Homeostasis of cellular amino acids in Acanthamoeba castellanii exposed to different media under amoeba-bacteria coculture conditions.

BACKGROUND: Acanthamoeba castellanii is a free-living protist that feeds on diverse bacteria. A. castellanii has frequently been utilized in studies on microbial interactions. Grazing bacteria also exhibit diverse effects on the physiological characteristics of amoebae, such as their growth, encystation, and cytotoxicity. Since the composition of amoebae amino acids is closely related to cellular activities, it can indicate the overall responses of A. castellanii to various stimuli. METHOD: A. castellanii was exposed to different culture conditions in low-nutrient medium with heat-killed DH5α to clarify their effects. A targeted metabolomic technique was utilized to evaluate the concentration of cellular amino acids. The amino acid composition and pathways were analyzed by two web-based tools: MetaboAnalyst and Pathview. Then, long-term exposure to A. castellanii was investigated through in silico and in vitro methods to elucidate the homeostasis of amino acids and the growth of A. castellanii. RESULTS: Under short-term exposure, all kinds of amino acids were enriched in all exposed groups. In contrast to the presence of heat-killed bacteria, the medium exhibited obvious effects on the amino acid composition of A. castellanii. After long-term exposure, the amino acid composition was more similar to that of the control group. A. castellanii may achieve amino acid homeostasis through pathways related to alanine, aspartate, citrulline, and serine. DISCUSSION: Under short-term exposure, compared to the presence of bacteria, the type of medium exerted a more powerful effect on the amino acid composition of the amoeba. Previous studies focused on the interaction of the amoeba and bacteria with effective secretion systems and effectors. This may have caused the effects of low-nutrient environments to be overlooked. CONCLUSION: When A. castellanii was stimulated in the coculture system through various methods, such as the presence of bacteria and a low-nutrient environment, it accumulated intracellular amino acids within a short period. However, different stimulations correspond to different amino acid compositions. After long-term exposure, A. castellanii achieved an amino acid equilibrium by downregulating the biosynthesis of several amino acids.

A one health approach versus Acanthamoeba castellanii, a potential host for Morganella morganii / Un enfoque de salud único versus Acanthamoeba castellanii, un huésped potencial de Morganella morganii

Acanthamoeba castellanii, known as the “Trojan horse of the microbial world,” is known to host a variety of microorganisms including viruses, yeasts, protists, and bacteria. Acanthamoeba can act as a vector and may aid in the transmission of various bacterial pathogens to potential hosts and are found in a variety of places, thus impacting the health of humans, animals, and the environment. These are interconnected in a system known as “one health.” With the global threat of antibiotic resistance, bacteria may avoid harsh conditions, antibiotics, and disinfectants by sheltering within Acanthamoeba. In this study, Acanthamoeba castellanii interaction with Morganella morganii, a Gram-negative bacterium was studied. Escherichia coli K1 interaction with Acanthamoeba was carried out as a control. Association, invasion, and survival assays were accomplished. Morganella morganii was found to associate, invade, and survive within Acanthamoeba castellanii. Additionally, Escherichia coli K1 was also found to associate, invade, and survive within the Acanthamoeba at a higher number in comparison to Morganella morganii. For the first time, we have shown that Morganella morganii interact, invade, and survive within Acanthamoeba castellanii, suggesting that Acanthamoeba may be a potential vector in the transmission of Morganella morganii to susceptible hosts. Taking a one health approach to tackle and develop disinfectants to target Acanthamoeba is warranted, as the amoebae may be hosting various microbes such as multiple drug-resistant bacteria and even viruses such as the novel coronavirus.(AU)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Mobbing-Like Behavior against Acanthamoeba castellanii Bacterivore and Its Rapid Control by Quorum Sensing and Environmental Cues.

Mobbing, group attack of prey on predator, is a behavior seen in many animal species in which prey animals use numbers and coordination to counter individually superior predators. We studied attack behavior of Pseudomonas aeruginosa toward the bacterivore Acanthamoeba castellanii. This behavior consists of directed motility toward and specific adhesion to the predator cells, enacted in seconds and responding to both prey and predator population densities. Attack coordination relies on remote sensing of the predator and the use of the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS), a P. aeruginosa species-specific quorum sensing molecule. Mutants unable to produce the PQS show unspecific adhesion and reduced survival, and a corresponding increase in predator population occurs as a result of predation. The addition of an external PQS restored some predator-specific adherence within seconds, suggesting a novel response mechanism to this quorum sensing (QS) signal. Fast behavioral response of P. aeruginosa to PQS is also supported by the rate of signal accumulation in the culture, reaching relevant concentrations within minutes, enabling bacteria response to self population density in these short timescales. These results portray a well-regulated group attack of the bacteria against their predator, reacting within seconds to environmental cues and species-specific signaling, which is analogous in many ways to animal mobbing behavior. IMPORTANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa was shown previously to attack amoebae and other predators by adhering to them and injecting them with virulent substances. In this work, we show that an active, coordinated group behavior is enacted by the bacteria to utilize these molecular components, responding to both predator and bacterial population density. In addition to their ecological significance, immediate behavioral changes observed in response to PQS suggest the existence of a fast QS signal cascade, which is different from canonical QS that relies on slow-to-respond gene regulation. Similar regulatory circuits may drive other bacterial adaptations and pathogenicity mechanisms and may have important clinical implications.

High oxygen concentrations inhibit Acanthamoeba spp.

Efficacious treatments against Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) is challenging, often ineffective and linked to the intragenotype variation in the drug efficacy. Increased oxygen can facilitate host response and can inhibit some organisms. Herein, we report the effect of increased oxygen concentrations on Acanthamoeba spp. growth and its effect on ROS (reactive oxygen species) production. The exposition to pure oxygen could reduce cell growth by at least 60% for Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, and Acanthamoeba griffini. The increase in ROS production confirming that oxygen cell's growth inhibition was due to oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to determine oxygen saturation level, time of oxygen exposition, and number of sessions needed to eliminate the parasite.

The amoebicidal activity of three substances derived from benzothiazole on Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts and trophozoites and its cytotoxic potentials.

Acanthamoeba species are free-living amoebae isolated from many ecological areas such as swimming pools, dams, lakes, soil, and air filters. These amoebae are usually causing granulomatous amebic encephalitis and amebic keratitis in immunosuppressive individuals. In this study, the reproductive potential and morphological changes determined of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoite and cyst forms exposed to three different active substances derived from benzothiazole. Furthermore, the cytotoxic potential of these active substances determined by XTT analysis. In the study, axenic cultures prepared for Acanthamoeba castellanii cyst and trophozoite forms and parasite exposed to different concentrations of active substances. Cell counts of parasite cultures were performed at the 30 minutes, 1st, 6th, 12th, 24th, and 48th hour periods. As a result of the study, the reproductive potential suppressive effects of all three substances on Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and cysts were determined. The most effective of these substances was 2-Amino-6(trifluoromethoxy)-benzothiazole. In the first three concentrations of this substance (0.1%, 0.05%, 0.025%), no determined trophozoite and cysts at the end of twenty four. Due to its strong ameobicidal effect, it is thought that 2-Amino-6(trifluoromethoxy)-benzothiazole may be a new therapeutic agent in diseases caused by acanthamoeba parasites by supporting this study with animal experiments.

An unusual thioredoxin system in the facultative parasite Acanthamoeba castellanii.

The free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii occurs worldwide in soil and water and feeds on bacteria and other microorganisms. It is, however, also a facultative parasite and can cause serious infections in humans. The annotated genome of A. castellanii (strain Neff) suggests the presence of two different thioredoxin reductases (TrxR), of which one is of the small bacterial type and the other of the large vertebrate type. This combination is highly unusual. Similar to vertebrate TrxRases, the gene coding for the large TrxR in A. castellanii contains a UGA stop codon at the C-terminal active site, suggesting the presence of selenocysteine. We characterized the thioredoxin system in A. castellanii in conjunction with glutathione reductase (GR), to obtain a more complete understanding of the redox system in A. castellanii and the roles of its components in the response to oxidative stress. Both TrxRases localize to the cytoplasm, whereas GR localizes to the cytoplasm and the large organelle fraction. We could only identify one thioredoxin (Trx-1) to be indeed reduced by one of the TrxRases, i.e., by the small TrxR. This thioredoxin, in turn, could reduce one of the two peroxiredoxins tested and also methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA). Upon exposure to hydrogen peroxide and diamide, only the small TrxR was upregulated in expression at the mRNA and protein levels, but not the large TrxR. Our results show that the small TrxR is involved in the A. castellanii's response to oxidative stress. The role of the large TrxR, however, remains elusive.

'Targeting the feast of a sleeping beast': Nutrient and mineral dependencies of encysted Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Acanthamoeba spp. cause a corneal infection, Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), and a cerebral infection, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). Though aggressive chemotherapy has been able to kill the active trophozoite form of Acanthamoeba, the encysted form of this parasite has remained problematic to resist physiological concentrations of drugs. The emergence of encysted amoeba into active trophozoite form poses a challenge to eradicate this parasite. Acanthamoeba trophozoites have active metabolic machinery that furnishes energy in the form of ATPs by subjecting carbohydrates and lipids to undergo pathways including glycolysis and beta-oxidation of free fatty acids, respectively. However, very little is known about the metabolic preferences and dependencies of an encysted trophozoite on minerals or potential nutrients that it consumes to live in an encysted state. Here, we investigate the metabolic and nutrient preferences of the encysted trophozoite of Acanthamoeba castellanii and the possibility to target them by drugs that act on calcium ion dependencies of the encysted amoeba. The experimental assays, immunostaining coupled with bioinformatics tools show that the encysted Acanthamoeba uses diverse nutrient pathways to obtain energy in the quiescent encysted state. These findings highlight potential pathways that can be targeted in eradicating amoebae cysts successfully.

The role of the Acanthamoeba castellanii Sir2-like protein in the growth and encystation of Acanthamoeba.

BACKGROUND: The encystation of Acanthamoeba leads to the development of resilient cysts from vegetative trophozoites. This process is essential for the survival of parasites under unfavorable conditions. Previous studies have reported that, during the encystation of A. castellanii, the expression levels of encystation-related factors are upregulated. However, the regulatory mechanisms for their expression during the encystation process remains unknown. Proteins in the sirtuin family, which consists of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylases, are known to play an important role in various cellular functions. In the present study, we identified the Acanthamoeba silent-information regulator 2-like protein (AcSir2) and examined its role in the growth and encystation of Acanthamoeba. METHODS: We obtained the full-length sequence for AcSir2 using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. In Acanthamoeba transfectants that constitutively overexpress AcSir2 protein, SIRT deacetylase activity was measured, and the intracellular localization of AcSir2 and the effects on the growth and encystation of trophozoites were examined. In addition, the sirtuin inhibitor salermide was used to determine whether these effects were caused by AcSir2 overexpression RESULTS: AcSir2 was classified as a class-IV sirtuin. AcSir2 exhibited functional SIRT deacetylase activity, localized mainly in the nucleus, and its transcription was upregulated during encystation. In trophozoites, AcSir2 overexpression led to greater cell growth, and this growth was inhibited by treatment with salermide, a sirtuin inhibitor. When AcSir2 was overexpressed in the cysts, the encystation rate was significantly higher; this was also reversed with salermide treatment. In AcSir2-overexpressing encysting cells, the transcription of cellulose synthase was highly upregulated compared with that of control cells, and this upregulation was abolished with salermide treatment. Transmission electron microscope-based ultrastructural analysis of salermide-treated encysting cells showed that the structure of the exocyst wall and intercyst space was impaired and that the endocyst wall had not formed. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that AcSir2 is a SIRT deacetylase that plays an essential role as a regulator of a variety of cellular processes and that the regulation of AcSir2 expression is important for the growth and encystation of A. castellanii.

Delayed cytokinesis generates multinuclearity and potential advantages in the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff strain.

Multinuclearity is a widespread phenomenon across the living world, yet how it is achieved, and the potential related advantages, are not systematically understood. In this study, we investigate multinuclearity in amoebae. We observe that non-adherent amoebae are giant multinucleate cells compared to adherent ones. The cells solve their multinuclearity by a stretchy cytokinesis process with cytosolic bridge formation when adherence resumes. After initial adhesion to a new substrate, the progeny of the multinucleate cells is more numerous than the sibling cells generated from uninucleate amoebae. Hence, multinucleate amoebae show an advantage for population growth when the number of cells is quantified over time. Multiple nuclei per cell are observed in different amoeba species, and the lack of adhesion induces multinuclearity in diverse protists such as Acanthamoeba castellanii, Vermamoeba vermiformis, Naegleria gruberi and Hartmannella rhysodes. In this study, we observe that agitation induces a cytokinesis delay, which promotes multinuclearity. Hence, we propose the hypothesis that multinuclearity represents a physiological adaptation under non-adherent conditions that can lead to biologically relevant advantages.

Anti-Acanthamoeba effect of potassium isostearate for use as a multipurpose solution.

Acanthamoeba is one of the organisms that cause corneal infection. In this study, attention was focused on potassium isostearate (iso-C18K, a branched chain fatty acid salt) for use in a multipurpose solution (MPS) against Acanthamoeba. An anti-amoebic test against Acanthamoeba castellanii ATCC 30010 (trophozoites type) was conducted. As a result, a growth reduction effect of 4 log units (99.99% suppression) was observed after incubation with 150 mM (5.0 w/v%) iso-C18K for 10 minutes. Furthermore, after the amoeba suspension was mixed with iso-C18K, disruption of cell membranes were observed, and the minimum amoebacidal concentration (MAC) at that time was 9.6 mM (0.31 w/v%). To evaluate the effectiveness as an MPS, assessment by verification tests was conducted using contact lenses. Reducing the concentration of iso-C18K caused a decrease in the number of viable cells, which was confirmed at a MAC of 1.2 mM (0.039 w/v%).

Antiamoebic activity of 3-aryl-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4(3H)-one library against Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Acanthamoeba castellanii is a free-living amoeba which can cause a blinding keratitis and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. The treatment of Acanthamoeba infections is challenging due to formation of cyst. Quinazolinones are medicinally important scaffold against parasitic diseases. A library of nineteen new 3-aryl-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives was synthesized to evaluate their antiamoebic activity against Acanthamoeba castellanii. One-pot synthesis of 3-aryl-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4(3H)-ones (1-19) was achieved by reaction of 2-amino-4,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid, trimethoxymethane, and different substituted anilines. These compounds were purified and characterized by standard chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Antiacanthamoebic activity of these compounds was determined by amoebicidal, encystation, excystation and host cell cytopathogenicity in vitro assays at concentrations of 50 and 100 µg/mL. The IC50 was found to be between 100 and 50 µg/mL for all the compounds except compound 5 which did not exhibit amoebicidal effects at these concentrations. Furthermore, lactate dehydrogenase assay was also performed to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of these compounds against human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The results revealed that eighteen out of nineteen derivatives of quinazolinones significantly decreased the viability of A. castellanii. Furthermore, eighteen out of nineteen tested compounds inhibited the encystation and excystation, as well as significantly reduced the A. castellanii-mediated cytopathogenicity against human cells. Interestingly, while tested against human normal cell line HaCaT keratinocytes, all compounds did not exhibit any overt cytotoxicity. Furthermore, a detailed structure-activity relationship is also studied to optimize the most potent hit from these synthetic compounds. This report presents several potential lead compounds belonging to 3-aryl-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives for drug discovery against infections caused by Acanthamoeba castellanii.

In vitro activity of isavuconazole against three species of Acanthamoeba.

Acanthamoeba keratitis due to a genus of free-living amoebae is a severe corneal infection. Treatment of this disease is based on the combined use of antiseptics and other drugs, including azoles. We tested isavuconazole, the latest marketed azole, in vitro, against A. castellanii, A. lenticulata and A. hatchetti. Our results show that isavuconazole presents slight amoebistatic activity against A. castellanii trophozoites but no cysticidal activity. Isavuconazole could be used only in association for management of AK due to A. castellanii.

The Antifungal Drug Isavuconazole Is both Amebicidal and Cysticidal against Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Current treatments for Acanthamoeba keratitis rely on a combination of chlorhexidine gluconate, propamidine isethionate, and polyhexamethylene biguanide. These disinfectants are nonspecific and inherently toxic, which limits their effectiveness. Furthermore, in 10% of cases, recurrent infection ensues due to the difficulty in killing both trophozoites and double-walled cysts. Therefore, development of efficient, safe, and target-specific drugs which are capable of preventing recurrent Acanthamoeba infection is a critical unmet need for averting blindness. Since both trophozoites and cysts contain specific sets of membrane sterols, we hypothesized that antifungal drugs targeting sterol 14-demethylase (CYP51), known as conazoles, would have deleterious effects on A. castellanii trophozoites and cysts. To test this hypothesis, we first performed a systematic screen of the FDA-approved conazoles against A. castellanii trophozoites using a bioluminescence-based viability assay adapted and optimized for Acanthamoeba The most potent drugs were then evaluated against cysts. Isavuconazole and posaconazole demonstrated low nanomolar potency against trophozoites of three clinical strains of A. castellanii Furthermore, isavuconazole killed trophozoites within 24 h and suppressed excystment of preformed Acanthamoeba cysts into trophozoites. The rapid action of isavuconazole was also evident from the morphological changes at nanomolar drug concentrations causing rounding of trophozoites within 24 h of exposure. Given that isavuconazole has an excellent safety profile, is well tolerated in humans, and blocks A. castellanii excystation, this opens an opportunity for the cost-effective repurposing of isavuconazole for the treatment of primary and recurring Acanthamoeba keratitis.

In Vitro Amoebicidal Activity of Imidazolium Salts Against Trophozoites.

INTRODUCTION: Several strains of the free-living genus Acanthamoeba can cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), a rare chronic and slowly progressive infection of the central nervous system (CNS), and Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a sight-threatening eye infectious disease. AK incidence has increased with the popularization of the contact lens wear and its treatment is currently limited and frequently unsuccessful. As imidazolium salts (IS), cationic imidazole derivatives, have promising antimicrobial potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study evaluated the amoebicidal activity of four IS; 1-n-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (C16MImMeS), chloride (C16MImCl) and bis (triluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (C16MImNTf2 ), and 1-methyl-3-n-octadecylimidazolium chloride (C18MImCl), against the Acanthamoeba castellanii (ATCC30010) environmental strain and a clinical isolate (genotype T4). RESULTS: Three IS showed being lethal to 100% of the Acanthamoeba trophozoites at the minimum inhibitory concentrations of 125 and 62.5 µg/mL (C16MImMeS), 31.25 and 62.5 µg/mL (C16MImCl), and 125 and 125 µg/mL (C18MImCl) for ATCC30010 and isolate T4, respectively. C16MImNTf2 did not demonstrate amoebicidal activity. All active IS caused the hemolysis of erythrocytes. The cytotoxic effect of the IS was tested in RAW macrophages and human brain microvascular endothelial cells, which demonstrated cytotoxicity in all concentrations tested against both cell lines. As a consequence, these IS with amoebicidal activity presented low selectivity index values (SI) (SI < 1.0), demonstrating lack of parasite selectivity. CONCLUSION: Thus, C16MImMeS, C16MImCl, and C18MImCl seem to hold greater promise as components for contact lens cleaning and disinfection solutions, instead of direct human application.

Repositioning of Guanabenz in Conjugation with Gold and Silver Nanoparticles against Pathogenic Amoebae Acanthamoeba castellanii and Naegleria fowleri.

Brain-eating amoebae cause devastating infections in the central nervous system of humans, resulting in a mortality rate of 95%. There are limited effective therapeutic options available clinically for treating granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and primary amoebic meningoencephalitis caused by Acanthamoeba castellanii (A. castellanii) and Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri), respectively. Here, we report for the first time that guanabenz conjugated to gold and silver nanoparticles has significant antiamoebic activity against both A. castellanii and N. fowleri. Gold and silver conjugated guanabenz nanoparticles were synthesized by the one-phase reduction method and were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy. Both metals were facilely stabilized by the coating of guanabenz, which was examined by surface plasmon resonance determination. The average size of gold nanoconjugated guanabenz was found to be 60 nm, whereas silver nanoparticles were produced in a larger size distribution with the average diameter of around 100 nm. Guanabenz and its noble metal nanoconjugates exhibited potent antiamoebic effects in the range of 2.5 to 100 µM against both amoebae. Nanoparticle conjugation enhanced the antiamoebic effects of guanabenz, as more potent activity was observed at a lower effective concentration (2.5 and 5 µM) compared to the drug alone. Moreover, encystation and excystation assays revealed that guanabenz inhibits the interconversion between the trophozoite and cyst forms of A. castellanii. Cysticdal effects against N. fowleri were also observed. Notably, pretreatment of A. castellanii with guanabenz and its nanoconjugates exhibited a significant reduction in the host cell cytopathogenicity from 65% to 38% and 2% in case of gold and silver nanoconjugates, respectively. Moreover, the cytotoxic evaluation of guanabenz and its nanoconjugates revealed negligible cytotoxicity against human cells. Guanabenz is already approved for hypertension and crosses the blood-brain barrier; the results of our current study suggest that guanabenz and its conjugated gold and silver nanoparticles can be repurposed as a potential drug for treating brain-eating amoebic infections.

Cytopathic Change and Inflammatory Response of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells Induced by Acanthamoeba castellanii Trophozoites and Cysts.

Acanthamoeba castellanii has ubiquitous distribution and causes primary acanthamoebic keratitis (AK). AK is a common disease in contact lens wearers and results in permanent visual impairment or blindness. In this study, we observed the cytopathic effect, in vitro cytotoxicity, and secretion pattern of cytokines in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) induced by A. castellanii trophozoites and/or cysts. Morphological observation revealed that panked dendritic HCECs co-cultured with amoeba cysts had changed into round shape and gradually died. Such changes were more severe in co-culture with cyst than those of co-cultivation with trophozoites. In vitro cytotoxicity assay revealed the highest cytotoxicity to HCECs in the co-culture system with amoeba cysts. A. castellanii induced the expression of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL1 in HCECs. Secreted levels of IL-1α, IL-6, and IL-8 in HCECs co-cultured with both trophozoites and cysts were increased at an early incubation time (3 and 6 hr). These results suggested that cytopathic changes and pro-inflammatory cytokines release of HCECs in response to A. castellanii, especially amoebic cysts, are an important mechanism for AK development.

The most abundant cyst wall proteins of Acanthamoeba castellanii are lectins that bind cellulose and localize to distinct structures in developing and mature cyst walls.

BACKGROUND: Acanthamoeba castellanii, which causes keratitis and blindness in under-resourced countries, is an emerging pathogen worldwide, because of its association with contact lens use. The wall makes cysts resistant to sterilizing reagents in lens solutions and to antibiotics applied to the eye. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Transmission electron microscopy and structured illumination microscopy (SIM) showed purified cyst walls of A. castellanii retained an outer ectocyst layer, an inner endocyst layer, and conical ostioles that connect them. Mass spectrometry showed candidate cyst wall proteins were dominated by three families of lectins (named here Jonah, Luke, and Leo), which bound well to cellulose and less well to chitin. An abundant Jonah lectin, which has one choice-of-anchor A (CAA) domain, was made early during encystation and localized to the ectocyst layer of cyst walls. An abundant Luke lectin, which has two carbohydrate-binding modules (CBM49), outlined small, flat ostioles in a single-layered primordial wall and localized to the endocyst layer and ostioles of mature walls. An abundant Leo lectin, which has two unique domains with eight Cys residues each (8-Cys), localized to the endocyst layer and ostioles. The Jonah lectin and glycopolymers, to which it binds, were accessible in the ectocyst layer. In contrast, Luke and Leo lectins and the glycopolymers, to which they bind, were mostly inaccessible in the endocyst layer and ostioles. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The most abundant A. castellanii cyst wall proteins are three sets of lectins, which have carbohydrate-binding modules that are conserved (CBM49s of Luke), newly characterized (CAA of Jonah), or unique to Acanthamoebae (8-Cys of Leo). Cyst wall formation is a tightly choreographed event, in which lectins and glycopolymers combine to form a mature wall with a protected endocyst layer. Because of its accessibility in the ectocyst layer, an abundant Jonah lectin is an excellent diagnostic target.

Effect of the bacterial growth phase and coculture conditions on the interaction of Acanthamoeba castellanii with Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, and Shigella sonnei.

Shigella species and Acanthamoeba castellanii share the same ecological niches, and their interaction has been addressed in a limited number of research. However, there are still uncertain aspects and discrepant findings of this interaction. In the present study, the effects of the bacterial growth phase, cocultivation temperature and the type of culture media on the interaction of A. castellanii with Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri were evaluated. In nutrient-poor page's amoeba saline (PAS) medium, the number of recovered bacteria and the uptake rates were significantly higher in stationary phase cells than logarithmic phase cells. However, no significant differences were observed in the number of recovered bacteria and the uptake rates between logarithmic and stationary phase cells in nutrient-rich peptone-yeast extract-glucose (PYG) medium. While the number of recovered bacteria was significantly higher in nutrient-rich than nutrient-poor media, in all the three Shigella species, the bacterial uptake rates were significantly higher in nutrient-poor than nutrient-rich media at both cocultivation temperatures. In both nutrient-poor and nutrient-rich media and at both cocultivation temperatures, the number of viable Shigella species after 24 h incubation were not influenced by the presence of A. castellanii. Although Shigella species did not proliferate in A. castellanii trophozoites, a considerable number of bacteria were survived in the trophozoites up to 15 days. From the public health perspective, the results of this study are important for further understanding of the nature of the interaction of these organisms and to deal with Shigella species in the environment.

Gold Nanoparticles Conjugation Enhances Antiacanthamoebic Properties of Nystatin, Fluconazole and Amphotericin B.

Parasitic infections have remained a significant burden on human and animal health. In part, this is due to lack of clinically-approved, novel antimicrobials and a lack of interest by the pharmaceutical industry. An alternative approach is to modify existing clinically-approved drugs for efficient delivery formulations to ensure minimum inhibitory concentration is achieved at the target site. Nanotechnology offers the potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of drugs through modification of nanoparticles with ligands. Amphotericin B, nystatin, and fluconazole are clinically available drugs in the treatment of amoebal and fungal infections. These drugs were conjugated with gold nanoparticles. To characterize these gold-conjugated drug, atomic force microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed. These drugs and their gold nanoconjugates were examined for antimicrobial activity against the protist pathogen, Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype. Moreover, host cell cytotoxicity assays were accomplished. Cytotoxicity of these drugs and drug-conjugated gold nanoparticles was also determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Gold nanoparticles conjugation resulted in enhanced bioactivity of all three drugs with amphotericin B producing the most significant effects against Acanthamoeba castellanii (p ＜ 0.05). In contrast, bare gold nanoparticles did not exhibit antimicrobial potency. Furthermore, amoebae treated with drugs-conjugated gold nanoparticles showed reduced cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. In this report, we demonstrated the use of nanotechnology to modify existing clinically-approved drugs and enhance their efficacy against pathogenic amoebae. Given the lack of development of novel drugs, this is a viable approach in the treatment of neglected diseases.

Evolution of STEC virulence: Insights from the antipredator activities of Shiga toxin producing E. coli.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a diverse group of strains that are implicated in over 270,000 cases of human illness annually in the United States alone. Shiga toxin (Stx), encoded by a resident temperate lambdoid bacteriophage, is the main STEC virulence factor. Although the population structure of E. coli O157:H7, the most common disease-causing STEC strain, is highly homogenous, the range of clinical illness caused by this strain varies by dramatically outbreak, suggesting that human virulence is evolving. However, the factors governing this variation in disease severity are poorly understood. STEC evolved from an O55:H7-like progenitor into a human pathogen. In addition to causing human disease, Stx released from STEC kill bacterivorous protist predators and enhance bacterial survival in the face of protist predation. Cattle are the primary reservoir for STEC and protists and bacteria occur together within the ruminant intestinal tract. Cattle associated STEC are not highly pathogenic to humans. These observations suggest that disease causing STEC strains evolved from cattle-associated "antipredator" STEC strains. To test this idea and to gain insight into the features that govern the evolution of STEC from a commensal strain of ruminants strain to virulent human pathogen, we compared the predation resistance of STEC strains isolated from asymptomatic infected cows and human patients. We find that STEC O157:H7 progenitor lineages and clades are more effective than human associated ones at killing the types of protist predators. In addition, our results indicate that the presence of Stx2c-containing bacteriophage is associated with more efficient amoeba killing. Also, these phage apparently also encode Q21-like version of the Q antitermination protein, the protein that controls expression of Stx.