Article
Microbiology
Jillian E. Milanes, Jimmy Suryadi, Neil P. Monaghan, Elijah M. Harding, Corbin S. Morris, Soren D. Rozema, Muhammad M. Khalifa, Jennifer E. Golden, Isabelle Q. Phan, Rachael Zigweid, Jan Abendroth, Christopher A. Rice, Hayden T. McCord, Stevin Wilson, Michael K. Fenwick, James C. Morris
Summary: Infection with pathogenic free-living amoebae can cause life-threatening diseases, especially involving the central nervous system. Previous studies have identified the differences in glucokinase enzymes between different amoebae species, highlighting the challenges in developing broad-spectrum amoebic inhibitors.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Ascel Samba-Louaka, Elisabeth Labruyere, Mariette Matondo, Marie Locard-Paulet, Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin, Nancy Guillen
Summary: Amoebae, including pathogenic species and free-living species, are found in both aquatic and terrestrial environments and pose significant threats to public health. They exist in two cellular forms, trophozoites and cysts, with the cyst stage being the resistant and disseminating form. Encystation is accompanied by stress responses and limited data suggest that it shares factors and mechanisms with stress responses in trophozoites exposed to toxic compounds. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying amoebae-specific stress responses is crucial for the development of effective therapies.
Article
Microbiology
Fauzy Nasher, Brendan W. Wren
Summary: This study reveals that Acanthamoeba enhances the invasiveness of Campylobacter jejuni into human epithelial cells and Acanthamoeba cells. Additionally, the invasiveness and survivability of Campylobacter jejuni strains within Acanthamoeba spp. are host-cell-dependent.
Article
Parasitology
Marianna de Carvalho Climaco, Yrna Lorena Matos de Oliveira, Anne Caroline Santos Ramos, Jucicleide Ramos-de-Souza, Audrey Rouse Soares Tavares Silva, Sona Jain, Marilise Brittes Rott, Ricardo Scher, Cristiane Bani Correa, Ana Andrea Teixeira Barbosa, Silvio Santana Dolabella
Summary: This study demonstrated the effect of nisin on A. castellanii trophozoites, causing cell-cycle arrest but allowing recovery of growth after 72 hours. These findings suggest the potential use of nisin as an adjuvant in the treatment of Acanthamoeba spp. infections.
ACTA PARASITOLOGICA
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Min-Jeong Kim, Eun-Kyung Moon, Hye-Jeong Jo, Fu-Shi Quan, Hyun-Hee Kong
Summary: In this study, the differentially expressed genes of Acanthamoeba infected by Legionella were identified and their roles in the formation of excreted vesicles and escape of Legionella from the Acanthamoeba were examined. It was found that ACA1_114460, ACA1_091500, and ACA1_362260 genes were upregulated after Legionella ingestion in Acanthamoeba. Silencing of ACA1_114460 and ACA1_091500 genes resulted in the failure of Acanthamoeba to form Legionella-containing excreted vesicles, while silencing ACA1_362260 gene led to the fusion of Legionella-containing excreted vesicles with the lysosome. Therefore, ACA1_114460, ACA1_091500, and ACA1_362260 genes played important roles in the formation of Legionella-containing excreted vesicles and inhibition of the lysosomal co-localization with the phagosome.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David Leitsch, Alvie Loufouma Mbouaka, Martina Kohsler, Norbert Muller, Julia Walochnik
Summary: The free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii contains two different types of thioredoxin reductases in its genome, with the small TrxR being upregulated in response to oxidative stress. The role of the large TrxR, however, remains unclear in the organism's response to oxidative stress.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Chih-Ming Tsai, Chun-Hsien Chen, Wei-Hung Cheng, Foekje F. Stelma, Sung-Chou Li, Wei-Chen Lin
Summary: This study investigated the effects of bacteria on A. castellanii by exposing them to different culture conditions. It was found that both bacteria and the culture medium had significant effects on the amino acid composition of A. castellanii. After long-term exposure, A. castellanii achieved amino acid homeostasis by downregulating the biosynthesis of several amino acids.
Article
Virology
Paulo Victor de Miranda Boratto, Graziele Pereira Oliveira, Jonatas Santos Abrahao
Summary: A proposal is made to create a new family Yaraviridae, a new species Yaravirus brasiliense, and a new viral genus Yaravirus for the classification of a virus infecting Acanthamoeba castellanii cells. This proposal is based on the significant differences observed in the features of this virus compared to other amoebae viruses, as well as the potential discovery of related viruses in the future. These viruses are to be included in the existing realm Varidnaviria and the kingdom Bamfordvirae, due to the presence of a major capsid protein with a double jelly-roll fold.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Samuel Cavalcante do Amaral, Patrick Romano Monteiro, Joaquim da Silva Pinto Neto, Gustavo Marques Serra, Evonnildo Costa Goncalves, Luciana Pereira Xavier, Agenor Valadares Santos
Summary: Microviridins, a class of ribosomal peptides derived from cyanobacteria, are potent protease inhibitors with potential applications in drug development and mosquito control. They also play a key ecological role in defending cyanobacteria against microcrustaceans. This review aims to systematically identify the key characteristics of microviridins, including their chemical structure, biosynthesis, as well as their biotechnological and ecological significance.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jordan A. Facey, Jake P. Violi, Josh J. King, Chowdhury Sarowar, Simon C. Apte, Simon M. Mitrovic
Summary: Microcystis aeruginosa, a widespread cyanobacteria, exhibits growth limitation when iron, cobalt, and manganese are excluded from the growth media. Intracellular iron concentrations are notably higher in treatments grown in cobalt-deplete media compared to other treatments.
Review
Microbiology
Aaron Kofman, Jeannette Guarner
Summary: Infections caused by Naegleria fowled, Acanthamoeba spp., and Balamuthia mandrillaris have various clinical manifestations in humans. These amoebae are widely present in water and soil worldwide. Naegleria fowleri causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), while Acanthamoeba spp. and B. mandrillaris cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). Acanthamoeba spp. can also cause keratitis, and both Acanthamoeba spp. and B. mandrillaris can cause skin and respiratory mucosa lesions. Clinical diagnosis of these infections can be difficult due to their rarity, and they can be misdiagnosed if not suspected. Microscopy is the key first step in diagnosis, but expertise in infectious disease pathology or clinical microbiology is required to distinguish the amoebae from macrophages or other infectious agents. Molecular methods can be helpful but are only available in referral centers. Treatment involves a combination of antibiotics and antifungals, but even with prompt diagnosis and treatment, the mortality rate for neurological disease is extremely high.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Kritsada Pruksaphon, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Patcharin Thammasit, Monsicha Pongpom, Sirida Youngchim
Summary: This study reveals the interaction between the soil amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii and Talaromyces (Penicillium) marneffei. The amoeba rapidly ingests T. marneffei, leading to its death, and promotes the transition of conidia to the yeast form. Additionally, T. marneffei expresses virulence factors during interaction with A. castellanii. These findings indicate that soil amoebae play a role in selecting and maintaining virulence traits in T. marneffei, a clinically important dimorphic fungus in mammalian hosts.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Angelica R. Allegro, Rola Barhoumi, Angela Bordin, Jocelyne M. Bray, Noah D. Cohen
Summary: The presence of plasmid encoding VapA protein in Rhodococcus equi reduces uptake and aids replication of the bacterium in Acanthamoeba castellanii, indicating a survival advantage against environmental predators like amoebae. This study highlights the importance of VapA plasmid in the interaction between R. equi and A. castellanii.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Nisha Goyal, Amlan Barai, Shamik Sen, Kiran Kondabagil
Summary: Mimivirus and Marseillevirus can both induce reorganization of the host cytoskeletal network in Acanthamoeba castellanii. Mimivirus infection leads to tubulin cleavage, which is a previously unreported phenomena, while Marseillevirus infection induces cytopathic effects through the viral genome and proteins packaged in the capsid.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
M. Mozammel Hoque, Parisa Noorian, Gustavo Espinoza-Vergara, Srijon Adhikary, Joyce To, Scott A. Rice, Diane McDougald
Summary: The flagellar transcriptional regulator flrA plays a key role in flagellum synthesis initiation in Vibrio cholerae. This study demonstrates that the absence of flrA leads to increased growth and survival of V. cholerae in the amoeba host Acanthamoeba castellanii, and this is associated with upregulation of genes involved in iron acquisition and amino acid biosynthesis. The availability of iron is crucial for V. cholerae survival in amoeba, and the catalases KatB and KatG confer increased tolerance to oxidative stress. These findings highlight the importance of flrA in resistance to protozoan predation and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying increased survival in the environment.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Pablo Urrutia-Cordero, Silke Langenheder, Maren Striebel, Peter Eklov, David G. Angeler, Stefan Bertilsson, Bianka Csitari, Lars-Anders Hansson, Egle Kelpsiene, Hjalmar Laudon, Maria Lundgren, Omneya Ahmed Osman, Linda Parkefelt, Helmut Hillebrand
Summary: Increasing human impact on the environment is causing significant changes in disturbance regimes, with pulse disturbances having the strongest effects on plankton communities across different sites and seasons. Community composition responses to disturbances vary greatly between lakes and seasons, with disturbances potentially stabilizing or destabilizing biodiversity patterns over time. Functional recovery from pulse disturbances was frequently observed at the end of experiments, highlighting the reversible nature of disturbance-induced changes across trophic levels.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Macarena Munoz, Samuel Cires, Zahara M. de Pedro, Jose Angel Colina, Yineth Velasquez-Figueroa, Javier Carmona-Jimenez, Angela Caro-Borrero, Anthony Salazar, Monica-Cecilia Santa Maria Fuster, David Contreras, Elvira Perona, Antonio Quesada, Jose A. Casas
Summary: The increasing occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms worldwide poses a significant threat to the environment and public health. The TALGENTOX project aims to address this challenge in countries with different environmental and social conditions, using a multidisciplinary approach combining ecology, water management, and technology fields. Further monitoring of cyanotoxins and development of preventive and corrective strategies are essential to manage the risks associated with toxic cyanobacteria in freshwaters.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Charlotte Schampera, Justyna Wolinska, Julien B. Bachelier, Anderson Abel de Souza Machado, Roberto Rosal, Miguel Gonzalez-Pleiter, Ramsy Agha
Summary: The study found that high concentrations of nanoplastics can affect the growth of phytoplankton and alter the interaction between hosts and parasites, leading to a reduction in disease transmission.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Pablo Urrutia-Cordero, Silke Langenheder, Maren Striebel, David G. Angeler, Stefan Bertilsson, Peter Eklov, Lars-Anders Hansson, Egle Kelpsiene, Hjalmar Laudon, Maria Lundgren, Linda Parkefelt, Ian Donohue, Helmut Hillebrand
Summary: Ecological stability is a complex concept that involves multiple dimensions of functional and compositional responses to environmental change. Our study introduces an integrative metric of overall ecological vulnerability (OEV) that captures both functional and compositional aspects, providing a framework for assessing ecological risk and management. The findings highlight the importance of considering multiple stability components and their relationships in understanding ecosystems' vulnerability to environmental change.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Ecology
David Cunillera-Montcusi, Meryem Beklioglu, Miguel Canedo-Arguelles, Erik Jeppesen, Robert Ptacnik, Cihelio A. Amorim, Shelley E. Arnott, Stella A. Berger, Sandra Brucet, Hilary A. Dugan, Miriam Gerhard, Zsofia Horvath, Silke Langenheder, Jens C. Nejstgaard, Marko Reinikainen, Maren Striebel, Pablo Urrutia-Cordero, Csaba F. Vad, Egor Zadereev, Miguel Matias
Summary: The salinisation of freshwater ecosystems is a significant threat, affecting biodiversity and human societies. Understanding its ecological and evolutionary consequences is still a challenge, with various research gaps identified. Focusing on global- and landscape-scale processes, functional approaches, genetic and molecular levels, and ecoevolutionary dynamics can help predict the impacts of freshwater salinisation.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Florent Manzi, Ramsy Agha, Max Muehlenhaupt, Justyna Wolinska
Summary: Cyanotoxins from cyanobacteria may affect parasite infection in Daphnia, but their effects on fungal spore banks are not detrimental. However, cyanobacterial compounds released during blooms can influence transmission of the parasite through the host's diet.
Article
Ecology
Silke Van den Wyngaert, Lars Ganzert, Kensuke Seto, Keilor Rojas-Jimenez, Ramsy Agha, Stella A. Berger, Jason Woodhouse, Judit Padisak, Christian Wurzbacher, Maiko Kagami, Hans-Peter Grossart
Summary: This study combined different methods to explore the diversity, ecology, and seasonal dynamics of zoosporic fungi in a temperate lake, revealing interactions between parasitic and saprotrophic chytrids and their dominance during diatom bloom and pollen rain periods. Observations on the temporal dynamics of diatom-specific parasitic clades revealed mechanisms of coexistence.
Article
Microbiology
Valentine Megevand, Daniel Carrizo, Maria angeles Lezcano, Mercedes Moreno-Paz, Nathalie A. Cabrol, Victor Parro, Laura Sanchez-Garcia
Summary: This study investigates microbial biomarkers in a hot spring environment in the Chilean Andes, revealing the microbial community structure and ecology along a thermal gradient. New cyanobacterial species and biomarkers are discovered, showcasing the astrobiological relevance of the site. The research provides valuable insights into understanding ancient hydrothermal deposits and their potential for hosting extraterrestrial life.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David Ortiz, Macarena Munoz, Jorge Garcia, Samuel Cires, Zahara M. de Pedro, Antonio Quesada, Jose A. Casas
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility of using the photo-Fenton process for the removal of the cyanobacterial toxin Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) from freshwater. The study evaluates different conditions and confirms the effectiveness of the process in removing CYN, even in the presence of inorganic ions and dissolved organic carbon. The study also demonstrates that the catalytic system used in the process does not leave any residues after reaction.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Anne D. Jungblut, David Velazquez, Samuel Cires, Julia Kleinteich, Krishnan Kottekkatu Padinchati, Birgit Sattler, Jerome Comte
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Laura Sanchez-Garcia, Maria Angeles Lezcano, Daniel Carrizo, Rita Severino, Miriam Garcia-Villadangos, Sherry L. Cady, Kim Warren-Rhodes, Nathalie A. Cabrol, Victor Parro
Summary: Subaerial hydrothermal systems are potential environments for the origin of life on Earth and Mars, offering a unique atmosphere-hydrosphere-lithosphere interface. The sinter deposits in these systems are promising targets for searching extraterrestrial life signs. This study investigates the effects of silicification on the preservation of lipid biomarkers using samples from El Tatio. The data reveals the degradation rate of lipid biomarkers and informs the time window for recovering signs of past life.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ian Hawes, Clive Howard-Williams, Neil Gilbert, Kevin A. A. Hughes, Peter Convey, Antonio Quesada
Summary: The protection of biodiversity and ecosystem values in Antarctica is outlined in the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which establishes Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) for areas with exceptional values. However, there is concern that existing ASPAs do not prioritize areas effectively for long-term conservation. This paper argues for the inclusion of inland waters in the ASPA framework to address their underrepresentation and proposes a structured approach for their selection, taking into account the limited knowledge of inland aquatic diversity and the need to consider catchment-scale processes.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Laura Garcia-Descalzo, Maria Angeles Lezcano, Daniel Carrizo, Alberto G. Fairen
Summary: The presence of perchlorate salts in aqueous solutions has two opposing effects on habitability. On one hand, it lowers the freezing point of the solutions, allowing for stable aqueous conditions at subzero temperatures and expanding the potential for microbial life. On the other hand, it imposes osmotic stress on microbial cell membranes, compromising their integrity and limiting habitable conditions in the same environment.
FRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Maria angeles Lezcano, Laura Sanchez-Garcia, Antonio Quesada, Daniel Carrizo, Miguel angel Fernandez-Martinez, Erika Cavalcante-Silva, Victor Parro
Summary: Paleobiological reconstructions based on molecular fossils can be improved by analyzing DNA, proteins, and lipids together to reconstruct the taxonomic composition and metabolisms of ancient microbial mats. This study analyzed a desiccated microbial mat from Antarctica, revealing different microbial communities based on each biomolecule type. The combined analysis of DNA, proteins, and lipids provided a more comprehensive understanding of the classification and metabolism of the microbial mat.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Charlotte Schampera, Ramsy Agha, Florent Manzi, Justyna Wolinska
Summary: This study finds that parasite adaptation to elevated temperatures is weak in a phytoplankton-fungus system, suggesting that disease outcome under global warming will be determined by both host and parasite thermal ecology.