BB30052 Scientifc CommunicationThe pathophysiology of Acanthamoeba Keratitis Junho Jung30th April 2007 IntroductionWhat is Acanthamoeba?One of the most common protozoa in soil, and also frequently found in fresh water Most species are freeli!in" #acteri!ores some are opportunists that can cause infections in humans and other animal $elati!ely rare disease% &owe!er in 2002, #etween '7 and 2' Acanthamoeba infection cases per million contactlens wearers reported in ()% Acanthamoeba as a human pathogen Acanthamoeba causes amoe#ic *eratitis and encephalitis +ye infection has #een associated with contact lens useAlso enter the s*in throu"h a wound or nostrils% Amoe#as can tra!el to the lun"s and throu"h the #loodstream to central ner!e system, cause fatal infection called "ranulomatous ame#ic encephalitis ,-A+.% Symptoms of Acanthamoeba infectionA corneal ulcer may result from e/posures% 0his could #e si"htthreatenin" without proper treatment% Acanthamoeba spp. can cause s*in lesions and a systemic ,whole #ody. infection% -A+ 1atients may su2er with headaches, sti2 nec*, nausea,!omitin", tiredness, confusion, lac* of attention, loss of #alance and #odily control, seizures, and hallucinations% The pathogenic cascade of Acanthamoeba eratitisAttachment3estruction of epithelium and upre"ulation of MM1s4reachment of 4owman5s mem#rane3e"radation of stroma$adialneuritis Treatment for infection !ith Acanthamoeba+ye and s*in infections are "enerally treata#le% 0reatment is most e2ecti!e when the dia"nosis is made promptly% 4ecause the cyst may form, and can #e hi"hly resistant to therapy, a com#ination of a"ents is "enerally used% Althou"h most cases of #rain ,678. infection with Acanthamoeba ha!e #een fatal, a few ha!e reco!ered from the infection with proper treatment% Acanthamoeba and "#S$$ecent 9ndin"s from the (ni!ersity of 4ath demonstrate that M$8A can infect and replicate inside of Acanthamoeba polyphaga: 8ince A. polyphaga can form cysts, cysts infected with M$8A can act as a mode of air#orne dispersal for M$8A% 6oncludin" remar*sA #etter understandin" of the patho"enic cascade of Acanthamoe#a *eratitis could lead to impro!ed clinical treatment of this and other ame#ic infections%Mi"ht #e possi#le to de!elop Multi!alent mucosal !accines that induce multiple secretory ;"A anti#odies that tar"et the lectin#indin" molecules on the surface of the amoe#a and the proteases that are released durin" in!asion of the mucosal surface%