Intracellular parasite
Intracellular Parasite
Intracellular parasites are a type of parasite that live and reproduce inside the cells of a host organism. They are capable of altering the function of the host cell to ensure their survival and replication.
Pronunciation
Intracellular: /ˌɪntrəsɛˈljuːlər/ Parasite: /ˈparəˌsīt/
Etymology
The term "intracellular" is derived from the Latin words "intra" meaning "within" and "cella" meaning "cell". "Parasite" comes from the Greek "parasitos", meaning "one who eats at the table of another".
Types of Intracellular Parasites
There are two main types of intracellular parasites: obligate parasites and facultative parasites. Obligate parasites are completely dependent on the host cell for replication, while facultative parasites can replicate both inside and outside cells.
Obligate Parasites
Obligate parasites include organisms such as viruses, rickettsia, and chlamydia. These parasites cannot reproduce outside their host cell, meaning that the parasite's survival is entirely dependent on the host cell.
Facultative Parasites
Facultative parasites, on the other hand, are capable of living and reproducing both inside and outside of host cells. Examples of facultative parasites include certain types of bacteria, protozoa, and fungi.
Related Terms
- Parasitology: The study of parasites and their interactions with host organisms.
- Endoparasite: A parasite that lives inside the body of its host.
- Ectoparasite: A parasite that lives on the surface of its host.
- Parasitic disease: A disease caused by parasites.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Intracellular parasite
- Wikipedia's article - Intracellular parasite
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