1
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Ilyas M, Stapleton F, Willcox MDP, Henriquez F, Peguda HK, Rayamajhee B, Zahid T, Petsoglou C, Carnt NA. Epidemiology of and Genetic Factors Associated with Acanthamoeba Keratitis. Pathogens 2024; 13:142. [PMID: 38392880 PMCID: PMC10892102 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a severe, rare protozoal infection of the cornea. Acanthamoeba can survive in diverse habitats and at extreme temperatures. AK is mostly seen in contact lens wearers whose lenses have become contaminated or who have a history of water exposure, and in those without contact lens wear who have experienced recent eye trauma involving contaminated soil or water. Infection usually results in severe eye pain, photophobia, inflammation, and corneal epithelial defects. The pathophysiology of this infection is multifactorial, including the production of cytotoxic proteases by Acanthamoeba that degrades the corneal epithelial basement membrane and induces the death of ocular surface cells, resulting in degradation of the collagen-rich corneal stroma. AK can be prevented by avoiding risk factors, which includes avoiding water contact, such as swimming or showering in contact lenses, and wearing protective goggles when working on the land. AK is mostly treated with an antimicrobial therapy of biguanides alone or in combination with diaminidines, although the commercial availability of these medicines is variable. Other than anti-amoeba therapies, targeting host immune pathways in Acanthamoeba disease may lead to the development of vaccines or antibody therapeutics which could transform the management of AK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ilyas
- Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department, Punjab 54000, Pakistan; (M.I.)
| | - Fiona Stapleton
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia (H.K.P.)
| | - Mark D. P. Willcox
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia (H.K.P.)
| | - Fiona Henriquez
- School of Health and Life Sciences, The University of the West of Scotland, Glasgow G72 0LH, UK
| | - Hari Kumar Peguda
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia (H.K.P.)
| | - Binod Rayamajhee
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia (H.K.P.)
| | - Tasbiha Zahid
- Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department, Punjab 54000, Pakistan; (M.I.)
| | | | - Nicole A. Carnt
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia (H.K.P.)
- Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
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2
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Kassu M, Parvatkar PT, Milanes J, Monaghan NP, Kim C, Dowgiallo M, Zhao Y, Asakawa AH, Huang L, Wagner A, Miller B, Carter K, Barrett KF, Tillery LM, Barrett LK, Phan IQ, Subramanian S, Myler PJ, Van Voorhis WC, Leahy JW, Rice CA, Kyle DE, Morris J, Manetsch R. Shotgun Kinetic Target-Guided Synthesis Approach Enables the Discovery of Small-Molecule Inhibitors against Pathogenic Free-Living Amoeba Glucokinases. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:2190-2201. [PMID: 37820055 PMCID: PMC10644346 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic free-living amoebae (pFLA) can cause life-threatening central nervous system (CNS) infections and warrant the investigation of new chemical agents to combat the rise of infection from these pathogens. Naegleria fowleri glucokinase (NfGlck), a key metabolic enzyme involved in generating glucose-6-phosphate, was previously identified as a potential target due to its limited sequence similarity with human Glck (HsGlck). Herein, we used our previously demonstrated multifragment kinetic target-guided synthesis (KTGS) screening strategy to identify inhibitors against pFLA glucokinases. Unlike the majority of previous KTGS reports, our current study implements a "shotgun" approach, where fragments were not biased by predetermined binding potentials. The study resulted in the identification of 12 inhibitors against 3 pFLA glucokinase enzymes─NfGlck, Balamuthia mandrillaris Glck (BmGlck), and Acanthamoeba castellanii Glck (AcGlck). This work demonstrates the utility of KTGS to identify small-molecule binders for biological targets where resolved X-ray crystal structures are not readily accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mintesinot Kassu
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Prakash T. Parvatkar
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Jillian Milanes
- Eukaryotic
Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - Neil P. Monaghan
- Eukaryotic
Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - Chungsik Kim
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Matthew Dowgiallo
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Yingzhao Zhao
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ami H. Asakawa
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Lili Huang
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Alicia Wagner
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Brandon Miller
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Karissa Carter
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Kayleigh F. Barrett
- Center
for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Logan M. Tillery
- Center
for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Lynn K. Barrett
- Center
for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Isabelle Q. Phan
- Center for Global Infectious Diseases Research, Seattle Children’s Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Center for Global Infectious Diseases Research, Seattle Children’s Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Peter J. Myler
- Center for Global Infectious Diseases Research, Seattle Children’s Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Center
for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - James W. Leahy
- Department of Chemistry, University
of
South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Christopher A. Rice
- Department
of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue
Institute for Drug Discovery (PIDD), Purdue
University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute
of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease (PI4D), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Department
of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Dennis E. Kyle
- Department
of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - James Morris
- Eukaryotic
Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - Roman Manetsch
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Barnett
Institute of Chemical and Biological Analysis, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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3
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Wang Y, Jiang L, Zhao Y, Ju X, Wang L, Jin L, Fine RD, Li M. Biological characteristics and pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1147077. [PMID: 37089530 PMCID: PMC10113681 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1147077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic protozoa, which exists widely in nature and is mainly distributed in soil and water. Acanthamoeba usually exists in two forms, trophozoites and cysts. The trophozoite stage is one of growth and reproduction while the cyst stage is characterized by cellular quiescence, commonly resulting in human infection, and the lack of effective monotherapy after initial infection leads to chronic disease. Acanthamoeba can infect several human body tissues such as the skin, cornea, conjunctiva, respiratory tract, and reproductive tract, especially when the tissue barriers are damaged. Furthermore, serious infections can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, skin, and lung infections. With an increasing number of Acanthamoeba infections in recent years, the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba is becoming more relevant to mainstream clinical care. This review article will describe the etiological characteristics of Acanthamoeba infection in detail from the aspects of biological characteristic, classification, disease, and pathogenic mechanism in order to provide scientific basis for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Acanthamoeba infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehua Wang
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
| | - Linzhe Jiang
- General Surgery, Jilin People’s Hospital, Jilin City, China
| | - Yitong Zhao
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
| | - Xiaohong Ju
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
| | - Le Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin City, China
| | - Liang Jin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin City, China
| | - Ryan D. Fine
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Mingguang Li
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
- *Correspondence: Mingguang Li,
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Isolates from ancient permafrost help to elucidate species boundaries in Acanthamoeba castellanii complex (Amoebozoa: Discosea). Eur J Protistol 2020; 73:125671. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Kang H, Sohn HJ, Seo GE, Seong GS, Ham AJ, Park AY, Jung SY, Lee SE, Cho SH, Shin HJ. Molecular detection of free-living amoebae from Namhangang (southern Han River) in Korea. Sci Rep 2020; 10:335. [PMID: 31942007 PMCID: PMC6962209 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57347-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The free-living amoebae Naegleria spp. and Acanthamoeba spp. exist in the natural environment and are sometimes causal agents of lethal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), amoebic keratitis (AK) and granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) in humans, respectively. To ascertain the existence of free-living amoebae in Korea, water samples were collected from the Korean hydrosphere, Namhangang (southern Han River), an active location for water skiing and recreation. Samples underwent two-step filtration and were cultured on non-nutrient agar medium with inactivated E. coli. The remaining samples were subjected to PCR for primarily the 18S small ribosomal RNA gene and gene sequencing. Similarities in 18S rDNA sequences, in comparison with various reference amoebae in GenBank, showed 86~99% homology with N. gruberi, N. philippinensis, N. clarki, A. polyphaga, A. castellannii, and Hartmannella (Vermamoeba) vermiformis. Therefore, this study will be useful for seasonal detection of free-living amoebae from various Korean hydrospheres in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heekyoung Kang
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Jin Sohn
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Ga-Eun Seo
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi-Sang Seong
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - A-Jeong Ham
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - A-Young Park
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Yul Jung
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Molecular Diagnostics Research Institute, School of Health and Medicine, Namseoul University, Cheonan, 31020, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Eun Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Osong, 363-951, Republic of Korea
| | - Shin-Hyeong Cho
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Osong, 363-951, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Joon Shin
- Department of Microbiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Ajou University, Suwon, 16499, Republic of Korea.
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Haniloo A, Pezeshki A, Mahmmodzadeh A, Kadkhodamohammadi E. Genotyping of Acanthamoeba spp. from water sources from Northwestern Iran. Acta Parasitol 2017; 62:790-795. [PMID: 29035854 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2017-0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba spp. are free-living amoebae which are ubiquitously distributed worldwide and can be found in the wide range of environments, particularly in various types of water sources, where they able to cause important health problems. In the present study, cultures containing Acanthamoeba from water samples were obtained from our earlier survey. For an analysis of the genetic pattern of Acanthamoeba isolates, DNA sequencing of nuclear small-subunit rRNA gene (18S rRNA or Rns) was applied. A phylogenetic analyses of the isolates displayed that all of them were belonged to the potentially pathogenic T4 genotype. This investigation provides further evidence that the T4 genotype is the most prevalent in water samples and demonstrates that there is a need for taking more consideration to water sources in order to prevent complications associated with pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp.
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7
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Free-living amoebae in the water resources of Iran: a systematic review. J Parasit Dis 2017; 41:919-928. [PMID: 29114120 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-017-0950-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-living amoebae (FLA) are a group of protozoa with the capabilities of growth in the environment and invasion to the human body which have been isolated from different water sources. Acanthamoeba, Naegleria, and Balamuthia are the most important FLA. These cause a variety of severe complications of eye and central nervous system. Despite the fact that various studies have demonstrated the prevalence of FLA in different parts of Iran, there is no comprehensive evaluation and conclusion regarding the pollution of various water sources in Iran. This review was carried out to achieve the prevalence pattern of FLA in water resources across Iran to design appropriate health strategies. For this purpose, 8 online databases in English and Persian and also graduate thesis and national parasitology congresses were studied. The key words such as "free living amoebae", "Acanthamoeba", "Naegleria", "Hartmannella", "Balamuthia", "Sappinia", "Vermamoebae", "Valkampfia", "water resources", "water" and "Iran" were used to search articles between 1990 to 2017. From a total of 236 articles found, 38 reliable articles were included in the study. From the total number of investigated studies, the estimated prevalence was obtained as 36% among 2430 samples. Although Acanthamoeba prevalence has been considered as a priority, most kinds of free-living amoebae were found in all kinds of water resources. Due to the lack of free-living amoebae prevalence in more than a quarter of the Iranian provinces, more studies are recommended to achieve a better perspective to make comprehensive decisions to improve the hygiene of water resources.
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8
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Isolation and molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba from patients with keratitis in Spain. Eur J Protistol 2017; 61:244-252. [PMID: 28756938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In order to improve our knowledge on the epidemiology of amoebic keratitis, as well as the identification of Acanthamoeba isolates, we have isolated Acanthamoeba spp. from five symptomatic patients in Spain in the present study. All isolates were grown in axenic liquid medium, with only one exception. The morphology of these isolates were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Their structural features corresponded to those of amphizoic amoebae (namely Acanthamoeba spp.). The molecular characterization of the five Acanthamoeba isolates yielded six sequences. Almost complete 18S rRNA gene sequences (>2000bp) were obtained from three isolates and partial sequences (∼1500bp) from the other two. A robust phylogenetic analysis based on the almost complete 18S rRNA sequence showed that four isolates belonged to the T4 genotype and the other one to the T3 genotype. However, all isolates were identified as T4 genotype using the ASA.S1 fragment. As previously suggested by other researchers, only a robust phylogenetic approach may be helpful in identifying Acanthamoeba genotypes. In addition, new data on the phylogenetic relationships among the Acanthamoeba genotypes is provided and discussed.
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9
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Genotypic, physiological, and biochemical characterization of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolated from the environment in Cairo, Egypt. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:1871-81. [PMID: 26841771 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-4927-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoebae are the most common opportunistic amphizoic protozoa that cause life-threatening granulomatous amoebic encephalitis in immunocompromised individuals and sight-threatening amoebic keratitis (AK) in contact lens wearers. The present work aimed to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba isolates in different environmental sources: water, soil, and dust in Cairo, Egypt and to characterize the pathogenic potential of the isolated Acanthamoeba using physiological and biochemical assays as well as determination of the genotypes in an attempt to correlate pathogenicity with certain genotypes. The study included the collection of 22 corneal scrapings from patients complaining of symptoms and signs indicative of acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and 75 environmental samples followed by cultivation on non-nutrient agar plates preseeded with E. coli. Positive samples for Acanthamoeba were subjected to osmo- and thermo-tolerance assays and zymography analysis. Potentially pathogenic isolates were subjected to PCR amplification using genus-specific primer pair. Isolates were classified at the genotype level based on the sequence analysis of Acanthamoeba 18S rRNA gene (diagnostic fragment 3). The total detection rate for Acanthamoeba in environmental samples was 33.3 %, 31.4 % in water, 40 % in soil, and 20 % in dust samples. Three and two Acanthamoeba isolates from water and soil sources, respectively, had the potential for pathogenicity as they exhibited full range of pathogenic traits. Other 12 isolates were designated as weak potential pathogens. Only ten of the environmental isolates were positive in PCR and were classified by genotype analysis into T4 genotype (70 %), T3 (10 %) and T5 (20 %). Potential pathogens belonged to genotypes T4 (from water) and T5 (from soil) while weak potential pathogens belonged to genotypes T3 (from water) and T4 (from water and soil). Additionally, T7 genotype was isolated from keratitis patients. There is a considerable variation in the response of Acanthamoeba members of the same genotype to pathogenicity indicator assays making correlation of pathogenicity with certain genotypes difficult. Presence of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolates in habitats related directly to human populations represent a risk for human health. Isolation of Acanthamoeba genotype T7 from AK cases, which is commonly considered as nonpathogenic, might draw the attention to other Acanthamoeba genotypes considered as non pathogenic and reevaluate their role in production of human infections. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the presence and distribution of Acanthamoeba genotypes in the environment, Cairo, Egypt.
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Fiore-Donno AM, Weinert J, Wubet T, Bonkowski M. Metacommunity analysis of amoeboid protists in grassland soils. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19068. [PMID: 26750872 PMCID: PMC4707496 DOI: 10.1038/srep19068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study reveals the diversity and distribution of two major ubiquitous groups of soil amoebae, the genus Acanthamoeba and the Myxomycetes (plasmodial slime-moulds) that are rarely, if ever, recovered in environmental sampling studies. We analyzed 150 grassland soil samples from three Biodiversity Exploratories study regions in Germany. We developed specific primers targeting the V2 variable region in the first part of the small subunit of the ribosomal RNA gene for high-throughput pyrotag sequencing. From ca. 1 million reads, applying very stringent filtering and clustering parameters to avoid overestimation of the diversity, we obtained 273 acanthamoebal and 338 myxomycete operational taxonomic units (OTUs, 96% similarity threshold). This number is consistent with the genetic diversity known in the two investigated lineages, but unequalled to date by any environmental sampling study. Only very few OTUs were identical to already known sequences. Strikingly different OTUs assemblages were found between the three German regions (PerMANOVA p.value = 0.001) and even between sites of the same region (multiple-site Simpson-based similarity indices <0.4), showing steep biogeographical gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Fiore-Donno
- Institute of Zoology, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jan Weinert
- Institute of Zoology, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tesfaye Wubet
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Soil Ecology, Halle (Saale), Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Bonkowski
- Institute of Zoology, Department of Terrestrial Ecology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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11
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Kiss C, Barna Z, Vargha M, Török JK. Incidence and molecular diversity of Acanthamoeba species isolated from public baths in Hungary. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:2551-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3905-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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12
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MIRJALALI H, NIYYATI M, ABEDKHOJASTEH H, BABAEI Z, SHARIFDINI M, REZAEIAN M. Pathogenic assays of acanthamoeba belonging to the t4 genotype. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2013; 8:530-5. [PMID: 25516733 PMCID: PMC4266116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acanthamoeba genus is introduced as opportunistic and cosmopolitan parasite. Monkey and wistar rat are appropriate models for experimental study on Acanthamoeba infection. In this study Acanthamoeba spp. were isolated from hot spring (HS), windows dust (WD) and a corneal sample of keratitis patient (KP) and their pathogenicity surveyed by in vitro and in vivo tests. METHODS Isolates of Acanthamoeba were cultivated axenically for 12 months in PYG medium. Overall, 30 wistar rats, in 6 equal groups were used for developing experimental Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) and Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE). The Keratitis and Granulomatous Encephalitis experiments were performed by intrastromal and intranasal inoculation of Acanthamoeba cysts, respectively. Pathogenicity of the three isolates was also evaluated by in vitro test using osmotolerance and temperature tolerance assays. Identification of genotypes were performed by PCR technique and sequencing. RESULT None of the isolates could perform AK and GAE in wistar rats, although all isolates were described as T4 genotype. Isolates obtained from KP and WD could grow only in 30 °C, but not in 37 °C and 40 °C. On the other hand, HS isolate grew in 30 °C and 37 °C but not in 40 °C. Moreover, all of isolate grew in 0.5 M mannitol but not in 1 M and 1.5 M. CONCLUSION T4 isolates with a long-term axenic culture and different factors related to host and parasite may play role in pathogenicity of these free-living amoebae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed MIRJALALI
- Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam NIYYATI
- Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hoda ABEDKHOJASTEH
- Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra BABAEI
- Dept. of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Meysam SHARIFDINI
- Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa REZAEIAN
- Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Correspondence
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Rahman MM, Yagita K, Kobayashi A, Oikawa Y, Hussein AIA, Matsumura T, Tokoro M. Genetic characterization of clinical acanthamoeba isolates from Japan using nuclear and mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal RNA. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2013; 51:401-11. [PMID: 24039282 PMCID: PMC3770870 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.4.401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Because of an increased number of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) along with associated disease burdens, medical professionals have become more aware of this pathogen in recent years. In this study, by analyzing both the nuclear 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene loci, 27 clinical Acanthamoeba strains that caused AK in Japan were classified into 3 genotypes, T3 (3 strains), T4 (23 strains), and T5 (one strain). Most haplotypes were identical to the reference haplotypes reported from all over the world, and thus no specificity of the haplotype distribution in Japan was found. The T4 sub-genotype analysis using the 16S rRNA gene locus also revealed a clear sub-conformation within the T4 cluster, and lead to the recognition of a new sub-genotype T4i, in addition to the previously reported sub-genotypes T4a-T4h. Furthermore, 9 out of 23 strains in the T4 genotype were identified to a specific haplotype (AF479533), which seems to be a causal haplotype of AK. While heterozygous nuclear haplotypes were observed from 2 strains, the mitochondrial haplotypes were homozygous as T4 genotype in the both strains, and suggested a possibility of nuclear hybridization (mating reproduction) between different strains in Acanthamoeba. The nuclear 18S rRNA gene and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene loci of Acanthamoeba spp. possess different unique characteristics usable for the genotyping analyses, and those specific features could contribute to the establishment of molecular taxonomy for the species complex of Acanthamoeba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Moshiur Rahman
- Department of Parasitology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
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Schiller B, Makrypidi G, Razzazi-Fazeli E, Paschinger K, Walochnik J, Wilson IBH. Exploring the unique N-glycome of the opportunistic human pathogen Acanthamoeba. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:43191-204. [PMID: 23139421 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.418095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycans play key roles in host-pathogen interactions; thus, knowing the N-glycomic repertoire of a pathogen can be helpful in deciphering its methods of establishing and sustaining a disease. Therefore, we sought to elucidate the glycomic potential of the facultative amoebal parasite Acanthamoeba. This is the first study of its asparagine-linked glycans, for which we applied biochemical tools and various approaches of mass spectrometry. An initial glycomic screen of eight strains from five genotypes of this human pathogen suggested, in addition to the common eukaryotic oligomannose structures, the presence of pentose and deoxyhexose residues on their N-glycans. A more detailed analysis was performed on the N-glycans of a genotype T11 strain (4RE); fractionation by HPLC and tandem mass spectrometric analyses indicated the presence of a novel mannosylfucosyl modification of the reducing terminal core as well as phosphorylation of mannose residues, methylation of hexose and various forms of pentosylation. The largest N-glycan in the 4RE strain contained two N-acetylhexosamine, thirteen hexose, one fucose, one methyl, and two pentose residues; however, in this and most other strains analyzed, glycans with compositions of Hex(8-9)HexNAc(2)Pnt(0-1) tended to dominate in terms of abundance. Although no correlation between pathogenicity and N-glycan structure can be proposed, highly unusual structures in this facultative parasite can be found which are potential virulence factors or therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Schiller
- Department of Chemistry, Universität für Bodenkultur (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences), A-1190 Wien, Austria
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Alves DDSMM, Moraes AS, Nitz N, de Oliveira MGC, Hecht MM, Gurgel-Gonçalves R, Cuba CAC. Occurrence and characterization of Acanthamoeba similar to genotypes T4, T5, and T2/T6 isolated from environmental sources in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. Exp Parasitol 2012; 131:239-44. [PMID: 22546341 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2011] [Revised: 04/08/2012] [Accepted: 04/12/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Species of Acanthamoeba can cause keratitis and brain infections. The characterization of environmental isolates is necessary to analyze the risk of human infection. We aimed at identifying and genotyping Acanthamoeba isolates from soil, swimming pools, and water features in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, as well as determining their physiological characteristics and pathogenic potential. Among the 18 isolates studied, eight were similar to genotype T5, five to T4, and one to T2/T6, classified by the sequence analysis of 18S rDNA. Genotypes of four isolates were not determined. Ten isolates (55%) grew at 37 °C and seven (39%) grew in media with 1.5M mannitol, which are the physiological parameters associated with pathogenic Acanthamoeba; also, four isolates from swimming pools presented high pathogenic potential. Our results indicate a widespread distribution of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba T4, T5, and T2/T6 in different environmental sources in Brasília, revealing the potential risk of human infection and the need of preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella de Sousa Mendes Moreira Alves
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
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Khairnar K, Tamber GS, Ralevski F, Pillai DR. Comparison of molecular diagnostic methods for the detection of Acanthamoeba spp. from clinical specimens submitted for keratitis. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2011; 70:499-506. [DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2010] [Revised: 03/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/22/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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