title: Encystment in Acanthamoeba castellanii: a review.
abstract: Differentiation of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites involves massive turnover of cellular components and remodelling of organelle structure and function so as to produce a cryptobiotic cell, resistant to desiccation, heat, freezing, and chemical treatments. This review presents a summary of a decade of research on the most studied aspects of the biochemistry of this process, with emphasis on problems of biocide and drug resistances, putative new targets, molecular and cell biology of the process of encystment, and the characteristics of the encysted state. As well as the intrinsic pathogenicity of the organism towards the cornea, and the ability of related species to invade the human brain, its propensity for harbouring and transmitting pathogenic bacteria and viruses is considerable and leads to increasing concerns. The long-term survival and resistance of cysts to drugs and biocides adds another layer of complexity to the problem of their elimination.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AT, UK. Electronic address: lloydd@cf.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lloyd
mesh_terms: D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D000563:Amebicides / Q000494:pharmacology; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D033661:Oocysts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000563:Amebicides; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Biocide; Cyst; Emerging resistance; Flow cytometry; Trophozoite