukes and tapeworms.

Monoecious

Organism with both male and female reproductive organs.

Dioecious

Organism with distinct male or female sexes.

Tapeworms

Segmented flatworms with suckers/hooks at scolex.

Cestodes

Another term for tapeworms; segmented flatworms.

Proglottid

Each segment of a tapeworm with reproductive structures.

Taenia spp.

Beef and pork tapeworms from contaminated meat.

Helminths

Parasitic worms including tapeworms and flukes.

Flukes

Nonsegmented flatworms with oral suckers.

Schistosoma spp.

Causative agent of schistosomiasis; involves freshwater snails.

Mycoses

Illness caused by fungal infections.

Hyphae

Filamentous structures forming the body of molds.

Mycelium

Mass of hyphae forming the vegetative part of fungi.

Septate hyphae

Hyphae with walls between individual cells.

Coenocytic hyphae

Hyphae without walls or membranes between cells.

Yeasts

Unicellular fungi, often reproduce by budding.

Pseudohyphae

Formed when yeast buds stick together.

Chitin

Polysaccharide forming fungal cell walls.

Ergosterol

Sterol found in fungal cell membranes.

Dimorphic fungi

Fungi that can exist as yeast or mold.

Ascomycota

Fungi phylum including food-related and pathogenic species.

Ascospores

Sexual spores produced by Ascomycota fungi.

Conidia

Asexual spores produced by Ascomycota fungi.

Basidiomycota

Fungi phylum producing club-shaped basidiospores.

Amanita phalloides

Poisonous mushroom known as the death cap.

Microsporidia

Unicellular parasites, lack mitochondria and infect host cells.

Zygomycota

Fungi with coenocytic hyphae and zygospores.

Diatoms

Unicellular algae with silica frustules.

Dinoflagellates

Algae with two flagella; some produce neurotoxins.

Red algae

Algae with cell walls containing agar.

Green algae

Generally non-pathogenic; important in research.

Prototheca spp.

Causative agent of rare skin infections.

Lichens

Symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae.

Crustose lichen

Flat, crust-like lichen growing on surfaces.

Foliose lichen

Leafy lichen with distinct upper and lower surfaces.

Fruticose lichen

Shrubby lichen with branched structures.