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Corsaro D, Mrva M, Colson P, Walochnik J. Validation and redescription of Acanthamoeba terricola Pussard, 1964 (Amoebozoa: Acanthamoebidae). Eur J Protistol 2024; 94:126091. [PMID: 38772052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126091] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba castellanii (Douglas, 1930) Page, 1967 is the type species of a widespread genus of free-living amoebae, potentially pathogenic for humans and animals. The Neff strain is one of the most widely used in biological research, serving as a model for both A. castellanii and the whole genus in general. The Neff strain, isolated in California, closely resembles another strain found in France and originally described as a separate species, Acanthamoeba terricola Pussard, 1964, but both were successively synonymized with A. castellanii. Molecular sequence analysis has largely replaced morphological diagnosis for species identification in Acanthamoeba, and rDNA phylogenies show that the Neff strain forms a distinct lineage from that of the type strain of A. castellanii. In this study, we compared the type strain of A. terricola with the Neff strain and A. castellanii, and analysed the available molecular data including new sequences obtained from A. terricola. Here we provide molecular evidence to validate the species A. terricola. The Neff strain is therefore transferred to A. terricola and should no longer be considered as belonging to A. castellanii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Corsaro
- CHLAREAS - 12, rue du Maconnais, F-54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
| | - Martin Mrva
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Philippe Colson
- Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD), Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Aix-Marseille Université, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1095 Vienna, Austria
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Corsaro D. Editorial for the Special Issue "Advances in Acanthamoeba". Microorganisms 2024; 12:865. [PMID: 38792695 PMCID: PMC11123729 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Some free-living amoebae can behave as opportunistic parasites, causing rare but dangerous diseases in humans and animals, primarily amoebic keratitis, with loss of vision, and encephalitis, which is almost always fatal [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Corsaro
- CHLAREAS, 12, rue du Maconnais, 54500 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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Rivera J, Valerdi-Negreros JC, Vázquez-Enciso DM, Argueta-Zepeda FS, Vinuesa P. Phylogenomic, structural, and cell biological analyses reveal that Stenotrophomonas maltophilia replicates in acidified Rab7A-positive vacuoles of Acanthamoeba castellanii. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0298823. [PMID: 38319117 PMCID: PMC10913462 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02988-23] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba species are clinically relevant free-living amoebae (FLA) ubiquitously found in soil and water bodies. Metabolically active trophozoites graze on diverse microbes via phagocytosis. However, functional studies on Rab GTPases (Rabs), which are critical for controlling vesicle trafficking and maturation, are scarce for this FLA. This knowledge gap can be partly explained by the limited genetic tools available for Acanthamoeba cell biology. Here, we developed plasmids to generate fusions of A. castellanii strain Neff proteins to the N- or C-termini of mEGFP and mCherry2. Phylogenomic and structural analyses of the 11 Neff Rab7 paralogs found in the RefSeq assembly revealed that eight of them had non-canonical sequences. After correcting the gene annotation for the Rab7A ortholog, we generated a line stably expressing an mEGFP-Rab7A fusion, demonstrating its correct localization to acidified macropinocytic and phagocytic vacuoles using fluorescence microscopy live cell imaging (LCI). Direct labeling of live Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ESTM1D_MKCAZ16_6a (Sm18) cells with pHrodo Red, a pH-sensitive dye, demonstrated that they reside within acidified, Rab7A-positive vacuoles. We constructed new mini-Tn7 delivery plasmids and tagged Sm18 with constitutively expressed mScarlet-I. Co-culture experiments of Neff trophozoites with Sm18::mTn7TC1_Pc_mScarlet-I, coupled with LCI and microplate reader assays, demonstrated that Sm18 underwent multiple replication rounds before reaching the extracellular medium via non-lytic exocytosis. We conclude that S. maltophilia belongs to the class of bacteria that can use amoeba as an intracellular replication niche within a Stenotrophomonas-containing vacuole that interacts extensively with the endocytic pathway.IMPORTANCEDiverse Acanthamoeba lineages (genotypes) are of increasing clinical concern, mainly causing amoebic keratitis and granulomatous amebic encephalitis among other infections. S. maltophilia ranks among the top 10 most prevalent multidrug-resistant opportunistic nosocomial pathogens and is a recurrent member of the microbiome hosted by Acanthamoeba and other free-living amoebae. However, little is known about the molecular strategies deployed by Stenotrophomonas for an intracellular lifestyle in amoebae and other professional phagocytes such as macrophages, which allow the bacterium to evade the immune system and the action of antibiotics. Our plasmids and easy-to-use microtiter plate co-culture assays should facilitate investigations into the cellular microbiology of Acanthamoeba interactions with Stenotrophomonas and other opportunistic pathogens, which may ultimately lead to the discovery of new molecular targets and antimicrobial therapies to combat difficult-to-treat infections caused by these ubiquitous microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Rivera
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Julio C. Valerdi-Negreros
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Diana M. Vázquez-Enciso
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Programa de Maestría y Doctorado en Ciencias Bioquímicas, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fulvia-Stefany Argueta-Zepeda
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Programa de Maestría y Doctorado en Ciencias Bioquímicas, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Pablo Vinuesa
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
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Ferreira MDS, Gonçalves DDS, Mendoza SR, de Oliveira GA, Pontes B, la Noval CRD, Honorato L, Ramos LFC, Nogueira FCS, Domont GB, Casadevall A, Nimrichter L, Peralta JM, Guimaraes AJ. β-1,3-Glucan recognition by Acanthamoeba castellanii as a putative mechanism of amoeba-fungal interactions. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0173623. [PMID: 38259076 PMCID: PMC10880599 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01736-23] [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: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we conducted an in-depth analysis to characterize potential Acanthamoeba castellanii (Ac) proteins capable of recognizing fungal β-1,3-glucans. Ac specifically anchors curdlan or laminarin, indicating the presence of surface β-1,3-glucan-binding molecules. Using optical tweezers, strong adhesion of laminarin- or curdlan-coated beads to Ac was observed, highlighting their adhesive properties compared to controls (characteristic time τ of 46.9 and 43.9 s, respectively). Furthermore, Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) G217B, possessing a β-1,3-glucan outer layer, showed significant adhesion to Ac compared to a Hc G186 strain with an α-1,3-glucan outer layer (τ of 5.3 s vs τ 83.6 s). The addition of soluble β-1,3-glucan substantially inhibited this adhesion, indicating the involvement of β-1,3-glucan recognition. Biotinylated β-1,3-glucan-binding proteins from Ac exhibited higher binding to Hc G217B, suggesting distinct recognition mechanisms for laminarin and curdlan, akin to macrophages. These observations hinted at the β-1,3-glucan recognition pathway's role in fungal entrance and survival within phagocytes, supported by decreased fungal viability upon laminarin or curdlan addition in both phagocytes. Proteomic analysis identified several Ac proteins capable of binding β-1,3-glucans, including those with lectin/glucanase superfamily domains, carbohydrate-binding domains, and glycosyl transferase and glycosyl hydrolase domains. Notably, some identified proteins were overexpressed upon curdlan/laminarin challenge and also demonstrated high affinity to β-1,3-glucans. These findings underscore the complexity of binding via β-1,3-glucan and suggest the existence of alternative fungal recognition pathways in Ac.IMPORTANCEAcanthamoeba castellanii (Ac) and macrophages both exhibit the remarkable ability to phagocytose various extracellular microorganisms in their respective environments. While substantial knowledge exists on this phenomenon for macrophages, the understanding of Ac's phagocytic mechanisms remains elusive. Recently, our group identified mannose-binding receptors on the surface of Ac that exhibit the capacity to bind/recognize fungi. However, the process was not entirely inhibited by soluble mannose, suggesting the possibility of other interactions. Herein, we describe the mechanism of β-1,3-glucan binding by A. castellanii and its role in fungal phagocytosis and survival within trophozoites, also using macrophages as a model for comparison, as they possess a well-established mechanism involving the Dectin-1 receptor for β-1,3-glucan recognition. These shed light on a potential parallel evolution of pathways involved in the recognition of fungal surface polysaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina da Silva Ferreira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Diego de Souza Gonçalves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Susana Ruiz Mendoza
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Afonso de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno Pontes
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas e Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudia Rodríguez-de la Noval
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leandro Honorato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia de Eucariotos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luis Felipe Costa Ramos
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fábio C. S. Nogueira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gilberto B. Domont
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia de Eucariotos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose Mauro Peralta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Allan J. Guimaraes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Imunologia das Micoses, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Inflamação, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Sharma C, Khurana S, Bhatia A, Arora A, Gupta A. The gene expression and proteomic profiling of Acanthamoeba isolates. Exp Parasitol 2023; 255:108630. [PMID: 37820893 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108630] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The free-living protozoan Acanthamoeba can cause severe keratitis known as Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). The pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba includes intricate interactions between the organism and the host's immune system. The downstream analysis of a well-annotated genome assembly along with proteomic analysis can unravel several biological processes and aid in the identification of potential genes involved in pathogenicity. METHODS Based on the next-generation sequencing data analysis, genes including lysophospholipase, phospholipase, S8/S53 peptidase, carboxylesterase, and mannose-binding protein were selected as probable pathogenic targets that were validated by conventional PCR in a total of 30 Acanthamoeba isolates. This was followed by real-time PCR for the evaluation of relative gene expression in the keratitis and amoebic encephalitis animal model induced using keratitis (CHA5), encephalitis (CHA24) and non-pathogenic environmental isolate (CHA36). In addition, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed for keratitis, encephalitis, and non-pathogenic environmental isolate before and after treatment with polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB). RESULTS The conventional PCR demonstrated the successful amplification of lysophospholipase, phospholipase, S8/S53 peptidase, carboxylesterase, and mannose-binding protein genes in clinical and environmental isolates. The expression analysis revealed phospholipase, lysophospholipase, and mannose-binding genes to be significantly upregulated in the keratitis isolate (CHA 5) during AK in the animal model. In the case of the amoebic encephalitis model, phospholipase, lysophospholipase, S8/S53 peptidase, and carboxylesterase were significantly upregulated in the encephalitis isolate compared to the keratitis isolate. The proteomic data revealed differential protein expression in pathogenic versus non-pathogenic isolates in the pre and post-treatment with PHMB. CONCLUSION The gene expression data suggests that lysophospholipase, phospholipase, S8/S53 peptidase, carboxylesterase, and mannose-binding protein (MBP) could play a role in the contact-dependent and independent mechanisms of Acanthamoeba pathogenesis. In addition, the proteomic profiling of the 3 isolates revealed differential protein expression crucial for parasite growth, survival, and virulence. Our results provide baseline data for selecting possible pathogenic targets that could be utilized for designing knockout experiments in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayan Sharma
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Sumeeta Khurana
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Alka Bhatia
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Amit Arora
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Amit Gupta
- Advanced Eye Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
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Sierra-López F, Castelan-Ramírez I, Hernández-Martínez D, Salazar-Villatoro L, Segura-Cobos D, Flores-Maldonado C, Hernández-Ramírez VI, Villamar-Duque TE, Méndez-Cruz AR, Talamás-Rohana P, Omaña-Molina M. Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Acanthamoeba culbertsoni Have COX and Proteolytic Activity and Induce Hemolysis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2762. [PMID: 38004773 PMCID: PMC10673465 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Several species of Acanthamoeba genus are potential pathogens and etiological agents of several diseases. The pathogenic mechanisms carried out by these amoebae in different target tissues have been documented, evidencing the relevant role of contact-dependent mechanisms. With the purpose of describing the pathogenic processes carried out by these protozoans more precisely, we considered it important to determine the emission of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as part of the contact-independent pathogenicity mechanisms of A. culbertsoni, a highly pathogenic strain. Through transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), EVs were characterized. EVs showed lipid membrane and a size between 60 and 855 nm. The secretion of large vesicles was corroborated by confocal and TEM microscopy. The SDS-PAGE of EVs showed proteins of 45 to 200 kDa. Antigenic recognition was determined by Western Blot, and the internalization of EVs by trophozoites was observed through Dil-labeled EVs. In addition, some EVs biological characteristics were determined, such as proteolytic, hemolytic and COX activity. Furthermore, we highlighted the presence of leishmanolysin in trophozites and EVs. These results suggest that EVs are part of a contact-independent mechanism, which, together with contact-dependent ones, allow for a better understanding of the pathogenicity carried out by Acanthamoeba culbertsoni.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Sierra-López
- Laboratory of Amphizoic Amoebae, Faculty of Superior Studies Iztacala, Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico (I.C.-R.); (D.H.-M.); (D.S.-C.); (A.R.M.-C.)
| | - Ismael Castelan-Ramírez
- Laboratory of Amphizoic Amoebae, Faculty of Superior Studies Iztacala, Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico (I.C.-R.); (D.H.-M.); (D.S.-C.); (A.R.M.-C.)
| | - Dolores Hernández-Martínez
- Laboratory of Amphizoic Amoebae, Faculty of Superior Studies Iztacala, Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico (I.C.-R.); (D.H.-M.); (D.S.-C.); (A.R.M.-C.)
| | - Lizbeth Salazar-Villatoro
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (L.S.-V.); (V.I.H.-R.); (P.T.-R.)
| | - David Segura-Cobos
- Laboratory of Amphizoic Amoebae, Faculty of Superior Studies Iztacala, Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico (I.C.-R.); (D.H.-M.); (D.S.-C.); (A.R.M.-C.)
| | - Catalina Flores-Maldonado
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Neurosciences, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Mexico City 07360, Mexico;
| | - Verónica Ivonne Hernández-Ramírez
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (L.S.-V.); (V.I.H.-R.); (P.T.-R.)
| | - Tomás Ernesto Villamar-Duque
- General Biotery, Faculty of Superior Studies Iztacala, Biology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico;
| | - Adolfo René Méndez-Cruz
- Laboratory of Amphizoic Amoebae, Faculty of Superior Studies Iztacala, Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico (I.C.-R.); (D.H.-M.); (D.S.-C.); (A.R.M.-C.)
| | - Patricia Talamás-Rohana
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (L.S.-V.); (V.I.H.-R.); (P.T.-R.)
| | - Maritza Omaña-Molina
- Laboratory of Amphizoic Amoebae, Faculty of Superior Studies Iztacala, Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico (I.C.-R.); (D.H.-M.); (D.S.-C.); (A.R.M.-C.)
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Corsaro D, Venditti D. Molecular evidence for a new lineage within the Acanthamoeba T4 genotype. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1445-1450. [PMID: 37046026 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07844-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is a widespread free-living amoeba capable of causing serious infections in humans and other animals, such as amoebic keratitis, disseminated infections, and fatal encephalitis. Strain identification is usually based on 18S rDNA sequencing, which allows the distinction of over twenty genotypes. Most sequences from environmental and clinical samples belong to the T4 genotype, which can be divided into seven subtypes, T4A to T4G, and by a nearly similar grouping of mitochondrial sequences into T4a to T4j subtypes. The co-clustering of nuclear and mitochondrial groups can be very useful for a better identification of lineages within the very rich T4 genotype. In this study, we provided molecular phylogenetic evidence for the delineation of a new nuclear subtype, hereafter labelled T4H, and its co-clustering with the mitochondrial T4j subtype. At least three cases of amoebic keratitis are due to strains belonging to this new group, present mainly in fresh water and detected in various countries (France, Iran, India and China).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Corsaro
- CHLAREAS, 12, rue du Maconnais, F-54500, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
| | - Danielle Venditti
- CHLAREAS, 12, rue du Maconnais, F-54500, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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Siddiqui R, Muhammad JS, Alharbi AM, Alfahemi H, Khan NA. Can Acanthamoeba Harbor Monkeypox Virus? Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11040855. [PMID: 37110278 PMCID: PMC10146756 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is well known to host a variety of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and yeast. Given the recent number of cases of monkeypox infection, we speculate that amoebae may be aiding viral transmission to the susceptible hosts. Although there is no confirmatory evidence to suggest that Acanthamoeba is a host to monkeypox (a double-stranded DNA virus), the recent discovery of mimivirus (another double-stranded DNA virus) from Acanthamoeba, suggests that amoebae may shelter monkeypox virus. Furthermore, given the possible spread of monkeypox virus from animals to humans during an earlier outbreak, which came about after patients came in contact with prairie dogs, it is likely that animals may also act as mixing vessel between ubiquitously distributed Acanthamoeba and monkeypox virus, in addition to the environmental habitat that acts as an interface in complex interactions between diverse microorganisms and the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey
| | | | - Ahmad M. Alharbi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hasan Alfahemi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha 65799, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +971-65057722
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The Status of Molecular Analyses of Isolates of Acanthamoeba Maintained by International Culture Collections. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020295. [PMID: 36838260 PMCID: PMC9961329 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is among the most ubiquitous protistan groups in nature. Knowledge of the biological diversity of Acanthamoeba comes in part from the use of strains maintained by the major microbial culture collections, ATCC and CCAP. Standard strains are vital to ensure the comparability of research. The diversity of standard strains of Acanthamoeba in the culture collections is reviewed, emphasizing the extent of genotypic studies based on DNA sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal RNA from the nucleus (18S rRNA gene; Rns) or the mitochondria (16S-like rRNA gene; rns). Over 170 different strains have been maintained at some time by culture centers. DNA sequence information is available for more than 70% of these strains. Determination of the genotypic classification of standard strains within the genus indicates that frequencies of types within culture collections only roughly mirror that from clinical or environmental studies, with significant differences in the frequency of some genotypes. Culture collections include the type of isolate from almost all named species of Acanthamoeba, allowing an evaluation of the validity of species designations. Multiple species are found to share the same Sequence Type, while multiple Sequence Types have been identified for different strains that share the same species name. Issues of sequence reliability and the possibility that a small number of standard strains have been mislabeled when studied are also examined, leading to potential problems for comparative analyses. It is important that all species have reliable genotype designations. The culture collections should be encouraged to assist in completing the molecular inventory of standard strains, while workers in the Acanthamoeba research community should endeavor to ensure that strains representative of genotypes that are missing from the culture collection are provided to the culture centers for preservation.
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Wang Y, Jiang L, Zhao Y, Ju X, Wang L, Jin L, Fine RD, Li M. Biological characteristics and pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1147077. [PMID: 37089530 PMCID: PMC10113681 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1147077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic protozoa, which exists widely in nature and is mainly distributed in soil and water. Acanthamoeba usually exists in two forms, trophozoites and cysts. The trophozoite stage is one of growth and reproduction while the cyst stage is characterized by cellular quiescence, commonly resulting in human infection, and the lack of effective monotherapy after initial infection leads to chronic disease. Acanthamoeba can infect several human body tissues such as the skin, cornea, conjunctiva, respiratory tract, and reproductive tract, especially when the tissue barriers are damaged. Furthermore, serious infections can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, skin, and lung infections. With an increasing number of Acanthamoeba infections in recent years, the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba is becoming more relevant to mainstream clinical care. This review article will describe the etiological characteristics of Acanthamoeba infection in detail from the aspects of biological characteristic, classification, disease, and pathogenic mechanism in order to provide scientific basis for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Acanthamoeba infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehua Wang
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
| | - Linzhe Jiang
- General Surgery, Jilin People’s Hospital, Jilin City, China
| | - Yitong Zhao
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
| | - Xiaohong Ju
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
| | - Le Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin City, China
| | - Liang Jin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin City, China
| | - Ryan D. Fine
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Mingguang Li
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
- *Correspondence: Mingguang Li,
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