01:146:328 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Hemozoin, Chemotherapy, Blackwater Fever

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
• Course: 01:146:328
• Professor: Professor Fong

Document Summary

Chapter 7 blood and tissue protozoa ii: human. The organisms that cause human malaria, babesiosis, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, isosporiasis, and cyclosporidiosis belong to the phylum. This group accommodates protozoans possessing structures known collectively as the apical complex. This complex of organelles are found in the sporozoite and merozoite stages of the life cycles of these organisms. There are 2 electron-dense structures called polar rings located within are rhoptries. Their functions haven"t been established but they appear to secrete proteins that probably alter the host cells plasma membrane, facilitating the parasite"s incorporation into the host cell. Micropores located at the lateral edges of the parasite are analogous to cytostomes as they seem to be the sites of endocytosis of nutrients during the intracellular life of the organisms. Once transformation from sporozoite or merozoite to the trophozoite stage has occurred following incorporation into a host cell, all the organelles, except micropores, disappear.