Biology / Unit 9 Bio 2015 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Excavate Parasites: Giardia and Trypanosomes
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The idea
Giardia lamblia, a diplomonad, and Trypanosoma species, euglenozoans, are Excavata parasites causing waterborne intestinal illness and insect-transmitted sleeping sickness.
In practice
Trypanosoma brucei evades the immune system by repeatedly switching its surface glycoprotein coat, letting the parasite persist despite an ongoing antibody response.
Where people slip
Both parasites depend on transmission through a route— Giardia through contaminated water, Trypanosoma through an insect vector— not casual contact alone.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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