Identification of two genetic markers that distinguish pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba spp.

Daniel K. Howe, Michael H. Vodkin, Robert J. Novak, Govinda Visvesvara, Gerald L. McLaughlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Species-level identification of Acanthamoeba isolates is difficult and gives little or no indication of the isolate's pathogenicity. We identified two amplification-based genetic markers that were highly correlated with pathogenicity in Acanthamoeba spp. One marker, designed to amplify a 485-bp fragment of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene (ssrDNA), was preferentially amplified from the nonpathogenic strains; amplifications from the pathogenic strains yielded anomalous fragments of 650 and 900 bp. A second marker was developed on the basis of the anomalous 650-bp fragment. Primers to this sequence preferentially amplified a noncoding locus (called Ac6) only from the pathogenic strains. These two genetic markers may be useful for identification of pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp. strains.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)345-348
Number of pages4
JournalParasitology Research
Volume83
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgements We thank Dr William Schnitzlein and Dr. Susan Steenbergen for technical assistance. This work was supported by Public Health Service grant RO1 EYO8205 to G.L.M. Computer support was provided to M.H.V by the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSCB DMB890077P).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • General Veterinary
  • Insect Science
  • Infectious Diseases

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