Summary
In this work we attained a successful cysticidal effect against Vahlkampfia hartmanni cysts using mild to moderate experimental conditions, regarding light energy delivered and concentrations of aluminium phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (AlPCS4). The dark and phototoxic activity of AlPCS4 towards the cyst forms of Vahlkampfia hartmanni, a freshwater amoeba previously isolated from keratitic patients, were tested. The photosensitized deactivation of the cyst form of this amoeba depends mainly on the concentration of AlPCS4 and the light fluence rate as well as the total fluence delivered during the irradiation process. Upon irradiation of the cyst suspension at 100 mW/cm2 for 10 minutes in the presence of 3 μ M AlPCS4, a complete photodamaging effect on the cysts was induced. The photodamaging effect on Vahlkampfia cysts induces a state of inability of the cysts to excyst, vacuolation of the inner contents as well as a significant damage of the outer cyst wall upon microscopic examination.
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Kassab, K., Al-Herrawy, A.Z. Photosensitized Inactivation of Cyst Forms of the Freshwater Amoeba Vahlkampfia hartmanni by Aluminium (III) Phthalocyanine Tetrasulfonate. Environmentalist 25, 13–18 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-005-3092-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-005-3092-5