Dictionary > Apicomplexa

Apicomplexa

Definition
noun
A phylum comprised of protozoans characterized by having a special organelle called an apical complex, and most of them are single-celled, parasitic, and spore-forming
Supplement
The Apicomplexa is a phylum comprised of organisms (referred to as apicomplexans) such as coccidian, gregarines, piroplasm, haemogregarines, and plasmodia. The first apicomplexan protozoon observed was the Eimeria stiedai oocyst in the gall bladder of a rabbit by Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1674. Apicomplexans are sometimes taken as synonymous with sporozoans. At other times sporozoans are regarded as only a subset of the apicomplexans.
The apicomplexans are characterized by having an apical complex. It is a special organelle that appears as a conical structures on the tapered end (or the apical end) of the cell. It contains rhoptries, micronemes, polar rings, and conoid. Most of the apicomplexans are single-celled, spore-forming, and parasitic. The parasitic apicomplexan utilize the apical complex to penetrate a host cell. In humans, the medically-important apicomplexans include Babesia sp. (causing babesiosis), Plasmodium spp. (causing malaria), Cryptosporidium parvum (causing cryptosporidiosis), Cyclospora cayetanensis (causing cyclosporiasis), Isospora belli (causing isosporiasis), Toxoplasma gondii (causing toxoplasmosis), etc.
Scientific classification:

  • Domain: Eukaryota
  • (unranked): SAR
  • Superphylum: Alveolata
  • Phylum: Apicomplexa 1970

Other common name(s):

  • apicomplexan
  • Apicomplexia

See also:


You will also like...

Control of body movement
Control of Body Movement

Some of the body movements can be controlled at will, others cannot. The body has a motor program, which is the pattern ..

Non-Mendelian Inheritance
Non-Mendelian Inheritance

In this tutorial, find out more about certain types of inheritance that does not follow the Mendelian inheritance patter..

Still freshwater and plants
Still Freshwater & Plants

Plants in lentic habitats have features not found in terrestrial plants. They acquired these features as they adapt to t..

Young plant growing from the soil.
Soils

Nutrients in the soil are essential to the proper growth of a land plant. This tutorial deals with the properties of soi..

Population Growth and Survivorship
Population Growth and Survivorship

This lesson looks at population attributes, regulation, and growth. It also covers population genetics, particularly gen..

Early Earth
The Origins of Life

This tutorial digs into the past to investigate the origins of life. The section is split into geological periods in the..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics