Protacanthamoeba
Genus of naked amoebae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Protacanthamoeba is a genus of free-living naked amoebae of the family Acanthamoebidae described in 1981.[1] It has been found in associations with mycobacteria in drinking water networks, along with other Acanthamoebidae genera, likely allowing the replication of both environmental and pathogenic mycobacteria.[2]
| Protacanthamoeba | |
|---|---|
| |
| P. bohemica trophozoites and cysts | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Phylum: | Amoebozoa |
| Class: | Discosea |
| Order: | Centramoebida |
| Family: | Acanthamoebidae |
| Genus: | Protacanthamoeba Page, 1981 |
| Type species | |
| Protacanthamoeba caledonica Page, 1981 | |
| Species | |
| |
Morphology
Members of Protacanthamoeba are characterized by having slender, flexible and sometimes furcate subpseudopodia originated from a broad, hyaline lobose pseudopodium, as well as having centrospheres in its interior, including a plaque-shaped centriole-like body. Their cysts lack preformed pores or opercula.[3]
Taxonomy
Protacanthamoeba contains 3 species:
- Protacanthamoeba bohemica Dyková et al. 2005[4]
- Protacanthamoeba caledonica Page 1981[3]
- Protacanthamoeba invadens (Singh & Hanumaiah 1979) Page 1981 (previously Acanthamoeba)[3]