Prototheca | |
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Scientific classification | |
Clade: | Viridiplantae |
Division: | Chlorophyta |
Class: | Trebouxiophyceae |
Order: | Chlorellales |
Family: | Chlorellaceae |
Genus: | Prototheca Krüger, 1894[1] |
Species[2] | |
Prototheca is a genus of algae in the family Chlorellaceae.[3] While taxonomy classifies this genus as member of the green algae, all species in this genus have lost their chloroplasts and thus forfeited their photosynthetic ability. Some species can cause protothecosis in humans and various vertebratae.