Legionella and Acanthamoeba research

Development of a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for Balamuthia mandrillaris

This paper develops and validates a LAMP assay for Balamuthia mandrillaris with high sensitivity and specificity, suitable for clinical use in resource-limited settings.

Genetic diversity of Legionella species in culture-negative clinical and environmental specimens by sequencing the 23S-5S ribosomal intergenic spacer region

The paper develops a bioinformatic pipeline using 23S-5S rRNA sequencing to identify Legionella species in culture-negative PCR-positive samples, successfully assigning species in 60% of cases and revealing high diversity.

Actin and AnkJ reciprocally regulate the catalytic state of the Legionella effector Ceg14

This study shows that actin and AnkJ reciprocally regulate the catalytic activity of Ceg14 by remodeling its catalytic center.

Uncharted Waters: Projecting the European Emergence of Naegleria fowleri, Colloquially Known as the 'Brain-Eating Amoeba', Under Climate Warming

This study models the current and future habitat suitability of Naegleria fowleri in the US and projects its potential expansion into Europe under climate change scenarios.

Single-cell metabolomics reveals infection-specific metabolic reprogramming of human macrophages

This study uses single-cell metabolomics to show that Legionella pneumophila infection induces metabolic reprogramming in human macrophages, with bacterial effectors promoting glycolytic shifts.

Gelsolin protects mitochondria and regulates inflammation during Legionella pneumophila infection

This study shows that gelsolin protects against Legionella pneumophila infection by maintaining mitochondrial health, reducing inflammation, and supporting neutrophil function.

Accounting for DNA Recovery and Cell Culturability Enhances Quantitative Compatibility of Molecular and Legiolert Assays for Legionella pneumophila

Rodent-driven NO3--N enrichment reshapes amoeba--bacteria co-occurrence and bacterial functional potential in burrow soils

This study shows rodent activity creates nitrate-rich soil microhabitats that alter amoeba-bacteria interactions and bacterial functional potential, potentially promoting pathogenic bacteria.

An anaerobic Legionellales symbiont in Anaeramoeba pumila

The paper describes a new anaerobic Legionellales symbiont in Anaeramoeba pumila, highlighting its unique metabolic strategies and genomic features.

Epidemiology of Legionella: Genome-bAsed Typing (el_gato) - a new bioinformatic tool for identifying sequence-based types of Legionella pneumophila from whole genome sequencing data

el_gato is a new bioinformatic tool that improves sequence-based typing of Legionella pneumophila from whole genome sequencing data, achieving high accuracy comparable to traditional Sanger sequencing.

Free-Living Amoeba act as transient permissive hosts for Leptospira spp.

This study shows free-living amoebae internalize and transiently host both pathogenic and saprophytic Leptospira without replication, contributing to their environmental persistence.

Global climate gradients structure soil Legionella diversity, relative abundance and pathogen distributions

This study analyzes global soil Legionella diversity and abundance across climate gradients, finding increased abundance with precipitation and temperature, and highlighting non-pneumophila pathogens as more common in soils.

Functional alterations of immune gene expression in ICU and non-ICU patients with Legionnaires' disease, a prospective observational study

This study compares immune gene expression in ICU and non-ICU Legionnaires' disease patients after LPS stimulation, finding more pronounced functional impairments in ICU patients.

The Legionella phosphocholinase AnkX modulates IMPDH2 regulation and cytoophidia dynamics

This paper identifies AnkX as a Legionella effector that posttranslationally modifies IMPDH2, disrupting its filament assembly and altering GTP metabolism in host cells.

A two-scale model of Legionnaires disease to predict incubation periods and risk of symptomatic disease

This paper develops a non-Markovian two-scale model of Legionnaires disease to improve incubation period and dose-response predictions by incorporating realistic rupture-time distributions.

Siderophore-mediated inhibition of Legionella pneumophila by environmental Pseudomonas isolates

This study shows that siderophore-producing Pseudomonas strains inhibit Legionella pneumophila growth by limiting iron availability through siderophore-mediated competition.

Legionella and Mycobacterium populations exhibit geographic structuring across and within drinking water systems

The paper examines geographic structuring of Legionella and Mycobacterium populations across and within drinking water systems using 16S rRNA sequencing and flow cytometry.

IcmX Plug Ejection in L. pneumophila's Type IV Secretion System: Is It Possible?

The paper uses MD simulations to test if force on IcmX can induce structural changes in DotG, enabling effector protein release in L. pneumophila's T4SS.

Re-evaluating of Chemotaxis in Acanthamoeba castellanii and Acanthamoeba polyphaga: A Modern Perspective Using Advanced Imaging and Tracking Technologies

This study re-evaluates chemotaxis in Acanthamoeba species using advanced imaging and tracking, revealing species-specific responses to chemoattractants and suggesting receptor threshold tuning for niche adaptation.

A hybrid model of the within-host dynamics post-infection with Legionnaires disease;

This paper develops a hybrid model to simulate within-host dynamics of Legionnaires disease, reducing computational cost while maintaining accuracy by integrating ODE, discrete-event, and SDE models.

An improved viability assay for Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites reveals drug-induced pseudocyst formation

This study improves a viability assay for Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites to measure pseudocyst formation induced by drugs.

A high-throughput, image-based assay to assess drug sensitivity of Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts.

This study develops a high-throughput assay to assess drug sensitivity of Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts and identifies five active agents.

Virulence of Naegleria fowleri isolates varies significantly in the mouse model of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis

The paper tests virulence variation among Naegleria fowleri isolates using a mouse model and in vitro assays, finding significant differences in disease onset and mortality.

The Legionella pneumophila peptidoglycan recycling kinase, AmgK, is essential for survival and replication inside host alveolar macrophages

This study shows that AmgK, a peptidoglycan kinase in Legionella pneumophila, is essential for intracellular survival and replication in host macrophages, highlighting its role in pathogenicity and potential as a drug target.

Diversity and varying predation capacities of Amoebozoa against opportunistic vibrios in contrasting Mediterranean coastal environments.

The paper examines Amoebozoa diversity and predation on vibrios in Mediterranean coastal environments, finding distinct communities and varying predation capacities across sites and species.

Nitroxoline treatment of Balamuthia mandrillaris triggers genomic crisis, transcriptional collapse, and incomplete encystment via copper and iron chelation

This paper investigates how nitroxoline induces genomic instability, transcriptional collapse, and incomplete encystment in Balamuthia mandrillaris by chelating copper and iron.

Amoebicidal Action of Licorice-Derived Compounds: Mechanisms and Effects Against Acanthamoeba castellanii

This study investigates the anti-Acanthamoeba effects of licorice-derived compounds, showing that isoliquiritigenin and glabridin inhibit growth through apoptosis induction and metabolic pathway modulation.

Secreted small RNAs of Naegleria fowleri as biomarkers for diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis

This study identifies small RNAs from Naegleria fowleri that can be detected in liquid biopsies and serve as early diagnostic biomarkers for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Unveiling the Ecology of Legionella in a Stratified Freshwater Lake: Seasonal Dynamics, Host Interactions, and Persistence Under Oxygen Limited Conditions

This study investigates Legionella persistence in anoxic freshwater conditions, revealing seasonal abundance shifts, unique genotypes, and altered host interactions in a stratified lake.

Novel symbionts reveal amoebae as significant hosts for environmental chlamydiae

This study identifies novel environmental chlamydiae in wild amoebae, revealing their host specificity and expanding the known chlamydial host range.