Eukaryotes are living organisms that can be either unicellular or multicellular. An important feature of these organisms is the presence of a nucleus, which is separated from the cytoplasm by a double membrane. Proteins are synthesized inside the nucleus and moved to the cytoplasm. Inside the nucleolus of the cell, organisms have chromosomes representing their DNA, which are completely surrounded by proteins. At the same time, organelles are located in the cytoplasm: mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes.
Mitochondria perform an energy function by oxidizing organic compounds and using their energy for synthesis, etc. Ribosomes are non-membrane organelles that have a significant function in the organism. Its main function is to conduct protein biosynthesis from the amino acids that the cell finds in RNA (van Leeuwen & Rabouille, 2019). The endoplasmic reticulum produces lipids and carbohydrates important for cell structure. In addition, proteins, fats and carbohydrates, called organic substances of the cell, are stored and transported in its cavities. The Golgi apparatus is intended for further use by the cell itself of the accumulated substances or in order to leave its boundaries (van Leeuwen & Rabouille, 2019). Lysosomes perform the function of degradation of cellular components and play the role of the digestive system of the cell.
The role of the cell membrane is due to the fact that it acts as a wire for the internal integrity of the cell. It lets the necessary substances into the organism and does not allow vital matters to come out of it. Additionally, eukaryotes have a cytoskeleton that maintains their shape and keeps organelles close by (van Leeuwen & Rabouille, 2019). Centrioles, which are located near the nucleus, play a vital function in the process of cell division.
The simplest eukaryotes cause many infections and affect different parts of the human body. The most common diseases include malaria or the so-called swamp fever. The disease is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person by the bites of female mosquitoes (Norman et al., 2020). The disease is highly resilient and current vaccines are only partially effective, with little to no immunity. The protozoa cause diseases such as amoebiasis, which are spread through dirty water and unwashed hands (Norman et al., 2020). or the most part, the disease affects the intestines and the body does not form immunity to it. The protozoa are the cause of trichomoniasis, which is transmitted sexually or from mother to fetus. It is treatable, but may increase the risk of cervical cancer and a number of other complications.
Another disease caused by protozoa is giardiasis, which is transmitted through the household, fecal-oral route and through water and causes damage to the intestines. In most cases, it is asymptomatic, and it is difficult to talk about the number of infected people (Norman et al., 2020). However, the disease is treatable, despite the fact that the methods of parasitization have not been fully studied (Norman et al., 2020). Toxoplasmosis does not pose a great danger to a healthy person, since they develop stable lifelong immunity. Nevertheless, for immunocompromised people, the disease can be fatal and affect the nervous system. The protozoa become the cause of dysentery, due to which inflammatory changes occur in the intestines. People can catch dysentery at any age through dirty hands and household items, but the disease is most dangerous for children under five years of age and debilitated elderly people.
Moreover, protozoa cause infections with parasitic worms known as helminths. One of the common species are fluke worms, which are the cause of opisthorchiasis and are transmitted through raw or insufficiently processed fish (Okwa, 2020). Additionally, tapeworms cause taeniasis, or tapeworm, which is transmitted through undercooked pork meat (Okwa, 2020). Roundworms are the causative agent of ascariasis, which parasitizes in the intestines and is transmitted through unwashed vegetables and fruits. Thus, eukaryotes are the most important cells and represent not only animals and plants, but also dangerous diseases for humans.
References
Norman, F. F., Comeche, B., Chamorro, S., Pérez-Molina, J. A., & López-Vélez, R. (2020). Update on the major imported protozoan infections in travelers and migrants.Future Microbiology, 15(3), 213-225.
Okwa, O. O. (Ed.). (2020). Helminthiasis. BoD–Books on Demand.
van Leeuwen, W., & Rabouille, C. (2019). Cellular stress leads to the formation of membraneless stress assemblies in eukaryotic cells.Traffic, 20(9), 623-638.