title: Molecular characterization and ultrastructure of a new amoeba endoparasite belonging to the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia complex.
abstract: Naegleria and Acanthamoeba spp. were recovered from biofilm of a flushing cistern in a lavatory and both were found to be infected by rod-shaped bacteria enclosed within a vacuole. These intracellular bacteria behave like parasites, causing lysis of host amoebae. The bacteria proved unculturable on bacteriological media, and but could be maintained as endocytobionts within Acanthamoeba on agar plates. A marked differential host preference was observed in co-culture assays with various strains of amoebae. Molecular phylogenetic analyses performed on almost complete 16S rDNA sequences showed that the bacteria emerged as an atypical rapidly-evolving strain within the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia complex (Gamma-Proteobacteria, Xanthomonadales).
authors.affiliation: CHLAREAS-Chlamydia Research Association, 12 rue du Maconnais, F-54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France. corsaro@voila.fr
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corsaro
authors.forename: Karl-Dieter
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000382:microbiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009253:Naegleria / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D020615:Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S