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Tsai CM, Chen CH, Cheng WH, Stelma FF, Li SC, Lin WC. Homeostasis of cellular amino acids in Acanthamoeba castellanii exposed to different media under amoeba-bacteria coculture conditions. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:198. [PMID: 37495951 PMCID: PMC10373360 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02942-6] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acanthamoeba castellanii is a free-living protist that feeds on diverse bacteria. A. castellanii has frequently been utilized in studies on microbial interactions. Grazing bacteria also exhibit diverse effects on the physiological characteristics of amoebae, such as their growth, encystation, and cytotoxicity. Since the composition of amoebae amino acids is closely related to cellular activities, it can indicate the overall responses of A. castellanii to various stimuli. METHOD A. castellanii was exposed to different culture conditions in low-nutrient medium with heat-killed DH5α to clarify their effects. A targeted metabolomic technique was utilized to evaluate the concentration of cellular amino acids. The amino acid composition and pathways were analyzed by two web-based tools: MetaboAnalyst and Pathview. Then, long-term exposure to A. castellanii was investigated through in silico and in vitro methods to elucidate the homeostasis of amino acids and the growth of A. castellanii. RESULTS Under short-term exposure, all kinds of amino acids were enriched in all exposed groups. In contrast to the presence of heat-killed bacteria, the medium exhibited obvious effects on the amino acid composition of A. castellanii. After long-term exposure, the amino acid composition was more similar to that of the control group. A. castellanii may achieve amino acid homeostasis through pathways related to alanine, aspartate, citrulline, and serine. DISCUSSION Under short-term exposure, compared to the presence of bacteria, the type of medium exerted a more powerful effect on the amino acid composition of the amoeba. Previous studies focused on the interaction of the amoeba and bacteria with effective secretion systems and effectors. This may have caused the effects of low-nutrient environments to be overlooked. CONCLUSION When A. castellanii was stimulated in the coculture system through various methods, such as the presence of bacteria and a low-nutrient environment, it accumulated intracellular amino acids within a short period. However, different stimulations correspond to different amino acid compositions. After long-term exposure, A. castellanii achieved an amino acid equilibrium by downregulating the biosynthesis of several amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ming Tsai
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hsien Chen
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hung Cheng
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Foekje F. Stelma
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sung-Chou Li
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chen Lin
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Kot K, Kosik-Bogacka D, Łanocha-Arendarczyk, Ptak M, Roszkowska P, Kram A. Histological Changes in the Kidneys and Heart in Experimental Acanthamoebiasis in Immunocompetent and Immunosuppressed Hosts. Folia Biol (Praha) 2021. [DOI: 10.3409/fb_69-4.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The course of Acanthamoeba spp. infection depends on the age and immune status of the host, and the virulence of the Acanthamoeba spp. strain. Some strains of free-living amoebae exhibit organ specificity, during the course of infection, while others may cause changes
in many organs or completely lose pathogenicity. The aim of the current study was to investigate the pathological properties of Acanthamoeba spp. isolated from a patient with acute myeloid leukemia and atypical pneumonia (AM22). Moreover, the objective was to investigate the histopathological
changes in the kidneys and heart of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice infected with Acanthamoeba spp. Amoebae were re-isolated from both the kidneys and hearts of the inoculated mice, although no cysts or trophozoites of the amoebae were detected in microscopic slides of the
fragments of these organs. Acanthamoeba spp. induced changes in the kidney and heart weight of infected mice. In immunocompetent and immunosuppressed Acanthamoeba spp. infected mice, we found some histopathological changes, including areas with less acidic cytoplasm and a relaxation
of muscle fibers. In further studies, it is important to analyze changes in gene and protein expressions in the heart and kidneys of hosts with disseminated acanthamoebiasis to better understand the course of infection in these organs, because the results of histological analysis varied depending
on the immune status and duration of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Kot
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland
| | - Danuta Kosik-Bogacka
- , Independent Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Botany, Pomeranian Medical University, Powstanców Wielkopolskich 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Łanocha-Arendarczyk
- Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland
| | - Michał Ptak
- Department of Nephrology, Transplantology, and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland
| | - Paulina Roszkowska
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-204, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kram
- Department of Pathomorphology, West Pomeranian Oncology Center, Szczecin, Poland
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Sibanda T, Selvarajan R, Ogola HJ, Obieze CC, Tekere M. Distribution and comparison of bacterial communities in HVAC systems of two university buildings: Implications for indoor air quality and public health. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:47. [PMID: 33415530 PMCID: PMC7790485 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08823-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The installation of HVAC systems in building is meant to enhance indoor air quality as well as increase comfort to occupants. However, HVAC systems have also become a vehicle of contamination of indoor air with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. DNA was extracted from ten HVAC filter dust samples collected from two buildings and subjected to high throughput sequencing analysis to determine the bacterial community structure. Further, the Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2) software was used to predict the potential functional capabilities of the bacterial communities. Sequencing analysis led to the identification of five major bacterial phyla, including Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. At genus level, Mycobacterium, Bacillus, Cupriavidus, Hyphomicrobium and Mesorhizobium were the most dominant. With the exception of the later two bacterial genera, the first three are potential pathogens whose presence in HVAC systems poses a significant public health risk, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Nine pathways associated with antibiotics resistance and bacterial pathogenicity were identified, including polymyxin resistance and peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathways. Further, investigation of the relationship between the detected bacterial meta-communities and predicted potential virulence factors (antibiotic resistance and pathogenic genes) led to the detection of 350 positive associations among 43 core bacteria, 2 pathogenic genes (sitA and uidA) and 14 resistance genes. Overall, the heterogeneous nature of microorganisms found in HVAC systems observed in this study shows that HVAC systems are the origin of airborne infections in indoor environments, and must be periodically cleaned and disinfected to avoid the build-up of pathogens, and the subsequent exposure of human occupants of these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Sibanda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Namibia, Mandume Ndemufayo Ave, Pionierspark, Windhoek, Namibia.
| | - Ramganesh Selvarajan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UNISA, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Henry Jo Ogola
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UNISA, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Centre for Research, Innovation and Technology, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Bondo, Kenya
| | | | - Memory Tekere
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UNISA, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Papademas P, Kamilari E, Aspri M, Anagnostopoulos DA, Mousikos P, Kamilaris A, Tsaltas D. Investigation of donkey milk bacterial diversity by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing on a Cyprus donkey farm. J Dairy Sci 2020; 104:167-178. [PMID: 33162091 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The interest in milk originating from donkeys is growing worldwide due to its claimed functional and nutritional properties, especially for sensitive population groups, such as infants with cow milk protein allergy. The current study aimed to assess the microbiological quality of donkey milk produced in a donkey farm in Cyprus using culture-based and high-throughput sequencing techniques. The culture-based microbiological analysis showed very low microbial counts, whereas important food-borne pathogens were not detected in any sample. In addition, high-throughput sequencing was applied to characterize the bacterial communities of donkey milk samples. Donkey milk mostly composed of gram-negative Proteobacteria, including Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas, Mesorhizobium, and Acinetobacter; lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillus and Streptococcus; the endospores forming Clostridium; and the environmental genera Flavobacterium and Ralstonia, detected in lower relative abundances. The results of the study support existing findings that donkey milk contains mostly gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, it raises questions regarding the contribution of (1) antimicrobial agents (i.e., lysozyme, peptides) in shaping the microbial communities and (2) bacterial microbiota to the functional value of donkey milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Papademas
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus.
| | - E Kamilari
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
| | - M Aspri
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
| | - D A Anagnostopoulos
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
| | - P Mousikos
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
| | - A Kamilaris
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), University of Twente, Enschede, 7522 NB, the Netherlands; Research Centre on Interactive Media, Smart Systems and Emerging Technologies-RISE, Nicosia 1066, Cyprus
| | - D Tsaltas
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus.
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A Mutation in the Mesorhizobium loti oatB Gene Alters the Physicochemical Properties of the Bacterial Cell Wall and Reduces Survival inside Acanthamoeba castellanii. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113510. [PMID: 30413017 PMCID: PMC6274867 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In our previous report, we had shown that the free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii influenced the abundance, competiveness, and virulence of Mesorhizobium loti NZP2213, the microsymbiont of agriculturally important plants of the genus Lotus. The molecular basis of this phenomenon; however, had not been explored. In the present study, we demonstrated that oatB, the O-acetyltransferase encoding gene located in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis cluster of M. loti, was responsible for maintaining the protective capacity of the bacterial cell envelope, necessary for the bacteria to fight environmental stress and survive inside amoeba cells. Using co-culture assays combined with fluorescence and electron microscopy, we showed that an oatB mutant, unlike the parental strain, was efficiently destroyed after rapid internalization by amoebae. Sensitivity and permeability studies of the oatB mutant, together with topography and nanomechanical investigations with the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM), indicated that the incomplete substitution of lipid A-core moieties with O-polysaccharide (O-PS) residues rendered the mutant more sensitive to hydrophobic compounds. Likewise, the truncated LPS moieties, rather than the lack of O-acetyl groups, made the oatB mutant susceptible to the bactericidal mechanisms (nitrosative stress and the action of lytic enzymes) of A. castellanii.
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Patil A, Kale A, Ajane G, Sheikh R, Patil S. Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobium: Mechanisms and Biotechnological Prospective. SOIL BIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-64982-5_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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