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Monotrichomonas carabina Bernard et al., 1999. Cells 5 to 11 microns long, often with a fine posterior spike which may be as long as the body. Cells are bi-flagellated and normally rounded. The anterior flagellum inserts slightly subapically and is two to three times the length of the body. The posterior flagellum inserts slightly more posteriorly in a latero-posterior plane and is one to two times the length of the body. The proximal portion of the posterior flagellum attaches to the cell body as an undulating membrane, ranging from less than 2 pm long to almost the whole length of the cell. There is a small apical crest. The nucleus is located anteriorly and is surrounded by small, closely packed granules. In some cells a delicate cone of cytoskeletal material was observed running from the nuclear region to merge with the posterior spike. Food vacuoles contain bacteria. Cells swim with a jerky spiralling progression, with the anterior flagellum beating with a clawing motion and the posterior flagellum beating with wide amplitude waves. Compressed or detritus-bound cells may be very plastic, may occasionally produce fine cytoplasmic threads and may glide. During gliding, the distal portion of the flagellum forms a three-quarter loop which travels down the flagellum during cell movement, but is held stationary relative to the substrate. When the loop reaches the proximal end of the flagellum, the movement stops and the flagellum unloops. Further gliding may occur with the flagellum extending anteriorly and forming a new distal loop.
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Mixotricha is a large devescovinid (300-500 µm) with four anterior flagella inserted below an anterior papilla. Three anteriorly directed flagella and one lateral flagellum not adherent to the cell body. The small and elongated nucleus is enclosed into the capitulum of the axostyle that forms a slender axostylar trunk to the posterior of the cell but not protruding. The cell surface, except the posterior end, is covered with regularly arranged rod-shaped bacteria and spirochetes. The cytoplasm contains about 500 dictyosomes supported by a parabasal fiber and food vacuoles with wood particles or bacteria. At the time of writing, only one species is known - M. paradoxa from Mastotermes darwiniensis from Australia. Cleveland and Grimstone (1964); Brugerolle (2004). Whole cell (phase contrast)
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Spironucleus (spire-owe-new-clee-us) is a diplomonad flagellate. Like most genera in the group, there are two anterior nuclei, and arising in association with each nucleus is a group of four flagella. The flagella insert at the head of a lateral groove. Most members of this genus are parasites. Differential interference contrast.
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Tritrichomonas (try-try-koe-moan-ass), a trichomonas with three anterior flagella and one recurrent flagellum forming an undulating membrane. Also with an axostyle extending beyond the posterior end of the cell. Group shot, phase contrast.
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Mixotricha is a large devescovinid (300-500 µm) with four anterior flagella inserted below an anterior papilla. Three anteriorly directed flagella and one lateral flagellum not adherent to the cell body. The small and elongated nucleus is enclosed into the capitulum of the axostyle that forms a slender axostylar trunk to the posterior of the cell but not protruding. The cell surface, except the posterior end, is covered with regularly arranged rod-shaped bacteria and spirochetes. The cytoplasm contains about 500 dictyosomes supported by a parabasal fiber and food vacuoles with wood particles or bacteria. At the time of writing, only one species is known - M. paradoxa from Mastotermes darwiniensis from Australia. Cleveland and Grimstone (1964); Brugerolle (2004). axostyle (immunofluorescence).
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Spironucleus (spire-owe-new-clee-us)is a diplomonad flagellate. Like most genera in the group, there are two anterior nuclei, and arising in association with each nucleus is a group of four flagella. The flagella insert at the head of a lateral groove. Most members of this genus are parasites. Differential interference contrast.
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Tritrichomonas (try-try-koe-moan-ass), a trichomonas with three anterior flagella and one recurrent flagellum forming an undulating membrane seen on the lower faces of the cell. Also with an axostyle extending beyond the posterior end of the cell. Differential interference contrast.
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Mixotricha is a large devescovinid (300-500 µm) with four anterior flagella inserted below an anterior papilla. Three anteriorly directed flagella and one lateral flagellum not adherent to the cell body. The small and elongated nucleus is enclosed into the capitulum of the axostyle that forms a slender axostylar trunk to the posterior of the cell but not protruding. The cell surface, except the posterior end, is covered with regularly arranged rod-shaped bacteria and spirochetes. The cytoplasm contains about 500 dictyosomes supported by a parabasal fiber and food vacuoles with wood particles or bacteria. At the time of writing, only one species is known - M. paradoxa from Mastotermes darwiniensis from Australia. Cleveland and Grimstone (1964); Brugerolle (2004). 3 anterior flagella, a bacterial coat (phase contrast).
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Magnified 1200X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an untreated water specimen extracted from a wild stream mainly used to control flooding during inclement weather, revealed the presence of unidentified organisms, which included bacteria, protozoa, and algae. In this particular image, an unidentified amorphous strand of mucoidal biofilm was featured, which appeared to have enmeshed numbers of amoeboid organisms.Created: 2009
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Mixotricha is a large devescovinid (300-500 µm) with four anterior flagella inserted below an anterior papilla. Three anteriorly directed flagella and one lateral flagellum not adherent to the cell body. The small and elongated nucleus is enclosed into the capitulum of the axostyle that forms a slender axostylar trunk to the posterior of the cell but not protruding. The cell surface, except the posterior end, is covered with regularly arranged rod-shaped bacteria and spirochetes. The cytoplasm contains about 500 dictyosomes supported by a parabasal fiber and food vacuoles with wood particles or bacteria. At the time of writing, only one species is known - M. paradoxa from Mastotermes darwiniensis from Australia. Cleveland and Grimstone (1964); Brugerolle (2004). Anterior nucleus (phase contrast).
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This scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted a Giardia lamblia protozoan that was about to become two separate organisms, as it was caught in a late stage of cell division, producing a heart-shaped form. Note the intimate intertwining of two of the organisms eight flagella that will facilitate their motility.Created: 1986
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Trichomitus (trike-owe-mite-us), trichomonad flagellate normally found as endosymbionts in other organisms. Three anterior flagella, one recurrent flagellum attaching to the cell surface and beating to form an undulating fold or undulating membrane. An axostyle projects from the rear of the cell and can be used in attaching the cell to the substrate. Phase contrast.
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Octomitus is a diplomonad with a broadly pyriform cell body tapered posteriorly, (10-15 µm), bearing six anterior flagella deflected backwards and two posterior trailing flagella. The two anterior nuclei are bean-shaped, they face up and adjoin each other in their anterior part. A large endosome is present in the anterior lobe of the nuclei. The two sets of flagella emerge on each side of the anterior part of the body. The two recurrent flagella, accompanied by a sheath of reticulum, traverse the cell, forming a central axis before emerging as trailing flagella. Two spikes are located at the posterior between the two trailing flagella. There is no cytostomal opening at the emergence of the trailing flagella in contrast to Spironucleus. Anaerobic, parasitic or endocommensal in the intestine of vertebrates such as amphibians, caecum of rodents, rumen. Octomitus intestinalis from mice with two posterior flagella (phase contrast)
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Giardia (gee-arr-dee-a), a diplomonad flagellate that is a common inhabitant of the human intestine. These are diplomonads, they have two nuclei (anterior), and two sets with four flagella each arising from the front end of the cell but extending to the side or posteriorly. Normally they clamp onto cells of the intestine, and heavy infections can lead to cells being ripped from the gut wall leading to bloody diarrhoea. Phase contrast.
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Trichomitus (trike-owe-mite-us), trichomonad flagellate normally found as endosymbionts in other organisms. Three anterior flagella, one recurrent flagellum attaching to the cell surface and beating to form an undulating fold or undulating membrane. An axostyle projects from the rear of the cell. Phase contrast.
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Octomitus is a diplomonad with a broadly pyriform cell body tapered posteriorly, (10-15 µm), bearing six anterior flagella deflected backwards and two posterior trailing flagella. The two anterior nuclei are bean-shaped, they face up and adjoin each other in their anterior part. A large endosome is present in the anterior lobe of the nuclei. The two sets of flagella emerge on each side of the anterior part of the body. The two recurrent flagella, accompanied by a sheath of reticulum, traverse the cell, forming a central axis before emerging as trailing flagella. Two spikes are located at the posterior between the two trailing flagella. There is no cytostomal opening at the emergence of the trailing flagella in contrast to Spironucleus. Anaerobic, parasitic or endocommensal in the intestine of vertebrates such as amphibians, caecum of rodents, rumen. Octomitus intestinalis from mice with two anterior nuclei, six antero-lateral flagella and two posterior flagella which traverse the cell axially (Giemsa staining)
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Giardia (gee-arr-dee-a), a diplomonad flagellate that is a common inhabitant of the human intestine. These are diplomonads, they have two nuclei (anterior), and two sets with four flagella each arising from the front end of the cell but extending to the side or posteriorly. Normally they clamp onto cells of the intestine, and heavy infections can lead to cells being ripped from the gut wall leading to bloody diarrhoea. Phase contrast.
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Oxymonas - oxymonad flagellates with a club-shaped cell, (5-165 µm), and an anterior extensile rostellum terminated by a holdfast that attaches to the cuticle of the host intestinal intima. The four relatively short flagella are inserted in two pairs at the base of the rostellum. The crystalline axostyle originates at the base of the rostellum and divides in thin branches traversing the cell to the posterior end where it is surrounded by a sheath. The nucleus is situated at the base of the rostellum. Oxymonas jouteli several cell attached to the termite gut (phase contrast).
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