Sporozoite

Sporozoite

A Sporozoite is the mobile plasmodium stage, the product of sexual reproduction in many parasites, and particularly those in the Phylum Apicomplexa. This stage is transferred between organisms by a vector.

Life Cycle

The sporozoite is usually the stage of the parasite that is injected into the host organism by the vector, typically a mosquito or tick. Once inside the host, it can invade cells, such as the hepatocytes of the liver in the case of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Inside the cells, they reproduce asexually, producing thousands of merozoites, which burst out of the cell and invade red blood cells, beginning the cycle anew.

Morphology

Sporozoites are elongated and slender, with a pointed front end, a rounded back end, and a centrally located nucleus. They are covered in a layer of plasma membrane and inner membrane complex (IMC), which gives them their characteristic shape and allows for movement.

Role in Disease

Sporozoites are the infective stage of the parasite and are responsible for the initial establishment of the infection in the host organism. They are therefore a key target for the development of vaccines and drugs against diseases such as malaria.

See Also

• Merozoite
• Gametocyte
• Oocyst
• Trophozoite

References

Sporozoite Resources
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