)- ciliates have a macronucleus (trophic function) and some micronuclei (reproductive functions) in the same cell.
- obliged anaerobic ciliates lack mitochondria.
- parabasal body : the Golgi apparatus equivalent in Parabasalidea
- kinetoplastid or kinetonucleus : the Mastigophora equivalent of mitochondrion
- ribosomes : the primitive Protozoa Giardia contains 70S ribosomes, like Bacteria.
- diatom : alga with siliceous cell walls that persist as a skeleton after death. Any of the microscopic unicellular or colonial alga constituting the class Bacillariophyceae.
- frustule : siliceous wall and protoplast of a diatom
- cell wall =
- in Algae it is made up of cellulose (a b(1-4) D-Glc omopolysaccharide, breakable by cellulase produced by some Bacteria (symbiont in ruminants gut), some Protozoa (symbiont in termites gut) and some Fungi), CaCO3, silicon dioxide, proteins and chitin ((a b(1->4) D-GlcNAc omopolysaccharide);
- in Protozoa it is made up of CaCO3, silicon dioxide and Sr3(SO4)2
- slime mold : non-phototrophic eukaryotic microorganism lacking cell walls, which aggregate to form fruiting structures (cellular slime molds) or simply masses of protoplasm (acellular slime molds).
- pellicle : relatively rigid layer of proteinaceous elements just beneath the cell membrane in many Protozoa and Algae to create protective cysts (in extracellular environments) or reproductive cysts.
- protoplast : a yeast cell deprived (by lisozime) of its cell wall in an isotonic environment
- apicoplast : an Algae-derived organelle present in Plasmodium falciparum, where the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate (DOXP) pathway occurs.
- cytostome : a permanent plasma membrane region that prolongs itself into an introflexion (cytopharynx) Cilia vortexes induces phagocytosis => feeding vacuole
- cytopyx : a permanent plasma membrane region that allows catabolytes expulsion in Balantidiidae.
- micropore : a temporary cell opening for nutrients entering.
- hydrosome or hydrogenosome : a pseudomitochondrion in primitive anaerobic Protozoa. It contains enzymes for sugar oxidation, that creates H2 as byproduct.
- glycosome : the organelle in which glycolysis occurs in Tripanosoma
- pseudoplasmodium : a multicellular aggregate (e.g. : in Dictyostelium)
- contractile or pulsing vacuole : it allows osmotic homeostasis
- parasexuality
- conjugation : in the Protozoa Paramecium aurelia each cell contains 1 diploid macronucleus and 2 diploid micronuclei : after meiosis the latter produce 8 aploid micronuclei. If both the macronucleus and 7 of the 8 micronuclei degenerate, the remaining micronucleus divides itself through mitosis and one of the resulting 2 aploid micronuclei can be exchanged with another micronucleus from the conjugated cell. 2 genotipically identical cells result ! If even cytoplasm is exchanged, even kappa particles (ensosymbiont Bacteria containing a temperate phage genome, that, when in plasmide, produce paramecin against other strains) can be exchanged and, together with their chromosomal control gene (K), they can be expressed (infective heredity).
- axostyle : organelle of protozoan flagellate parasites which extends from the kinetosome to the posterior end of the organism
- costa : striated rod of some flagellar protozoans which proceeds from one kinetosome along the cell surface beneath the undulating membrane; supportive structure
- cytomere : divisional parts of megaloschizonts such as Leucocytozoon
- macroschizonts : first generation of schizonts of some Eimeria (coccidia) species, e.g., E. bovis; extremely large number of merozoites produced (200,000); may measure 200 to 500 microns in diameter
- megaloschizonts : extremely large number of merozoites produced; typical of Leucocytozoon asexual reproduction
- micronemes : slender body which join into a duct system opening at the tip of a sporozoite or merozoite
- micropyle : a pore in the oocyst of some coccidia
- astropyle : the main opening in the capsular membrane of certain marine planktonic protozoa
- parapyle : an opening other than the astropyle in the capsular membrane of certain marine planktonic protozoa
- oocyst : the "egg" of a protozoan parasite which results from sporogony, may or may not be covered by a resistant membrane
- ookinete : motile elongate zygote of some protozoan parasites
- ootype : an enlarged region of the genital system of trematodes which extends from the common vitelline duct
- sarcocysts : the tissue stage of Sarcocystis spp. which occurs within a muscle cell
- sporogony : multiple fission of a zygote
- sporozoite : daughter cell of a zygote’s asexual reproduction
- sporulation of oocyst : coccidian oocysts undergo a process of division in which the nucleus divides within the oocyst shell following its emergence from the host; sporulation is necessary for the oocyst to become infective
- vegetative form : describes the cyst stage of a parasite in which no feeding occurs
- mastigont system : an ultrastructural complex characteristic of mastigophorans, comprising all of the organelles associated with the flagella, including basal bodies, axostyle, and Golgi body; it may (karyomastigont) or may not (akaryomastigont) be associated with a nucleus
- zoites : divisional stages of asexual reproduction of Apicomplexan protozoans, e.g.., coccidia; motile forms that are infective for host cells
- kinety system : a longitudinal unit comprising cilia, basal bodies, and kinetodesmata in the infraciliature of ciliate protozoa
- exflagellation : the rapid formation in the gut of the insect vector of microgametes from the microgamont in Plasmodium and certain other sporozoan protozoa.
- exconjugant : either member of a pair of ciliate protozoa or bacteria (conjugants) after separation following conjugation.
- stigma : an eyespot of chromatophore-bearing protozoa, such as certain euglenoids, comprising a dark pigmented mass that functions in light detection by shielding the photoreceptor cells from specific wavelengths.
- central capsule : a structure seen in certain protozoa of the superclass Actinopoda, such as radiolarians, that encloses the central nucleated core of cytoplasm and is surrounded by a membrane perforated to permit communication with the outer cortex (calymma).
- chromatoid bar or body : one of the dense accumulations of RNA found in the cysts of certain amebae (e.g., Entamoeba species), manifested as a deeply staining rodlike body
- Stieda body : an ultrastructural organelle located at the polar region of the sporocyst of certain coccidia, appearing as a knoblike structure or representing a plug occluding a hole in the sporocyst, the breakdown of which allows excystation of the sporozoites.
- karyophage : a protozoan that exercises phagocytic action on the nucleus of the cell it infects.
- lorica : a protective rigid encasement or shell, secreted or created by cementing together of various materials, as seen in some invertebrates such as certain protozoa and many rotifers
- choanocyte : a unique type of cell having a flagellum surrounded by a thin cytoplasmic collar; characteristic of sponges and certain protozoa.
- amastigote / Leishman-Donovan body : any of the bodies representing the morphologic (leishmanial) stage in the life cycle of all trypanosomatid protozoa resembling the typical adult form of members of the genus Leishmania, in which the oval or round cell has a nucleus, kinetoplast, and basal body but lacks a free-flowing flagellum, the flagellum being either very short or entirely absent
- choanomastigote : any of the bodies representing the morphologic (“barleycorn”) stage in the life cycle of trypanosomatid protozoa of the genus Crithidia, in which the kinetoplast and basal body are anterior to the nucleus and the flagellum emerges through a funnel-shaped depression at the anterior end of the cell
- epimastigote : any of the bodies representing the morphologic (crithidial) stage in the life cycle of certain trypanosomatid protozoa resembling the typical adult form of members of the genus Crithidia, in which the kinetoplast and basal body are located anterior to the central vesicular nucleus of the slender elongate cell and the flagellum is attached to the body up to the anterior end by a short undulating membrane before becoming free-flowing
- opisthomastigote : any of the bodies representing the morphologic stage in the life cycle of trypanosomatid protozoa of the genus Herpetomonas, in which the kinetoplast and basal body are posterior to the nucleus and the flagellum runs through the body of the cell to emerge anteriorly as a free-flowing structure
- promastigote : any of the bodies representing the morphological (leptomonad) stage in the life cycle of certain trypanosomatid protozoa resembling the typical adult form of members of the genus Leptomonas, in which the elongate or pear-shaped cell has a central nucleus and at the anterior end a kinetoplast and a basal body from which arises a single long, slender flagellum
- trypomastigote : any of the bodies representing the morphologic (trypanosomal) stage in the life cycle of certain trypanosomatid protozoa, resembling the typical adult form of members of the genus Trypanosoma, in which the slender elongate cell has a kinetoplast and basal body located at the posterior end and a flagellum running anteriorly along an undulating membrane to become a free-flowing structure
- pansporoblastic membrane : a surface membrane surrounding the sporoblasts in a pansporoblast; characteristic of microsporidian protozoa of the suborder Pansporoblastina.
- endoral, paroral or undulating membrane : in certain ciliate protozoa, a movable membrane-like sheet(s) formed by fusion of the bases of a longitudinal row of cilia that borders the right side of the buccal cavity; it serves to gather food and push it toward the cytostome
- undulating membrane : in certain flagellate protozoa, a delicate finlike cytoplasmic membrane extending from and running along the lateral aspect of the body, the outer margin of which being formed by a flagellum that may continue free beyond the end of the body and the membrane. It serves a locomotor function; vibration of the membrane produces a characteristic undulating movement
- subpellicular microtubule : any of the microtubules (24 to 26) radiating posteriorly from the polar rings, directly beneath the pellicle, forming part of the apical complex in apicocomplexan protozoa.
- autotroph
- unicellular : Algae
- pluricellular (?) : lower Plantae
- heterotroph
- unicellular : Protozoa and yeasts
- pluricellular (?) : lower Fungi
- Protista in extreme environments
- Chretiennot-Dinet, M.-J., Sournia, A., Ricard, M. & Billard, C. 1993. A classification of the marine phytoplankton of the world from class to genus. Phycologia 32, 159-179.
- The Seaweed Site
- Other phycological collections
- World Data Centre for Microorganisms: Algae
- Acanthamoebidae
- Acantharea
- Alveolata (alveolates)
- Apicomplexa (apicomplexans)
- Ciliophora (ciliates)
- Dinophyceae (dinoflagellates)
- Haplosporida
- Perkinsea
- Apusomonadidae
- Cercozoa
- core jakobids
- Cryptophyta (cryptomonads)
- Diplomonadida (diplomonads)
- Hexamitidae
- Giardiinae
- Entamoebidae
- Euglenozoa
- Diplonema
- Euglenida (euglenids)
- Kinetoplastida (kinetoplasts)
- Glaucocystophyceae
- Granuloreticulosea
- Foraminifera (foraminifers)
- Haptophyceae
- Heterolobosea
- Lobosea
- Malawimonadidae
- Microsporidia
- Mycetozoa
- Dictyosteliida (dictyostelid cellular slime molds)
- Dictyostelium
- Myxogastria
- Protostelida
- Oxymonadida
- Parabasalidea (parabasalids)
- Hypermastigida
- Trichomonadida (trichomonads)
- Paramyxea
- Pelobiontida (pelobionts)
- Plasmodiophorida
- Polycystinea
- Rhodophyta (red algae)
- Bangiophyceae
- Florideophyceae
- Goniotrichales
- stramenopiles (heterokonts)
- Bacillariophyta (diatoms)
- Bicosoecida
- Blastocystis
- Bolidophyceae
- Chrysomerophyceae
- Chrysophyceae (golden algae)
- Developayella
- Dictyochophyceae
- Eustigmatophyceae
- Hyphochytriomycetes
- Labyrinthulida
- Oikomonadaceae
- Oomycetes
- Pelagophyceae
- Phaeophyceae (brown algae)
- Phaeothamniophyceae
- Pinguiophyceae
- Placidimonadea
- Raphidophyceae
- Slopalinida
- Opalinidae
- Xanthophyceae (yellow-green algae)
- Viridiplantae (green plants)
- Chlorophyta (green algae)
- Streptophyta
Web resources : Denis
Lynn's Ciliate Gallery at University of Guelph
Dictyostelium discoideum (slime mold)
- Ciliophora
- Opalinidae
- Sporozoea
- Sarcomastigophorans
- Mastigophorids (flagellates)
- Hemoflagellates (Trypanosomatids, Leishmaniads)
- Mucosoflagellates (Trichomonas, Histomonas, Giardia, Cochlosoma)
- Sarcodinids (amoebae : Entamoeba, Naegleria, Acanthamoeba, Dientamoeba, Babesia)
- Aescht, E. 2001. Catalogue of the generic names of ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora). Denisia 01. Oberoesterreichisches Landesmuseum, Linz, Austria.
- Canning, E.U., Lom, J. & Dykova, I. 1986. The microsporidia of vertebrates. p. 289. Academic Press, London, Orlando.
- Cavalier-Smith, T. 1993. Kingdom Protozoa and its 18 phyla. Microbiological Reviews 57, 953-994.
- Corliss, J. O. 1979. The ciliated protozoa: characterization, classification, and guide to the literature, 2nd ed. Pergamon Press, New York, New York.
- Lee, J.J., Hutner, S.H. & Bovee, E.C. 1985. Illustrated guide to the Protozoa. Society of Protozoologists.
- Levine et al. 1980. A newly revised classification of the Protozoa. Journal of Protozoology 27, 37-58.
- Page, F. C. & Siemensma, F. J. 1991. Nackte Rhizopoda und Heliozoa. Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart.
- Patterson, DJ. 1994. Protozoa: Evolution and Systematics. Proceedings of the IX International Congress of Protozoology, Berlin 1993. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New York.
- Small, E. B. & Lynn, D. H. 1985. Phylum Ciliophora. In An illustrated guide to the Protozoa (ed. J. J. Lee, Hutner, S.H. & Bovee, E.C.). Society of Protozoolo gists, Lawrence.
- Sprague, V. 1977. Classification and phylogeny of the Microsporidia. In: Systematics of the Microspridia, Comparative Pathobiology, Vol. 2 (Bulla, L.A., Cheng, T.C., eds.). New York-London: Plenum Press,
- Sprague, V. 1977. Annotated list of species of microsporidia. In: Systematics of the Microsporidia, Comparative Pathobiology, Vol.2 (Bulla, L.A., Cheng, T.C., eds). New York-London: Plenum Press.
- Protist video gallery from the Natural History Museum in London
