The role of Acanthamoeba spp. in biofilm communities: a systematic review

Pinto, Larissa Fagundes; Andriolo, Brenda Nazaré Gomes; Hofling-Lima, Ana Luisa; Freitas, Denise

doi:10.1007/s00436-021-07240-6

Protozoology - Review
Published: 22 July 2021

The role of Acanthamoeba spp. in biofilm communities: a systematic review

Parasitology Research volume 120, pages 2717–2729 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Acanthamoeba spp. have always caused disease in immunosuppressed patients, but since 1986, they have become a worldwide public health issue by causing infection in healthy contact lens wearers. Amoebae of the Acanthamoeba genus are broadly distributed in nature, living either freely or as parasites, and are frequently associated with biofilms throughout the environment. These biofilms provide the parasite with protection against external aggression, thus favoring its increased pathogeny. This review aims to assess observational studies on the association between Acanthamoeba spp. and biofilms, opening potential lines of research on this severe ocular infection. A systematic literature search was conducted in May 2020 in the following databases: PubMed Central^®/Medline, LILACS, The Cochrane Library, and EMBASE^®. The studies were selected following the inclusion and exclusion criteria specifically defined for this review. Electronic research recovered 353 publications in the literature. However, none of the studies met the inclusion criterion of biofilm-producing Acanthamoeba spp., inferring that the parasite does not produce biofilms. Nonetheless, 78 studies were classified as potentially included regarding any association of Acanthamoeba spp. and biofilms. These studies were allocated across six different locations (hospital, aquatic, ophthalmic and dental environments, biofilms produced by bacteria, and other places). Acanthamoeba species use biofilms produced by other microorganisms for their benefit, in addition to them providing protection to and facilitating the dissemination of pathogens residing in them.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel – CAPES, Ministry of Education, Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo Hospital, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669 - Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04039-032, Brazil
Larissa Fagundes Pinto, Ana Luisa Hofling-Lima & Denise Freitas
Research and Extension Center, Medical Course At the Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará, UEPA Belém, Belém, PA, Brazil
Brenda Nazaré Gomes Andriolo

Authors

Larissa Fagundes Pinto
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Brenda Nazaré Gomes Andriolo
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Ana Luisa Hofling-Lima
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Denise Freitas
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L.F.P. wrote the paper and supplementary materials, designed the figures, and analyzed the data; B.N.G.A. designed the review, analyzed the data, and critically reviewed the paper; D.F. analyzed the data and critically reviewed the paper; A.L.H.L. critically reviewed the paper.

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Correspondence to Denise Freitas.

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Pinto, L.F., Andriolo, B.N.G., Hofling-Lima, A.L. et al. The role of Acanthamoeba spp. in biofilm communities: a systematic review. Parasitol Res 120, 2717–2729 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-021-07240-6

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Received: 29 December 2020
Accepted: 01 July 2021
Published: 22 July 2021
Issue Date: August 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-021-07240-6

Keywords

Acanthamoeba
Amoeba
Biofilm
Infection
Pathogens
Protozoa