Final published version
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Novel insights into the potential role of ion transport in sensory perception in Acanthamoeba
AU - Siddiqui, Ruqaiyyah
AU - Roberts, Stephen K
AU - YU Yee Ong, Timothy
AU - Mungroo, Mohammad
AU - Anwar, Areeba
AU - Khan, Naveed
PY - 2019/11/14
Y1 - 2019/11/14
N2 - AbstractBackground: Acanthamoeba is well known to produce a blinding keratitis and serious brain infection known as encephalitis. Effective treatment is problematic, and can continue up to a year, and even then, recurrence can ensue. Partly, this is due to the capability of vegetative amoebae to convert into resistant cysts. Cysts can persist in an inactive form for decades while retaining their pathogenicity. It is not clear how Acanthamoeba cysts monitor environmental changes, and determine favourable conditions leading to their emergence as viable trophozoites.Methods: The role of ion transporters in the encystation and excystation of Acanthamoeba remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of sodium, potassium and calcium ion transporters as well as proton pump inhibitors on A. castellanii encystation and excystation and their effects on trophozoites.Results: Remarkably 3′,4′-dichlorobenzamil hydrochloride a sodium–calcium exchange inhibitor, completely abol- ished excystation of Acanthamoeba. Furthermore, lanthanum oxide and stevioside hydrate, both potassium transport inhibitors, resulted in the partial inhibition of Acanthamoeba excystation. Conversely, none of the ion transport inhibi- tors affected encystation or had any effects on Acanthamoeba trophozoites viability.Conclusions: The present study indicates that ion transporters are involved in sensory perception of A. castellanii suggesting their value as potential therapeutic targets to block cellular differentiation that presents a significant chal- lenge in the successful prognosis of Acanthamoeba infections.
AB - AbstractBackground: Acanthamoeba is well known to produce a blinding keratitis and serious brain infection known as encephalitis. Effective treatment is problematic, and can continue up to a year, and even then, recurrence can ensue. Partly, this is due to the capability of vegetative amoebae to convert into resistant cysts. Cysts can persist in an inactive form for decades while retaining their pathogenicity. It is not clear how Acanthamoeba cysts monitor environmental changes, and determine favourable conditions leading to their emergence as viable trophozoites.Methods: The role of ion transporters in the encystation and excystation of Acanthamoeba remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of sodium, potassium and calcium ion transporters as well as proton pump inhibitors on A. castellanii encystation and excystation and their effects on trophozoites.Results: Remarkably 3′,4′-dichlorobenzamil hydrochloride a sodium–calcium exchange inhibitor, completely abol- ished excystation of Acanthamoeba. Furthermore, lanthanum oxide and stevioside hydrate, both potassium transport inhibitors, resulted in the partial inhibition of Acanthamoeba excystation. Conversely, none of the ion transport inhibi- tors affected encystation or had any effects on Acanthamoeba trophozoites viability.Conclusions: The present study indicates that ion transporters are involved in sensory perception of A. castellanii suggesting their value as potential therapeutic targets to block cellular differentiation that presents a significant chal- lenge in the successful prognosis of Acanthamoeba infections.
KW - Acanthamoeba
KW - Excystation
KW - Encystation
KW - Ion transporters
KW - Drug targets
U2 - 10.1186/s13071-019-3785-0
DO - 10.1186/s13071-019-3785-0
M3 - Journal article
VL - 12
SP - 538
EP - 545
JO - Parasites and Vectors
JF - Parasites and Vectors
SN - 1756-3305
ER -