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Loufouma Mbouaka A, Lesiak-Markowicz I, Heredero-Bermejo I, Mazumdar R, Walochnik J, Martín-Pérez T. Assessing Acanthamoeba cytotoxicity: comparison of common cell viability assays. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1175469. [PMID: 37180263 PMCID: PMC10167018 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1175469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In vitro models for studying interactions between Acanthamoeba and host cells are crucial for understanding the pathomechanism of Acanthamoeba and assessing differences between strains and cell types. The virulence of Acanthamoeba strains is usually assessed and monitored by using cell cytotoxicity assays. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the most widely used cytotoxicity assays for their suitability to assess Acanthamoeba cytopathogenicity. Methods The viability of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) after co-culture with Acanthamoeba was evaluated in phase contrast microscopy. Results It was shown that Acanthamoeba is unable to considerably reduce the tetrazolium salt and the NanoLuc® Luciferase prosubstrate to formazan and the luciferase substrate, respectively. This incapacity helped to generate a cell density-dependent signal allowing to accurately quantify Acanthamoeba cytotoxicity. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay led to an underestimation of the cytotoxic effect of Acanthamoeba on HCECs since their co-incubation negatively affected the lactate dehydrogenase activity. Discussion Our findings demonstrate that cell-based assays using the aqueous soluble tetrazolium-formazan, and the NanoLuc® Luciferase prosubstrate products, in contrast to LDH, are excellent markers to monitor the interaction of Acanthamoeba with human cell lines and to determine and quantify effectively the cytotoxic effect induced by the amoebae. Furthermore, our data indicate that protease activity may have an impact on the outcome and thus the reliability of these tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvie Loufouma Mbouaka
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iwona Lesiak-Markowicz
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Heredero-Bermejo
- Department of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rounik Mazumdar
- Max Perutz Labs Vienna, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tania Martín-Pérez
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Loufouma Mbouaka A, Leitsch D, Koehsler M, Walochnik J. Antimicrobial effect of auranofin against Acanthamoeba spp. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2021; 58:106425. [PMID: 34419578 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2021.106425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoebae are opportunistic pathogens that cause serious infections, including Acanthamoeba keratitis, a sight-threatening disease affecting mainly contact lens wearers, and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, an infection of the central nervous system that occurs mostly in immunocompromised individuals. Although these infections are rare, they are a challenge for healthcare providers. In the last decade, the search for and implementation of novel treatment approaches against these parasites and the infections they cause have intensified, but current options are still unsatisfactory. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro activity of the gold-based compound auranofin against Acanthamoeba spp. The study showed that auranofin has potent antimicrobial activity against Acanthamoeba spp., with an IC50 ranging from 2.9 to 3.48 µM, and thus may be useful in the prevention and control of Acanthamoeba infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvie Loufouma Mbouaka
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - David Leitsch
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martina Koehsler
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Khan NA, Anwar A, Siddiqui R. Acanthamoeba Keratitis: Current Status and Urgent Research Priorities. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:5711-5726. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180510125633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background:First discovered in the early 1970s, Acanthamoeba keratitis has remained a major eye infection and presents a significant threat to the public health, especially in developing countries. The aim is to present a timely review of our current understanding of the advances made in this field in a comprehensible manner and includes novel concepts and provides clear directions for immediate research priorities.Methods:We undertook a search of bibliographic databases for peer-reviewed research literature and also summarized our published results in this field.Results:The present review focuses on novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in details which can provide access to management and treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis. This coupled with the recently available genome sequence information together with high throughput genomics technology and innovative approaches should stimulate interest in the rational design of preventative and therapeutic measures. Current treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis is problematic and often leads to infection recurrence. Better understanding of diagnosis, pathogenesis, pathophysiology and therapeutic regimens, would lead to novel strategies in treatment and prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Habibpour H, Haddad MF, Shokri A, Nejadi SH. A review of Acanthamoeba keratitis in the middle East and Iran. JOURNAL OF ACUTE DISEASE 2019. [DOI: 10.4103/2221-6189.263705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Fabres LF, Maschio VJ, Santos DLD, Kwitko S, Marinho DR, Araújo BSD, Locatelli CI, Rott MB. Virulent T4 Acanthamoeba causing keratitis in a patient after swimming while wearing contact lenses in Southern Brazil. Acta Parasitol 2018; 63:428-432. [PMID: 29654672 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2018-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Several strains of free-living amoebae belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba can cause a painful sight-threatening disease of the cornea known as Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). The numbers of AK cases keep rising worldwide mainly due to an increase in contact lens wearers and lack of hygiene in the maintenance of contact lenses and their cases. We report a case of AK in a healthy young woman admitted to the Hospital de Clinicas in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. Corneal scrapings were examined for the presence of Acanthamoeba strains. The initial isolate was characterized by morphological and genotypic properties. The isolate belonged to group III according to Pussard and Pons' cyst morphology. Analysis of its 18S rDNA sequence identified the isolate as genotype T4. The T4 genotype is the most commonly reported among keratitis isolates and the most common in environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fuhrich Fabres
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Division of Parasitology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite Street, N 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Vinicius José Maschio
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Division of Parasitology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite Street, N 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Denise Leal Dos Santos
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Division of Parasitology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite Street, N 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Sergio Kwitko
- Cornea Division, Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, N 2350, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-903, Brazil
| | - Diane Ruschel Marinho
- Cornea Division, Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, N 2350, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-903, Brazil
| | - Bruno Schneider de Araújo
- Cornea Division, Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, N 2350, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-903, Brazil
| | - Claudete Inês Locatelli
- Cornea Division, Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, N 2350, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-903, Brazil
| | - Marilise Brittes Rott
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Division of Parasitology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Sarmento Leite Street, N 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-170, Brazil
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