Prototheca
Scientific classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Trebouxiophyceae
Order: Chlorellales
Family: Chlorellaceae
Genus: Prototheca
Krüger, 1894[1]
Species[2]
  • Prototheca blaschkeae
  • Prototheca bovis
  • Prototheca cerasi
  • Prototheca ciferrii
  • Prototheca cookei
  • Prototheca cutis
  • Prototheca miyajii
  • Prototheca moriformis
  • Prototheca pringsheimii
  • Prototheca stagnora
  • Prototheca tumulicola
  • Prototheca wickerhamii
  • Prototheca xanthoriae
  • Prototheca zopfii

Prototheca is a genus of algae in the family Chlorellaceae.[3] While taxonomy classifies this genus as member of the green algae, all species in this genus have lost their chloroplasts and thus forfeited their photosynthetic ability. Some species can cause protothecosis in humans and various vertebratae.

Etymology

From the Greek proto- (first) + thēkē (sheath), Prototheca is a genus of variably shaped spherical cells of achloric algae in the family Chlorellaceae. Wilhelm Krüger, a German expert in plant physiology and sugar production, reported Prototheca microorganisms in 1894, shortly after spending 7 years in Java studying sugarcane. He isolated Prototheca species from the sap of 3 tree species. Krüger named these organisms as P. moriformis and P. zopfii, the second name as a tribute to Friedrich Wilhelm Zopf, a renowned botanist, mycologist, and lichenologist.[4]

Biology

With the lack of chloroplasts and photosynthetic ability, Prototheca species resort to heterotrophic growth and exhibit parasitism.

Pathogenicity

Some species in the genus Prototheca are known to cause protothecosis, one of the few researched diseases caused by algae, which are categorized as Algaemia. P. wickerhamii is the main causing agent of protothecosis in humans, and was first identified as such in 1964. P. zopfii is known to cause this disease in cattle and dogs.

Symptoms include: Cutaneous lesions, Olecranon bursitis.

References

  1. ↑ Krüger, W. (1894). Kurze Charakteristik einiger niedrerer Organismen im Saftfluss der Laubbäume. Hedwigia 33: 241-266, .
  2. ↑ Jagielskia T, Bakułaa Z, Gaworb J, Maciszewskic K, Kusberd W, Dyląge M, Nowakowskaf J, Gromadkab R, Karnkowskac A (2019). "The genus Prototheca (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) revisited: Implications from molecular taxonomic studies". Algal Research. 43. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101639.
  3. ↑ See the NCBI webpage on Prototheca. Data extracted from the "NCBI taxonomy resources". National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  4. ↑ Ollhoff, Rüdiger D.; Sellera, Fábio P.; Pogliani, Fabio C. (November 2021). "Early Release -Etymologia: Prototheca". Emerg Infect Dis. 27 (11). doi:10.3201/eid2711.211554. PMC 8544978. Retrieved October 8, 2021. Citing public domain text from the CDC.


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