TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterization and pathogenic potential of a soil isolate and an ocular isolate of acanthamoeba castellanii in relation to acanthamoeba keratitis
AU - Klink, Franciscus Van
AU - Alizadeh, Hassan
AU - Stewart, George L.
AU - Pidherney, Marsha S.
AU - Silvany, Robert E.
AU - He, Yuguang
AU - McCulley, James P.
AU - Niederkorn, Jerry Y.
N1 - Funding Information:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work supported in part by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., New York and the foundation "Het Dondersfonds" and the foundation "De Drie Lichten" in the Netherlands. Dr. Niederkorn is a Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. Senior Scientific Investigator. The excellent technical assistance of Mr. Tom Cunningham and Ms. Jessamee Mellon is greatly appreciated. The senior author greatly appreciates the support and guidance provided by Dr. Martine J. Jager throughout the course of this project.
PY - 1992
Y1 - 1992
N2 - Acanthamoeba castellanii, one isolate from the eye and one from the soil, were compared on the basis of: (a) pathogenic potential; (b) plasminogen activator activity; (c) chemotactic activity; (d) cytopathic effects; (e) collagenolytic activity; (f) binding ability to contact lenses; and (g) and binding ability to corneal buttons. The ocular isolate of A. castellanii was found to be pathogenic based on its ability to produce corneal infections in Chinese hamsters. By contrast, the soil isolate produced only mild lesions in a single Chinese hamster. Amoebae from the ocular isolate bound to corneal epithelium in greater numbers than the soil isolate counterparts. Moreover, ocular isolate organisms displayed plasminogen activator activity that was not detected in cultures from soil isolates of A. castellanii. Although neither the soil isolate nor the ocular isolate amoebae responded chemotactically to epithelial or stromal components, the ocular isolate displayed a curious and reproducible positive chemotactic response to endothelial extracts. Both A. castellanii isolates produced cytopathic effects on pig corneal epithelium, however the cytotoxicity from the ocular isolate was significantly greater than that of the soil isolate. The results indicate that the pathogenic potential of A. castellanii is correlated with the parasite's capacity to bind to corneal epithelium, respond chemotactically to corneal endothelial extracts, elaborate plasminogen activators, and produce cytopathic effects on corneal epithelium.
AB - Acanthamoeba castellanii, one isolate from the eye and one from the soil, were compared on the basis of: (a) pathogenic potential; (b) plasminogen activator activity; (c) chemotactic activity; (d) cytopathic effects; (e) collagenolytic activity; (f) binding ability to contact lenses; and (g) and binding ability to corneal buttons. The ocular isolate of A. castellanii was found to be pathogenic based on its ability to produce corneal infections in Chinese hamsters. By contrast, the soil isolate produced only mild lesions in a single Chinese hamster. Amoebae from the ocular isolate bound to corneal epithelium in greater numbers than the soil isolate counterparts. Moreover, ocular isolate organisms displayed plasminogen activator activity that was not detected in cultures from soil isolates of A. castellanii. Although neither the soil isolate nor the ocular isolate amoebae responded chemotactically to epithelial or stromal components, the ocular isolate displayed a curious and reproducible positive chemotactic response to endothelial extracts. Both A. castellanii isolates produced cytopathic effects on pig corneal epithelium, however the cytotoxicity from the ocular isolate was significantly greater than that of the soil isolate. The results indicate that the pathogenic potential of A. castellanii is correlated with the parasite's capacity to bind to corneal epithelium, respond chemotactically to corneal endothelial extracts, elaborate plasminogen activators, and produce cytopathic effects on corneal epithelium.
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U2 - 10.3109/02713689208999546
DO - 10.3109/02713689208999546
M3 - Article
C2 - 1490339
AN - SCOPUS:0027082287
SN - 0271-3683
VL - 11
SP - 1207
EP - 1220
JO - Current Eye Research
JF - Current Eye Research
IS - 12
ER -