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Marcelino I, Samba-Louaka A, Rice CA. Editorial: New advances in the biology and pathogenesis of free-living amoebae. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1401217. [PMID: 38741744 PMCID: PMC11089212 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1401217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Marcelino
- Institut Pasteur de la Guadeloupe, Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, France
| | - Ascel Samba-Louaka
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Université de Poitiers, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) 7267, Poitiers, France
| | - Christopher A. Rice
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery (PIDD), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease (PI4D), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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2
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Matos de Oliveira YL, Lima ETS, Rott MB, Fernandes RPM, Jain S, de Aragão Batista MV, Santana Dolabella S. Occurrence, molecular diversity and pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba spp. isolated from aquatic environments of Northeastern Brazil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:1686-1696. [PMID: 36041225 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2117280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba (FLA) that is ubiquitous in nature and can cause serious pathologies in humans. This protozoan has been detected in several environmental sources, such as soil, water, and swimming pools. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and molecular diversity of Acanthamoeba spp. in aquatic environments of the state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil, and to determine the pathogenic potential of the isolated samples. A total of 138 samples were collected from 69 aquatic environments and, after cell culture, 74% of the samples were positive for FLA, 47% belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba. Genotypic analysis was performed using the primers JDP1 and JDP2, confirming distinct Acanthamoeba genotypes: 18 (75%) isolates belonging to genotype T4, two (8%) to T3, and one isolate (4%) to genotype T5. Tests carried out to analyze the pathogenic potential showed that 11 isolates could grow at 0.5 M mannitol concentration and seven isolates supported hyperosmolarity. In the thermotolerance test, two isolates grew at 37°C. These results confirm the presence and the pathogenic potential of FLA of the genus Acanthamoeba in aquatic environments of the municipalities of Sergipe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yrna Lorena Matos de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Entomology and Tropical Parasitology, Department of Morphology, University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Erica Tirzah Santos Lima
- Laboratory of Entomology and Tropical Parasitology, Department of Morphology, University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Industrial Biotechnology, Universidade Tiradentes, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Marilise Brittes Rott
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Sona Jain
- Postgraduate Program in Industrial Biotechnology, Universidade Tiradentes, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinicius de Aragão Batista
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Silvio Santana Dolabella
- Laboratory of Entomology and Tropical Parasitology, Department of Morphology, University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil
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3
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Rayamajhee B, Williams NLR, Siboni N, Rodgers K, Willcox M, Henriquez FL, Seymour JR, Potts J, Johnson C, Scanes P, Carnt N. Identification and quantification of Acanthamoeba spp. within seawater at four coastal lagoons on the east coast of Australia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165862. [PMID: 37541500 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic free-living heterotrophic protist that is the most predominant amoeba in diverse ecological habitats. Acanthamoeba causes amoebic keratitis (AK), a painful and potentially blinding corneal infection. Major risk factors for AK have been linked to non-optimal contact lens hygiene practices and Acanthamoeba contamination of domestic and recreational water. This study investigated the incidence and seasonal variation of Acanthamoeba spp. within coastal lagoons located on the eastern coast of Australia and then examined the association between Acanthamoeba and water abiotic factors and bacterial species within the water. Water samples were collected from four intermittently closed and open lagoons (ICOLLs) (Wamberal, Terrigal, Avoca and Cockrone) every month between August 2019 to July 2020 except March and April. qPCR was used to target the Acanthamoeba 18S rRNA gene, validated by Sanger sequencing. Water abiotic factors were measured in situ using a multiprobe metre and 16S rRNA sequencing (V3-V4) was performed to characterise bacterial community composition. Network analysis was used to gauge putative associations between Acanthamoeba incidence and bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). Among 206 water samples analysed, 79 (38.3%) were Acanthamoeba positive and Acanthamoeba level was significantly higher in summer compared with winter, spring, or autumn (p = 0.008). More than 50% (23/45) water samples of Terrigal were positive for Acanthamoeba which is a highly urbanised area with extensive recreational activities while about 32% (16/49) samples were positive from Cockrone that is the least impacted lagoon by urban development. All sequenced strains belonged to the pathogenic genotype T4 clade except two which were of genotype clades T2 and T5. Water turbidity, temperature, intl1 gene concentration, and dissolved O2 were significantly associated with Acanthamoeba incidence (p < 0.05). The ASVs level of cyanobacteria, Pseudomonas spp., Candidatus spp., and marine bacteria of the Actinobacteria phylum and Acanthamoeba 18S rRNA genes were positively correlated (Pearson's r ≥ 0.14). The presence of Acanthamoeba spp. in all lagoons, except Wamberal, was associated with significant differences in the composition of bacterial communities (beta diversity). The results of this study suggest that coastal lagoons, particularly those in urbanised regions with extensive water recreational activities, may pose an elevated risk to human health due to the relatively high incidence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba in the summer. These findings underscore the importance of educating the public about the rare yet devastating impact of AK on vision and quality of life, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts between public health officials and educators to promote awareness and preventive measures, especially focusing lagoons residents and travellers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binod Rayamajhee
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Nathan L R Williams
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nachshon Siboni
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kiri Rodgers
- Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, G72 0LH, Scotland, UK
| | - Mark Willcox
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fiona L Henriquez
- Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, G72 0LH, Scotland, UK
| | - Justin R Seymour
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jaimie Potts
- Estuaries and Catchments Team, Waters Wetland Coastal Science Branch, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW 2141, Australia
| | - Colin Johnson
- Estuaries and Catchments Team, Waters Wetland Coastal Science Branch, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW 2141, Australia
| | - Peter Scanes
- Estuaries and Catchments Team, Waters Wetland Coastal Science Branch, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Lidcombe, NSW 2141, Australia
| | - Nicole Carnt
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
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4
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Chaúque BJM, Corção G, Benetti AD, Rott MB. A challenge in washing water with the sun: 24h of SODIS fails to inactivate Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts and internalized Pseudomonas aeruginosa under strong real sun conditions. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2023; 22:2179-2188. [PMID: 37296325 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00440-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite access to drinking water being a basic human right, the availability of safe drinking water remains a privilege that many do not have and as a result, many lives are lost each year due to waterborne diseases associated with the consumption of biologically unsafe water. To face this situation, different low-cost household drinking water treatment technologies (HDWT) have been developed, and among them is solar disinfection (SODIS). Despite the effectiveness of SODIS and the epidemiological gains being consistently documented in the literature, there is a lack of evidence of the effectiveness of the batch-SODIS process against protozoan cysts as well as their internalized bacteria under real sun conditions. This work evaluated the effectiveness of the batch-SODIS process on the viability of Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts, and internalized Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Dechlorinated tap water contaminated with 5.6 × 103 cysts/L, contained in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles, was exposed for 8 h a day to strong sunlight (531-1083 W/m2 of maximum insolation) for 3 consecutive days. The maximum water temperature inside the reactors ranged from 37 to 50 °C. Cyst viability was assessed by inducing excystment on non-nutrient agar, or in water with heat-inactivated Escherichia coli. After sun exposure for 0, 8, 16 and 24 h, the cysts remained viable and without any perceptible impairment in their ability to excyst. 3 and 5.5 log CFU/mL of P. aeruginosa were detected in water containing untreated and treated cysts, respectively, after 3 days of incubation at 30 °C. The batch-SODIS process is unable to inactivate A. castellanii cysts as well as its internalized bacteria. Although the use of batch SODIS by communities should continue to be encouraged, SODIS-disinfected water should be consumed within 3 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beni Jequicene Mussengue Chaúque
- Laboratory of Protozoology and Microbiological Analyses, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil
- Center of Studies in Science and Technology (NECET), Biology Course, Universidade Rovuma, Niassa Branch, Lichinga, Mozambique
| | - Gertrudes Corção
- Laboratory of Protozoology and Microbiological Analyses, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil
| | | | - Marilise Brittes Rott
- Laboratory of Protozoology and Microbiological Analyses, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos Street, 2600, Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil.
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Abdul Halim R, Mohd Hussain RH, Aazmi S, Halim H, Ahmed Khan N, Siddiqui R, Shahrul Anuar T. Molecular characterisation and potential pathogenicity analysis of Acanthamoeba isolated from recreational lakes in Peninsular Malaysia. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2023; 21:1342-1356. [PMID: 37756200 PMCID: wh_2023_186 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The present study aims to identify the Acanthamoeba genotypes and their pathogenic potential in three recreational lakes in Malaysia. Thirty water samples were collected by purposive sampling between June and July 2022. Physical parameters of water quality were measured in situ while chemical and microbiological analyses were performed in the laboratory. The samples were vacuum filtered through nitrate filter, cultured onto non-nutrient agar and observed microscopically for amoebic growth. DNAs from positive samples were extracted and made to react with polymerase chain reaction using specific primers. Physiological tolerance tests were performed for all Acanthamoeba-positive samples. The presence of Acanthamoeba was found in 26 of 30 water samples by PCR. The highest rate in lake waters contaminated with amoeba was in Biru Lake (100%), followed by Titiwangsa Lake (80%) and Shah Alam Lake (80%). ORP, water temperature, pH and DO were found to be significantly correlated with the presence of Acanthamoeba. The most common genotype was T4. Temperature- and osmo-tolerance tests showed that 8 (30.8%) of the genotypes T4, T9 and T11 were highly pathogenic. The presence of genotype T4 in habitats related to human activities supports the relevance of this amoeba as a potential public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohaya Abdul Halim
- Centre for Medical Laboratory Technology Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia E-mail:
| | - Rosnani Hanim Mohd Hussain
- Centre for Medical Laboratory Technology Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Shafiq Aazmi
- School of Biology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia; Microbiome Health and Environment (MiHeaRT), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hasseri Halim
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia; Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey; College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tengku Shahrul Anuar
- Centre for Medical Laboratory Technology Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia; Microbiome Health and Environment (MiHeaRT), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
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6
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Acanthamoeba and a bacterial endocytobiont isolated from recreational freshwaters. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:3693-3699. [PMID: 36149500 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07651-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The quality of many freshwater environments is impacted by human activities, so that many rivers may represent a vehicle for the transmission of health-related microorganisms. This work aimed to isolate and identify genetically free-living amoeba (FLA) of the genus Acanthamoeba from a recreational river in Salta, Argentina, and isolate, if possible, an endocytobiont. Sampling took place at four points (P1-P4) throughout the river in the winter and the summer seasons. Free-living amoebae and Acanthamoeba were recovered from 20-L water concentrated through an ultrafiltration system. Isolation was performed in agar plates, confirmation of Acanthamoeba genus by PCR, and fellow identification and classification based on their sequence analyses. High concentrations of indicator bacteria were found especially in P2, which is intensively used for recreation. Out of a total of 29 FLA isolations, 9 were identified as Acanthamoeba genotype T4 subtype A, the most frequent genotype found in nature and associated with causing human disease. From an axenic culture of Acanthamoeba spp. (KY751412), a bacterial endocytobiont was isolated, and identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The endocytobiont showed resistance and intermediate resistance to a wide range of widely used antibiotics. Results were in concordance with the cosmopolitan behavior of Acanthamoeba, and showed the importance of studying this group of amoebae and related microorganisms in recreational environments.
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7
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Chan LL, Toh HC, Jaikwang K, Loo EM, Wong JH, Liew YK, Ong KH, Ooi SS. Report of rare genotypes of Acanthamoeba from soil source of the Payeh Maga Highland forest, North-eastern Sarawak, Malaysia. Acta Trop 2022; 229:106372. [PMID: 35182491 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic Acanthamoeba species are the causative agents of Acanthamoeba keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Members of this amoeba genus are ubiquitous in the environments. In Malaysia, most environmental studies performed to date have targeted the detection and characterisation of Acanthamoeba sp. in different water sources, dust and soil samples collected near human habitats. However, no local study has yet to examine these amoebae in a forest, an isolated terrestrial environment, where human activity is relatively scarce. Further, there are also limited studies to investigate the same globally. The current study reported the isolation, morphological and genotypic characterisations of eleven Acanthamoeba sp. isolated from soils of the Payeh Maga Highland forest, Sarawak, Malaysia. Morphological analysis revealed that nine isolates belonged to Group II, whereas two isolates belonged to Group III as defined by the criteria of Pussard and Pons. The phylogenetic analysis based on complete 18S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolates belonged to the rare T1 (six isolates), T6 (two isolates) and T13 (three isolates) genotypes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about the detection of T6 Acanthamoeba sp. in this country. Overall, the current findings have enriched the knowledge pertaining to the occurrence, morphological and genotypic characteristics of Acanthamoeba sp. in an isolated terrestrial environment of Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Li Chan
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Pathology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
| | - Hiu-Ching Toh
- Biomedical Science, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
| | - Kantiya Jaikwang
- Biomedical Science, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
| | - Ee-Mun Loo
- Biomedical Science, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
| | - Jia-Haw Wong
- Biomedical Science, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
| | - Yun-Khoon Liew
- Life Science, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
| | - Kian-Huat Ong
- Faculty of Agricultural Science and Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, Jalan Nyabau, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Soo-Shen Ooi
- Institute for Research, Development and Innovation, International Medical University, 126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
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Ahmed U, Anwar A, Ong SK, Anwar A, Khan NA. Applications of medicinal chemistry for drug discovery against Acanthamoeba infections. Med Res Rev 2021; 42:462-512. [PMID: 34472107 DOI: 10.1002/med.21851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is a genus of free-living amoebae, pervasively found in the environment. Most of its pathogenic species are the causative agent of sight-threatening Acanthamoeba keratitis and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Despite the advancements in the field of chemotherapy, treating Acanthamoeba infections is still challenging due to incomplete knowledge of the complicated pathophysiology. In case of infection, the treatment regimen for the patients is often ineffective due to delayed diagnosis, poor specificity, and side-effects. Besides the resistance of Acanthamoeba cysts to most of the drugs, the recurrence of infection further complicates the recovery. Thus, it is necessary to develop an effective treatment which can eradicate these rare, but serious infections. Based on various computational and in vitro studies, it has been established that the synthetic scaffolds such as heterocyclic compounds may act as potential drug leads for the development of antiamoebic drugs. In this review, we report different classes of synthetic compounds especially heterocyclic compounds which have shown promising results against Acanthamoeba. Moreover, the antiamoebic activities of synthetic compounds with their possible mode of actions against Acanthamoeba, have been summarized and discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usman Ahmed
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Seng-Kai Ong
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Areeba Anwar
- Faculty of Defence Science and Technology, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
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9
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Aykur M, Dagci H. Evaluation of molecular characterization and phylogeny for quantification of Acanthamoeba and Naegleria fowleri in various water sources, Turkey. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256659. [PMID: 34437614 PMCID: PMC8389491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Free-living amoeba (FLA) is widely distributed in the natural environment. Since these amoebae are widely found in various waters, they pose an important public health problem. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Acanthamoeba, B. mandrillaris, and N. fowleri in various water resources by qPCR in Izmir, Turkey. A total of (n = 27) 18.24% Acanthamoeba and (n = 4) 2.7% N. fowleri positives were detected in six different water sources using qPCR with ITS regions (ITS1) specific primers. The resulting concentrations varied in various water samples for Acanthamoeba in the range of 3.2x105-1.4x102 plasmid copies/l and for N. fowleri in the range of 8x103-11x102 plasmid copies/l. The highest concentration of Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri was found in seawater and damp samples respectively. All 27 Acanthamoeba isolates were identified in genotype level based on the 18S rRNA gene as T4 (51.85%), T5 (22.22%), T2 (14.81%) and T15 (11.11%). The four positive N. fowleri isolate was confirmed by sequencing the ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8S rRNA regions using specific primers. Four N. fowleri isolates were genotyped (three isolate as type 2 and one isolate as type 5) and detected for the first time from water sources in Turkey. Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri genotypes found in many natural environments are straightly related to human populations to have pathogenic potentials that may pose a risk to human health. Public health professionals should raise awareness on this issue, and public awareness education should be provided by the assistance of civil authorities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the quantitative detection and distribution of Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri genotypes in various water sources in Turkey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Aykur
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University Tokat, Tokat, Turkey
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
- * E-mail:
| | - Hande Dagci
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey
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Giongo A, dos Anjos Borges LG, Marconatto L, de Lara Palhano P, Serbent MP, Moreira-Silva E, de Abreu Siqueira T, Martinho CT, Barili R, Paz LV, Moser LI, De Marco Veríssimo C, Ketzer JMM, Medina-Silva R. Adaption of microbial communities to the hostile environment in the Doce River after the collapse of two iron ore tailing dams. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04778. [PMID: 32923720 PMCID: PMC7475130 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In November 2015, two iron ore tailing dams collapsed in the city of Mariana, Brazil. The dams' collapse generated a wave of approximately 50 million m3 of a mixture of mining waste and water. It was a major environmental tragedy in Brazilian history, which damaged rivers, and cities 660 km away in the Doce River basin until it reached the ocean coast. Shortly after the incident, several reports informed that the concentration of metals in the water was above acceptable legal limits under Brazilian laws. Here the microbial communities in samples of water, mud, foam, and rhizosphere of Eichhornia from Doce River were analyzed for 16S and 18S rRNA-based amplicon sequencing, along with microbial isolation, chemical and mineralogical analyses. Samples were collected one month and thirteen months after the collapse. Prokaryotic communities from mud shifted drastically over time (33% Bray-Curtis similarity), while water samples were more similar (63% Bray-Curtis similarity) in the same period. After 12 months, mud samples remained with high levels of heavy metals and a reduction in the diversity of microeukaryotes was detected. Amoebozoans increased in mud samples, reaching 49% of microeukaryote abundance, with Discosea and Lobosa groups being the most abundant. The microbial communities’ structure in mud samples changed adapting to the new environment condition. The characterization of microbial communities and metal-tolerant organisms from such impacted environments is essential for understanding the ecological consequences of massive anthropogenic impacts and strategies for the restoration of contaminated sites such as the Doce River.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Giongo
- Geobiology Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Environmental Engineering Graduate Program, Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Blumenau, Brazil
| | - Luiz Gustavo dos Anjos Borges
- Geobiology Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Letícia Marconatto
- Geobiology Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Pâmela de Lara Palhano
- Geobiology Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Maria Pilar Serbent
- Environmental Engineering Graduate Program, Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB), Blumenau, Brazil
- Sanitary Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Sanitary Engineering, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Ibirama, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Moreira-Silva
- Geobiology Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Immunology and Microbiology Laboratory, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Tiago de Abreu Siqueira
- Geochemical Analyses Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Caroline Thais Martinho
- Sedimentology and Petrology Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rosalia Barili
- Sedimentology and Petrology Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lisiê Valéria Paz
- Geobiology Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Immunology and Microbiology Laboratory, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Letícia Isabela Moser
- Geochemical Analyses Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Carolina De Marco Veríssimo
- Laboratory of Parasite Biology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Renata Medina-Silva
- Geobiology Laboratory, Instituto do Petróleo e dos Recursos Naturais (IPR), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Immunology and Microbiology Laboratory, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Corresponding author.
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Koyun İ, Kolören Z, Karaman Ü, Tsiami A, Karanis P. Acanthamoeba spp. in river water samples from the Black Sea region, Turkey. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2020; 18:186-199. [PMID: 32300091 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2020.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The present study aims to investigate the occurrence of free living amoeba (FLA) in water resources (rivers and tap water) in Samsun in the Black Sea. The presence of Acanthamoeba spp. was confirmed in 98 of 192 water samples collected from 32 sites of Samsun province (Samsun centre, Terme, Carsamba, Tekkekoy, Bafra) by PCR. Acanthamoeba spp. were found in 15/36 river samples from Samsun, in 58/90 from Terme, in 12/30 from Carsamba, in 7/18 from Tekkekoy and in 6/18 from Bafra. No Acanthamoeba species were detected in tap water samples. The highest rate in river waters contaminated with Acanthamoeba species was in Terme followed by Samsun centre (41.7%), Carsamba (40%), Tekkekoy (38.9%) and Bafra districts (33.3%), respectively. The result of the subsequent sequence analysis showed Haplotype I (A. triangularis) in 5%, Haplotype II (A. polyphaga) in 29.6%, Haplotype III (Acanthamoeba spp.) in 62% and Haplotype IV (A. lenticulata) in 3%. The most common genotype was Acanthamoeba T4 (Acanthamoeba spp., A. polyphaga, A. triangularis) and T5 genotype was also found in 3%. The T4 genotype is the most common genotype associated with Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) worldwide; therefore, humans and animals living in the area are at risk after contact with such waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- İlknur Koyun
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Ordu, Ordu, Turkey E-mail:
| | - Zeynep Kolören
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Ordu, Ordu, Turkey E-mail:
| | - Ülkü Karaman
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, University of Ordu, Ordu, Turkey
| | - Amalia Tsiami
- Food Science and Nutrition Department, London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism, University of West London, London, UK
| | - Panagiotis Karanis
- Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Cologne, Germany and Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 2408 Nicosia, Cyprus
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Free-living amoebae and their relationship to air quality in hospital environments: characterization of Acanthamoeba spp. obtained from air-conditioning systems. Parasitology 2020; 147:782-790. [PMID: 32183918 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020000487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widely dispersed in the environment, can cause opportunistic and non-opportunistic infections in humans and other animals. The aim of the present study was characterize FLA obtained from air-conditioners of a public hospital in the city of Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Fifty-four dust samples were collected of air conditioners, and were inoculated on 1.5% non-nutrient agar, overlaid with layers of Escherichia coli. Subsequently the isolates were axenised in PYG growth medium. The morphological and molecular characterization of the isolates was performed, as well as the tolerance (physiological) assays were used to evaluate the pathogenic potential. The results revealed the presence of FLA in 42 (77.8%) of the collected samples. Of these, 39 (92.9%) axenic isolates of FLA were obtained for morphological and genotypic studies. All the isolates characterized belong to the genus Acanthamoeba. Nineteen (48.7%) isolates belong to the genotype T4, 16 (41.0%) to the T5 genotype and 4 (10.3%) to genotype T11. Seven (18.0%) isolates were considered potentially pathogenic in tolerance assays. These findings require attention, considering the isolation environment and immunocompromised characteristics of many hospitalized patients.
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Retana Moreira L, Vargas Ramírez D, Linares F, Prescilla Ledezma A, Vaglio Garro A, Osuna A, Lorenzo Morales J, Abrahams Sandí E. Isolation of Acanthamoeba T5 from Water: Characterization of Its Pathogenic Potential, Including the Production of Extracellular Vesicles. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9020144. [PMID: 32098034 PMCID: PMC7168589 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is a genus of free-living amoebae widely distributed in nature, associated with the development of encephalitis and keratitis. Despite the fact that it is common to find genotype T5 in environmental samples, only a few cases have been associated with clinical cases in humans. The wide distribution of Acanthamoeba, the characteristic of being amphizoic and the severity of the disease motivate researchers to focus on the isolation of these organisms, but also in demonstrating direct and indirect factors that could indicate a possible pathogenic potential. Here, we performed the characterization of the pathogenic potential of an Acanthamoeba T5 isolate collected from a water source in a hospital. Osmo- and thermotolerance, the secretion of proteases and the effect of trophozoites over cell monolayers were analyzed by different methodologies. Additionally, we confirm the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) of this isolate incubated at two different temperatures, and the presence of serine and cysteine proteases in these vesicles. Finally, using atomic force microscopy, we determined some nanomechanical properties of the secreted vesicles and found a higher value of adhesion in the EVs obtained at 37 °C, which could have implications in the parasite´s survival and damaging potential in two different biological environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissette Retana Moreira
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Montes de Oca 2060, Costa Rica;
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Montes de Oca 2060, Costa Rica;
- Correspondence: (L.R.M.); (E.A.S.)
| | - Daniel Vargas Ramírez
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Montes de Oca 2060, Costa Rica;
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Montes de Oca 2060, Costa Rica;
| | - Fátima Linares
- Centro de Instrumentación Científica (CIC), Universidad de Granada, Granada 18071, Spain;
| | - Alexa Prescilla Ledezma
- Departamento de Parasitología, Grupo de Bioquímica y Parasitología Molecular (CTS 183), Instituto de Biotecnología, Campus de Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, Granada 18071, Spain; (A.P.L.); (A.O.)
| | - Annette Vaglio Garro
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Montes de Oca 2060, Costa Rica;
| | - Antonio Osuna
- Departamento de Parasitología, Grupo de Bioquímica y Parasitología Molecular (CTS 183), Instituto de Biotecnología, Campus de Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, Granada 18071, Spain; (A.P.L.); (A.O.)
| | - Jacob Lorenzo Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias 38203, Spain;
- Departamento de Obstetricia, Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias 38203, Spain
| | - Elizabeth Abrahams Sandí
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Montes de Oca 2060, Costa Rica;
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Montes de Oca 2060, Costa Rica;
- Correspondence: (L.R.M.); (E.A.S.)
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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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Del Chierico F, Di Cave D, Accardi C, Santoro M, Masotti A, D'Alfonso R, Berrilli F, Urbani A, Putignani L. Identification and typing of free-living Acanthamoeba spp. by MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper. Exp Parasitol 2016; 170:82-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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