Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Yuheng Zhang, Xizhan Xu, Zhenyu Wei, Kai Cao, Zijun Zhang, Qingfeng Liang
Summary: Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare parasitic infection of the cornea that can lead to permanent blindness if not diagnosed and treated promptly. The annual incidence of Acanthamoeba keratitis was calculated to be 23,561 cases, with the lowest rates in Tunisia and Belgium, and the highest in India. Analysis of Acanthamoeba sequences revealed multiple genotypes, with T4 being the most prevalent. Early diagnosis through staining, PCR, or in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is crucial for prognosis, with IVCM being the most recommended approach.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Nessika Karsenti, Andrew Purssell, Rachel Lau, Filip Ralevski, Shveta Bhasker, Hira Raheel, Andrea K. Boggild
Summary: Bacterial endosymbionts are prevalent in clinical strains of Acanthamoeba causing AK isolated from corneal scrapings. The demonstration of these organisms in clinical Acanthamoeba isolates supports a potential exploration of anti-endosymbiont therapeutics as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of AK.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Binod Rayamajhee, Savitri Sharma, Mark Willcox, Fiona L. Henriquez, Raksheeth Nathan Rajagopal, Gauri Shankar Shrestha, Dinesh Subedi, Bhupesh Bagga, Nicole Carnt
Summary: This study aimed to examine the Acanthamoeba species and genotypes recovered from patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis, determine the presence of endosymbionts in ocular isolates of Acanthamoeba, and review the clinical presentations.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Chun-Hsien Chen, Yu-Jen Wang, Jian-Ming Huang, Fu-Chin Huang, Wei-Chen Lin
Summary: The study investigated the impact of ocular microenvironmental factors on the efficacy of CHG treatment for Acanthamoeba, finding that mucin, albumin, human and amoeba cell lysates, live and heat-killed bacterial suspensions, and cornea significantly inhibited CHG activity, while dry-eye drops and their major component, propylene glycol, had no effect on CHG treatment.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Faten A. M. Hassan, M. E. M. Tolba, Gamal H. Abed, H. M. Omar, Sara S. Abdel-Hakeem
Summary: Acanthamoeba spp. are free-living amoeba that can cause keratitis through contaminated lenses. This study identified Acanthamoeba strains in lenses and disinfecting solutions, suggesting a common genotype for Acanthamoeba keratitis. Careful cleaning of lenses and solutions is essential to prevent infection.
Article
Parasitology
Daniele Corsaro
Summary: Group 1 acanthamoebae are morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from other Acanthamoeba species. They have been recently found in cases of human keratitis and encephalitis, although their pathogenic importance is likely minor compared to species in Groups 2 and 3. Identifying genotypes using molecular methods may present difficulties and lead to misidentifications.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Marcin Padzik, Lidia Chomicz, Julita Bluszcz, Karolina Maleszewska, Jaroslaw Grobelny, David Bruce Conn, Edyta B. Hendiger
Summary: Acanthamoeba spp. can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis, particularly in contact lens wearers. It has been found that silver nanoparticles combined with tannic acid-modified contact lens solutions can enhance their anti-adhesion activity with low cytotoxicity.
Article
Ophthalmology
Adi Mohammed Al Owaifeer, Sarah Al-Omair, Shaimaa Alrefaie, Saad H. Alenezi, Sami Al-Shahwan
Summary: The incidence of ocular hypertension and glaucoma is high in patients with acanthamoeba keratitis, with the use of corticosteroids in the treatment regimen significantly increasing the risk of glaucoma development. Close monitoring of intraocular pressure is recommended for these patients.
EYE & CONTACT LENS-SCIENCE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Maria Luisa Nunes Diehl, Julia Paes, Marilise Brittes Rott
Summary: The Acanthamoeba genus is widely prevalent globally, causing Acanthamoeba keratitis primarily in Asia and Europe. The T4 genotype is the most common worldwide, with variations in pathology and treatment susceptibility among different genotypes. Genotyping isolates from Acanthamoeba keratitis cases is essential for better correlation between in vitro and in vivo activities and successful treatment.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Reza Saberi, Maryam Nakhaei, Mahdi Fakhar, Hossein Zarrinfar, Ali Sharifpour, Hajar Ziaei Hezarjaribi
Summary: This study found the presence of Acanthamoeba (T4 and T2 genotypes) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of immunocompetent patients with chronic respiratory disorders (CRD). Further investigation is needed to understand the role of Acanthamoeba spp. in the pathogenesis of lung infections.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Derya Dirim Erdogann, Mehmet Aykur, Nur Selvi Gunel, Melis Palamar, Ozlem Barut Selver, Buket Ozel, Ayse Yagci, Cumhur Gunduz, Hande Dagci
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the presence and genotypes of Acanthamoeba in clinical samples of keratitis patients and in samples from asymptomatic contact lens users. Acanthamoeba was detected in a small percentage of keratitis patients, with the main genotypes being T4 and T5. However, no Acanthamoeba was found in samples from asymptomatic contact lens users.
ACTA PARASITOLOGICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Vithusan Muthukumar, Lei Shi, Ning Chai, Achim Langenbucher, Soren L. Becker, Berthold Seitz, Erika Orosz, Tanja Stachon, Albrecht F. Kiderlen, Markus Bischoff, Nora Szentmary
Summary: Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a dangerous infectious disease with a high risk of blindness. This study tested the effectiveness of different off-label anti-amoebic drugs and found that povidone iodine (PVPI) showed complete suppression of trophozoite formation in all tested Acanthamoeba isolates. Pre-testing of the drug's cysticidal effect on the Acanthamoeba isolate is important for selecting an effective treatment.
Article
Parasitology
Denise Leal dos Santos, Veridiana Gomes Virginio, Francisco Kercher Berte, Karina Rodrigues Lorenzatto, Diane Ruschel Marinho, Sergio Kwitko, Claudete Ines Locatelli, Eduarda Correa Freitas, Marilise Brittes Rott
Summary: This study reported the clinical and molecular diagnosis outcomes of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) cases in the southern region of Brazil during the summer of 2019. The presence of a bacterial endosymbiont in Acanthamoeba isolates requires further research to understand its potential role in the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba infections.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Francesco D'Oria, Rosa Buonamassa, Tiziana Rizzo, Francesco Boscia, Giovanni Alessio, Silvana Guerriero
Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of bacterial and fungal infections in the eyes and evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility at a tertiary referral eye care hospital in Bari, Italy. The findings showed that bacterial infections, primarily caused by Gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus species, were the most common, followed by fungal infections. The study also revealed a high level of in vitro resistance to multiple antibiotics.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Turkan K. Karyagdi, Husain F. Hassan, Shihab A. Mohammed
Summary: This study investigates the effect of drugs on pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolated from Iraqi waters and compares the inhibitory effect of two drugs. The results show that chloramphenicol has a stronger inhibitory effect on Acanthamoeba.
BAGHDAD SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Floriana Mulas, Xu Wang, Shanshan Song, Gopala Nishanth, Wenjing Yi, Anna Brunn, Pia-Katharina Larsen, Berend Isermann, Ulrich Kalinke, Antonio Barragan, Michael Naumann, Martina Deckert, Dirk Schlueter
Summary: OTUB1 is identified as a potent novel regulator of DCs during infectious and inflammatory diseases. It promotes NF-kappa B activity, regulates cytokine production, and impacts the response to pathogens.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Einar B. Olafsson, Antonio Barragan
BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Einar B. Olafsson, Arne L. ten Hoeve, Xiaoze Li-Wang, Linda Westermark, Manuel Varas-Godoy, Antonio Barragan
Summary: The study demonstrates that two pathways activated by infection converge on Ras-Erk MAPK signaling to promote migration of parasitized dendritic cells (DCs) infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Signaling through the receptor tyrosine kinase Met and voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC) activate the GTPase Ras to drive Erk1 and Erk2 phosphorylation, leading to hypermotility of T. gondii-infected DCs.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Ulrich Theopold, Antonio Barragan
Summary: The study identified a TRP-like channel in Toxoplasma gondii and demonstrated its involvement in crucial processes such as parasite invasion and egress from host cells, shedding light on how parasites sense and respond to changes in the cellular environments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emily C. Ross, Arne L. ten Hoeve, Antonio Barragan
Summary: The study found that infected dendritic cells in a cellular model of the blood-brain barrier adhere to polarized endothelium and shift to integrin-dependent motility, resulting in increased transendothelial migration. It provides insights into how pathogens impact the migratory plasticity of cells in response to the cellular environment, promoting infection-related dissemination by leukocytes.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amol K. Bhandage, Antonio Barragan
Summary: Recent findings point to the important role of GABA signaling in the mammalian immune system, impacting functions such as cell migration and cytokine secretion. GABA, originally known as a neurotransmitter, has been identified as a signaling molecule in intercellular and interspecies interactions within the immune system.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Amol K. Bhandage, Laura M. Friedrich, Sachie Kanatani, Simon Jakobsson-Bjorken, J. Ignacio Escrig-Larena, Arnika K. Wagner, Benedict J. Chambers, Antonio Barragan
Summary: NK cells synthesize and secrete GABA in response to infection challenge, which can inhibit NK cell cytotoxicity. This suggests that GABA may modulate the immune responses to parasitic infections.
JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Franziska Hildebrandt, Alma Andersson, Sami Saarenpaa, Ludvig Larsson, Noemi Van Hul, Sachie Kanatani, Jan Masek, Ewa Ellis, Antonio Barragan, Annelie Mollbrink, Emma R. Andersson, Joakim Lundeberg, Johan Ankarklev
Summary: Global transcriptional differences across lobular units in the liver remain unknown. Here the authors perform spatial transcriptomics of liver tissue to delineate transcriptional differences in physical space, confirm lobular zonation along transcriptional gradients and suggest the presence of previously uncharacterized structures within liver tissue.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Richard Idro, Rodney Ogwang, Antonio Barragan, Joseph Valentino Raimondo, Willias Masocha
Summary: Parasitic infections of the central nervous system are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa, with neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric sequelae resulting from the interaction between parasites and host immune response. The review covers diseases caused by various parasitic organisms affecting the nervous system, detailing their geographical distribution, prevalence, life cycle, clinical symptoms, and pathogenesis. The understanding of these processes may guide optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these disorders, while also highlighting gaps in knowledge and the need for further research on neglected neurological disorders.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Parasitology
Emily C. Ross, Gabriela C. Olivera, Antonio Barragan
Summary: This passage primarily discusses the important role of the blood-brain barrier in protecting the central nervous system from infections and the remarkable ability of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite to establish latent cerebral infections. Recent findings highlight the significant role played by the blood-brain barrier in restricting parasite passage and minimizing parasite loads in the brain. Additionally, evidence suggests that the initial colonization of the brain by T. gondii involves previously unappreciated, non-disruptive translocation processes before the onset of parasite-limiting immune responses.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Emily C. C. Ross, Arne L. ten Hoeve, Jeroen P. J. Saeij, Antonio Barragan
Summary: The study reveals that Toxoplasma gondii infection enhances the trans-endothelial migration of infected dendritic cells (DCs) by upregulating the expression of leukocyte intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). This enhanced migration is facilitated by the secreted parasite effectors GRA15 and TgWIP, which modulate the interactions between leukocytes and endothelial cells. The findings highlight the importance of leukocyte ICAM-1 in infection-related migration and dissemination of the parasite.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Arne L. Ten Hoeve, Laurence Braun, Matias E. Rodriguez, Gabriela C. Olivera, Alexandre Bougdour, Lucid Belmudes, Yohann Coute, Jeroen P. J. Saeij, Mohamed-Ali Hakimi, Antonio Barragan
Summary: This study reveals how the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii exploits the chemotactic migration ability of macrophages, highlighting the migratory plasticity of differentiated cells in the mononuclear phagocyte system. The parasite effector GRA28 cooperates with host chromatin remodelers to drive the migration of parasitized macrophages. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the dissemination of T. gondii and the interaction between the parasite and host cells.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Amol K. Bhandage, Gabriela C. Olivera, Sachie Kanatani, Elizabeth Thompson, Karin Lore, Manuel Varas-Godoy, Antonio Barragan
Meeting Abstract
Physiology
Amol K. Bhandage, Antonio Barragan
Review
Immunology
Dirk Schlueter, Antonio Barragan
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
