Acanthamoeba: Biology and Pathogenesis | Book    

Publisher: Caister Academic Press
Author: Naveed Khan University of Nottingham, UK
Publication date: February 2009 Available now!
ISBN: 978-1-904455-43-1
Price: GB £150 or US $310 (hardback).
Pages: viii + 290

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This book provides the first comprehensive review of Acanthamoeba research to be published. Everything that is known about Acanthamoeba is critically reviewed and divided into easy-to-follow sections. This book presents the current state of research on every aspect of this organism, detailing major advances in areas such as genomics, molecular and cellular biology, life cycles, geographical distribution, role in ecosystem, morphology, motility, phylogenetics, genotyping, metabolism, regulation of morphogenesis, host-parasite interactions, the molecular and immunological basis of pathogenesis, methods of transmission, epidemiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment, new target development and drug resistance, as well as its role as a Trojan horse of the microbial world, including viral, bacterial, protozoal and fungal pathogens, and much more. There is a significant emphasis on our knowledge of Acanthamoeba infections that has grown in the molecular era. In addition, this book provides a historical perspective on Acanthamoeba research that will be of considerable interest.

This compilation will serve as an essential reference for parasitologists, microbiologists, immunologists, and physicians in the field of basic and medical microbiology, as well as an invaluable reference for new and experienced researchers who wish to understand this organism better. This book is the definitive guide to current research on this increasingly important organism.

Reviews:

"a comprehensive review of the literature concerning all aspects of Acanthamoeba research ... This book is certainly a 'must read' for all scientists interested in medical and environmental microbiology. It is a very convincing overview and foundation of what is already known about Acanthamoeba" from Parasites and Vectors (2009) 2: 16

"comprehensive review ... contains a wealth of information about the Acanthamoeba organism. It has good illustrations that would be helpful for both teaching and lecturing to a scientific audience." from Doodys Reviews (2009)

"a complete study of the acanthamoeba ... a useful reference for medical professionals" from SciTech Book News June 2009 p. 68

"This excellent book provides the first comprehensive review of Acanthamoeba, with particular emphasis on its biology and pathogenesis. ... This outstanding book presents the current state of research on every aspect of this organism, detailing major advances ... This excellent compilation will serve as an essential reference for parasitologists, microbiologists, immunologists, and physicians ... as well as an invaluable reference for new and experienced researchers who wish to better understand this fascinating organism. This book is the definitive guide to current research on this increasingly important organism. ... This excellent book would be also an indispensable acquisition for every institutional library ... will be in demand for many, many years." from Zdzislaw Swiderski, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland writing in Acta Parasitologica 2009 54(3): 288

"If you are interested in Acanthamoeba species, then this is the book to turn to. Kahn explores every aspect of this protozoan genus ... The thoroughness of the book is complemented by its logical organization with discrete sections that provide information on the organism's biology, life cycle, infectious nature and mode of action, the host immune response that it provokes and the therapeutic strategies that are available to us." from Roger Pickup, Lancaster University, UK writing in Microbiology Today (2009)

Section A: Biology and Phylogeny

1. Introduction
   • A eukaryotic organism
   • Protists and protozoa
   • Discovery of pathogenic free-living amoebae
2. Discovery of Acanthamoeba spp.
3. Ecology
   • Distribution in the environment
   • Distribution in the man-made environment
   • Distribution in clinical settings
4. Ecosystem
5. Cell biology
   • Nucleus
   • Cytoplasm
     • Endoplasmic reticulum
     • Ribosomal RNA
     • Proteins
     • Lipids
     • Prostaglandins
     • Contractile vacuole and osmoregulation
     • Lysosome, peroxisome, and digestive vacuoles
     • Plasma membrane
       • Surface properties
     • Carbohydrates: glycogen storage and cell wall synthesis
     • Ionic distribution
     • Polyamine
     • Adenylate cyclase
     • Purine and pyrimidine
   • Mitochondria
6. Nuclear genome
7. Mitochondrial genome
8. Motility
9. Molecular basis of motility
   • Intermediate filaments
   • Microtubules
   • Microfilaments
     • Actin polymerization to form actin microfilaments
     • Regulators of actin polymerization
       • Actin-binding proteins
       • Inositol phospholipids-based regulation of actin microfilaments
       • GTP-binding proteins regulate actin microfilaments
       • Other key regulators
10. Acanthamoeba actin
    • Characterization of Acanthamoeba actin and its filaments
11. Acanthamoeba myosin
    • Structure of Acanthamoeba myosins
      • Myosin-I
      • Myosin-II
    • Activation of myosin-I and myosin-II
    • Localization of Acanthamoeba myosin
      • Myosin-I
      • Myosin-II
    • Myosins and motility
    • Polymerization of Acanthamoeba myosin
    • ATPase activity of myosin-I and myosin-II
      • Myosin-I
      • Myosin-II

Section B: Life cycle and Genotyping

1. Life cycle
   • Trophozoite stage
   • Growth phase
     • G1 phase
     • S phase
     • G2 phase
     • Mitosis (M) phase
   • Cell division in asynchronous cultures
   • Cell division in synchronous cultures
   • Stationary phase
2. What is the best stage in Acanthamoeba cell division to induce encystation?
3. Encystation
   • At the morphological-level
   • At the organelle-level
   • RNA and protein synthesis
   • Golgi complex
   • Phagocytic and pinocytic activity
   • Respiration
   • Cytoskeletal proteins
   • Lipids
   • Other molecular changes
   • Cell wall synthesis
   • Cyst stage
   • Excystation
4. Regulators of life cycle
5. What stimulates encystation?
   • Food deprivation
   • High cell density
   • Surface receptors (hyper- and hypo-osmolarity, extremes in pH)
   • Encystation-inducing factors
   • Chemical factors
6. Feeding
7. Metabolism
8. Acanthamoeba is a heterotroph (chemo-organotroph)
   • Glycolysis pathway (also called Embden- Meyerhof-Parnas pathway)
   • Krebs cycle (also called citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid cycle)
   • Electron transport
9. Isolation of Acanthamoeba from the environmental samples
   • Xenic cultivation (non-nutrient agar plates seeded with Gram-negative bacteria)
   • "Axenic" cultivation
   • Chemically-defined medium
10. Methods of encystation
11. Storage
12. Determination of the viability of trophozoites and cysts
13. Speciation and genotyping
    • Use of 18S rRNA gene sequences (18S rDNA)

Section C: Acanthamoeba infections

1. Human infections
2. Acanthamoeba keratitis
   • Binding to worn and unworn contact lenses
   • Biofilm formation
   • Corneal injury
   • Epidemiology
   • Pathophysiology
   • Is Acanthamoeba keratitis limited to cornea
   • Why is it so painful?
   • Diagnosis
     • Clinical diagnosis
   • Laboratory identification and differentiation of Acanthamoeba spp.
     • Culture of Acanthamoeba
     • Microscopic identification based on morphological characteristics
     • Isoenzyme analysis
     • Antibody-based assays
       • Immunofluorescence assays
       • Flow cytometry
     • Polymerase chain reaction
     • Matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)
   • T4 genotype is the predominant cause of keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis
   • Host susceptibility
   • Species specificity
   • Risk factors
   • Treatment
     • Cryosurgery
     • Chemotherapy
3. Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis
   • Routes of entry into the central nervous system
   • Epidemiology
   • Pathophysiology of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis
   • Diagnosis
     • Clinical and laboratory diagnosis
   • Host susceptibility
   • Species and organ specificity
   • Risk factors
   • Treatment
4. Cutaneous Acanthamebiasis

Section D: Pathogenesis

1. Acanthamoeba keratitis
   • In vivo models
   • Ex vivo models
   • In vitro models
2. Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis due to Acanthamoeba
   • In vivo models
   • Ex vivo models
   • In vitro models
3. An opportunist with pathogenic potential
4. Crossing the biological barriers
5. Cornea
6. Traversal of the blood-brain barrier
7. Direct virulence factors
8. Contact-dependent mechanisms
   • Acanthamoeba binds to extracellular matrix proteins
   • Adhesion to the host cells
   • Host intracellular signaling in response to Acanthamoeba
   • Phagocytosis
   • Phagosome formation and fusion with lysosomes
   • Lysosomal enzymes
   • Ecto-ATPases
   • Neuraminidase activity
   • Superoxide dismutases
   • Acanthamoeba activates plasminogen
9. Contact-independent mechanisms
   • Hydrolytic enzymes
   • Elastase
   • Proteases
   • Phospholipases
   • Glycosidases (also called glycoside hydrolases)
10. Indirect virulence factors
    • Morphology
    • Temperature tolerance, osmotolerance and growth at different pH
    • Phenotypic switching
    • Chemotaxis
    • Ubiquity
    • Biofilms
    • Effect of cholesterol (or sterol biosynthesis) on Acanthamoeba virulence
    • Host factors

Section E: Immune response

1. Non-specific immune system
   • Skin
   • Mucosa
   • Normal flora
   • Recruitment of phagocytes and their mode of killing
   • Phagocytic call for help (production of cytokines)
   • Complement
   • Cytokines
2. Specific immune system
   • Antibodies
3. What are the basic types of parasite immune evasion strategies
   • Non-induction of immune response
   • Anatomical seclusion
   • Mechanisms of survival in macrophages
   • Antigenic variation
   • Host mimicry
   • Evasion of complement
   • Evasion of antibodies
   • Interference with host immune signaling molecules
4. Immune response in Acanthamoeba infections
   • Acanthamoeba keratitis and the immune response
     • From the contact lens to the cornea
     • Effect of contact lens wear for extended times on the innate immunity of the ocular surface
     • Antimicrobial peptides
     • Acquired immunity
       • Immunization using whole Acanthamoeba antigens
       • Immunization using specific Acanthamoeba antigens
     • Antibody levels in Acanthamoeba patients
     • Can cysts evade immune responses?
     • Macrophages In vivo
     • Neutrophils In vivo
     • Macrophages and neutrophils In vitro
   • Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis due to Acanthamoeba and the immune response
     • Complement
     • Cytokines
     • T-lymphocytes
     • Evasion of cytokines
     • Evasion of antibodies
     • Evasion of complement
     • Evasion of macrophages
     • Acanthamoeba-specific antibodies and activated macrophages, in combination show amoebicidal effects
     • Evasion of neutrophils
     • Natural killer cell activity In vivo
5. Effect of immune suppressive component in marijuana, cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on granulomatous amoebic encephalitis due to Acanthamoeba

Section F: Strategies against Acanthamoeba infections

1. Chemotherapeutic agents and Acanthamoeba
2. Membrane-acting agents
   • Polyhexamethylene biguanide
   • Chlorhexidine digluconate
   • Acriflavine hydrochloride
   • Phospholipid analogues
   • Polymyxin B
   • Polymyxin E (colistin)
   • Caspofungin
   • Ergosterol biosynthesis
     • Ketoconazole
     • Miconazole
     • Clotrimazole
     • Fluconazole
     • Amphotericin B
   • Benzimidazole and Benzotriazole
3. Inhibitors of DNA synthesis and polyamine metabolism
   • Diamidine derivatives
   • Methylglyoxal bis (guanyl hydrazone) (MGBG)
   • Berenil
   • Myristamidopropyl dimethylamine (MAPD)
   • Folate biosynthesis inhibitors
4. RNA synthesis inhibitors
   • Rifampicin
   • 5-fluorocytosine
5. Protein synthesis inhibitors
   • Macrolide compounds
     • Rokitamycin
     • Spiramycin
   • Aminoglycosides
     • Paromomycin
     • Neomycin
     • Neosporin
     • N-chlorotaurine
6. Tricyclic neuroleptic agents (calmodulin inhibition)
   • Trifluoperazine dihydrochloride and chlorpromazine dihydrochloride (phenothiazine compound)
7. Artesunate
8. Antimicrobial compounds from natural products
   • Animal-based natural products
     • Magainins
   • Plant-based natural products
9. Drug resistance in Acanthamoeba
10. Disinfectants and Acanthamoeba
    • Disinfection agents
    • Freeze-thaw
    • Heat disinfection
    • Microwave irradiation
    • Ultraviolet light irradiation
    • Gamma irradiation
11. Future prospects for treatment
    • Antibody-based therapy
    • Using a carrier for drug delivery
    • Use of a liposome for drug delivery
    • Photodynamic chemotherapy against Acanthamoeba
      • Photo-inhibition of Acanthamoeba
      • Use of photosensitizer against Acanthamoeba

Section G: Acanthamoeba: Trojan horse of the microbial world

1. A host for viruses
   • Mimivirus
     • An evolutionary mystery
     • Do endosymbionts contribute to Acanthamoeba infections?
   • Coxsackievirus
   • Adenovirus
   • Poliovirus, echovirus, enterovirus, or vesicular stomatitis virus
2. A host for yeast
3. A host for protozoa
4. Acanthamoeba and bacteria interactions
   • Story of Acanthamoeba and Legionnaires' disease
   • Method for isolating Legionella pneumophila and amoebae from water samples
   • Endosymbiosis and pathogenicity
   • Acanthamoeba as a bacterial predator
   • Acanthamoeba as a host for bacterial pathogens (role as a reservoir or a Trojan horse or a vector)
     • Other bacterial pathogens and Acanthamoeba
   • Can bacterial pathogens survive the encystation of Acanthamoeba
   • Acanthamoeba as evolutionary precursor of pathogenicity in bacteria
   • Benefit for the host

Section H: Conclusions and Future studies

1. A model organism
2. New approaches in the study of Acanthamoeba
   • Genome and transfection assays
   • Drug discovery and delivery
3. Future research
   • Prevention
   • Diagnosis
   • Basic research
   • Host for microbial pathogens
   • Treatment

Section I: Bibliography

How to buy this book

(EAN: 9781904455431 Subjects: [microbiology] [medical microbiology] [molecular biology] [parasitology])