title: Co-incubation of Acanthamoeba castellanii with strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alters the survival of amoeba.
abstract: Enhanced survival of Acanthamoeba castellanii has previously been reported following co-incubation with a single strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different strains of P. aeruginosa on amoebae survival. Four contact lens solutions were challenged with A. castellanii for between 6 and 24 h, and survival rates of amoeba were calculated. Subsequently, A. castellanii was co-incubated with different strains of P. aeruginosa (strain 6294, an invasive isolate; 6206, a cytotoxic isolate; and Paer 001, a null isolate). Differences in amoeba survival over time between solutions for each bacterial strain were analysed. Non-neutralized hydrogen peroxide was the most effective system against A. castellani at all time points (P<0.05). Survival rates were not different between multipurpose solutions and neutralized hydrogen peroxide. Co-incubation with P. aeruginosa altered amoeba survival, and maximum survival occurred in the presence of the invasive strain of P. aeruginosa. Enhanced amoeba survival may occur in the presence of certain strains of Gram-negative bacteria, and with certain types of contact lens disinfection systems.
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Research Centre for Eye Research and Technology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harmis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stapleton
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D000898:Antibiosis; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D018639:Contact Lens Solutions