plasmodium

/plæz'moudiəm/

Thân thiện

A scientist examines a plasmodium under a microscope in the laboratory.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A parasitic protozoan of the genus Plasmodium: A type of single-celled organism that is transmitted by mosquitoes and is the direct cause of malaria in humans and other animals.
   • A multinucleate sheet of cytoplasm: In some organisms like slime molds, a plasmodium is a vegetative, amoeboid, and multinucleate mass of protoplasm that moves and feeds before forming reproductive structures.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Parasite):
  • The Plasmodium falciparum species is the most deadly malaria parasite.
  • Scientists are studying the life cycle of the plasmodium to develop new treatments.
• Noun (Cytoplasmic mass):
  • Under the microscope, the slime mold existed as a large, creeping plasmodium.
  • The plasmodium phase allows the organism to move and engulf food particles.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Classification: The term is often capitalized () when referring specifically to the genus of parasitic protozoans.
  • Several species of Plasmodium can infect humans.
• Developmental Stage: In mycology and protistology, "plasmodium" describes a specific, non-walled, coenocytic life stage.
  • The plasmodium will eventually differentiate into a fruiting body.

Variants and Related Words

• Plasmodial (adjective): Of or relating to a plasmodium.
  • The plasmodial stage is crucial for nutrient absorption.
• Plasmodiidae (noun): The taxonomic family to which the genus belongs.

Synonyms

• Malaria parasite (for the protozoan).
• Syncytium or coenocyte (for the multinucleate structure, though these are more general biological terms).

Related Phrases and Terms

• Plasmodium berghei: A species used in rodent malaria research.
• Plasmodium vivax: A species of malaria parasite causing a recurring form of the disease.
• Plasmodial slime mold: Common name for organisms in the class Myxogastria, which have a plasmodial stage.

Học thuật

Noun

1. parasitic protozoan of the genus Plasmodium that causes malaria in humans
2. multinucleate sheet of cytoplasm characteristic of some stages of such organisms as slime molds

Từ đồng nghĩa

• Plasmodium vivax
• malaria parasite