Naegleria gruberi

Organismal description

Taxonomy :

Protista, Heterolobosea, Schizopyrenida, Vahlkampfiidae, Naegleria.

Phenotype :

Amoeboflagellate, reversibly transforming from the amoeboid stage to the flagellar stage, possessing two anterior flagella.

Ecology :

Free-living in soil and fresh water, feeding on bacteria. Several species of this genus, such as N. fowleri and strains of N. australiensis, cause a fatal disease of the central nervous system (meningoencephalomyelitis).

Ultrastructure :

Mitochondria are of the discoidal cristae type.