A class of endosymbiont EUKARYOTES, in the group PARABASALIDEA, that are obligate mutualists in the digestive tracts of wood-eating insects. Hypermastigotes produce CELLULASE that breaks down the cellulose in wood so that insects can metabolize it.

Annotation

infection; coordinate IM with PROTOZOAN INFECTIONS (IM); coordinate with specific protozoan terms (ANTIGENS, PROTOZOAN, etc) if pertinent

DUI

D056952 MeSH Browser

CUI

M0533586

History note

2010

Public note

2010