Gourt > Science > Biology > Flora and Fauna > Protista > Apicomplexa
Apicomplexa is a phylum in the kingdom Protista. The Apicomplexa are a large group of protozoa characterized by the presence of an apical complex at some point in their life-cycle. They are exclusively parasitic and completely lack flagella or pseudopods except for certain gamete stages. Diseases caused by Apicomplexa include:
- Babesiosis (Babesia)
- Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium)
- Malaria (Plasmodium)
- Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii)
Most members have a complex life-cycle, involving both asexual and sexual reproduction. Typically, a host is infected by ingesting cysts, which divide to produce sporozoites that enter its cells. Eventually, the cells burst, releasing merozoites which infect new cells. This may occur several times, until gamonts are produced, forming gametes that fuse to create new cysts. There are many variations on this basic pattern, however, and many Apicomplexa have more than one host.
More on [ Apicomplexa ]
Babesiosis
Cryptosporidiosis
Malaria
Toxoplasmosis
Parasites :: Microbiology
Biology of the Eimeriidae - Life cycle and other aspects of this family of homoxenous (direct life cycle) protists, in which merogony, gamogony and the formation of oocysts occur within the same host.
Introduction to the Apicomplexa - Discussion of this group of parasitic, pathogenic protists, formerly considered to be Sporozoa but now grouped on the basis of structural features including an apical complex of microtubules within the cell.
