Acanthamoeba, an environmental phagocyte enhancing survival and transmission of human pathogens. Issue 11 (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rayamajhee, Binod; Willcox, Mark D.P.; Henriquez, Fiona L.; Petsoglou, Constantinos; Subedi, Dinesh; Carnt, Nicole
• Is Part Of: Trends in parasitology. Volume 38:Issue 11(2022)
• Page Start: 975
• Page End: 990
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: predation -- phagocytosis -- grazing resistance -- evolution -- virulence factors -- microbial symbiosis; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Parasitology; Biology; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; Online resources; 571.999
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.08.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-4922

Abstract

Abstract : The opportunistic protist Acanthamoeba, which interacts with other microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, shows significant similarity in cellular and functional aspects to human macrophages. Intracellular survival of microbes in this microbivorous amoebal host may be a crucial step for initiation of infection in higher eukaryotic cells. Therefore, Acanthamoeba –microbe adaptations are considered an evolutionary model of macrophage–pathogen interactions. This paper reviews Acanthamoeba as an emerging human pathogen and different ecological interactions between Acanthamoeba and microbes that may serve as environmental training grounds and a genetic melting pot for the evolution, persistence, and transmission of potential human pathogens. Highlights: Acanthamoeba, a free-living protist that is ubiquitously dispersed in the environment, is becoming an increasingly important human pathogen. Multiple factors complicate the treatment and prevention of Acanthamoeba infections such as no approved drugs against the highly resistant and dormant cyst and metabolic similarities between Acanthamoeba and mammalian cells, making finding effective and safe therapies difficult. Acanthamoeba trophozoites graze different microbes; some of the engulfed microbes evade the intracellular killing process and this may mean that Acanthamoeba acts as a predator and reservoir for pathogens. Human macrophages and Acanthamoeba have significant similarities in their ultrastructure and phagocytic processes, so Acanthamoeba -adapted microbes can become more virulent to human cells. Acanthamoeba acts as a 'genetic melting pot' where exchange of cross-species genes arises.