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Microbiology 201 - Chapter

Eukaryotic Cells and Parasites

  • Eukaryotic cells
  • Principles of parasitology
  • Parasites
  • o Protists

    o Fungi

    o Helminths

    o Arthropods


    Terminology explanation: Prokaryote and Eukaryote

    Pro = before

    Eu = true

    Karyon (Greek) = kernel or nucleus

    Nucleus. Membrane-bound compartment within an eukaryotic cell containing the genetic material (chromosomes)

    o Prokaryotic cell lacks a nucleus and evolved before the eukaryotic cell

    o Eukaryotic cell may have evolved from a large prokaryote after the latter surrounded its DNA with a membrane and then formed an internal symbiotic association with smaller prokaryotic cells that became mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells


    Eukaryotic microorganisms: Protozoa, algae, yeast and fungi

    Eukaryotic cells are larger and more complex than prokaryotic cells

    1. Cell wall

    Peptidoglycan never present (only in prokaryotes)

    Algae have cellulose (polysaccharide)

    Fungi and yeast have cellulose or chitin (polysaccharides)

    Protozoa do not have a cell wall


    2. Cell membrane

    Phospholipid bilayer

    Proteins

    Sterols (Prokaryotic cell membranes do not contain sterols, except the Mycoplasmas)


    3. Cytoplasm and internal structures -organelles and specialized compartments (not found in prokaryotes, except ribosomes)

    Nucleus Contains chromosomes (DNA) surrounded by nuclear membrane

    Ribosomes Site of protein synthesis

    Larger than prokaryotic ribosomes

    Mitochondria Site of ATP synthesis

    Chloroplasts Site of photosynthesis in algae and other photosynthetic eukaryotes

    Cytoskeleton Network of protein fibers and tubes

    Support cell structure and are scaffolds for movement of various intracellular components (Ex. chromosomes during cell division)

    Membrane bound structures and compartments

    Endoplasmic reticulum

    Involved in synthesis of lipids and secreted proteins

    Golgi apparatus

    Packages proteins that the cell secretes into vesicles for export out of the cell

    Lysozomes and peroxisomes

    Compartments with chemicals and enzymes that digest proteins, lipids, food particles, bacteria, cell debris

    4. External structures

    Flagella Larger, more complex than prokaryotic flagella

    Cilia Shorter and more numerous than flagella

    o Motility in protozoa

    o Movement of fluid across exterior surface of cell of multicellular organisms

    Ex.

    -Removal of mucus from the lungs

    -Transport of the egg toward the uterus in the oviduct


    Principles of parasitology

    I. Terms

    Parasite --organism that lives at the expense of another living organism (host)

    o Host --provides home and nutrients to parasite

    Ectoparasites --live on surface of host

    Ex. ticks, lice

    Endoparasites --live within host

    Ex. protozoa, fungi and worms

    Vector --organism that transfers a parasite to new host

    Ex. mosquito transfers malaria parasite

    Reservoir --host that harbors a parasite that is transmitted to different hosts

    Ex. Pigs are reservoirs for Trichinella

    A helminth (worm) that causes trichinosis in humans

    Endemic --organism or disease that is always present in a geographic location

    Ex. Histoplasmosis. A fungal disease endemic to Ohio and Mississippi River alleys

    Effects of parasites

    1. Rob host of nutrients --may inhibit growth and development

    2. Damage host tissue --intestines, liver, heart, brain, skin, clogged blood vessels

    3. Trigger immune response by host --inflammation, fever

     

    Important parasites and their diseases

    A. Parasitic Protists (Protozoa)

    1. Mastigophorans --have flagella

    o Trypanosoma

    African sleeping sickness

    Transmitted by tsetse fly (reservoir for parasite and vector for transmission to host)


    o Leishmania

    Fever, fatigue, diarrhea, anemia

    Transmitted by sand flies

    o Giardia

    Backpacker's disease, diarrhea

    Transmitted by contaminated drinking water

     

    2. Sarcodines --amoeboid, indefinite shape

    o Entamoeba

    Amoebic dysentery: inflammation of intestines, bloody stools

    Transmitted by contaminated food and water

     

    3. Apicomplexans --not motile, complex life cycles

    o Plasmodium

    Malaria: kills 1.5 to 3 million/year

    Transmitted to humans by mosquitoes

     

    o Toxoplasma

    Toxoplasmosis

    Transmitted by contact with feces of cats & wild animals, a teratogen (can harm a developing fetus in the womb)


    B. Fungi (molds and yeasts)

    Molds have multicellular filaments called hyphae

    Yeasts are single-celled fungi

    Mycoses are infections caused by fungi


    Some diseases caused by parasitic fungi

    Plants: wilts, blights, rusts, smuts

    Humans and animals

    Trichophyton --athlete's foot and ringworm

    Histoplasma --histoplasmosis, respiratory infection

    Candida --vaginal and oral yeast infections


    C. Parasitic helminths (worms)

    1. Flatworms

    Flukes

    Liver, lungs and blood parasites

    Complex life cycle involves snails or mollusks as reservoirs

     

    Tapeworms

    Intestinal parasites

    Human infection from eating contaminated meat

     

    2. Roundworms

    Trichinella --causes trichinellosis, acquired by eating undercooked pork

    Forms cysts in muscle tissue

    Heartworms --transmitted to dogs by mosquitoes

    Hookworms --intestinal parasites

    D. Arthropod (insect) parasites

     

     Insect Vector  Transmitted Parasite or Pathogen  Disease
     1. Ticks  Various viruses  Encephalatis, fevers
       Borrelia burgdorferi  Lyme disease
       Rickettsia  Rocky Mtn. Spotted Fever
         
     2. Lice  Rickettsia  Typhus
         
     3. Fleas  Yersinia pestis  Bubonic plague
         
     4. Tsetse and sand flies  Trypanosoma  African Sleeping Sickness
       Leishmania  Leishmaniasis
         
     5. Mosquitoes  Viruses   Encephalatis, fevers
       Plasmodium spp.  Malaria
         
         

     

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    Last updated: Feb. 8, 2006 /jh