[Infectiology] Chromista

Taxonomy 

• Chromista

 

Classification

Domain : Eukaryota  

Kingdom : Chromista  

• Phylum : Apicomplexa 
• Phylum : Ciliophora
• Phylum : Heterokontophyta

 

Characteristics

• Eukaryotic
• Can be unicellular and independent, unicellular and colonial, or multicellular. 
• Can be autotrophic (generating their own energy storage molecules from sunlight) or heterotrophic (consuming energy storage molecules from organisms).
• Often contain organelles called plastids. Chloroplasts are plastids which contain chlorophyll and facilitate photosynthesis. This may suggest that Chromista evolved from a photosynthetic ancestor.

 

Pathogenesis

Most chromistal species are not pathogenic, but a few species cause highly prevalent diseases in eukaryotes.

• Phytophthora infestans can infect plants and causes a disease called 'potato blight'. This produced widespread famine in 1840s Europe.
• Ichthyophthirius multifiliis can infect fish and causes a disease called 'ich'. This is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in fish.

Human infectious diseases

• Malaria
• Toxoplasmosis
• Cryptosporidiosis
• Balantidiasis
• Blastocystosis