Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

"amoebic keratitis"

Original Articles

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; Korean J Parasitol 2019;57(3):217-223.
Published online June 30, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2019.57.3.217

Abstract
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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

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Molecular characterization of Acanthamoeba isolated from amebic keratitis related to orthokeratology lens overnight wear: Sun Joo Lee, Hae Jin Jeong, Ji Eun Lee, Jong Soo Lee, Ying Hua Xuan, Hyun-Hee Kong, Dong-Il Chung, Mee-Sun Ock, Hak Sun Yu; Korean J Parasitol 2006;44(4):313-320.
Published online December 20, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2006.44.4.313

Abstract
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In an effort to characterize, on the molecular scale, the Acanthamoeba initially isolated from the cornea of an amoebic keratitis patient associated with overnight-wear orthokeratology lens in Korea, we conducted mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism, 18S rDNA sequencing, and drug sensitivity analyses on the isolate (KA/PE1). The patient was treated with polyhexamethylene biguanide, chlorhexidine and oral itraconazole, which resulted in resolution of the patient's ocular inflammation. The majority of the molecular characteristics of the KA/PE1 were determined to be identical, or quite similar, to those of A. castellanii Ma strain, which had been isolated also from amoebic keratitis. The risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis as a potential complication of overnight orthokeratology is briefly discussed.

Citations

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Free-Living Amoeba Vermamoeba vermiformis Induces Allergic Airway Inflammation
Da-In Lee, Sung Hee Park, Shin-Ae Kang, Do Hyun Kim, Sun Hyun Kim, So Yeon Song, Sang Eun Lee, Hak Sun Yu
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2022; 60(4): 229. CrossRef
Orthokeratology lens-related Acanthamoeba keratitis: case report and analytical review
Jinfang Wu, Huatao Xie
Journal of International Medical Research.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Infectious keratitis and orthokeratology lens use: a systematic review
Ka Wai Kam, Wing Yung, Gabriel Ka Hin Li, Li Jia Chen, Alvin L. Young
Infection.2017; 45(6): 727. CrossRef
The Role of Ultraviolet Radiation in the Ocular System of Mammals
Mercede Majdi, Behrad Milani, Asadolah Movahedan, Lisa Wasielewski, Ali Djalilian
Photonics.2014; 1(4): 347. CrossRef
Orthokeratology lens related infections
Kelvin Ho-Nam Wan
World Journal of Ophthalmology.2014; 4(3): 63. CrossRef
Riboflavin and Ultraviolet Light A Therapy as an Adjuvant Treatment for Medically Refractive Acanthamoeba Keratitis
Yasin A. Khan, Renata T. Kashiwabuchi, Suy Anne Martins, Juan M. Castro-Combs, Sachin Kalyani, Philip Stanley, David Flikier, Ashley Behrens
Ophthalmology.2011; 118(2): 324. CrossRef
Bilateral Acanthamoeba Keratitis After Orthokeratology
Eun Chul Kim, Man Soo Kim
Cornea.2010; 29(6): 680. CrossRef
Twenty Years of Acanthamoeba Keratitis
F R S Carvalho, A S Foronda, M J Mannis, A L Höfling-Lima, R Belfort, Denise de Freitas
Cornea.2009; 28(5): 516. CrossRef
Molecular Phylogeny of Acanthamoeba
Hyun Hee Kong
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2009; 47(Suppl): S21. CrossRef
Bilateral Acanthamoeba Keratitis After Orthokeratology
Eun Chul Kim, Man Soo Kim
Cornea.2009; 28(3): 348. CrossRef
Trends in Microbial Keratitis Associated With Orthokeratology
Kathleen G. Watt, Helen A. Swarbrick
Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice.2007; 33(6): 373. CrossRef

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Brief Communication

In vitro cytotoxicity of Acanthamoeba spp. isolated from contact lens containers in Korea by crystal violet staining and LDH release assay: Ho-Joon Shin, Myung-Soo Cho, Suk-Yul Jung, Hyung-Il Kim, Kyung-il Im; Korean J Parasitol 2000;38(2):99-102.
Published online June 30, 2000; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2000.38.2.99

Abstract
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In order to observe the cytotoxicity of Acanthamoeba spp., which were isolated from contact lens containers as ethiological agents for the probable amoebic keratitis in Korea, the crystal violet staining method and LDH release assay were carried out. In the crystal violet staining method, among eight contact lens container isolates, isolate 3 (Acanthamoeba KA/LS5) showed 83.6% and 81.8% of cytotoxicity, and isolate 7 (Acanthamoeba KA/LS37) showed 28.2% and 25.1% of cytotoxicity, in 1 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml lysate treatments, respectively. Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and A. healyi showed 84.0% and 82.8% of cytotoxicity. Similar results were observed in A. castellanii and A. hatchetti which showed 83.6% and 75.5% of cytotoxicity. Acanthamoeba royreba and A. polyphaga showed 9.0% and 1.7% of cytotoxicity. In the LDH release assay, isolate 3 (20.4%) showed higher cytotoxicity than other isolates in 1 mg/ml lysate treatment. The results provide that at least isolate 3 has the cytotoxic effect against CHO cells and seems to be the pathogenic strain.

Citations

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The acantamoeba lesions of the cornea (diagnosis) (Review of literature)
A. A. Kasparov, N. R. Marchenko, E. A. Kasparova
Journal Infectology.2020; 12(1): 14. CrossRef
Evaluation of solubility and cytotoxicity of lanthanum-doped phosphate glasses nanoparticles for drug delivery applications
Emad El-Meliegy, Mohammad M. Farag, Abeer M. El-Kady, Mervat S. Mohamed, Heba K. Abdelhakim, Mona Moaness
Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids.2017; 475: 59. CrossRef
Acanthamoeba royreba: Morphological features and in vitro cytopathic effect
Arturo González-Robles, Lizbeth Salazar-Villatoro, Maritza Omaña-Molina, Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, Adolfo Martínez-Palomo
Experimental Parasitology.2013; 133(4): 369. CrossRef
Effects of co‐culture of amoebae with indoor microbes on their cytotoxic and proinflammatory potential
Terhi Yli‐Pirilä, Kati Huttunen, Aino Nevalainen, Markku Seuri, Maija‐Riitta Hirvonen
Environmental Toxicology.2007; 22(4): 357. CrossRef
Pathogenic free-living amoebae in Korea
Ho-Joon Shin, Kyung-il Im
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2004; 42(3): 93. CrossRef
Acanthamoebaspp. as Agents of Disease in Humans
Francine Marciano-Cabral, Guy Cabral
Clinical Microbiology Reviews.2003; 16(2): 273. CrossRef

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Original Article

Isoenzyme patterns and phylogenetic relationships in Acanthamoeba spp. isolated from contact lens containers in Korea: Ho-Joon Shin, Myung-Soo Cho, Han-Jip Kim, Kyung-Il Im; Korean J Parasitol 1999;37(4):229-236.
Published online December 31, 1999; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1999.37.4.229

Abstract
PDF

In order to refer to the basic information regarding the identification of isolates obtained from a contact lens container in Korea, the isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis was employed to compare the isoenzyme band patterns among Acanthamoeba spp. including eight isolates and the simple pairwise dissimilarity analysis was carried out. For an alkaline phosphate development, isolate 7 and Acanthamoeba polyphaga showed homologous band patterns, and isolates 1, 2, and 3 showed the same patterns. For lactate dehydrogenase, similar patterns were observed in isolates 2 and 3. Isolates 3 and 5 showed homologous band patterns for malate dehydrogenase and glucose phosphate isomerase. For hexokinase, isolates 4, 7, and A. hatchetti showed the same band patterns. In others, a considerable number of interstrain polymorphisms was observed in nine isoenzyme band patterns. In Acanthamoeba group II, genetic distances among isolates 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ranged from 0.104 to 0.200. In comparison to A. castellanii, A. hatchetti, and A. polyphaga, genetic distances of isolates 7 and 8 were 0.254 and 0.219, respectively. In Acanthamoeba group III, including A. culbertsoni, A. healyi, and A. royreba, isolate 6 had genetic distances which ranged from 0.314 to 0.336. Finally, when comparing to the six reference Acanthamoeba, it was possible to classify isolates 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as genetically close-related species and as independent species group. Furthermore, isolates 6, 7 and 8 were identified as independent species as well.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis
N. R. Marchenko, Evg. A. Kasparova
Vestnik oftal'mologii.2016; 132(5): 103. CrossRef
Natural occurrence of Mycobacterium as an endosymbiont of Acanthamoeba isolated from a contact lens storage case
Hak Sun Yu, Hae Jin Jeong, Yeon-Chul Hong, Seong-Yong Seol, Dong-Il Chung, Hyun-Hee Kong
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2007; 45(1): 11. CrossRef
Pathogenic free-living amoebae in Korea
Ho-Joon Shin, Kyung-il Im
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2004; 42(3): 93. CrossRef