

@article {8048,
	title = {{Acanthamoeba: could it be an environmental host of Shigella?}},
	journal = {Experimental Parasitology},
	volume = {115},
	number = {2},
	year = {2007},
	pages = {181{\textendash}186},
	abstract = {<p>Shigellosis is a serious public health problem in Korea, because large outbreaks of Shigella sonnei infections were recorded in many parts of the country during the period 1998-2000. However, the epidemiological features of shigellosis are not well known. In this study, we devised conditions suitable for the growth and replication of Shigella in an amoebic intracellular environment, and investigate whether medium conditions affect the survival and replication of Shigella within Acanthamoeba. We evaluated the uptake rates of invasive and non invasive S. sonnei strains by three Acanthamoeba species, namely, A. castellanii Neff, A. astronyxis Ray {\&amp;} Hayes, and A. healyi {\{}OC-3A.{\}} When A. castellanii Neff was infected with S. sonnei {\{}99OBS1{\}} or {\{}80DH248,{\}} shigellae was maintained for a longer time in cytoplasms than in other Acanthamoeba species. S. sonnei {\{}99OBS1{\}} strain (a virulent strain) was recovered in higher numbers than the non-virulent S. sonnei {\{}80DH248{\}} strain in all experiments. Moreover, S. sonnei was more easily engulfed by Acanthamoeba at 18 degrees C. The shigellae uptake rates of Neff strain, which was cultured in free-media (less nutrition), were higher ({\{}$\backslash$textgreater{\}}10-fold) than those observed in original amoeba culture media {\{}(PYG{\}} medium) in all time points. S. sonnei {\{}99OBS1{\}} was localized, with an intact membrane, to the vacuoles of Acanthamoeba. We conclude that free-living amoebae more likely act as environmental hosts for shigellae, and thus, may have contributed to outbreaks of shigellosis in Korea.</p>
},
	doi = {10.1016/j.exppara.2006.08.002},
	author = {Hae J Jeong and Eun S Jang and Byung I Han and Keun H Lee and Mee S Ock and Hyun H Kong and Chung, Dong Il and Seol, Sung Yong and Cho, Dong Taek and Yu, Hak Sun}
}
