CONGRESS 2023 - Molecular Profiling of Acanthamoeba species directly from Ocular Tissue
To explore the molecular profiles of Acanthamoeba from laboratory-confirmed Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) cases reported within the United Kingdom (UK) using DNA taken directly from clinical samples. Acanthamoeba species are free-living organisms responsible for causing a debilitating, sight-threatening disease of the cornea. Of the 24 known Acanthamoeba species, 14 cause AK. Thirty-five Acanthamoeba DNA-positive corneal samples from the Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratories (SMiRL), Glasgow collection were selected from cases reported from 2017 - 2019. Following extraction of the DNA directly from each clinical specimen, the DNA was subjected to in-depth molecular typing using a nested PCR / bi-directional sequencing approach. Molecular profiling was successful for 32 samples which comprised of two genotypes namely T3 and T4. The T4 genotype were further sub-typed; five sub-types existed namely; T4A, T4B, T4C, T4E and T4F. Using a molecular typing assay applied directly to corneal tissue, this study highlights the T4 genotype and the T4A subtype are the predominant molecular variants of Acanthamoeba to cause ocular disease in the UK. Gaining in-depth information on the molecular profiling of Acanthamoeba is essential to increase our knowledge and understanding of the epidemiology, transmission pathways and potential associations with clinical outcomes for this rare, yet potentially debilitating ocular disease.
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To explore the molecular profiles of Acanthamoeba from laboratory-confirmed Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) cases reported within the United Kingdom (UK) using DNA taken directly from clinical samples.
Acanthamoeba species are free-living organisms responsible for causing a debilitating, sight-threatening disease of the cornea. Of the 24 known Acanthamoeba species, 14 cause AK.
Thirty-five Acanthamoeba DNA-positive corneal samples from the Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratories (SMiRL), Glasgow collection were selected from cases reported from 2017 - 2019. Following extraction of the DNA directly from each clinical specimen, the DNA was subjected to in-depth molecular typing using a nested PCR / bi-directional sequencing approach.
Molecular profiling was successful for 32 samples which comprised of two genotypes namely T3 and T4. The T4 genotype were further sub-typed; five sub-types existed namely; T4A, T4B, T4C, T4E and T4F.
Using a molecular typing assay applied directly to corneal tissue, this study highlights the T4 genotype and the T4A subtype are the predominant molecular variants of Acanthamoeba to cause ocular disease in the UK. Gaining in-depth information on the molecular profiling of Acanthamoeba is essential to increase our knowledge and understanding of the epidemiology, transmission pathways and potential associations with clinical outcomes for this rare, yet potentially debilitating ocular disease.