Willaertia

Willaertia
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Discoba
Phylum: Heterolobosea
Order: Schizopyrenida
Family: Vahlkampfiidae
Genus: Willaertia
de Jonckheere et al. 1984
Species
  • W. magna de Jonckheere et al. 1984
  • W. minor Dobson et al. 1993

Willaertia /ˈwɪləɹʃə/ is a genus of non-pathogenic, free-living, thermophilic amoebae in the family Vahlkampfiidae.

Originally discovered in 1984 by Johan De Jonckheere, their life cycle, like that of other heteroloboseans, has been found to alternate between three distinct stages: a cyst, amoeba, and temporary flagellated stage. Willaertia live in a variety of environments and in recent years have been researched as a possible biocontrol agent against Legionella pneumophila.

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