''Protacanthamoeba'' is a genus of free-living naked amoebae of the family

Acanthamoebidae Acanthamoebidae is a family of single-celled eukaryotes within the group Amoebozoa. It gets its name from ''Acanthamoeba'', its best-known member. However, it also includes other species, such as '' Comandonia operculata'' and ''Protacanthamoeba ...

described in 1981. It has been found in associations with

mycobacteria ''Mycobacterium'' is a genus of over 190 species in the phylum Actinomycetota, assigned its own family, Mycobacteriaceae. This genus includes pathogens known to cause serious diseases in mammals, including tuberculosis ('' M. tuberculosis'') and ...

in drinking water networks, along with other

genera, likely allowing the replication of both environmental and pathogenic

Morphology

Members of ''Protacanthamoeba'' are characterized by having slender, flexible and sometimes furcate subpseudopodia originated from a broad, hyaline lobose

pseudopodium A pseudopod or pseudopodium (plural: pseudopods or pseudopodia) is a temporary arm-like projection of a eukaryotic cell membrane that is emerged in the direction of movement. Filled with cytoplasm, pseudopodia primarily consist of actin filament ...

, as well as having centrospheres in its interior, including a plaque-shaped

centriole In cell biology a centriole is a cylindrical organelle composed mainly of a protein called tubulin. Centrioles are found in most eukaryotic cells, but are not present in conifers (Pinophyta), flowering plants (angiosperms) and most fungi, and a ...

-like body. Their

cysts A cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct envelope and division compared with the nearby tissue. Hence, it is a cluster of cells that have grouped together to form a sac (like the manner in which water molecules group together to form a bubble) ...

lack preformed pores or opercula.

Taxonomy

''Protacanthamoeba'' contains 3 species: * ''

Protacanthamoeba bohemica ''Protacanthamoeba bohemica'' (or ''Protoacanthamoeba bohemica'')Dykova, I., Veverkova-Fialova, M., Fiala, I. & Dvorakova, H. (2005). ''Protoacanthamoeba bohemica'' sp. n., isolated from the liver of tench '' Tinca tinca'' (Linnaeus, 1758). Acta P ...

'' * '' Protacanthamoeba caledonica'' * '' Protacanthamoeba invadens'' (previously ''

Acanthamoeba ''Acanthamoeba'' is a genus of amoeboid, amoebae that are commonly recovered from soil, fresh water, and other habitat (ecology), habitats. ''Acanthamoeba'' has two evolutive forms, the metabolically active trophozoite and a dormant, stress-resi ...

'')

References

{{taxonbar, from=Q7251887 Discosea Amoebozoa genera