title: Effect of adhered bacteria on the binding of Acanthamoeba to hydrogel lenses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis on the binding of Acanthamoeba species to hydrogel lenses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells of amebae and bacteria were incubated with different types of hydrogel lenses. Densities of amebae that were bound to the lenses after rinsing were determined from direct counts with a cell detachment procedure and from scintillation counts of cells, which were radiolabeled with tritiated leucine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With both methods, amebae showed significantly increased binding to hydrogel lenses with attached P aeruginosa. The numbers of amebae that were retained on lenses with attached S epidermidis were not significantly different from those that were retained on lenses without bacteria. The binding of amebae to unworn hydrogel lenses, in contrast to the irreversible adherence of P aeruginosa, was tenuous.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The binding of Acanthamoeba species to unworn hydrogel lenses was tenuous and appeared to be related to water content, surface tensions, and ionic charge. The presence of adhered P aeruginosa on the hydrogel lenses facilitated the binding of Acanthamoeba species. The cocontamination of lens systems with bacteria (eg, P aeruginosa) may be a prime factor in the development of amebic keratitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Gorlin
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ahearn
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003261:Contact Lenses; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols