Trophozoite

A trophozoite (G. trope, nourishment + zoon, animal) is the activated, feeding stage in the life cycle of certain protozoa such as malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum and those of the Giardia group.[1] The complementary form of the trophozoite state is the thick-walled cyst form. They are often different from the cyst stage, which is a protective, dormant form of the protozoa. Trophozoites are often found in the host's body fluids and tissues and in many cases, they are the form of the protozoan that causes disease in the host. [2] In the protozoan, Entamoeba histolytica it invades the intestinal mucosa of its host, causing dysentery, which aid in the trophozoites traveling to the liver and leading to the production of hepatic abscesses.[3]

  1. ^ Yaeger RG (1996). Baron S (ed.). Protozoa: Structure, Classification, Growth, and Development. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. ISBN 9780963117212.
  2. ^ Aguirre García M, Gutiérrez-Kobeh L, López Vancell R (February 2015). "Entamoeba histolytica: adhesins and lectins in the trophozoite surface". Molecules. 20 (2): 2802–2815. doi:10.3390/molecules20022802. PMC 6272351. PMID 25671365.
  3. ^ López-Soto F, León-Sicairos N, Reyes-López M, Serrano-Luna J, Ordaz-Pichardo C, Piña-Vázquez C, et al. (December 2009). "Use and endocytosis of iron-containing proteins by Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites". Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 9 (6): 1038–1050. Bibcode:2009InfGE...9.1038L. doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2009.05.018. PMID 19539057.