• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.189-196
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• 2003

In order to evaluate the possible roles of secretory proteases in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, we purified and characterized a serine protease secreted by Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2, isolated from a Korean keratitis patient The ammonium sulfate-precipitated culture supernatant of the isolate was purified by sequential chromatography on CM-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-200, and mono Q-anion exchange column. The purified 33 kDa protease had a pH optimum of 8.5 and a temperature optimum of $55^{\circ}C$. Phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride and 4-(2-Aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl-fluoride, both serine protease specific inhibitors, inhibited almost completely the activity of the 33 kDa protease whereas other classes of inhibitors did not affect its activity. The 33 kDa enzyme degraded various extracellular matrix proteins and serum proteins. Our results strongly suggest that the 33 kDa serine protease secreted from this keratopathogenic Acanthamoeba play important roles in the pathogenesis of amoebic keratitis, such as in corneal tissue invasion, immune evasion and nutrient uptake.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.324-327
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• 2012

Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that causes human infections, and recently the incidence of amoebic keratitis has increased among contact lens wearers. In order to investigate Acanthamoeba contamination of contact lens storage cases, a short survey was performed on 57 contact lens wearers, and Acanthamoeba was found in one contact lens storage case. To diagnose Acanthamoeba, the 18s small subunit ribosomal DNA (18s rDNA) gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and subsequently, the isolate was identified as A. lugdunensis. This species was originally isolated from a freshwater pool in France, and was reported recently to be a cause of amoebic keratitis. This observation indicates the need for a large survey to investigate the extent of Acanthamoeba contamination, and suggests that contact lens wearers be aware of the importance of hygiene and of the implications of Acanthamoeba infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.321-330
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• 2006

The pathogenic mechanism of granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) and amebic keratitis (AK) by Acanthamoeba has yet to be clarified. Pretense has been recognized to play an important role in the pathogenesis of GAE and AK. In the present study, we have compared specific activity and cytopathic effects (CPE) of purified 33 kDa serine proteinases from Acanthamoeba strains with different degree of virulence (A. healyi OC-3A, A. lugdunensis KA/E2, and A. castelianii Neff). Trophozoites of the 3 strains revealed different degrees of CPE on human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells. The effect was remarkably reduced by adding phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride (PMSF), a serine proteinase inhibitor. This result indicated that PMSF-susceptible proteinase is the main component causing cytopathy to HCE cells by Acanthamoeba. The purified 33 kDa serine proteinase showed strong activity toward HCE cells and extracellular matrix proteins. The purified proteinase from OC-3A, the most virulent strain, demonstrated the highest enzyme activity compared to KA/E2, an ocular isolate, and Neff, a soil isolate. Polyclonal antibodies against the purified 33 kDa serine proteinase inhibit almost completely the proteolytic activity of culture supernatant of Acanthamoeba. In line with these results, the 33 kDa serine proteinase is suggested to play an important role in pathogenesis and to be the main component of virulence factor of Acanthamoeba.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.181-188
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• 1999

We investigated the value of mitochondrial small subunit rRNA gene (mt SSU rDNA) PCR-RFLP as a taxonomic tool for Acanthamoeba isolates with close inter-relationships. Twenty-five isolates representing 20 species were included in the analysis. As in nuclear 18s rDNA analysis, two type strains (A. astronyxis and A. tubiashi) of morphological group 1 diverged earliest from the other strains, but the divergence between them was less than in 18s riboprinting. Acanthamoeba griffini of morhological group 2 branched between pathogenic (A. culbertsoni A-1 and A. healyi OC-3A) and nonpathogenic (A.palestinensis Reich, A. pustulosa GE-3a, A. royreba Oak Ridge, and A lenticulata PD2S) strains of morphological group 3. Among the remaining isolates of morphological group 2, the Chang strain had the identical mitochondrial riboprints as the type strain of A. hatchetti. AA2 and AA1, the type strains of A. divionensis and A. paradivionensis, respectively, had the identical riboprints as A. quina Vil3 and A. castellanii Ma. Although the branching orders of A. castellanii Neff, A. polyphaga P23, A. triangularis SH621, and A. lugdunensis L3a were different from those in 18S riboprinting analysis, the results obtained from this study generally coincided well with those from 18S riboprinting. Mitochondrial riboprinting may have an advantage over nuclear 18S rDNA riboprinting beacuse the mt SSU rDNAs do not seem to have introns that are found in the 18S genes of Acanthamoeba and that distort phylogenetic analyses.

• 대한안과학회지
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• 제58권5호
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• pp.509-515
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• 2017

목적: 연옥이 첨가된 콘택트렌즈 보관용기의 항아메바 효과를 일반 콘택트렌즈 보관용기와 비교하였다. 대상과 방법: 5% 연옥을 첨가하여 제작된 콘택트렌즈 보관용기와 일반보관용기에서 가시아메바 증식 정도를 비교하였고, 각각의 보관용기에 실리콘하이드로겔렌즈를 보관한 후 가시아메바의 부착 정도를 비교하였으며, 1% 및 5% 연옥수를 포함한 다목적관리용액에 콘택트렌즈를 보관한 후 가시아메바의 부착 정도를 측정하여 다목적관리용액 단독에 보관한 경우와 비교하였다. 결과: 일반용기에 비해 연옥이 포함된 콘택트렌즈 보관용기에서 가시아메바의 개체수가 유의하게 감소하였고(p=0.02), 1, 2 및 3세대 렌즈를 보관했을 경우에도 콘택트렌즈에 부착된 가시아메바 수가 각각 유의하게 감소하였다(각각 p=0.001, p=0.001, 및 p<0.001). 1% 및 5% 연옥수를 포함한 다목적관리용액을 사용하였을 때 다목적관리용액 단독에 비해 1세대 렌즈의 경우 부착된 가시아메바 개체수가 유의하게 감소하였으나(각각 p=0.03 및 p=0.004), 2 및 3세대 렌즈에서는 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다(각각 p=0.59 및 p=3.612와 p=0.450 및 p=0.462). 결론: 연옥이 포함된 콘택트렌즈 보관용기와 연옥수는 향후 실리콘하이드로겔렌즈에 의한 가시아메바 감염을 효과적으로 감소시킬 수 있는 차세대 물질로서 가능성이 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.11-18
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• 2007

Recent in vitro studies have revealed that a certain Mycobacterium can survive and multiply within free-living amoebae. It is believed that protozoans function as host cells for the intracellular replication and evasion of Mycobacterium spp. under harmful conditions. In this study, we describe the isolation and characterization of a bacterium naturally observed within an amoeba isolate acquired from a contact lens storage case. The bacterium multi-plied within Acanthamoeba, but exerted no cytopathic effects on the amoeba during a 6-year amoebic culture. Trasnmission electron microscopy showed that the bacteria were randomly distributed within the cytoplasm of trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba. On the basis of the results of 18S rRNA gene analysis, the amoeba was identified as A. lugdunensis. A 16S rRNA gene analysis placed this bacterium within the genus Mycobacterium. The bacterium evidenced positive reactivity for acid-fast and fluorescent acid-fast stains. The bacterium was capable of growth on the Middlebrook 7H11-Mycobacterium-specific agar. The identification and characterization of bacterial endosymbionts of free-living protozoa bears significant implications for our understanding of the ecology and the identification of other atypical mycobacterial pathogens.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.127-134
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• 1997

콘택트렌즈 보존 용기 유래 가시아메바 KA/LS주의 세포질 내에 존재하는 bacterial endosymbiont(내공생세균)를 투과전자현미경으로 관찰하여 확인하였다. 숙주인 가시아메바 KA/LS주는 형태학적으로 제2군에 속하였고 rDNA PCR-RFLP 결과 A. lugdunensis로 동정되었다. 미토콘드리아 DNA RFLP와 동위효소 분석상 이 충주는 국내 콘택트렌즈 보존용기에서 가장 흔히 분리되는 type인 KA/L1주, 국내 임상 분리주 중 하나인 KA/E2주, 내공생세균을 가지는 것으로 보고된 병원 냉각수 유래 KA/W4주 및 L3a주와 동일하거나 매우 유사한 성적을 보였다. 내 공생세균은 약 $1.38{\;}{\times}{\;}0.50{\;}{\mu\textrm{m}}$의 크기였고, 아메바 세포질 내에 불규칙하게 분포하고 있었으며 그 표면에 아메바의 ribosome이 부착되어 있었다. 내공생세균을 둘러싼 lacunae나 막과 같은 구조는 관찰되지 않았다. Legionoun 특이 primer를 이용한 효소중합반응(PCR)에서 내공생세균의 염색체 DNA는 증폭되지 않았다 A. lugdunensis의 우리말 이름을 담수가시아메바로 제안한다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권4호
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• pp.229-239
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• 2022

The high percentage of Vermamoeba was found in tap water in Korea. This study investigated whether Vermamoeba induced allergic airway inflammation in mice. We selected 2 free-living amoebas (FLAs) isolated from tap water, which included Korean FLA 5 (KFA5; Vermamoeba vermiformis) and 21 (an homolog of Acanthamoeba lugdunensis KA/E2). We axenically cultured KFA5 and KFA21. We applied approximately 1×10⁶ to mice's nasal passages 6 times and investigated their pathogenicity. The airway resistance value was significantly increased after KFA5 and KFA21 treatments. The eosinophil recruitment and goblet cell hyperplasia were concomitantly observed in bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue in mice infected with KFA5 and KFA21. These infections also activated the Th2-related interleukin 25, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and thymus and activation-regulated chemokines gene expression in mouse lung epithelial cells. The CD4⁺ interleukin 4⁺ cell population was increased in the lung, and the secretion of Th2-, Th17-, and Th1-associated cytokines were upregulated during KFA5 and KFA21 infection in the spleen, lung-draining lymph nodes, and BAL fluid. The pathogenicity (allergenicity) of KFA5 and KFA21 might not have drastically changed during the long-term in vitro culture. Our results suggested that Vermamoeba could elicit allergic airway inflammation and may be an airway allergen.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.191-194
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• 2020

Free-living amoebas (FLAs) can cause severe disease in humans and animals when they become infected. However, there are no accurate survey reports on the prevalence of FLAs in Korea. In this study, we collected 163 tap water samples from buildings, apartments, and restrooms of highway service areas in 7 Korean provinces with high population density. All these buildings and facilities have water storage tanks in common. The survey was separated into categories of buildings, apartments, and highway service areas. Five hundred milliliters of tap water from each building was collected and filtered with 0.2 ㎛ pore filter paper. The filters were incubated in agar plates with heated E. coli at 25℃. After axenization, genomic DNA was collected from each FLA, and species classification was performed using partial 18S-rDNA PCR-sequencing analysis. We found that 12.9% of tap water from buildings with storage tanks in Korea was contaminated with FLAs. The highway service areas had the highest contamination rate at 33.3%. All of the FLAs, except one, were genetically similar to Vermamoeba vermiformis (Hartmannella vermiformis). The remaining FLA (KFA21) was very similar to Acanthamoeba lugdunensis (KA/E26). Although cases of human infection by V. vermiformis are very rare, we must pay attention to the fact that one-third of tap water supplies in highway service areas have been contaminated.