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THE 72-KDA PROTEIN OF NAEGLERIA FOWLERI PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ADHESION OF TROPHOZOITES TO BALB/C MICE NASAL

B Flores-Suárez1,2, P Bonilla-Lemus1, S Rojas-Hernández3

  • 1Laboratorio de Microbiología Ambiental. Proyecto CyMA, UIICSE, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, C.P. 54090, Estado de México, México.

The Journal of Parasitology
|August 12, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified a 72-kDa surface protein on Naegleria fowleri that mediates adhesion to host cells. This finding is crucial for understanding how the pathogen invades the nasal epithelium and causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Parasitology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Naegleria fowleri causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a severe brain infection.
  • Pathogen adhesion to host cells is critical for disease progression, but N. fowleri adhesins remain uncharacterized.
  • Understanding these adhesins is key to developing therapeutic strategies against PAM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify surface proteins of N. fowleri involved in adhesion to the mouse nasal epithelium.
  • To characterize the role of identified adhesins in the pathogenesis of PAM.

Main Methods:

  • Overlay and Western blot assays to analyze protein interactions between N. fowleri extracts and mouse epithelial cells.
  • Mass spectrometry and 2D-SDS-PAGE for purification and identification of interacting proteins.
  • Immunofluorescence assays to confirm surface localization and functional role in adhesion.

Main Results:

  • A 72-kDa protein band from N. fowleri extracts directly interacted with mouse nasal epithelial cell proteins.
  • Mass spectrometry identified this 72-kDa protein as containing peptides matching membrane protein, actin 1 and 2, and Hsp70.
  • Immunofluorescence confirmed the 72-kDa protein is on the trophozoite surface and essential for in vitro and in vivo adhesion.

Conclusions:

  • A 72-kDa surface protein of N. fowleri acts as an adhesin to the mouse nasal epithelium.
  • This adhesin likely facilitates pathogen invasion and migration to the brain, contributing to PAM.
  • Identification of this adhesin provides a potential target for interventions against N. fowleri infections.
Keywords:
Naegleria fowleriEpithelial adhesionFree-living amoebaeInvasion mechanismsParasitismPrimary amebic meningoencephalitisProtein interactionProtozoan

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