Name: amoebozoa: movement and life cycles
Uploaded: 2025-06-05T06:27:20.000Z
Duration: 1 min 27 s
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Amoebozoa protists are characterized by their lobe-shaped pseudopodia. It includes gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and plasmodial and cellular slime molds.Gymnamoebas, such as Amoeba species, are free-living protists that inhabit aquatic and soil environments.In contrast, entamoebas are parasitic and primarily inhabit the oral cavity or intestinal tract of vertebrates and invertebrates. The human pathogen Entamoeba histolytica is a notable example.Slime molds are motile fungi-like protists that produce fruiting bodies containing spores for dispersal.Plasmodial slime molds like Physarum typically exist as a single mass known as a plasmodium in their vegetative stage, which contains multiple diploid nuclei.A plasmodium is motile and produces sporangia containing haploid spores. Under favorable conditions, these spores develop into flagellated swarm cells that fuse to regenerate a diploid plasmodium.In contrast, cellular slime molds like Dictyostelium exist as individual haploid cells in their vegetative state. If starved, they aggregate together, form motile masses, and transform into fruiting bodies.

diversity of protists iv

Diversity of Protists IV

Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.<h3>Gymnamoebas and Entamoebas</h3>Gymnamoebas are free-living protists that inhabit aquatic and soil environments. Their movement is facilitated by pseudopodia through a process termed amoeboid movement, which involves cytoplasmic streaming. In this mechanism, the cytoplasm advances in a less contracted and more fluid region at the leading edge of the cell, following the path of least resistance. This streaming process is supported by microfilaments located just beneath the cytoplasmic membrane. Gymnamoebas vary significantly in size, ranging from as small as 15 micrometers in diameter to over 750 micrometers, the latter of which is visible to the naked eye.In contrast to free living gymnamoebas, entamoebas are parasitic protists that primarily inhabit the oral cavity or intestinal tract of vertebrates and invertebrates. Notably, Entamoeba histolytica is an anaerobic species that acts as a human pathogen, causing amebic dysentery. This condition leads to ulceration of the intestinal tract and results in bloody diarrhea. The transmission of this parasite occurs via cysts, which spread through the fecal contamination of water, food, and eating utensils.<h3>Slime Molds</h3>Slime molds were historically classified with fungi due to their similar life cycles and the production of fruiting bodies containing spores for dispersal. However, unlike fungi, slime molds exhibit motility, allowing them to move rapidly across solid surfaces. These organisms are classified into two major groups: plasmodial slime molds, also known as acellular slime molds, and cellular slime molds.Plasmodial slime molds exist in their vegetative stage as an amorphous mass of protoplasm known as a plasmodium (NOT same as the pathogenic genus Plasmodium that causes malaria), which contains multiple diploid nuclei. This plasmodium of slime molds is actively motile and propagates through amoeboid movement. Under favorable conditions, it forms sporangia, structures that contain haploid spores. These spores germinate and develop into flagellated swarm cells, which subsequently fuse to regenerate a diploid plasmodium. A well-known and studied genus includes Physarum.Cellular slime molds, on the other hand, remain as individual haploid cells in their vegetative state and only form diploid structures under specific environmental conditions. The well-studied species Dictyostelium discoideum undergoes an asexual life cycle characterized by aggregation, migration, and fruiting body formation. In response to starvation, individual Dictyostelium cells aggregate to form a pseudoplasmodium, in which cells lose their individuality without undergoing fusion. The aggregation process is triggered by the release of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), a signaling molecule that attracts neighboring cells. The aggregated mass of cells, known as a slug, exhibits motility before becoming stationary and vertically oriented, at which point fruiting body formation is initiated.The fruiting body consists of a stalk and a head. Stalk cells synthesize cellulose, providing structural support, while head cells differentiate into spores. Upon dispersal, these spores germinate and develop into new amoeboid cells, thus perpetuating the life cycle. In addition to asexual reproduction, Dictyostelium can also undergo sexual reproduction, in which two amoebae fuse to form a single giant amoeba. This structure develops a thick cellulose wall, forming a macrocyst that can remain dormant for extended periods. Eventually, meiosis occurs within the macrocyst, producing haploid nuclei that integrate into new amoebae, thereby reinitiating the asexual cycle.

Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This ...

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Microbial Diversity

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amoebozoa: movement and life cycles

Amoebozoa are a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists. They move and feed with lobe-shaped pseudopodia. This feature sets them apart from Rhizaria, which have threadlike pseudopodia. The group includes gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence also shows that Amoebozoa split from a lineage that later gave rise to fungi and animals.

Gymnamoebas are free-living protists that live in water and soil. They move by amoeboid movement, which depends on pseudopodia and cytoplasmic streaming. In this process, the cytoplasm flows into a less contracted, more fluid region at the front of the cell. Microfilaments just under the cell membrane support this movement. Gymnamoebas also vary widely in size, from about 15 micrometers across to more than 750 micrometers, which can be seen with the naked eye.

Entamoebas are parasitic protists that usually live in the mouth or intestinal tract of vertebrates and invertebrates. Entamoeba histolytica is an anaerobic species and a human pathogen. It causes amebic dysentery, which can ulcerate the intestinal tract and lead to bloody diarrhea. The parasite spreads through cysts that contaminate water, food, and eating utensils.

Slime molds were once grouped with fungi because both can form fruiting bodies that contain spores. Unlike fungi, however, slime molds can move quickly across solid surfaces. They are divided into plasmodial slime molds, also called acellular slime molds, and cellular slime molds. These two groups have different life cycles, but both use spore formation for dispersal.

Plasmodial slime molds live as a plasmodium in the vegetative stage. A plasmodium is an amorphous mass of protoplasm with many diploid nuclei, and it moves by amoeboid movement. When conditions are favorable, it forms sporangia that contain haploid spores. These spores germinate into flagellated swarm cells, which then fuse to form a new diploid plasmodium. Physarum is a well-known genus in this group.

Cellular slime molds stay as individual haploid cells during the vegetative stage. Under certain environmental conditions, they form diploid structures. Dictyostelium discoideum is the best-studied species in this group. Its asexual life cycle includes aggregation, migration, and fruiting body formation, and it can also undergo sexual reproduction. During starvation, cells release cAMP, or cyclic adenosine monophosphate, which attracts nearby cells and triggers aggregation into a pseudoplasmodium. The cells do not fuse, but they lose their individuality and form a moving slug.

The slug later becomes stationary and stands upright before fruiting body formation begins. The fruiting body has a stalk and a head. Stalk cells make cellulose for support, while head cells become spores. After dispersal, the spores germinate into new amoeboid cells. Dictyostelium can also reproduce sexually when two amoebae fuse to form a giant amoeba. This structure develops a thick cellulose wall and becomes a macrocyst that can stay dormant for a long time. Meiosis then occurs inside the macrocyst, producing haploid nuclei that give rise to new amoebae and restart the asexual cycle.

Amoebozoa: Movement and Life Cycles

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diversity of protists i

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diversity of protists ii

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diversity of protists iii

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Amoebozoa are a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists. They move and feed with lobe-shaped pseudopodia. This feature sets them apart from Rhizaria, which have threadlike pseudopodia. The group includes gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence also shows that Amoebozoa split from a lineage that later gave rise to fungi and animals. Gymnamoebas are free-living protists that live in water and soil. They move by amoeboid movement,...

key terms and concepts

Learn how Amoebozoa move with pseudopodia and how gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and slime molds grow, spread, and reproduce in different life cycles.

Amoebozoa: Movement and Life Cycles | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Microbiology provides an engaging introduction to the microbial world and its influence on health, industry, and the environment. This comprehensive collection covers key concepts such as microbial structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology. It introduces essential laboratory techniques and microscopy methods through visually engaging animations. Corresponding scientist-in-action videos bridge classroom concepts with real-world research and applications.

microbiology

Amoebozoa: Movement and Life Cycles

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