Lecture 1: Protists

Dr. Dimos

Evolutionary relationships
represented as a phylogenetic tree
or cladogram
A

Branches

Nodes
(common
ancestors)

Shared, derived
character(s)
(Synapomorphy)
Root

Rooted vs. Unrooted Tree

Related
branches
(clade)

Prokaryotes vs.
Eukaryotes

The Endosymbiosis
Hypothesis

The Protists

Protozoa

Unicellular algae

Slime molds

Protists
Phylogeny

Protozoa

Amoeba: Human Pathogens

Acanthamoeba

Flagellates: Human
Pathogens
Trypanosoma brucei: African sleeping
sickness
Trypanosoma cruzi: South American
sleeping sickness
Giardia lamblia: nausea, gastric cramps,
watery diarrhea
Trichomonas vaginalis: sexually
transmitted disease
Leishmania tropica: leishmaniasis

Trypanosoma cruzi: South American

sleeping sickness

Bacteria: Rhodococcus rhodnii

Drug: Cecropin A.

aratransgenesis

Drug: Cecropin A.

Bacteria:
Rhodococcus rhod

Flagellate:
Trypanosoma cruzi

Ciliates Human Pathogens:

Balantidium coli

Sporazoa: Human
Pathogens
Plasmodium: genus of sporozoa that
causes malaria
Toxoplasma gondii: cause of
toxoplasmosis
Pnuemocystis carinii: pneumonia,
especially AIDS patients
Cryptosporidium coccidi: vomiting,
diarrhea, etc
Cyclospora cayetanensis: intestinal
illness

Toxoplasma gondii