[1] Members of the Amoebophrya genus are syndinian parasites[2] that infect free-living dinoflagellates and have varying degrees of host specificity[3] The parasites might act as "biological control agents for red tides and aid in defining species of Amoebophrya."
The ability of Amoebophrya to significantly reduce the population of HAB-forming dinoflagellates through predation is an essential aspect of its natural history and its contribution to marine ecosystems.
A dinospore will attach to the host (biology) cell’s outer surface, then enter the cytosol.
[7] Within ten minutes, the parasite arrives at the host’s nuclear envelope and significantly increases in size during the next twenty-four hours.
[9] It will continue to increase in size through nuclear divisions without the need for cytokinesis, resulting in a beehive-like appearance within the host.