title: Acanthamoeba culbertsoni: analysis of amoebic adhesion and invasion on extracellular matrix components collagen I and laminin-1.
abstract: Acanthamoeba are free-living amoebae found in most environments that can cause brain and corneal infections. To infect humans, these pathogens must interact with host cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). In order to define the mode by which amoebae recognize ECM components and process this recognition, we analyzed Acanthamoeba culbertsoni attachment and invasion, respectively, on collagen I and laminin-1 and on tridimensional collagen I and matrigel matrices. We determined that amoebae surface proteins are involved in adhesion, that exogenous sugars can decrease adhesion and invasion, and that adhesion and invasion are dependent on microfilament reorganization. In addition, we determined the role of serine- and metallo-proteases on invasion and found that adhesion was blocked when amoebae were treated with a metallo-protease inhibitor. Collectively, these results suggest that adhesion and invasion are protease- and microfilament-dependent events in which amoebic surface proteins play a pivotal role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23236, United States.
authors.forename: Bruno da
authors.initials: Bd
authors.lastname: Rocha-Azevedo
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jamerson
authors.forename: Guy A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marciano-Cabral
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003124:Colorimetry; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology*; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000494:pharmacology; D010504:Periodic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D053778:Thiazolidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D002241:Carbohydrates; D007797:Laminin; D053778:Thiazolidines; C121346:laminin 1; D010504:Periodic Acid; D003094:Collagen; C009288:metaperiodate; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D014357:Trypsin; C037067:latrunculin A