apicomplexan

American  

[ay-puh-kuhm-plek-suhn] / ˌeɪ pə kəmˈplɛk sən /

noun

• apicomplexans
  plural

1. Microbiology. an organism belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. Also classified, especially formerly, as a sporozoan.

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adjective

1. Microbiology. of or relating to the phylum Apicomplexa or to any organism classified therein.

apicomplexan Scientific  

/ ăp′ĭ-kəm-plĕk′sən /

1. Any of a phylum (Apicomplexa) of protozoans that are parasitic in animals, especially animal bloodstreams, and are distinguished by a variety of organelles, including fibrils and microtubules, located at one end (called the apical end) of the cell. These organelles help the apicomplexan invade an animal cell. Apicomplexans form spores and reproduce sexually in an alternation of generations; many have complex life cycles and are transmitted to animals hosts by bloodsucking insects. Apicomplexans include the organisms that were once classified as sporozoans, including the protozoans that cause malaria and toxoplasmosis.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• apicomplexans
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

apicomplexan apicomplexans

Shared elements of host-targeting pathways among apicomplexan parasites of differing lifestyles.

From Nature ● Sep. 24, 2017

Theileria is a plague upon cattle in the tropical regions of Africa, and is an apicomplexan of the Piroplasmid affiliation.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 27, 2013

They sort of look like torpedoes: Structure of a generalised apicomplexan in its invasion form.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 27, 2013

The alveolates are further categorized into some of the better-known protists: the dinoflagellates, the apicomplexans, and the ciliates.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Chromalveolata includes the kingdoms dinoflagellates, apicomplexans, and ciliates, all within the alveolate lineage, and the diatoms, golden algae, brown algae, and oomycetes, all within the stramenopile lineage.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Despite the incredible variety of different infection and replication strategies of apicomplexans, shown below for no other purpose but microscopy porn, they all have some interaction with their victim, and must time their attacks accordingly.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 27, 2013

This is the more or less ‘typical’ invasion strategy of apicomplexans, such Toxoplasma.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 27, 2013

To orient ourselves in relation to the major apicomplexans studied, the agent of malaria, Plasmodium, is a Haemosporidian while felid-brain-ninja Toxoplasma is a a coccidian.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 27, 2013