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Migration of Acanthamoeba castellanii Through Legionella Biofilms

Ramon Hochstrasser1, Hubert Hilbi2

  • 1Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|January 30, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Legionella pneumophila forms biofilms where it replicates within amoeba. This study visualizes these biofilms and amoeba grazing, enabling molecular study of Legionella-amoeba interactions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Legionella pneumophila causes Legionnaires' disease, a severe pneumonia transmitted via aerosols.
  • This bacterium thrives in biofilms, often within protozoa like Acanthamoeba castellanii.
  • Molecular mechanisms of Legionella-amoeba interactions in biofilms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a method for visualizing Legionella pneumophila biofilm formation.
  • To quantify Acanthamoeba castellanii migration within these biofilms.
  • To enable molecular and cellular investigations of Legionella-amoeba interactions within biofilms.

Main Methods:

  • Confocal microscopy was used to visualize mono-species Legionella pneumophila biofilms.
  • A quantitative method was developed to track Acanthamoeba castellanii grazing within biofilms.

Main Results:

  • Successful visualization of Legionella pneumophila biofilm architecture.
  • Quantification of Acanthamoeba castellanii movement and interaction within biofilms.
  • Establishment of a model system for studying Legionella-amoeba interactions.

Conclusions:

  • The developed method allows detailed observation of Legionella pneumophila biofilms and amoeba interactions.
  • This approach facilitates molecular and cellular studies of host-pathogen dynamics in biofilms.
  • Understanding these interactions is crucial for controlling Legionnaires' disease.
Keywords:
Acanthamoeba castellaniiBiofilm formationCell motilityConfocal microscopyGreen fluorescent proteinHost-pathogen interactionsLegionella pneumophilaSingle-cell trackingType IV secretion

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