Diplomonad

The diplomonads are a group of flagellates, most of which are parasitic. They include most notably Giardia lamblia, which causes giardiasis in humans. They are placed among the metamonads, and appear particularly close relatives of the retortamonads.

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Most diplomonads are double cells: they have two nuclei, each with four associated flagella, arranged symmetrically about the body's main axis. Like the retortamonads, they lack both mitochondria and dictyosomes. However they are now known to posess mitochondrial relics, called mitosomes. These are not used in ATP synthesis the way mitochondria are, but are involved in the maturation of iron-sulfur proteins.

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Flagellate: PROTISTA KINGDOM...

Giardia lamblia: Giardia lamblia (formerly also Lamblia intestinalis and also known as Giardia duodenalis) is a flagellated protozoan parasite that infects the gastrointestinal tract of humans. Infection causes giardiasis, a type of gastroenteritis that manifests itself with severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Ot...

Giardiasis: Giardiasis (also known as beaver fever) is a disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Giardia lamblia (also Giardia intestinalis). The giardia organism inhabits the digestinal tract of a wide variety of domestic and wild animal species as well as humans. It is a common cause of gastroenteritis in ...