title: Increasing importance of Balamuthia mandrillaris.
abstract: Balamuthia mandrillaris is an emerging protozoan parasite, an agent of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis involving the central nervous system, with a case fatality rate of >98%. This review presents our current understanding of Balamuthia infections, their pathogenesis and pathophysiology, and molecular mechanisms associated with the disease, as well as virulence traits of Balamuthia that may be potential targets for therapeutic interventions and/or for the development of preventative measures.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, England.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matin
authors.forename: Ruqaiyyah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jayasekera
authors.forename: Naveed Ahmed
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D016840:Lobosea / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control