protozoa

(noun)

Protozoa are a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms, many of which are motile. Originally, protozoa had been defined as unicellular protists with animal-like behavior, e.g., movement. Protozoa were regarded as the partner group of protists to protophyta, which have plant-like behavior, e.g., photosynthesis.

Related Terms

  • cyst
  • Parasite
  • ozone
  • helminth
  • trophozoite
  • dormant cyst
  • coagulation

(noun)

Protozoa are a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms, many of which are motile. Originally, protozoa had been defined as unicellular protists with animal-like behavior, e.g., movement. Protozoa were regarded as the partner group of protists to protophyta, which have plant-like behaviour, e.g., photosynthesis.

Related Terms

  • cyst
  • Parasite
  • ozone
  • helminth
  • trophozoite
  • dormant cyst
  • coagulation

Examples of protozoa in the following topics:

  • Protozoa

    • Protozoa are a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms, many of which can cause disease.
    • Protozoa can display pathogenicity and are the cause of various diseases.
    • When protozoa are in the form of trophozoites they actively feed.
    • Example of a life cycle promoting pathogenicity of a protozoa, specifically the malaria parasite.
    • Leishmania donovani, (a species of protozoa) in a bone marrow cell.
  • Antiprotozoan and Antihelminthic Drugs

    • Two major classes of parasitic organisms include protozoa and helminths.
    • Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that are classified as either free-living or parasitic organisms.
    • Some examples of diseases caused by protozoa include: Malaria, Giardia, Trichomoniasis, and Leishmaniasis.
    • In addition, protozoa are eukaryotic and exhibit similar properties and metabolic pathways as human cells.
    • Describe the objective of drugs against helminths anf the disadvantages to developing drugs against protozoa
  • The Rumen and Ruminant Animals

    • Ruminant animals (such as deer and cows) digest food in a four-chambered stomach with the help of special bacteria, protozoa, and fungi.
    • Ruminants are of interest to microbiologists because they have unique species of bacteria, yeasts, protozoa, and fungi in their rumens.
  • Cooperation Among Microorganisms

    • A microbial example is the interaction between protozoa and archaea in the digestive tracts of some animals .
    • These animals eat cellulose which is broken down by the protozoa to obtain energy.
    • Both the protozoa and archaea benefit from this relationship.
  • African Trypanosomiasis

    • Sleeping sickness is caused by a protozoa transmitted by the tsetse fly.
    • Human African trypanosomiasis, sleeping sickness, African lethargy, or Congo trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease of people and animals, caused by protozoa of the species Trypanosoma brucei and transmitted by the tsetse fly.
    • Here is an outline of the life cycle of the protozoa Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite responsible for African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).
  • Relative Resistance of Microbes

    • Protozoa cysts are quite hard to eliminate too.
    • As cysts, protozoa can survive harsh conditions, such as exposure to extreme temperatures or harmful chemicals, or long periods without access to nutrients, water, or oxygen for a period of time.
    • Protozoa cells are also hardy to eliminate.
  • Types of Microorganisms

    • They can be divided into six major types: bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, and viruses.
    • Protozoa are unicellular aerobic eukaryotes.
    • Protozoa have been traditionally divided based on their mode of locomotion: flagellates produce their own food and use their whip-like structure to propel forward, ciliates have tiny hair that beat to produce movement, amoeboids have false feet or pseudopodia used for feeding and locomotion, and sporozoans are non-motile.
  • Phylogeny of the Eukarya

  • Classification of Microorganisms

    • Five major kingdoms have been described and include prokaryota (e.g. archae and bacteria), protoctista (e.g. protozoa and algae), fungi, plantae, and animalia.
  • Chemoautotrophs and Chemoheterotrophs

    • Chemoheterotrophs are the most abundant type of chemotrophic organisms and include most bacteria, fungi and protozoa.
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