Vampyrellid
Encyclopedia
The Vampyrellidae are a group of cercozoa
ns with filose pseudopod
s and lacking shells. Vampyrella is typical of the group, which also contains genera such as Platyreta and Arachnula.
The term "Aconchulinida" is sometimes used for vampyrellid. It has been described as an order.
n. Moving, the cell stretches out and takes a more typical amoeboid
form, with an obvious distinction between the clear periphery and pseudopods and the greenish interior. In this form it finds its way into algae cells and feeds on their interiors. A few other vampyrellids are parasitic
on fungi. As such, these vampyrellids can be an important control of parasitic rust fungus
of wheat
and other crops.
Vampyrellids characteristically have mitochondria
with tubular crista
e. Together with the nucleariid
s they include the majority of the naked filose amoebae. They have been considered possible members of the Cercozoa
, but at present their relationship to other protists is uncertain.
Cercozoa
The Cercozoa are a group of protists. They are sometimes described as a kingdom.-Characteristics:The group includes most amoeboids and flagellates that feed by means of filose pseudopods. These may be restricted to part of the cell surface, but there is never a true cytostome or mouth as found in...
ns with filose pseudopod
Pseudopod
Pseudopods or pseudopodia are temporary projections of eukaryotic cells. Cells that possess this faculty are generally referred to as amoeboids. Pseudopodia extend and contract by the reversible assembly of actin subunits into microfilaments...
s and lacking shells. Vampyrella is typical of the group, which also contains genera such as Platyreta and Arachnula.
The term "Aconchulinida" is sometimes used for vampyrellid. It has been described as an order.
Characteristics
When free-floating, the cell is spherical and around 30 μm across, with long radially directed filose pseudopods as well as distinctive shorter club-shaped ones, so that it resembles a heliozoaHeliozoa
Heliozoa are phagotrophs. They are roughly spherical amoeboids with many stiff, microtubule-supported projections called axopods radiating outward from the cell surface. These give them the characteristic sun-like appearance for which they are named, and are variously used for capturing food,...
n. Moving, the cell stretches out and takes a more typical amoeboid
Amoeboid
Amoeboids are single-celled life-forms characterized by an irregular shape."Amoeboid" and "amœba" are often used interchangeably even by biologists, and especially refer to a creature moving by using pseudopodia. Most references to "amoebas" or "amoebae" are to amoeboids in general rather than to...
form, with an obvious distinction between the clear periphery and pseudopods and the greenish interior. In this form it finds its way into algae cells and feeds on their interiors. A few other vampyrellids are parasitic
Parasitism
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Traditionally parasite referred to organisms with lifestages that needed more than one host . These are now called macroparasites...
on fungi. As such, these vampyrellids can be an important control of parasitic rust fungus
Rust (fungus)
Rusts are plant diseases caused by pathogenic fungi of the order Pucciniales. About 7800 species are known. Rusts can affect a variety of plants; leaves, stems, fruits and seeds. Rust is most commonly seen as coloured powder, composed off tiny aeciospores which land on vegetation producing...
of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and other crops.
Vampyrellids characteristically have mitochondria
Mitochondrion
In cell biology, a mitochondrion is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in most eukaryotic cells. These organelles range from 0.5 to 1.0 micrometers in diameter...
with tubular crista
Crista
Cristae are the internal compartments formed by the inner membrane of a mitochondrion. They are studded with proteins, including ATP synthase and a variety of cytochromes. The maximum surface for chemical reactions to occur is within the mitochondria...
e. Together with the nucleariid
Nucleariid
The nucleariids are a group of amoebae with filose pseudopods, known mostly from soils and freshwater. They are distinguished from the similar vampyrellids mainly by having mitochondria with discoid cristae.-Classification:...
s they include the majority of the naked filose amoebae. They have been considered possible members of the Cercozoa
Cercozoa
The Cercozoa are a group of protists. They are sometimes described as a kingdom.-Characteristics:The group includes most amoeboids and flagellates that feed by means of filose pseudopods. These may be restricted to part of the cell surface, but there is never a true cytostome or mouth as found in...
, but at present their relationship to other protists is uncertain.
External links
- http://starcentral.mbl.edu/microscope/portal.php?pagetitle=assetfactsheet&imageid=932
- http://tolweb.org/tree?group=The_other_protists&contgroup=Eukaryotes