Apicomplexa By Nail and Cooner Domain Eukaryota Kingdom
Apicomplexa By Nail and Cooner
Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Chromalveolata Superphylum: Alveolata Phylum: Apicomplexa
Characteristics • • • Unicellular Spore Forming Only parasites to Animals (Causes Malaria, Babesiosis, Taxoplasmosis) • Possesses a unique system of organelles called the Apical complex. Includes a special organelle called an apicoplast which helps penetrate a host cell. • Most move with a gliding motion, while some do have flagella. - None have cilia • Lives in the intestines of its host. • Elongated, serpentine shape; usually rod or oval shaped.
Characteristics cont. • • Both sexual and asexual reproduction. Must be in host cell to grow and replicate. Complex Life Cycle: Reproduction begins when a sporozoite enters the host cell. The sporozoite divides to form Merozoits transform into gamonts, which are sexually reproductive cells. Gamonts combine to form a Gamontocyst, then divide to form gametes. Pairs of gametes fuse to create zygotes, which create sporozoites through meoisis, repeating the cycle. 1 -zygote, 2 -sporozoites, 3 merozoites, 4 -gamontocytes.
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