1
|
Zhang M, Altan-Bonnet N, Shen Y, Shuai D. Waterborne Human Pathogenic Viruses in Complex Microbial Communities: Environmental Implication on Virus Infectivity, Persistence, and Disinfection. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:5381-5389. [PMID: 35434991 PMCID: PMC9073700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne human pathogenic viruses challenge global health and economy. Viruses were long believed to transmit among hosts as individual, free particles. However, recent evidence indicates that viruses also transmit in populations, so-called en bloc transmission, by either interacting with coexisting bacteria, free-living amoebas, and other higher organisms through endosymbiosis and surface binding, or by being clustered inside membrane-bound vesicles or simply self-aggregating with themselves. En bloc transmission of viruses and virus-microbiome interactions could enable viruses to enhance their infectivity, increase environmental persistence, and resist inactivation from disinfection. Overlooking this type of transmission and virus-microbiome interactions may underestimate the environmental and public health risks of the viruses. We herein provide a critical perspective on waterborne human pathogenic viruses in complex microbial communities to elucidate the environmental implication of virus-microbiome interactions on virus infectivity, persistence, and disinfection. This perspective also provides insights on advancing disinfection and sanitation guidelines and regulations to protect the public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengyang Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, United States
- Laboratory of Host-Pathogen Dynamics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Nihal Altan-Bonnet
- Laboratory of Host-Pathogen Dynamics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Yun Shen
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521
| | - Danmeng Shuai
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, United States
- Corresponding Author: Danmeng Shuai, Phone: 202-994-0506, Fax: 202-994-0127, , Website: http://materwatersus.weebly.com
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
War of the microbial world: Acanthamoeba spp. interactions with microorganisms. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2021; 66:689-699. [PMID: 34145552 PMCID: PMC8212903 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-021-00889-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is known to interact with a plethora of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. In these interactions, the amoebae can be predatory in nature, transmission vehicle or an incubator. Amoebae consume microorganisms, especially bacteria, as food source to fulfil their nutritional needs by taking up bacteria through phagocytosis and lysing them in phagolysosomes and hence play an eminent role in the regulation of bacterial density in the nature and accountable for eradication of around 60% of the bacterial population in the environment. Acanthamoeba can also act as a “Trojan horse” for microbial transmission in the environment. Additionally, Acanthamoeba may serve as an incubator-like reservoir for microorganisms, including those that are pathogenic to humans, where the microorganisms use amoebae’s defences to resist harsh environment and evade host defences and drugs, whilst growing in numbers inside the amoebae. Furthermore, amoebae can also be used as a “genetic melting pot” where exchange of genes as well as adaptation of microorganisms, leading to higher pathogenicity, may arise. Here, we describe bacteria, fungi and viruses that are known to interact with Acanthamoeba spp.
Collapse
|
3
|
Stahl LM, Olson JB. Environmental abiotic and biotic factors affecting the distribution and abundance of Naegleria fowleri. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 97:6006869. [PMID: 33242082 PMCID: PMC8068756 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri is a free-living protozoan that resides in soil and freshwater. Human intranasal amoebae exposure through water or potentially dust particles can culminate in primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, which generally causes death. While many questions remain regarding pathogenesis, the microbial ecology of N. fowleri is even less understood. This review outlines current knowledge of the environmental abiotic and biotic factors that affect the distribution and abundance of N. fowleri. Although the impacts of some abiotic factors remain poorly investigated or inconclusive, N. fowleri appears to have a wide pH range, low salinity tolerance and thermophilic preference. From what is known about biotic factors, the amoebae preferentially feed upon bacteria and are preyed upon by other free-living amoebae. Additional laboratory and environmental studies are needed to fill in knowledge gaps, which are crucial for surveillance and management of N. fowleri in freshwaters. As surface water temperatures increase with climate change, it is likely that this amoeba will pose a greater threat to human health, suggesting that identifying its abiotic and biotic preferences is critical to mitigating this risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leigha M Stahl
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Julie B Olson
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Blome S, Franzke K, Beer M. African swine fever – A review of current knowledge. Virus Res 2020; 287:198099. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
|
5
|
Scheid PL. Vermamoeba vermiformis - A Free-Living Amoeba with Public Health and Environmental Health Significance. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1874421401907010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Many case reports emphasize the fact that Free-Living Amoebae (FLA) can relatively easily get in contact with humans or animals. The presence of several facultative parasitic FLA in habitats related to human activities supports their public health relevance. While some strains of Acanthamoeba,Naegleria fowleri,Balamuthia mandrillarisand several other FLA have been described as facultative human pathogens, it remains controversial whetherVermamoeba vermiformisstrains may have a pathogenic potential, or whether this FLA is just an incidental contaminant in a range of human cases. However, several cases support its role as a human parasite, either as the only etiological agent, or in combination with other pathogens. Additionally, a wide range of FLA is known as vectors of microorganisms (endocytobionts), hereby emphasizing their environmental significance. Among those FLA serving as hosts for and vectors of (pathogenic) endocytobionts, there are also descriptions ofV. vermiformisas a vehicle and a reservoir of those endocytobionts. The involvement in animal and human health, the role as vector of pathogenic microorganisms and the pathogenicity in cell cultures, led to the assumption thatV. vermiformisshould be considered relevant in terms of public health and environmental health.
Collapse
|
6
|
Chan LL, Mak JW, Ambu S, Chong PY. Identification and ultrastructural characterization of Acanthamoeba bacterial endocytobionts belonging to the Alphaproteobacteria class. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204732. [PMID: 30356282 PMCID: PMC6200196 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The detection and identification of two endocytobiotic bacterial strains, one affiliated to the “Candidatus Caedibacter acanthamoebae”/“Ca. Paracaedimonas acanthamoeba”, and another to the endosymbiont of Acanthamoeba UWC8 and “Ca. Jidaibacter acanthamoeba” are described. For endocytobiont screening, we developed a PCR method with a set of broad-range bacterial 16S rRNA primers to substitute the commonly used but technically demanding fluorescent in situ hybridization technique. Our PCR test alone without sequencing failed to discriminate the endocytobiont-containing and endocytobiont-free Acanthamoeba sp. due to the presence of mismatched primers to host mitochondrial DNA. We highlighted the need to perform bacterial primer checking against the Acanthamoeba genome to avoid false positive detection in PCR. Although the genetic aspect of “Ca. Caedibacter acanthamoebae”/“Ca. Paracaedimonas acanthamoeba” and the endosymbiont of Acanthamoeba UWC8/“Ca. Jidaibacter acanthamoeba” are well studied, knowledge pertaining to their morphologies are quite vague. Hence, we used transmission electron microscopy to examine our endocytobionts which are affiliated to previously described intracellular bacteria of Acanthamoeba sp. We used good-quality TEM images for the localization and the fate of the current endocytobionts inside different life stages of the hosts. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, our TEM findings are the first to provide morphological evidence for the clearance of defective Acanthamoeba endocytobionts via an autophagic-like process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Li Chan
- Pathology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- * E-mail:
| | - Joon Wah Mak
- Pathology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- School of Postgraduate Studies and Research, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Stephen Ambu
- Pathology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- School of Postgraduate Studies and Research, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pei Yee Chong
- Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Clouthier S, Anderson E, Kurath G, Breyta R. Molecular systematics of sturgeon nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 128:26-37. [PMID: 30059742 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Namao virus (NV) is a sturgeon nucleocytoplasmic large DNA virus (sNCLDV) that can cause a lethal disease of the integumentary system in lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. As a group, the sNCLDV have not been assigned to any currently recognized taxonomic family of viruses. In this study, a data set of NV DNA sequences was generated and assembled as two non-overlapping contigs of 306,448 bp and then used to conduct a comprehensive systematics analysis using Bayesian inference of phylogeny for NV, other sNCLDV and representative members of six families of the NCLDV superfamily. The phylogeny of NV was reconstructed using protein homologues encoded by nine nucleocytoplasmic virus orthologous genes (NCVOGs): NCVOG0022 - mcp, NCVOG0038 - DNA polymerase B elongation subunit, NCVOG0076 - VV A18-type helicase, NCVOG0249 - VV A32-type ATPase, NCVOG0262 - AL2 VLTF3-like transcription factor, NCVOG0271 - RNA polymerase II subunit II, NCVOG0274 - RNA polymerase II subunit I, NCVOG0276 - ribonucleotide reductase small subunit and NCVOG1117 - mRNA capping enzyme. The accuracy of our phylogenetic method was evaluated using a combination of Bayesian statistical analysis and congruence analysis. Stable tree topologies were obtained with data sets differing in target molecule(s), sequence length and taxa. Congruent topologies were obtained in phylogenies constructed using individual protein data sets. The major capsid protein phylogeny inferred that ten representative sNCLDV form a monophyletic group comprised of four lineages within a polyphyletic Mimi-Phycodnaviridae group of taxa. Overall, the analyses revealed that Namao virus is a member of the Mimiviridae family with strong and consistent support for a clade containing NV and CroV as sister taxa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Clouthier
- Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Freshwater Institute, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6, Canada.
| | - Eric Anderson
- Box 28, Group 30, RR2, Ste Anne, Manitoba R5H 1R2, Canada
| | - Gael Kurath
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, 6505 NE 65th Street, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Rachel Breyta
- U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, 6505 NE 65th Street, Seattle, WA 98115, USA; Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, 2820 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bertelli C, Mueller L, Thomas V, Pillonel T, Jacquier N, Greub G. Cedratvirus lausannensis - digging into Pithoviridae diversity. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:4022-4034. [PMID: 28618143 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amoeba-infecting viruses have raised scientists' interest due to their novel particle morphologies, their large genome size and their genomic content challenging previously established dogma. We report here the discovery and the characterization of Cedratvirus lausannensis, a novel member of the Megavirales, with a 0.75-1 µm long amphora-shaped particle closed by two striped plugs. Among numerous host cell types tested, the virus replicates only in Acanthamoeba castellanii leading to host cell lysis within 24 h. C. lausannensis was resistant to ethanol, hydrogen peroxide and heating treatments. Like 30 000-year-old Pithovirus sibericum, C. lausannensis enters by phagocytosis, releases its genetic content by fusion of the internal membrane with the inclusion membrane and replicates in intracytoplasmic viral factories. The genome encodes 643 proteins that confirmed the grouping of C. lausannensis with Cedratvirus A11 as phylogenetically distant members of the family Pithoviridae. The 575,161 bp AT-rich genome is essentially devoid of the numerous repeats harbored by Pithovirus, suggesting that these non-coding repetitions might be due to a selfish element rather than particular characteristics of the Pithoviridae family. The discovery of C. lausannensis confirms the contemporary worldwide distribution of Pithoviridae members and the characterization of its genome paves the way to better understand their evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Bertelli
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Linda Mueller
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Thomas
- Technology Research Institute Bioaster, 28, Rue du Docteur Roux, Paris, 75015, France
| | - Trestan Pillonel
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Jacquier
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gilbert Greub
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Maisonneuve E, Cateau E, Leveque N, Kaaki S, Beby-Defaux A, Rodier MH. Acanthamoeba castellanii is not be an adequate model to study human adenovirus interactions with macrophagic cells. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178629. [PMID: 28591183 PMCID: PMC5462383 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Free living amoebae (FLA) including Acanthamoeba castellanii, are protozoa that feed on different microorganisms including viruses. These microorganisms show remarkable similarities with macrophages in cellular structures, physiology or ability to phagocyte preys, and some authors have therefore wondered whether Acanthamoeba and macrophages are evolutionary related. It has been considered that this amoeba may be an in vitro model to investigate relationships between pathogens and macrophagic cells. So, we intended in this study to compare the interactions between a human adenovirus strain and A. castellanii or THP-1 macrophagic cells. The results of molecular and microscopy techniques following co-cultures experiments have shown that the presence of the adenovirus decreased the viability of macrophages, while it has no effect on amoebic viability. On another hand, the viral replication occurred only in macrophages. These results showed that this amoebal model is not relevant to explore the relationships between adenoviruses and macrophages in in vitro experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Maisonneuve
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Equipe Microbiologie de l’Eau, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Estelle Cateau
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Equipe Microbiologie de l’Eau, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
- Laboratoire de parasitologie et mycologie médicale, CHU La Milètrie, Poitiers, France
| | - Nicolas Leveque
- Laboratoire de virologie et mycobactériologie, CHU La Milètrie, Poitiers, France
- Laboratoire Inflammation, Tissus Epithéliaux et Cytokines, EA 4331, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Sihem Kaaki
- Unité de pathologie ultrastructurale et expérimentale, Laboratoire d’anatomie et cytologie pathologiques, CHU la Milètrie, Poitiers, France
| | - Agnès Beby-Defaux
- Laboratoire de virologie et mycobactériologie, CHU La Milètrie, Poitiers, France
| | - Marie-Hélène Rodier
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Equipe Microbiologie de l’Eau, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
- Laboratoire de parasitologie et mycologie médicale, CHU La Milètrie, Poitiers, France
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lass A, Guerrero M, Li X, Karanis G, Ma L, Karanis P. Detection of Acanthamoeba spp. in water samples collected from natural water reservoirs, sewages, and pharmaceutical factory drains using LAMP and PCR in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 584-585:489-494. [PMID: 28131444 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Various species of amoebas belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba are widely distributed in many parts of the world. Some strains of these protozoans may exist as parasites and pose risks to human health as causative agents of serious human diseases. Currently in China there is a lack of information about the distribution of Acanthamoeba strains in the environment. Accordingly, 261 environmental water samples taken from rivers, sewage, and pharmaceutical factory drains were collected in Qinghai Province, China. The material was filtered and then analysed with both LAMP and PCR assays. Of the samples examined, Acanthamoeba DNA was found in 32 (14.68%) samples with the use of LAMP; in 13 of these samples, DNA from this amoeba was also detected using PCR. Sequencing of selected positive samples confirmed that the PCR products were fragments of the Acanthamoeba 18S rRNA gene and that isolates represent the T4 genotype, known as the most common strain related to AK cases. The results indicate that surface water, as well as water taken from sewage and pharmaceutical drains, may be a source of acanthamoebic strains potentially pathogenic for humans in China. It has been also demonstrated that LAMP assays is more sensitive than PCR and can be regarded as useful tool for screening the environment for Acanthamoeba spp.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lass
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Center for Biomedicine and Infectious Disease, Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Medical School of Qinghai University Xining, 1#Wei'er Road, Qinghai, Biological Scientific Estate Garden, Xining 810016, PR China; Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Medical University of Gdansk, 9b Powstania Styczniowego Str, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland
| | - Milena Guerrero
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Center for Biomedicine and Infectious Disease, Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Medical School of Qinghai University Xining, 1#Wei'er Road, Qinghai, Biological Scientific Estate Garden, Xining 810016, PR China; Research Group of Functional Materials and Catalysis, GIMFC, Universidad de Nariño, Calle 18 Cra. 50, Campus Torobajo, Pasto-Colombia. Doctorate in Biotechnology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Xiuping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Center for Biomedicine and Infectious Disease, Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Medical School of Qinghai University Xining, 1#Wei'er Road, Qinghai, Biological Scientific Estate Garden, Xining 810016, PR China
| | - Gabriele Karanis
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Center for Biomedicine and Infectious Disease, Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Medical School of Qinghai University Xining, 1#Wei'er Road, Qinghai, Biological Scientific Estate Garden, Xining 810016, PR China; Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, Xining City 810016, Qinghai Province, PR China
| | - Liqing Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Center for Biomedicine and Infectious Disease, Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Medical School of Qinghai University Xining, 1#Wei'er Road, Qinghai, Biological Scientific Estate Garden, Xining 810016, PR China
| | - Panagiotis Karanis
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Center for Biomedicine and Infectious Disease, Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Medical School of Qinghai University Xining, 1#Wei'er Road, Qinghai, Biological Scientific Estate Garden, Xining 810016, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Free-Living Amoebae as Hosts for and Vectors of Intracellular Microorganisms with Public Health Significance. Viruses 2017; 9:v9040065. [PMID: 28368313 PMCID: PMC5408671 DOI: 10.3390/v9040065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-living amoebae (FLA) are parasites within both humans and animals causing a wide range of symptoms and act as hosts of, and vehicles for phylogenetically diverse microorganisms, called endocytobionts. The interaction of the FLA with sympatric microorganisms leads to an exceptional diversity within FLA. Some of these bacteria, viruses, and even eukaryotes, can live and replicate intracellularly within the FLA. This relationship provides protection to the microorganisms from external interventions and a dispersal mechanism across various habitats. Among those intracellularly-replicating or -residing organisms there are obligate and facultative pathogenic microorganisms affecting the health of humans or animals and are therefore of interest to Public Health Authorities. Mimiviruses, Pandoraviruses, and Pithoviruses are examples for interesting viral endocytobionts within FLA. Future research is expected to reveal further endocytobionts within free-living amoebae and other protozoa through co-cultivation studies, genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses.
Collapse
|
12
|
Evaluation of the effectiveness of tea tree oil in treatment of Acanthamoeba infection. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:997-1001. [PMID: 28124137 PMCID: PMC5313585 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5377-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Eye diseases caused by amoebae from the genus Acanthamoeba are usually chronic and severe, and their treatment is prolonged and not very effective. The difficulties associated with therapy have led to attempts at finding alternative treatment methods. Particularly popular is searching for cures among drugs made of plants. However, no substances with total efficacy in treating Acanthamoeba keratitis have been identified. Results of our semi in vivo studies of tea tree oil simulating eyeball infection demonstrated 100% effectiveness in the case of both trophozoites and cysts of amoebae from the genus Acanthamoeba. The action of tea tree oil indicates that this is the first substance with a potential ability to quickly and effectively remove the amoebae from the eye. Tea tree oil has the ability to penetrate tissues, which allows it to destroy amoebae in both the shallow and deep layers of the cornea. The present research into the use of tea tree oil in the therapy of Acanthamoeba infection is the first study of this type in parasitology. It offers tremendous potential for effective treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis and other diseases caused by these protozoa.
Collapse
|
13
|
Verani M, Di Giuseppe G, Tammaro C, Carducci A. Investigating the role of Acanthamoeba polyphaga in protecting Human Adenovirus from water disinfection treatment. Eur J Protistol 2016; 54:11-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2016.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
|
14
|
A strange endocytobiont revealed as largest virus. Curr Opin Microbiol 2016; 31:58-62. [PMID: 27016694 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2016.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A lot of endocytobionts (or endosymbionts) have been discovered within free-living amoebae in recent years. In this article the results of a long lasting effort to derive valuable data about an extraordinary spore-like infectious microorganism (endocytobiont, endosymbiont) within host amoebae (Acanthamoeba sp.) recently isolated from the contact lens case of a patient with keratitis, are presented. It took some time until this endocytobiont could be attributed to the genus Pandoravirus following a publication of two other pandoraviruses isolated from aquatic environments. Consequently the molecular biological investigation led to the taxonomic affiliation of the endocytobiont with the genus Pandoravirus and to the description of a new Pandoravirus species, Pandoravirus inopinatum after whole-genome sequencing in 2015. The fact that it was isolated from a contact lens container of a keratitis patient gives another dimension to these findings showing paradigmatically, how readily these 'new' giant viruses get to humans.
Collapse
|
15
|
Benamar S, Reteno DGI, Bandaly V, Labas N, Raoult D, La Scola B. Faustoviruses: Comparative Genomics of New Megavirales Family Members. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:3. [PMID: 26903952 PMCID: PMC4742530 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
An emerging interest for the giant virus discovery process, genome sequencing and analysis has allowed an expansion of the number of known Megavirales members. Using the protist Vermamoeba sp. as cell support, a new giant virus named Faustovirus has been isolated. In this study, we describe the genome sequences of nine Faustoviruses and build a genomic comparison in order to have a comprehensive overview of genomic composition and diversity among this new virus family. The average sequence length of these viruses is 467,592.44 bp (ranging from 455,803 to 491,024 bp), making them the fourth largest Megavirales genome after Mimiviruses, Pandoraviruses, and Pithovirus sibericum. Faustovirus genomes displayed an average G+C content of 37.14 % (ranging from 36.22 to 39.59%) which is close to the G+C content range of the Asfarviridae genomes (38%). The proportion of best matches and the phylogenetic analysis suggest a shared origin with Asfarviridae without belonging to the same family. The core-gene-based phylogeny of Faustoviruses study has identified four lineages. These results were confirmed by the analysis of amino acids and COGs category distribution. The diversity of the gene composition of these lineages is mainly explained by gene deletion or acquisition and some exceptions for gene duplications. The high proportion of best matches from Bacteria and Phycodnaviridae on the pan-genome and unique genes may be explained by an interaction occurring after the separation of the lineages. The Faustovirus core-genome appears to consolidate the surrounding of 207 genes whereas the pan-genome is described as an open pan-genome, its enrichment via the discovery of new Faustoviruses is required to better seize all the genomic diversity of this family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samia Benamar
- UM63 CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1095, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, Facultés de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille University Marseille, France
| | - Dorine G I Reteno
- UM63 CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1095, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, Facultés de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille University Marseille, France
| | - Victor Bandaly
- Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, Fédération de Bactériologie-Hygiène-Virologie, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Timone, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille Marseille, France
| | - Noémie Labas
- UM63 CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1095, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, Facultés de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille University Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- UM63 CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1095, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, Facultés de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille UniversityMarseille, France; Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, Fédération de Bactériologie-Hygiène-Virologie, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Timone, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de MarseilleMarseille, France
| | - Bernard La Scola
- UM63 CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1095, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, Facultés de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Aix-Marseille UniversityMarseille, France; Pôle des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, Fédération de Bactériologie-Hygiène-Virologie, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Timone, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de MarseilleMarseille, France
| |
Collapse
|