title: Targeting cyst wall is an effective strategy in improving the efficacy of marketed contact lens disinfecting solutions against Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts.
abstract: Acanthamoeba cysts are highly resistant to contact lens disinfecting solutions. Acanthamoeba cyst wall is partially made of 1,4 β-glucan (i.e., cellulose) and other complex polysaccharides making it a hardy shell that protects the resident amoeba. Here, we hypothesize that targeting the cyst wall structure in addition to antiamoebic compound would improve the efficacy of marketed contact lens disinfecting solutions. Using chlorhexidine as an antiamoebic compound and cellulase enzyme to disrupt cyst wall structure, the findings revealed that combination of both agents abolished viability of Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts and trophozoites. When tested alone, none of the agents nor contact lens disinfecting solutions completely destroyed A. castellanii cysts and trophozoites. The absence of cyst wall-degrading enzymes in marketed contact lens disinfecting solutions render them ineffective against Acanthamoeba cysts. It is concluded that the addition of cyst wall degrading molecules in contact lens disinfecting solutions will enhance their efficacy in decreasing the incidence of Acanthamoeba effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abjani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Malaysia. Electronic address: naveed5438@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Naveed Ahmed
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Aga Khan University, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farzana Abubakar
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Yousuf
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ruqaiyyah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
mesh_terms: D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D000563:Amebicides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000469:parasitology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000563:Amebicides; D018639:Contact Lens Solutions
keywords: Cellulase; Contact lens; Disinfecting solution; Keratitis