Diversity of

Microorganisms:
Protists
 Protista

● A protist or protoctist is any eukaryotic

organism that is not an animal, land
plant, or fungus. Protists do not form a
natural group, or clade, but are a
polyphyletic grouping of several
independent clades that evolved from
the last eukaryotic common ancestor.
 Characteristics of Protists
● These are usually aquatic, present in the soil or in areas with
moisture.
● Most protist species are unicellular organisms, however, there are a
few multicellular protists such as kelp. Some species of kelp grow so
large that they exceed over 100 feet in height. (Giant Kelp).
● Just like any other eukaryote, the cells of these species have a
nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
● They may be autotrophic or heterotrophic in nature. An autotrophic
organism can create its own food and survive. A heterotrophic
organism, on the other hand, has to derive nutrition from other
organisms such as plants or animals to survive.
 Characteristics of Protists
● Symbiosis is observed in the members of this class. For instance,
kelp (seaweed) is a multicellular protist that provides otters, protection
from predators amidst its thick kelp. In turn, the otters eat sea urchins
that tend to feed on kelp.
● Parasitism is also observed in protists. Species such
as Trypanosoma protozoa can cause sleeping sickness in humans.
● Protists exhibit locomotion through cilia and flagella. A few organisms
belonging to the kingdom Protista have pseudopodia that help them
to move.
● Protista reproduces by asexual means. The sexual method of
reproduction is extremely rare and occurs only during times of stress.
Classification of Protists
 Dinoflagellates
● Single-celled.
● Found mostly in aquatic
environments. Known for
having flagella used for
movement.
● Key characteristics:
○ Flagella
○ Bioluminescence
○ Toxicity
 Euglenoids
● Single-celled, freshwater organisms
● Characterized by their unique structures; pellicle, flagella
and stigma or eyespot.
● Typically elongated or spindle shaped, with flexible outer
covering called a pellicle.
● Most possess one or two flagella. The flagella arise from
the structure reservoir.
● Many have a pigmented area called stigma or eyespot
that contains light-sensitive pigments allowing euglenoid
to detect light intensity and direction.
● Capable of photosynthesis
● The pellicle provides structural support while allowing
flexibility and deformation.
● Reproduces asexually through binary fission.
 Chrysophytes
● Known as golden algae, unicellular or colonial protists.
● Mostly found in freshwater environments.
● Characterized by distinctive golden or brownish coloration.
● Typically unicellular, but some form colonial or filamentous structures.
● Cell wall made of silica, that gives them rigid and ornate appearance.
● The cell wall may be covered by mucilage or scales.
● Contain chloroplasts that contain chlorophyill a and c, as well as fucoxanthin
and beta-carotene.
● Many possess two unequal flagella.
● Reproduces primarily through asexual means; binary fission or formation of
motile zoospores.
Protozoa
 Amoeboid Protozoan
● Single-celled
● Characterized by the ability to
move and feed by means of
pseudopodia
● Found in aquatic environments
● Ex. Amoeba – feeds on bacteria,
algae, and other small organism
● Examples of parasitic ameboid:
Entamoeba histolytica and
Naegleria fowleri.
 Flagellated Protozoan
● Single-celled organism
● Moves with the use of one or more
whip-like structure called flagella.
● Flagellates are found in aquatic
habitats
● Some are free-living while other are
parasitic
● One common example is Euglena,
capable of photosynthesis and moves
toward light using photoreceptor and
Trypanosoma that causes African
sleeping sickness and Chagas
disease.
 Ciliated Protozoan
● Single-celled
● Possess hair-like structures
called cilia, used for
locomotion, feeding, etc.
● Cilia are shorter and more
numerous than flagella
● Found in diverse aquatic
habitats
● Some-ciliated protozoa are
free-living and play important
role as predators pf bacteria
and other microorganisms.
Ciliated Stentor
 Sporozoan
● Group of single-celled protozoan
belonging to phylum Apicomplexa.
● Characterized by the presence of apical
complexes that is involved in host cell
invasion.
● Parasitic, many are known to cause
diseases in animals.
● Life cycle involves multiple stages and
alternating between sexual and axesuak
reproduction.
● Sporozoites – small, typically non-motile
cells that are procudes through
sporogony and are capable of infecting.
 Typical Life Cycle
● Sporogony – formation of
sporozoites within oocysts
● Merogony - A form of asexual
reproduction whereby a parasitic
protozoan replicates its own
nucleus inside its host's cell and
then induces cell segmentation.
● Gamogomy - the process of
formation of microgamonts and
microgamonts. The gamonts
develop from the merozoites
produced by the last asexual
generation.
Plasmodium spp.
Tpxoplasma gondii
Cryptosporidium spp.
 Fungus-like Protists
● Microorganisms that share some
characteristics with both fungi and
protists.
● Typically exhibit filamentous growth
forms, similar to fungi, and produce
spores.
● Lack chitin in their cell walls and
have different metabolic pathways.
● some- fungi-like protists exhibit
motile stages in their life cycle.
● Spore Formation and Dispersal: The life cycle typically begins with
the formation of specialized reproductive structures called sporangia.
Within the sporangia, thousands of spores (zoospores or
sporangiospores) are produced. These spores are dispersed by
various means, including water, wind, or physical contact.
● Germination and Hyphal Growth: When conditions are favorable,
spores germinate, giving rise to hyphae. These hyphae grow and
branch, forming a network of filaments known as mycelium. The
mycelium can spread over a substrate, such as decaying organic
matter or a host organism.
● Infection and Colonization: In the case of parasitic fungus-like
protists like Phytophthora infestans, the mycelium may come into
contact with a suitable host, such as a plant. The hyphae penetrate
the host's tissues, infecting and colonizing the host organism.
● Reproduction and Sporulation: Under certain conditions, the
mycelium produces specialized structures called sporangia, often on
the surface of the host. Within the sporangia, new spores are formed
through asexual reproduction. These spores are then released and
dispersed, completing the cycle.
 Slime Molds
● Organism that can exhibit both
unicellular and multicellular
stages in their life cycle.
● Often fount on decaying organic
matter in moist environments.
 Plasmodial Slime Molds
● Plasmodial slime molds exist primarily as a single,
multinucleate, gelatinous mass called a plasmodium,
which is not divided into distinct cells. The
plasmodium is a large cytoplasmic mass containing
numerous nuclei.
● They typically inhabit decaying organic matter, forest
floors, and other moist environments.
● The plasmodium moves and feeds by extending
pseudopodia, engulfing bacteria, fungal spores, and
organic matter through phagocytosis.
● When conditions are favorable, the plasmodium can
spread out over large areas, forming a thin, creeping
layer known as a plasmodial network.
 Cellular Slime Molds
● Cellular slime molds exist primarily as individual
amoeboid cells during their vegetative stage.
These cells move and feed independently by
extending pseudopodia.
● They are commonly found in soil and leaf litter,
where they feed on bacteria and organic matter.
● When environmental conditions become
unfavorable or food becomes scarce, individual
amoeboid cells release chemical signals, causing
them to aggregate and form a multicellular
structure called a pseudoplasmodium or "slug."
● The slug is mobile and moves toward favorable
conditions, eventually forming a fruiting body.
 Fruiting Bodies
● Both plasmodial and cellular slime molds form multicellular structures called
fruiting bodies during reproduction.
● Within the fruiting body, specialized structures called sporangia develop.
These sporangia contain spores that are produced through either sexual or
asexual reproduction, depending on the species.
● When the sporangia mature, they release spores into the environment. These
spores can be dispersed by various means, including wind, water, or animal
vectors.
 Oomycetes: Water molds
● Commonly known as water molds.
● Thrive in aquatic environments
● Decomposers, plant pathogens and
parasites in animals.
 Characteristics:
● Hyphal Growth: Oomycetes exhibit filamentous growth forms similar to true fungi. Their
hyphae can penetrate organic matter or host tissues, facilitating nutrient absorption and
colonization.
● Cell Wall Composition: Unlike true fungi, which have cell walls primarily composed of
chitin, oomycete cell walls contain cellulose and glucans. This difference in cell wall
composition reflects their evolutionary divergence from fungi.
● Vegetative Reproduction: Oomycetes reproduce vegetatively through the growth and
branching of hyphae. These hyphae can produce specialized structures such as
sporangia, which contain spores that are released into the environment.
● Asexual and Sexual Reproduction: Oomycetes can reproduce both sexually and
asexually, depending on environmental conditions and the species involved. Asexual
reproduction involves the production and dispersal of spores from sporangia. Sexual
reproduction typically involves the fusion of gametes to form a zygote, which develops
into a resistant structure called an oospore.
 Life Cycle:
● Zoosphore Release
● Zoosphore Dispersal
● Host Infection
● Hyphal Growth
● Asexual Reproduction
● Zoosphore Release
(Asexual)
● Sexual Reproduction
● Oosphore Formation
● Germination of Oospores