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Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts: new ultrastructural findings

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Abstract

During Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoite–cysts differentiation, four morphological stages were identified by scanning electron microscopy: trophozoite, precyst, immature cysts, and mature cysts. Fluorescence microscopy reveals the presence of small cumulus of actin in the cytoplasm of precysts after treatment with rhodamine phalloidin. By the contrary, in mature cysts, fluorescence was not observed. However, when excystation was induced, large fluorescent patches were present. By transmission electron microscopy, encysting amebas showed small cytoplasmic vesicles containing fibrillar material, surrounded by a narrow area of thin fibrils. Similar appearance was observed in pseudopods and phagocytic invaginations. In addition, large aggregates of rod-shape elements, similar to the chromatoid bodies, described in other amebas, were present in the cytoplasm. These cysts presented large areas with orange fluorescence after treatment with acridine orange.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by Fundación Miguel Aleman A.C.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, Av. IPN 2508, Zacatenco, 07360, Mexico City, Mexico

    Bibiana Chávez-Munguía, Lizbeth Salazar-Villatoro, Anel Lagunes-Guillén, Martha Espinosa-Cantellano & Adolfo Martínez-Palomo

  2. Faculty of Superior Studies, UNAM, Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Mexico

    Maritza Omaña-Molina

Authors
  1. Bibiana Chávez-Munguía
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  2. Lizbeth Salazar-Villatoro
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  3. Anel Lagunes-Guillén
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  4. Maritza Omaña-Molina
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  5. Martha Espinosa-Cantellano
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  6. Adolfo Martínez-Palomo
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Correspondence to Bibiana Chávez-Munguía.

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Chávez-Munguía, B., Salazar-Villatoro, L., Lagunes-Guillén, A. et al. Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts: new ultrastructural findings. Parasitol Res 112, 1125–1130 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3261-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3261-7

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