Eukaryote 

Flashcards on Organisms and Their Significance

1. Term: Rhizopus spp.
   Definition: Gram Negative, filamentous fungal hyphae.
   Significance: Commonly found in soil and decaying matter; can cause mucormycosis in immunocompromised individuals.

2. Term: Penicillium spp.
   Definition: Gram Positive, filamentous with branched hyphae.
   Significance: Important for antibiotic production (e.g., penicillin); also used in food industry for cheese production and can cause allergic reactions in some.

3. Term: Aspergillus spp.
   Definition: Gram Positive, filamentous with conidiophores.
   Significance: Responsible for producing aflatoxins, potent carcinogens; significant in causing respiratory infections and aspergillosis, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

4. Term: Trichophyton rubrum
   Definition: Gram Positive, filamentous dermatophyte.
   Significance: Leading cause of dermatophyte infections, leading to conditions like athlete's foot and nail infections.

5. Term: Histoplasma capsulatum
   Definition: Gram Negative, yeast form in tissues; filamentous in culture.
   Significance: Causes histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease linked to bird and bat droppings; important in public health as it impacts individuals in endemic areas.

6. Term: Coccidioides immitis
   Definition: Gram Negative, forms spherules with large round structures containing endospores.
   Significance: Causes coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever), an important respiratory disease, especially in certain geographic regions.

7. Term: Necator americanus
   Definition: Gram Negative, hookworm with elongated cylindrical shape.
   Significance: One of the hookworms that can cause anemia and malnutrition, particularly in developing countries.

8. Term: Giardia lamblia
   Definition: Gram Negative, teardrop-shaped with flagella (trophozoite) and oval cyst form.
   Significance: Major cause of gastrointestinal infections (giardiasis); significant public health concern due to transmission through contaminated water.

9. Term: Enterobius vermicularis
   Definition: Gram Negative, elongated pinworm; oval eggs.
   Significance: Commonly known as pinworm; significant in hygiene studies, especially in children.

10. Term: Plasmodium falciparum
    Definition: Gram Negative, crescent-shaped in blood (gametocytes); ring stages in red blood cells.
    Significance: Most lethal species of malaria parasite; significant global health issue with severe morbidity and mortality.

11. Term: Trypanosoma brucei
    Definition: Gram Negative, elongated and wavy, flagellated protozoan.
    Significance: Causes African sleeping sickness, impacting agricultural and rural populations in Africa; prevention and treatment require significant health resources.