A Rabbit Model of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> Keratitis That Better Reflects the Natural Human Infection

Feng, Xiao; Zheng, Wenyu; Wang, Yuehua; Zhao, Donghai; Jiang, Xiaoming; Lv, Shanshan

doi:10.1002/ar.23154

Cited by 23 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…in all epithelial and stromal layers of the cornea, as well as regional stromal necrosis. In addition, the infection may be accompanied by a local necrosis of stromal fibers [24,25]. In a patient with Acanthamoeba keratitis, Kato et al [26] observed polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the corneal stroma, an abscess in the granulomatous tissue of sclera near the ciliary body, and macrophages and lymphocytes surrounding blood vessels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antioxidant defense in the eyes of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice infected with Acanthamoeba spp.

et al. 2020

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Background: Acanthamoeba spp. are ubiquitous pathogens which cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and disseminated infection. Moreover, Acanthamoeba spp. infection of the cornea leads to Acanthamoeba keratitis. Our previous study showed that the infection of an eyeball may also take place via the migration of trophozoites through the optic nerve from the brain to the eyes. The aim of the study was to analyze the activity of enzymatic antioxidants and the concentration of non-enzymatic antioxidant in the eyes of immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice with disseminated acanthamoebiasis. Results: In the immunocompetent mice infected with Acanthamoeba spp. we noted a significant decrease in catalase activity at 8 and 16 days post-infection (dpi). Glutathione reductase activity was significantly lower at 16 dpi compared to the control group and glutathione concentration was statistically higher at 24 dpi than in the control group. In the immunosuppressed mice, a statistically significant increase in glutathione concentration in the eye samples was found at 16 dpi compared to those not infected with Acanthamoeba spp. In the immunosuppressed mice infected with Acanthamoeba spp., glutathione peroxidase activity was statistically lower at 8 dpi, and glutathione concentration was statistically significantly higher at 16 dpi compared to the control group. Conclusions: The inflammatory response in the eyes of hosts with experimental acanthamoebiasis led to changes in the activity of enzymatic antioxidants and the content of non-enzymatic antioxidant. Therefore, the dysregulation of antioxidants may play a role in the pathomechanism of Acanthamoeba eye infection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antioxidant defense in the eyes of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice infected with Acanthamoeba spp.

et al. 2020

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“…Injection of amoeba trophozoites into the anterior chamber of the eye did not cause morphological changes in the retina or posterior chamber of the eye [28]. However, in another study, an injection of Acanthamoeba into the corneal stroma led to severe encephalitis in some animals [29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Expression of Toll-Like Receptors (TLR2 and TLR4) in the Eyes of Mice Intranasally Infected with <em>Acanthamoeba</em> sp.

Kot¹,

Kosik-Bogacka²,

Łanocha-Arendarczyk³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a key role in the innate immune response to numerous pathogens, including Acanthamoeba sp. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in the eyes of mice following intranasal infection with Acanthamoeba sp. Amoebae used in this study were isolated from the bronchial aspirate of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and atypical symptoms of pneumonia. We found statistically significant differences in the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in the eyes of immunocompetent mice at 8, 16, and 24 days post Acanthamoeba sp. infection (dpi) compared to control. Immunosuppressed mice showed significant differences in the expression of TLR2 at 16 and 24 dpi compared to uninfected animals. Our results indicate that TLR2 and TLR4 are upregulated in the eyes of mice in response to Acanthamoeba sp. We suggest that it is possible for trophozoites to migrate through the optic nerve from the brain to the eyes.

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“…mannose-binding lectin and secreted proteases) and host factors that mediate resistance to the protist (e.g. IL-17A) [ 15 – 17 ]. Acanthamoeba infections are treated with drug combinations (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Killing of diverse eye pathogens (Acanthamoeba spp., Fusarium solani, and Chlamydia trachomatis) with alcohols

et al. 2017

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BackgroundBlindness is caused by eye pathogens that include a free-living protist (Acanthamoeba castellanii, A. byersi, and/or other Acanthamoeba spp.), a fungus (Fusarium solani), and a bacterium (Chlamydia trachomatis). Hand-eye contact is likely a contributor to the spread of these pathogens, and so hand washing with soap and water or alcohol–based hand sanitizers (when water is not available) might reduce their transmission. Recently we showed that ethanol and isopropanol in concentrations present in hand sanitizers kill walled cysts of Giardia and Entamoeba, causes of diarrhea and dysentery, respectively. The goal here was to determine whether these alcohols might kill infectious forms of representative eye pathogens (trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba, conidia of F. solani, or elementary bodies of C. trachomatis).Methodology/Principal findingsWe found that treatment with 63% ethanol or 63% isopropanol kills >99% of Acanthamoeba trophozoites after 30 sec exposure, as shown by labeling with propidium iodide (PI) and failure to grow in culture. In contrast, Acanthamoeba cysts, which contain cellulose fibers in their wall, are relatively more resistant to these alcohols, particularly isopropanol. Depending upon the strain tested, 80 to 99% of Acanthamoeba cysts were killed by 63% ethanol after 2 min and 95 to 99% were killed by 80% ethanol after 30 sec, as shown by PI labeling and reduced rates of excystation in vitro. Both ethanol and isopropanol (63% for 30 sec) kill >99% of F. solani conidia, which have a wall of chitin and glucan fibrils, as demonstrated by PI labeling and colony counts on nutrient agar plates. Both ethanol and isopropanol (63% for 60 sec) inactivate 96 to 99% of elementary bodies of C. trachomatis, which have a wall of lipopolysaccharide but lack peptidoglycan, as measured by quantitative cultures to calculate inclusion forming units.Conclusions/SignificanceIn summary, alcohols kill infectious forms of Acanthamoeba, F. solani, and C. trachomatis, although longer times and higher ethanol concentrations are necessary for Acanthamoeba cysts. These results suggest the possibility that expanded use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in places where water is not easily available might reduce transmission of these important causes of blindness.

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A Rabbit Model of Acanthamoeba Keratitis That Better Reflects the Natural Human Infection

Cited by 23 publications

References 33 publications

Antioxidant defense in the eyes of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice infected with Acanthamoeba spp.

Antioxidant defense in the eyes of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice infected with Acanthamoeba spp.

Expression of Toll-Like Receptors (TLR2 and TLR4) in the Eyes of Mice Intranasally Infected with <em>Acanthamoeba</em> sp.

Killing of diverse eye pathogens (Acanthamoeba spp., Fusarium solani, and Chlamydia trachomatis) with alcohols

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