Amoebae as specialized cells and life cycle stages Amoeba

neutrophil (white blood cell) engulfing anthrax bacteria

some multicellular organisms have amoeboid cells in phases of life, or use amoeboid movements specialized functions. in immune system of humans , other animals, amoeboid white blood cells pursue invading organisms, such bacteria , pathogenic protists, , engulf them phagocytosis.

amoeboid stages occur in multicellular fungus-like protists, so-called slime moulds. both plasmodial slime moulds, classified in class myxogastria, , cellular slime moulds of groups acrasida , dictyosteliida, live amoebae during feeding stage. amoeboid cells of former combine form giant multinucleate organism, while cells of latter live separately until food runs out, @ time amoebae aggregate form multicellular migrating slug functions single organism.

other organisms may present amoeboid cells during life-cycle stages, e.g., gametes of green algae (zygnematophyceae) , pennate diatoms, spores (or dispersal phases) of mesomycetozoea, , sporoplasm stage of myxozoa , of ascetosporea.