Cyst is one of the forms of life of microorganisms. Functions and types

Probably, in nature there are no more viable and environmentally friendly organisms than bacteria. These unicellular life forms are capable of withstanding colossal temperature, pressure, and acidity differences. They can dive without water for a long time, and once the favorable environmental factors come back to normal life. How can bacteria survive where other organisms die?

What is a cyst in biology?

Bacteria can survive adverse conditions through incision. The essence of this process is that the bacterial cell is surrounded by a thick shell. Actually, this is the reason why microorganisms are not afraid of drought or temperature changes.

Cyst is a form of bacteria that can survive under the influence of unfavorable factors. This protective and adaptive structure is characteristic not only of prokaryotic organisms, but also of some protists.

Features of a resting cell

Cyst is a very specific form of bacteria that leads to some transformations inside the cell. These features depend on the type of inclusions, but there are some general characteristics of this process. First, a thick protective shell forms around the cell, which is a barrier to unfavorable environmental factors.

At the same time, the incision completely or partially blocks the cell's connection with the environment, so micro-organisms must be prepared to form a dense shell. First, bacteria store essential substances and enzymes, which will work even under conditions of incest. Then the cell loses some of its structures, in order to temporarily remove the unnecessary energy costs at the moment.

Cyst is one of the stages of the life cycle of many microorganisms. Accordingly, the incineration process is periodic. Some cysts can survive 5 or even 10 years later. There is evidence that protista cysts can live up to 16 years. This gives the right to call microorganisms the most enduring on the planet.

Factors contributing to the incest

The study of bacteria in the laboratory shows that the best device for experiencing unfavorable conditions is cyst. The determination of the encysted cells on Petri dishes under the influence of various factors shows the importance of a dense cell membrane. What factors cause cyst formation?

1. Temperature differences.

2. Change in the concentration of dissolved substances in a given medium.

3. Evaporation of water (drainage of water bodies).

4. Lack or excess of oxygen.

5. Lack of food resources.

The latter point is a frequent cause of microorganism inclusions. If a colony of bacteria is grown on a Petri dish, then after the supply of food the majority of the cells passes into the form of a cyst. If the medium is rich in nutrients, the incidence of incoction is minimal.

In some groups of organisms, the cyst is formed under other circumstances. For example, in infusorians, this process is necessary for rearrangements of the nuclear apparatus inside the cell. Incubation of parasitic cells of eukaryotes occurs in order to leave the environment of the host organism and get into an unsuitable habitat. Some representatives of prokaryotes and eukaryotes use cysts for reproduction.

Types of Inclusion

For what purpose do microorganisms go to the cyst stage? Here are some types of inclusions that are most often found in nature.

1. Rest cysts.

These forms of bacteria and protists are a typical example of an incision in which a cell experiences unfavorable environmental conditions.

2. Cysts of reproduction.

This type is typical for many representatives of infusorians. In this case, the cysts form a fairly thin shell, and the cell begins to divide many times. As a result, the cyst bursts, and a large number of copies of the maternal organism comes to light.

3. Cysts of digestion.

Such cell forms are rare in a few species of microorganisms. Here the cyst is an adaptation for the effective digestion of food. This type of incestation is characteristic of predator organisms, which after "eating" their prey form a shell and begin to actively digest the prey.