Acanthamoeba castellanii has ubiquitous distribution and causes primary acanthamoebic keratitis (AK). AK is a common disease in contact lens wearers and results in permanent visual impairment or blindness. In this study, we observed the cytopathic effect, in vitro cytotoxicity, and secretion pattern of cytokines in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) induced by A. castellanii trophozoites and/or cysts. Morphological observation revealed that panked dendritic HCECs co-cultured with amoeba cysts had changed into round shape and gradually died. Such changes were more severe in co-culture with cyst than those of co-cultivation with trophozoites. In vitro cytotoxicity assay revealed the highest cytotoxicity to HCECs in the co-culture system with amoeba cysts. A. castellanii induced the expression of IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL1 in HCECs. Secreted levels of IL-1α, IL-6, and IL-8 in HCECs co-cultured with both trophozoites and cysts were increased at an early incubation time (3 and 6 hr). These results suggested that cytopathic changes and pro-inflammatory cytokines release of HCECs in response to A. castellanii, especially amoebic cysts, are an important mechanism for AK development.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
A Synthetic View on Acanthamoeba Keratitis Host Immune Response: Potential Factors Influencing the Development of Chronic Inflammation Bianca Prado-Costa, Larissa Fagundes Pinto, Mariana Fernandes Fonseca, Denise de Freitas, Larissa Magalhães Alvarenga Cornea.2025; 44(1): 118. CrossRef
In Vitro
Efficacy of Miltefosine Against Clinical Isolates of
Acanthamoeba
spp. from Patients with Keratitis
Lakshminarayanan Gowtham, Savitri Sharma, Bhupesh Bagga Seminars in Ophthalmology.2025; 40(8): 767. CrossRef
Diagnostic features of Acanthamoeba keratitis via in vivo confocal microscopy Joanna Przybek-Skrzypecka, Malcolm Armstrong, Jennifer Kim, Andrew Walkden, Leon Au, Arun Brahma, Fiona Carley, Jaya Devi Chidambaram Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Assessing Acanthamoeba cytotoxicity: comparison of common cell viability assays Alvie Loufouma Mbouaka, Iwona Lesiak-Markowicz, Irene Heredero-Bermejo, Rounik Mazumdar, Julia Walochnik, Tania Martín-Pérez Frontiers in Microbiology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Host cell-type and pathogen-specific immunomodulatory functions of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in infectious keratitis Swagata Ghosh, AH Humera Khathun, G.S. Athulya, P. Vignesh, L Mathan, Ninad Mudaraddi, Siddharth Narendran, Prajna Lalitha, N. Venkatesh Prajna Experimental Eye Research.2023; 236: 109669. CrossRef
Aspergillus fumigatus-Stimulated Human Corneal Epithelial Cells Induce Pyroptosis of THP-1 Macrophages by Secreting TSLP Qingshan Ji, Lisong Wang, Jiajia Liu, Yali Wu, Huayi Lv, Yuechun Wen, Lei Shi, Bin Qu, Nóra Szentmáry Inflammation.2021; 44(2): 682. CrossRef
Corneal Changes in Acanthamoeba Keratitis at Various Levels of Severity: An In Vivo Confocal Microscopic Study Zhenyu Wei, Kai Cao, Leying Wang, Christophe Baudouin, Antoine Labbé, Qingfeng Liang Translational Vision Science & Technology.2021; 10(7): 10. CrossRef
Polymicrobial Keratitis: Risk Factors, Clinical Characteristics, Bacterial Profile, and Antimicrobial Resistance Laura A. González-Dibildox, José A. Oyervidez-Alvarado, Kristian A. Vazquez-Romo, Nallely Ramos-Betancourt, Everardo Hernandez-Quintela, Francisco Beltran, Manuel Garza-Leon Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice.2021; 47(8): 465. CrossRef
Pathogenic Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba castellanii, and Acanthamoeba polyphaga, are distributed worldwide. They are causative agents of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis or acanthamoebic keratitis in humans, respectively. Trophozoites encyst in unfavorable environments, such as exhausted food supply and desiccation. Until recently, the method of N. fowleri encystation used solid non-nutrient agar medium supplemented with heat-inactivated Escherichia coli; however, for the amoebic encystment of Acanthamoeba spp., a defined, slightly modified liquid media is used. In this study, in order to generate pure N. fowleri cysts, a liquid encystment medium (buffer 1) modified from Page’s amoeba saline was applied for encystation of N. fowleri. N. fowleri cysts were well induced after 24 hr with the above defined liquid encystment medium (buffer 1). This was confirmed by observation of a high expression of differential mRNA of nfa1 and actin genes in trophozoites. Thus, this liquid medium can replace the earlier non-nutrient agar medium for obtaining pure N. fowleri cysts. In addition, for cyst formation of Acanthamoeba spp., buffer 2 (adjusted to pH 9.0) was the more efficient medium. To summarize, these liquid encystment media may be useful for further studies which require axenic and pure amoebic cysts.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Development of a novel encystment medium: Enhancing diagnostic potential of Acanthamoeba spp. Julalak Chuprom, Suthinee Sangkanu, Watcharapong Mitsuwan, Rachasak Boonhok, Alok K. Paul, Sonia M. Rodrigues Oliveira, Maria L. Pereira, Tajudeen O. Jimoh, Mohammed Rahmatullah, Polrat Wilairatana, Christophe Wiart, Ajoy K. Verma, Veeranoot Nissapatorn Veterinary World.2025; : 110. CrossRef
Exploring the potential role of soil protists in predicting banana health Xiangyu Ren, Chen Liu, Yang Yue, Shuo Sun, Lang Zhao, Chengyuan Tao, Beibei Wang, Wu Xiong, Zongzhuan Shen, Rong Li, Qirong Shen Microbiological Research.2025; 295: 128109. CrossRef
Cloning of nf-profilin and intercellular interaction with nf-actin in Naegleria fowleri cysts Hae-Jin Sohn, A-Jeong Ham, A-Young Park, Jeong-Heon Lee, Sun Park, Ho-Joon Shin, Jong-Hyun Kim Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Ouabain, ATPase inhibitor, potentially enhances the effect of polyhexamethylene biguanide on Acanthamoeba castellanii Kuang-Yi Shih, Yao-Tsung Chang, Yu-Jen Wang, Jian-Ming Huang International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance.2024; 25: 100550. CrossRef
Understanding the pathogenicity of Naegleria fowleri in association with N. fowleri antigen-1 (Nfa1) Jong-Hyun Kim, Hae-Jin Sohn, Ho-Joon Shin, Stacy E. Walz, Suk-Yul Jung Parasites, Hosts and Diseases.2024; 62(4): 385. CrossRef
De Novo Transcriptome Profiling of Naegleria fowleri Trophozoites and Cysts via RNA Sequencing Hae-Jin Sohn, Jong-Hyun Kim, Kyongmin Kim, Sun Park, Ho-Joon Shin Pathogens.2023; 12(2): 174. CrossRef
An International External Quality Assessment Scheme to Assess the Diagnostic Performance of Polymerase Chain Reaction Detection of Acanthamoeba Keratitis Maarten J. Sarink, Rob Koelewijn, Foekje Stelma, Titia Kortbeek, Lisette van Lieshout, Pieter W. Smit, Aloysius G. M. Tielens, Jaap J. van Hellemond Cornea.2023; 42(8): 1027. CrossRef
Development of a Machine Learning-Based Cysticidal Assay and Identification of an Amebicidal and Cysticidal Marine Microbial Metabolite against
Acanthamoeba
Brian Shing, Mina Balen, William Fenical, Anjan Debnath, Wei-Hua Chen Microbiology Spectrum.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Curcumin effect on Acanthamoeba triangularis encystation under nutrient starvation Rachasak Boonhok, Suthinee Sangkanu, Suganya Phumjan, Ramita Jongboonjua, Nawarat Sangnopparat, Pattamaporn Kwankaew, Aman Tedasen, Chooi Ling Lim, Maria de Lourdes Pereira, Mohammed Rahmatullah, Polrat Wilairatana, Christophe Wiart, Karma G. Dolma, Alok PeerJ.2022; 10: e13657. CrossRef
Novel Antiamoebic Tyrocidine-Derived Peptide against Brain-Eating Amoebae Noor Akbar, Wendy E. Kaman, Maarten Sarink, Kamran Nazmi, Floris J. Bikker, Naveed Ahmed Khan, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui ACS Omega.2022; 7(33): 28797. CrossRef
Combinatorial treatment with β-glucanase enzyme and chlorhexidine induces cysticidal effects in Acanthamoeba cyst Nurhidayana Mohd Rased, Syed Ahmad Tajudin Tuan Johari, Hazlina Ahamad Zakeri, Nyuk Ling Ma, Siti Aisyah Razali, Fatimah Hashim Parasitology Research.2022; 121(11): 3105. CrossRef
The Acanthamoeba SBDS, a cytoskeleton-associated gene, is highly expressed during phagocytosis and encystation Yu-Jen Wang, Wei-Chen Lin, Ming-Shan He Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection.2021; 54(3): 482. CrossRef
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Establishment of an Acanthamoeba keratitis mouse model confirmed by amoebic DNA amplification Heekyoung Kang, Hae-Jin Sohn, A-Young Park, A-Jeong Ham, Jeong-Heon Lee, Young-Hwan Oh, Yong-Joon Chwae, Kyongmin Kim, Sun Park, Hongseok Yang, Suk-Yul Jung, Jong-Hyun Kim, Ho-Joon Shin Scientific Reports.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
A Novel Cysteine Protease Inhibitor of Naegleria fowleri That Is Specifically Expressed during Encystation and at Mature Cysts Hương Giang Lê, A-Jeong Ham, Jung-Mi Kang, Tuấn Cường Võ, Haung Naw, Hae-Jin Sohn, Ho-Joon Shin, Byoung-Kuk Na Pathogens.2021; 10(4): 388. CrossRef
Inhibitory Effect of Host Ocular Microenvironmental Factors on Chlorhexidine Digluconate Activity Chun-Hsien Chen, Yu-Jen Wang, Jian-Ming Huang, Fu-Chin Huang, Wei-Chen Lin Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis by Naegleria fowleri: Pathogenesis and Treatments Andrea Güémez, Elisa García Biomolecules.2021; 11(9): 1320. CrossRef
Evaluation of Amebicidal and Cysticidal Activities of Antifungal Drug Isavuconazonium Sulfate against Acanthamoeba T4 Strains Brian Shing, Mina Balen, Anjan Debnath Pharmaceuticals.2021; 14(12): 1294. CrossRef
Characterisation of the β-lactam resistance enzyme in Acanthamoeba castellanii Chun-Hsien Chen, Chao-Li Huang, Ming-Shan He, Fu-Chin Huang, Wei-Chen Lin International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents.2020; 55(2): 105823. CrossRef
Molecular detection of free-living amoebae from Namhangang (southern Han River) in Korea Heekyoung Kang, Hae-Jin Sohn, Ga-Eun Seo, Gi-Sang Seong, A-Jeong Ham, A-Young Park, Suk-Yul Jung, Sang-Eun Lee, Shin-Hyeong Cho, Ho-Joon Shin Scientific Reports.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
Fowlerstefin, a cysteine protease inhibitor of Naegleria fowleri, induces inflammatory responses in BV-2 microglial cells in vitro Thị Lam Thái, Jung-Mi Kang, Hương Giang Lê, Jinyoung Lee, Won Gi Yoo, Ho-Joon Shin, Woon-Mok Sohn, Byoung-Kuk Na Parasites & Vectors.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
The Antifungal Drug Isavuconazole Is both Amebicidal and Cysticidal against Acanthamoeba castellanii Brian Shing, Seema Singh, Larissa M. Podust, James H. McKerrow, Anjan Debnath Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
Effects of Acanthamoeba castellanii on the dissolved oxygen and the microbial community under the experimental aquatic model Chih-Ming Tsai, Jenn-Wei Chen, Wei-Chen Lin Experimental Parasitology.2020; 218: 107985. CrossRef
Fate of internalized Campylobacter jejuni and Mycobacterium avium from encysted and excysted Acanthamoeba polyphaga Rasha Maal-Bared, Brent Dixon, Diana Axelsson-Olsson Experimental Parasitology.2019; 199: 104. CrossRef
Cellular characterization of actin gene concerned with contact‐dependent mechanisms in Naegleria fowleri Hae‐Jin Sohn, Kyoung‐Ju Song, Heekyoung Kang, A‐Jeong Ham, Jae‐Ho Lee, Yong‐Joon Chwae, Kyongmin Kim, Sun Park, Jong‐Hyun Kim, Ho‐Joon Shin Parasite Immunology.2019;[Epub] CrossRef
Cytopathic Change and Inflammatory Response of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells Induced by Acanthamoeba castellanii Trophozoites and Cysts Hae-Jin Sohn, Ga-Eun Seo, Jae-Ho Lee, A-Jeong Ham, Young-Hwan Oh, Heekyoung Kang, Ho-Joon Shin The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2019; 57(3): 217. CrossRef
Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against cathepsin B and cathepsin B-Like proteins of Naegleria fowleri Gi-Sang Seong, Hae-Jin Sohn, Heekyoung Kang, Ga-Eun Seo, Jong-Hyun Kim, Ho-Joon Shin Experimental Parasitology.2017; 183: 171. CrossRef
First
Prev
