Euglena sanguinea

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Classification

Protozoa (Kingdom) : Eozoa (Subkingdom) : Euglenozoa (Infrakingdom) : Euglenozoa (Phylum) : Euglenoidea (Class) : Euglenia (Subclass) : Euglenida (Order) : Euglenaceae (Family) : Euglena (Genus) [1]

Genus Species

Euglena sanguinea

Description and Significance

Give a brief description of the microorganism and explain why you think it is important. How does it relate to the other organisms in its phylum (bacteria and fungi) or group (archaea, virus, protist). Use the following for each reference in text (change number accordingly)--> [1]

Structure, Metabolism, and Life Cycle

Interesting features of its structure; how it gains energy (how it replicates, if virus); what important molecules it produces (if any), does it have an interesting life cycle?

The algae contains an accessory pigment, astaxanthin(a carotenoid). This prevents the cell's chloroplast from being overwhelmed by under excessively bright conditions. The cells will appear red when utulizing this accessory pigment, and green when these pigments are retracted into vesicles. [4]

This algae produces a compound known as euglenophycin. "The compound exhibits ichthyotoxic, herbicidal and anticancer activity at low ppm to ppb dosages." [2] (Ichthyotoxic, toxic to fish)

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Natural habitat (soil, water, commensal of humans or animals?)
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, or plant hosts? Important virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

This protist is found in freshwater environments all over the world. They are a major source of food and oxygen in their habitats.

They produce a compound that is toxic to many freshwater fish at high concentrations. "Fish tested with cultured E. sanguinea cells and with filtrate from the cultures exhibited disorientation during exposure, with accelerated respiration and an inability to maintain equilibria. Gill tissue was reddened, however no distinct haemorrhaging was evident. No other distinct histopathology was seen. We suggest that the toxin functions as a neurotoxin based upon the behavioural changes. Juvenile catfish exposed to cultures of the algal isolates died within 2 h of exposure." [3]

References

[1] WoRMS (2011). "Euglena sanguinea Ehrenberg, 1830". In M. D. Guiry & G. M. Guiry. AlgaeBase. National University of Ireland, Galway. World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=163127.

[2] Paul V. Zimba, Peter D. Moeller, Kevin Beauchesne, Hannah E. Lane, Richard E. Triemer. Identification of euglenophycin – A toxin found in certain euglenoids. Toxicon, Volume 55, Issue 1, January 2010, Pages 100–104 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2009.07.004

[3] P.V. Zimba, M. Rowan, R. Triemer. Identification of euglenoid algae that produce ichthyotoxin(s). Journal of Fish Diseases, 27 (2004), pp. 115–117

[4] "Euglena Sanguinea — Details." Encyclopedia of Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2013.

[5] The Cell Morphology and Division of Euglena deses Ehrbg. Mary Gojdics. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society , Vol. 53, No. 4 (Oct., 1934), pp. 299-310. Published by: Wiley on behalf of American Microscopical Society. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3222381

Author

Page authored by Romi Salti, student of Mandy Brosnahan, Instructor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MICB 3301/3303: Biology of Microorganisms.