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Acanthamoeba mauritaniensis genotype T4D: An environmental isolate displays pathogenic behavior

Daniel Coronado-Velázquez1, Angélica Silva-Olivares1, Federico Castro-Muñozledo2

  • 1Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN 2508, Mexico City 07360, Mexico.

Parasitology International
|November 1, 2019
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals that Acanthamoeba mauritaniensis, previously considered nonpathogenic, damages human cells and degrades tight junction proteins via serine proteases, similar to pathogenic strains.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Acanthamoeba species are ubiquitous free-living amoebae.
  • Pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains cause severe human infections like keratitis and encephalitis.
  • Proteases are key virulence factors in pathogenic Acanthamoeba.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the pathogenic potential and protease activity of Acanthamoeba mauritaniensis.
  • To compare the cytopathic effects of A. mauritaniensis with Acanthamoeba castellanii.
  • To analyze the impact of A. mauritaniensis proteases on host cell tight junctions.

Main Methods:

  • Cell culture assays to assess cytopathic effects on RCE1(5T5) and MDCK cells.
  • Biochemical characterization of proteases in total crude extracts and conditioned medium.
  • Zymography and Azocoll assays to identify protease activities.
  • Analysis of tight junction protein integrity and transepithelial electrical resistance.
  • Genotyping of the Acanthamoeba isolate.

Main Results:

  • A. mauritaniensis induced significant cytopathic effects on RCE1(5T5) and MDCK cells.
  • Serine proteases were identified as the most active proteases in both total crude extracts and conditioned medium.
  • A. mauritaniensis proteases, particularly serine proteases, degraded tight junction proteins and altered cell barrier function.
  • The isolate was identified as Acanthamoeba genotype T4D.

Conclusions:

  • Acanthamoeba mauritaniensis genotype T4D exhibits pathogenic-like behaviors, including cell damage and tight junction disruption.
  • The findings suggest that nonpathogenic Acanthamoeba isolates may possess virulence factors similar to pathogenic strains.
  • Further research is warranted to fully understand the clinical implications of Acanthamoeba genotype T4D.
Keywords:
Acanthamoeba mauritaniensis T4DCytopathic effectEpithelial cellsPMSFProteasesTight junction proteins

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