Identification of Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Acanthamoeba: Structural Insights into Sterol 14α-Demethylase as a Key Drug Target.

Acanthamoeba are free-living pathogenic protozoa that cause blinding keratitis, disseminated infection, and granulomatous amebic encephalitis, which is generally fatal. The development of efficient and safe drugs is a critical unmet need. Acanthamoeba sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) is an essential enzyme of the sterol biosynthetic pathway. Repurposing antifungal azoles for amoebic infections has been reported, but their inhibitory effects on Acanthamoeba CYP51 enzymatic activity have not been studied. Here, we report catalytic properties, inhibition, and structural characterization of CYP51 from Acanthamoeba castellanii. The enzyme displays a 100-fold substrate preference for obtusifoliol over lanosterol, supporting the plant-like cycloartenol-based pathway in the pathogen. The strongest inhibition was observed with voriconazole (1 h IC50 0.45 µM), VT1598 (0.25 µM), and VT1161 (0.20 µM). The crystal structures of A. castellanii CYP51 with bound VT1161 (2.24 Å) and without an inhibitor (1.95 Å), presented here, can be used in the development of azole-based scaffolds to achieve optimal amoebicidal effectiveness.

Extracellular protease profile of Acanthamoeba after prolonged axenic culture and after interaction with MDCK cells.

Free-living amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba are causative agents of Acanthamoeba keratitis and amoebic encephalitis in humans, both of which are serious infections. The ability to produce proteases is one of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the secreted proteases of six Acanthamoeba strains from distinct genotypes (T1, T2, T4 and T11) maintained in prolonged axenic culture and following three successive passages in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells. Conditioned medium was obtained from cultures before and after interaction with the MDCK monolayers, resolved in SDS-PAGE containing gelatine, then subjected to quantitative azocasein assays. Zymography profiles varied between the strains, with the predominant proteases found to be serine-type proteases from 49 to 128 kDa. A T1 genotype strain isolated from dust showed quantitatively higher protease secretion compared to the other strains. No changes were detected in the zymography profiles of MDCK-interacted cultures compared to long-term axenic cultures. Two strains presented lower proteolytic activity post-MDCK interaction, while the remaining strains presented similar values before and after MDCK passages. In conclusion, this study confirms the predominance of serine-type protease secretion by Acanthamoeba, with distinct profiles presented by the different strains and genotypes studied. Also, interaction of trophozoites with MDCK cells did not alter the zymography pattern.

Acanthamoeba mauritaniensis genotype T4D: An environmental isolate displays pathogenic behavior.

Acanthamoeba spp. are free-living amoebae with a worldwide distribution. These amoebae can cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and amoebic keratitis in humans. Proteases are considered virulence factors in pathogenic Acanthamoeba. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of Acanthamoeba mauritaniensis, a nonpathogenic amoeba. We analyzed the cytopathic effect of A. mauritaniensis on RCE1(5 T5) and MDCK cells and compared it to that of Acanthamoeba castellanii. A partial biochemical characterization of proteases was performed in total crude extracts (TCE) and conditioned medium (CM). Finally, we evaluated the effect of proteases on tight junction (TJ) proteins and the transepithelial electrical resistance of MDCK cells. The results showed that this amoeba can induce substantial damage to RCE1(5T5) and MDCK cells. Moreover, the zymograms and Azocoll assays of amoebic TCE and CM revealed different protease activities, with serine proteases being the most active. Furthermore, A. mauritaniensis induced the alteration and degradation of MDCK cell TJ proteins with serine proteases. After genotyping this amoeba, we determined that it is an isolate of Acanthamoeba genotype T4D. From these data, we suggest that A. mauritaniensis genotype T4D behaves similarly to the A. castellanii strain.

The Biochemical and Functional Characterization of M28 Aminopeptidase Protein Secreted by Acanthamoeba spp. on Host Cell Interaction.

Acanthamoeba are a free-living protozoan whose pathogenic strain can cause severe human diseases, such as granulomatous encephalitis and keratitis. As such, the pathogenic mechanism between humans and Acanthamoeba is still unknown. In our previous study, we identified the secreted Acanthamoeba M28 aminopeptidase (M28AP) and then suggested that M28AP can degrade human C3b and iC3b for inhibiting the destruction of Acanthamoeba spp. with the human immune response. We constructed the produced the recombinant M28AP from a CHO cell, which is a mammalian expression system, to characterize the biochemical properties of Acanthamoeba M28AP. The recombinant M28AP more rapidly hydrolyzed Leu-AMC than Arg-AMC and could be inhibited by EDTA treatment. We show that recombinant M28AP can be delivered into the individual cell line and cause cell line apoptosis in a co-culture model. In conclusion, we successfully investigated the potential molecular characteristics of M28AP.

Box Behnken design of siRNA-loaded liposomes for the treatment of a murine model of ocular keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba.

Acanthamoeba keratitis is an ophthalmic disease with no specific treatment that specially affects contact lens users. The silencing of serine phosphatase (SP) and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) proteins produced by Acanthamoeba has been shown to significantly reduce the cytopathic effect, although no vehicle was proposed yet to deliver the siRNA sequences to the trophozoites. In this study, PEGylated cationic liposomes were proposed and optimized using Box-Behnken design. The influence of DOTAP:DOPE ratio, DSPE-PEG concentration, and siRNA/DOTAP charge ratio were evaluated over both biological response and physicochemical properties of liposomes. The ratio of DOTAP:DOPE had an effect in the trophozoite activity whereas the charge ratio influenced both size and protease activity. The predicted values were very close to the observed values, yielding a formulation with good activity and toxicity profile, which was used in the following experiments. A murine model of ocular keratitis was treated with siGP + siSP-loaded liposomes, as well as their respective controls, and combined treatment of liposomes and chlorhexidine. After 15 days of eight daily administrations, the liposomal complex combined with chlorhexidine was the only treatment able to reverse the more severe lesions associated with keratitis. There was 60% complete regression in corneal damage, with histological sections demonstrating the presence of an integral epithelium, without lymphocytic infiltrate. The set of results demonstrate the efficacy of a combined therapy based on siRNA with classical drugs for a better prognosis of keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba.

Acanthamoeba proteases contribute to macrophage activation through PAR1 , but not PAR2.

AIM: Acanthamoeba infections are characterized by an intense localized innate immune response associated with an influx of macrophages. Acanthamoeba protease production is known to affect virulence. Herein, the ability of Acanthamoeba trophozoite proteases, of either the laboratory Neff strain or a recently isolated clinical strain, to stimulate IL-12 and IL-6 and to activate protease-activated receptors, PAR1 and PAR2 expressed on murine macrophages, was investigated. METHOD AND RESULTS: Using selected protease inhibitors, leupeptin and E64, we showed that Acanthamoeba proteases can stimulate IL-12 and IL-6 by murine macrophages. Subsequently, using specific antagonists to inhibit PAR1 , and bone marrow-derived macrophages from PAR2 gene-deficient mice, we demonstrate that PAR1 , but not PAR2 contributes to macrophage IL-12 production in response to Acanthamoeba. In contrast, Acanthamoeba-induced IL-6 production is PAR1 and PAR2 independent. CONCLUSION: This study shows for the first time the involvement of PARs, expressed on macrophages, in the response to Acanthamoeba trophozoites and might provide useful insight into Acanthamoeba infections and their future treatments.

Nuclear Group I introns with homing endonuclease genes in Acanthamoeba genotype T4.

Various strains belonging to three Acanthamoeba species, A. griffini (genotype T3), A. lenticulata (T5), and A. jacobsi (T15), have group I introns in their 18S rRNA genes. Group I introns are self-splicing ribozymes that can spread among host lineages either through an intron-encoded endonuclease at the DNA level, or by reverse splicing during the RNA cycle. In Acanthamoeba, introns belong to the subclass IC1, they are located at one out four positions within the rRNA, show low identity values and all lack open reading frames to encode for an endonuclease. Uncharacterized introns from strains of another genotype, T4 (A. castellanii complex), resemble those of genotype T3, and at least one of them contains a non-functional endonuclease gene. Here, we analyzed all available data on Acanthamoeba 18S rDNA sequences to identify the possible presence of open reading frames that could encode endonucleases. We found a total of eight 18S rDNA sequences, all from T4 strains, that have introns containing putative non-functional endonuclease genes. Furthermore, two distinct endonucleases can be identified that are differently inserted in unrelated introns.

Structural and functional studies of histidine biosynthesis in Acanthamoeba spp. demonstrates a novel molecular arrangement and target for antimicrobials.

Acanthamoeba is normally free-living, but sometimes facultative and occasionally opportunistic parasites. Current therapies are, by necessity, arduous and yet poorly effective due to their inabilities to kill cyst stages or in some cases to actually induce encystation. Acanthamoeba can therefore survive as cysts and cause disease recurrence. Herein, in pursuit of better therapies and to understand the biochemistry of this understudied organism, we characterize its histidine biosynthesis pathway and explore the potential of targeting this with antimicrobials. We demonstrate that Acanthamoeba is a histidine autotroph, but with the ability to scavenge preformed histidine. It is able to grow in defined media lacking this amino acid, but is inhibited by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (3AT) that targets Imidazoleglycerol-Phosphate Dehydratase (IGPD) the rate limiting step of histidine biosynthesis. The structure of Acanthamoeba IGPD has also been determined in complex with 2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) propylphosphonate [(R)-C348], a recently described novel inhibitor of Arabidopsis thaliana IGPD. This compound inhibited the growth of four Acanthamoeba species, having a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 250-526 nM. This effect could be ablated by the addition of 1 mM exogenous free histidine, but importantly not by physiological concentrations found in mammalian tissues. The ability of 3AT and (R)-C348 to restrict the growth of four strains of Acanthamoeba spp. including a recently isolated clinical strain, while not inducing encystment, demonstrates the potential therapeutic utility of targeting the histidine biosynthesis pathway in Acanthamoeba.

Expression and Activity of COX-1 and COX-2 in Acanthamoeba sp.-Infected Lungs According to the Host Immunological Status.

Little is known about the pathomechanism of pulmonary infections caused by Acanthamoeba sp. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether Acanthamoeba sp. may affect the expression and activity of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), resulting in the altered levels of their main products, prostaglandins (PGE2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2), in lungs of immunocompetent or immunosuppressed hosts. Acanthamoeba sp. induced a strong expression of COX-1 and COX-2 proteins in the lungs of immunocompetent mice, which, however, did not result in significant differences in the expression of PGE2 and TXB2. Our immunohistochemical analysis showed that immunosuppression induced by glucocorticoids in Acanthamoeba sp.-infected mice caused a decrease in COX-1 and COX-2 (not at the beginning of infection) in lung tissue. These results suggest that similar to COX-2, COX-1 is an important mediator of the pathophysiology in experimental pulmonary acanthamoebiasis. We suggest that the signaling pathways important for Acanthamoeba sp. induction of lung infection might interact with each other and depend on the host immune status.

Sterol methyltransferase a target for anti-amoeba therapy: towards transition state analog and suicide substrate drug design.

Ergosterol biosynthesis pathways essential to pathogenic protozoa growth and absent from the human host offer new chokepoint targets. Here, we present characterization and cell-based interference of Acanthamoeba spp sterol 24-/28-methylases (SMTs) that catalyze the committed step in C28- and C29-sterol synthesis. Intriguingly, our kinetic analyses suggest that 24-SMT prefers plant cycloartenol whereas 28-SMT prefers 24(28)-methylene lophenol in similar fashion to the substrate preferences of land plant SMT1 and SMT2. Transition state analog-24(R,S),25-epiminolanosterol (EL) and suicide substrate 26,27-dehydrolanosterol (DHL) differentially inhibited trophozoite growth with IC50 values of 7 nM and 6 µM, respectively, and EL yielded 20-fold higher activity than reference drug voriconazole. Against either SMT assayed with native substrate, EL exhibited tight binding ∼Ki 9 nM. Alternatively, DHL is methylated at C26 by 24-SMT that thereby, generates intermediates that complex and inactivate the enzyme, whereas DHL is not productively bound to 28-SMT. Steroidal inhibitors had no effect on human epithelial kidney cell growth or cholesterol biosynthesis at minimum amoebicidal concentrations. We hypothesize the selective inhibition of Acanthamoeba by steroidal inhibitors representing distinct chemotypes may be an efficient strategy for the development of promising compounds to combat amoeba diseases.

Characterization of extracellular proteases of Acanthamoeba genotype T4 isolated from different sources in Iran.

The members of the genus Acanthamoeba are ubiquitous, free-living amoebae found in various environments. The amoebae can cause severe complications in both, immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. The aim of this study was to characterize extracellular proteases of Acanthamoeba isolates from different sources belonging to genotype T4 as well as the determination of the pathogenicity potential to correlate pathogenicity with protease activity and protease banding pattern. A total of 19 isolates (11 clinical and 8 environmental) were cultured axenically, then the pathogenicity of the isolates was assessed by osmo- and thermo- tolerance tests. An applied colorimetric method using azocasein as a substrate was used for the extracellular protease activity assay. Protease characterization was carried out by zymography analysis with and without protease inhibitors. Assessment of the pathogenicity potential using physical parameters revealed that 2 (25%), 2 (25%), and 4 (50%) of the environmental isolates were potential pathogens, weak potential pathogens, and non-pathogens, respectively. According to our results, this protease activity assay can be a powerful tool for differentiating pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba.

siRNA-loaded liposomes: Inhibition of encystment of Acanthamoeba and toxicity on the eye surface.

Current treatments for Acanthamoeba keratitis are unspecific. Because of the presence of the resilient cyst form of the parasite, the infection is persistent. Silencing the key protein of cyst formation, glycogen phosphorylase, has shown potential for reducing encystment processes of the Acanthamoeba trophozoite. However, a suitable carrier to protect and deliver siRNA sequences is still needed. DOTAP: DOPE:DSPE-PEG liposomes were prepared by three different techniques and used to associate a therapeutic siRNA sequence. Liposomes prepared by film hydration followed by membrane extrusion were considered the most adequate ones with average size of 250 nm and zeta potential of +45 mV, being able to associate siRNA for at least 24 hr in culture medium. siRNA-liposomes could inhibit up to 66% of the encystment process. Cell viability studies demonstrated MTT reduction capacity higher than 80% after 3 hr incubation with this formulation. After 24 hr of incubation, LDH activity ranged for both the formulations from around 4% to 40%. In vivo tolerance studies in mice showed no macroscopic alteration in the eye structures up to 24 hr after eight administrations during 1 day. Histological studies showed regular tissue architecture without any morphological alteration. Overall, these results suggest that the formulations developed are a promising new strategy for the treatment of ocular keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba spp.

Evolutionary history of the chitin synthases of eukaryotes.

Chitin synthases are widespread among eukaryotes and known to have a complex evolutionary history in some of the groups. We have reconstructed the chitin synthase phylogeny using the most taxonomically comprehensive dataset currently available and have shown the presence of independently formed paralogous groups in oomycetes, ciliates, fungi, and all diatoms except raphid pennates. There were also two cases of horizontal gene transfer (HGT): transfer from fungus to early diatoms gave rise to diatom paralogous group, while transfer from raphid pennate diatom to Acantamoeba ancestor is, to our knowledge, restricted to a single gene in amoeba. Early evolution of chitin synthases is heavily obscured by paralogy, and further sequencing effort is necessary.

An update on Acanthamoeba keratitis: diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment.

Free-living amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba are causal agents of a severe sight-threatening infection of the cornea known as Acanthamoeba keratitis. Moreover, the number of reported cases worldwide is increasing year after year, mostly in contact lens wearers, although cases have also been reported in non-contact lens wearers. Interestingly, Acanthamoeba keratitis has remained significant, despite our advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy and supportive care. In part, this is due to an incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of the disease, diagnostic delays and problems associated with chemotherapeutic interventions. In view of the devastating nature of this disease, here we present our current understanding of Acanthamoeba keratitis and molecular mechanisms associated with the disease, as well as virulence traits of Acanthamoeba that may be potential targets for improved diagnosis, therapeutic interventions and/or for the development of preventative measures. Novel molecular approaches such as proteomics, RNAi and a consensus in the diagnostic approaches for a suspected case of Acanthamoeba keratitis are proposed and reviewed based on data which have been compiled after years of working on this amoebic organism using many different techniques and listening to many experts in this field at conferences, workshops and international meetings. Altogether, this review may serve as the milestone for developing an effective solution for the prevention, control and treatment of Acanthamoeba infections.

Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus prevents amoebal encystment-mediating serine proteinase expression and circumvents cell encystment.

Acanthamoeba is a genus of free-living amoebas distributed worldwide. Few studies have explored the interactions between these protozoa and their infecting giant virus, Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus (APMV). Here we show that, once the amoebal encystment is triggered, trophozoites become significantly resistant to APMV. Otherwise, upon infection, APMV is able to interfere with the expression of a serine proteinase related to amoebal encystment and the encystment can no longer be triggered.

Acanthamoeba protease activity promotes allergic airway inflammation via protease-activated receptor 2.

Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba commonly present in the environment and often found in human airway cavities. Acanthamoeba possesses strong proteases that can elicit allergic airway inflammation. To our knowledge, the aeroallergenicity of Acanthamoeba has not been reported. We repeatedly inoculated mice with Acanthamoeba trophozoites or excretory-secretory (ES) proteins intra-nasally and evaluated symptoms and airway immune responses. Acanthamoeba trophozoites or ES proteins elicited immune responses in mice that resembled allergic airway inflammation. ES proteins had strong protease activity and activated the expression of several chemokine genes (CCL11, CCL17, CCL22, TSLP, and IL-25) in mouse lung epithelial cells. The serine protease inhibitor phenyl-methane-sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) inhibited ES protein activity. ES proteins also stimulated dendritic cells and enhanced the differentiation of naive T cells into IL-4-secreting T cells. After repeated inoculation of the protease-activated receptor 2 knockout mouse with ES proteins, airway inflammation and Th2 immune responses were markedly reduced, but not to basal levels. Furthermore, asthma patients had higher Acanthamoeba-specific IgE titers than healthy controls and we found Acanthamoeba specific antigen from house dust in typical living room. Our findings suggest that Acanthamoeba elicits allergic airway symptoms in mice via a protease allergen. In addition, it is possible that Acanthamoeba may be one of the triggers human airway allergic disease.

The cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase RegA critically regulates encystation in social and pathogenic amoebas.

Amoebas survive environmental stress by differentiating into encapsulated cysts. As cysts, pathogenic amoebas resist antibiotics, which particularly counteracts treatment of vision-destroying Acanthamoeba keratitis. Limited genetic tractability of amoeba pathogens has left their encystation mechanisms unexplored. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum forms spores in multicellular fruiting bodies to survive starvation, while other dictyostelids, such as Polysphondylium pallidum can additionally encyst as single cells. Sporulation is induced by cAMP acting on PKA, with the cAMP phosphodiesterase RegA critically regulating cAMP levels. We show here that RegA is deeply conserved in social and pathogenic amoebas and that deletion of the RegA gene in P. pallidum causes precocious encystation and prevents cyst germination. We heterologously expressed and characterized Acanthamoeba RegA and performed a compound screen to identify RegA inhibitors. Two effective inhibitors increased cAMP levels and triggered Acanthamoeba encystation. Our results show that RegA critically regulates Amoebozoan encystation and that components of the cAMP signalling pathway could be effective targets for therapeutic intervention with encystation.

Reevaluating the role of Acanthamoeba proteases in tissue invasion: observation of cytopathogenic mechanisms on MDCK cell monolayers and hamster corneal cells.

The morphological analysis of the cytopathic effect on MDCK cell monolayers and hamster cornea and qualitative and quantitative analyses of conditioned medium and proteases were evaluated and compared between two strains of Acanthamoeba genotype T4. Further than highlighting the biological differences found between both strains, the most important observation in this study was the fact that proteases both in total extracts and in conditioned medium are apparently not determinant in tissue destruction. An interestingly finding was that no lysis of corneal tissue was observed as it was previously suggested. These results, together with previous studies, allow us to conclude that the invasion and disruption of corneal tissue is performed by the penetration of the amoebae through cell junctions, either by the action of proteases promoting cellular separation but not by their destruction and/or a mechanical effect exerted by amoebae. Therefore, contact-dependent mechanisms in Acanthamoeba pathogenesis are more relevant than it has been previously considered. This is supported because the phagocytosis of recently detached cells as well as those attached to the corneal epithelium leads to the modification of the cellular architecture facilitating the migration and destruction of deeper layers of the corneal epithelium.

Regulation of the actin-activated MgATPase activity of Acanthamoeba myosin II by phosphorylation of serine 639 in motor domain loop 2.

It had been proposed previously that only filamentous forms of Acanthamoeba myosin II have actin-activated MgATPase activity and that this activity is inhibited by phosphorylation of up to four serine residues in a repeating sequence in the C-terminal nonhelical tailpiece of the two heavy chains. We have reinvestigated these issues using recombinant WT and mutant myosins. Contrary to the earlier proposal, we show that two nonfilamentous forms of Acanthamoeba myosin II, heavy meromyosin and myosin subfragment 1, have actin-activated MgATPase that is down-regulated by phosphorylation. By mass spectroscopy, we identified five serines in the heavy chains that can be phosphorylated by a partially purified kinase preparation in vitro and also are phosphorylated in endogenous myosin isolated from the amoebae: four serines in the nonhelical tailpiece and Ser639 in loop 2 of the motor domain. S639A mutants of both subfragment 1 and full-length myosin had actin-activated MgATPase that was not inhibited by phosphorylation of the serines in the nonhelical tailpiece or their mutation to glutamic acid or aspartic acid. Conversely, S639D mutants of both subfragment 1 and full-length myosin were inactive, irrespective of the phosphorylation state of the serines in the nonhelical tailpiece. To our knowledge, this is the first example of regulation of the actin-activated MgATPase activity of any myosin by modification of surface loop 2.

A domino-like chlamydial attachment process: concurrent Parachlamydia acanthamoebae attachment to amoebae is required for several amoebal released molecules and serine protease activity.

Parachlamydia acanthamoebae is an obligate intracellular bacterium that infects free-living amoebae (Acanthamoeba), and is a potential human pathogen associated with hospital-acquired pneumonia. The attachment mechanism of this bacteria to host cells is crucial in bacterial pathogenesis, yet remains undetermined. Hence, we obtained monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to either P. acanthamoebae or amoebae in an attempt to elucidate the attachment mechanism involved. Hybridomas of 954 clones were assessed, and we found that four mAbs (mAb38, mAb300, mAb311, mAb562) that were reactive to the amoebae significantly inhibited bacterial attachment. All mAbs recognized amoebal released molecules, and mAb311 also recognized the amoebal surface. mAbs reacted with the bacteria not only within amoebae, but also when they were released from amoebae (except mAb311). Furthermore, a serine protease inhibitor had an inhibitory effect on the bacterial attachment to amoebae, although none of the mAbs had any synergistic effect on the inhibition of attachment by the protease inhibitor. Taken together, we conclude that concurrent P. acanthoamebae attachment to amoebae is required for several amoebal released molecules and serine protease activity, implying the existence of a complicated host-parasite relationship.