Naegleria fowleri
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Naegleria fowleri
Classification
Higher order taxa
Eukaryota, Percoloza, Heterolobosea, Schizopyrenida, Vahlkampfiidae, Naegleria, fowleri
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Naegleria fowleri
Description and significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.
Genome structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
Cell structure and metabolism
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology
Naegleria fowleri are found world wide in warm freshwater, either naturally geothermic pools or warm bodies of water created by industry such as industrial cooling water (H). Although they ideally grow at 37oC, the temperature of their human hosts, below 27oC, N. fowleri are able to survive by encysting. The amoeba is able to grow in environments up to 45oC (D). Although it is found all across the globe, the only place where N. fowleri contaminates public drinking water is in South Australia (H)
Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
