Question

Wriggling movements of sporozoites are caused by:

• A. Microtubules
• B. Convoluted tubules
• C. Pseudopodia
• D. Flagella

Hint:

Sporozoite wriggling is driven by microtubules in the apical complex—not flagella or pseudopodia.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

- Sporozoites are a motile, infective stage of Apicomplexan protozoans like Plasmodium.
- Their characteristic wriggling or gliding movement is powered by a unique internal structure called the apical complex.
- The microtubules within this complex are responsible for motility.
Other options:
- Pseudopodia are used by amoeboid protozoans.
- Flagella are absent in sporozoites.
- Convoluted tubules are not involved in locomotion.

Answer 2

Wriggling movements of sporozoites, which are the infective forms of certain parasitic protozoans like Plasmodium (the causative agent of malaria), are primarily caused by the presence of microtubules within their cellular structure.

Microtubules are components of the cytoskeleton, made up of tubulin proteins, that provide structural support and play a crucial role in cell motility. In sporozoites, these microtubules form part of the specialized organelles and cytoskeletal framework that enable their characteristic gliding or wriggling motion.

This movement is essential for the parasite’s ability to invade host cells and tissues. Unlike flagellar or ciliary movement seen in other organisms, sporozoites move by a unique gliding mechanism that depends on the interaction between microtubules and motor proteins.

Therefore, microtubules facilitate the wriggling movement necessary for the sporozoites’ survival and infectivity in the host.