Isolation of Acanthamoeba Species and Bacterial Symbiont Variability in Puna Salt Plains, Argentina

Acanthamoeba spp. are widespread protists that feed on bacteria via phagocytosis. This predation pressure has led many bacteria to evolve strategies to resist and survive inside these protists. The impact of this is not well understood, but it may limit detection and allow survival in extreme environments. Three sites in the Puna salt plains, Catamarca province, Argentina, were sampled for Acanthamoeba spp., verified using PCR and Sanger sequencing. The intracellular microbiome was analysed with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and compared to the overall site microbiome. Acanthamoeba were found at all locations, and their intracellular microbiome was similar across samples but differed from the overall site microbiome. Pseudomonas spp., a clinically relevant genus, was most abundant in all isolates. This study suggests Acanthamoeba can protect bacteria, aiding their detection avoidance and survival in harsh conditions.