sporozoite

[ spawr-uh-zoh-ahyt, spohr- ]

noun

1. one of the minute, active bodies into which the spore of certain Sporozoa divides, each developing into an adult individual.

sporozoite

/ ˌspɒ-; ˌspɔːrəˈzəʊaɪt /

noun

1. any of numerous small mobile usually infective individuals produced in sporozoans by sporogony

sporozoite

/ spôr′ə-zō′īt′ /

1. Any of the minute, undeveloped apicomplexans produced by multiple fission of a zygote or spore, especially at the stage just before infection of a new host cell.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporozoite¹

First recorded in 1885–90; Sporozo(a) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The antibody evaluated in the clinical trial attaches to a protein on the surface of sporozoites — the form of the malaria parasite that enters the body after an infected mosquito bites — and stops the parasites from infecting the liver.

From Science News

The sporoplasm, representing the sporozoite, is always single.

From Project Gutenberg