Detection of a serine proteinase gene in Acanthamoeba genotype T6 (Amoebozoa: Lobosea).
Cytopathic proteins are assumed to contribute to the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba spp. due to their degrading capacity that is required for tissue invasion. In this study, a serine proteinase gene was demonstrated in a highly virulent Acanthamoeba keratitis causing strain with genotype T6. This gene was detected in both, the genomic DNA and the cDNA by PCR and subsequent sequencing. The gene fragment comprises about 500 bp and exhibits high sequence similarity to the serine proteinases of Acanthamoeba strains with genotype T4 and T12. The detection of a serine proteinase in this Acanthamoeba T6 strain is significant, because while T4 is the most common genotype among pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains and also T12 is known to be associated with disease, this is the only virulent Acanthamoeba T6 strain known to date. Obviously, this serine proteinase represents a common tool in pathogenic processes during Acanthamoeba infection.
Blaschitz
Marion
M
Department of Medical Parasitology, Clinical Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1095 Vienna, Austria.
Köhsler
Martina
M
Aspöck
Horst
H
Walochnik
Julia
J
D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003315:Cornea / Q000469:parasitology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases