Ciliated protists represent one of the most primitive lineages of eukaryotes, with nuclear dimorphism, a distinctive sexual process (conjugation), and extensive genome rearrangements. Sessilida, among ...

Encystment is a common stress response of most protists, including free-living amoebae. Cyst formation protects the amoebae from eradication and can increase virulence of the bacteria they harbor.

Coats, D. Wayne and Clamp, J. C. 2009. "Ciliated protists (Ciliophora) of the Gulf of Mexico." In Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters and Biota Vol. 1, Biodiversity. Felder ...

Encystment is a widespread survival strategy among ciliated protozoa that enables cells to withstand environmental stressors by transforming from actively feeding trophonts into dormant cysts. This ...