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

doi:10.1007/s004360050259

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 journal › Article › peer-review

40 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 language	English
Pages (from-to)	345-348
Number of pages	4
Journal	Parasitology Research
Volume	83
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s004360050259
State	Published - 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).

Funding

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).

Funders	Funder number
Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center	PSCB DMB890077P
National Eye Institute (NEI)	R01EY008205
U.S. Public Health Service	RO1 EYO8205

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Parasitology
General Veterinary
Insect Science
Infectious Diseases

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "Identification of two genetic markers that distinguish pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba spp.",

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.",

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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).",

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AU - Howe, Daniel K.

AU - Vodkin, Michael H.

AU - Novak, Robert J.

AU - Visvesvara, Govinda

AU - McLaughlin, Gerald L.

N1 - 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).

PY - 1997

Y1 - 1997

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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