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Adhesion forces and mechanics in mannose-mediated acanthamoeba interactions
Steven Huth1, Julia F Reverey1, Matthias Leippe2
1Institute of Materials Science, Biocompatible Nanomaterials, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, D-24143 Kiel, Germany.
Plos One
|May 5, 2017
Summary
Acanthamoeba castellanii uses mannose on host cells for adhesion. Biophysical force spectroscopy reveals increased adhesion force and work with longer contact times, indicating membrane tethering without immediate cytoskeleton involvement.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Acanthamoeba castellanii is a human pathogen causing severe keratitis and encephalitis.
- Pathogenicity involves close contact between the amoeba and target cells, mediated by the target cell's glycocalyx, with mannose as a key mediator.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biophysics of mannose-mediated adhesion of Acanthamoeba castellanii.
- To analyze the force and work of detachment between mannose and Acanthamoeba trophozoites using force spectroscopy.
Main Methods:
- Force spectroscopy was employed using a mannose-coated cantilever interacting with single Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites.
- Adhesion forces, work of detachment, and single rupture events were analyzed as a function of contact time.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in detachment force and work of detachment was observed with increasing contact time.
- Single rupture events during detachment were associated with membrane tether formation.
- Findings suggest the cytoskeleton is not involved in initial mannose binding events (first few seconds).
Conclusions:
- Mannose-mediated adhesion of Acanthamoeba castellanii is time-dependent, with increasing force and work required for detachment.
- Initial adhesion involves membrane tethering, independent of the cytoskeleton.
- Provides a biophysical basis for understanding pathogen-host cell interactions and parasite pathogenicity.
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