Heterolobosea are a class of Percolozoa. The only member of this group that is infectious to humans is Naegleria fowleri, the causative agent of the often fatal disease amoebic meningitis. Typically, their life cycle alternates between flagellate and amoeboid stages.

Etymology

Life Cycle

Characteristics

[[File:2023 Heterolobosean.svg|right|thumb|upright=2|Representation of a heterolobosean1. Eruptive pseudopod 2. Ectoplasm 3. Endoplasm 4. Phagosome with prey 5. Mitochondrion, creates ATP (energy) for the cell (distoid cristae) 6. Lysosome, holds enzymes 7. Digestive vacuoles with prey 8. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum, the transport network for molecules going to specific parts of the cell 9. Golgi apparatus, modifies proteins and sends them out of the cell (reduced) 10. Nucleolus 11. Nucleus 12. Rough endoplasmic reticulum 13. Contractile vacuole, regulates the quantity of water inside a cell 14. Uroid]]

Phylogeny

Taxonomy

These are collectively referred to as schizopyrenids, amoeboflagellates, or vahlkampfids. They also include the acrasids, a group of social amoebae that aggregate to form sporangia. The entire group is usually called the Heterolobosea, but this may be restricted to members with amoeboid stages. One Heterolobosea classification system is: Pleurostomum flabellatum has recently been added to Heterolobosea.

Full Taxonomy