{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T02:27:49Z","timestamp":1760149669132,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,16]],"date-time":"2023-08-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1692144000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Acanthamoeba spp. is the etiological agent of amoebic keratitis. In this study, the effect of taurine in physiological concentrations in tears (195 \u03bcM) on trophozoites of Acanthamoeba castellanii through the ex vivo amoebic keratitis model was evaluated. Trophozoites were coincubated with the Syrian golden hamster cornea (Mesocricetus auratus) for 3 and 6 h. Group 1: Control (\u2212). Corneas coincubated with amoebic culture medium and taurine. Group 2: Control (+). Corneas coincubated with trophozoites without taurine. Group 3: Corneas coincubated with taurine 15 min before adding trophozoites. Group 4: Trophozoites coincubated 15 min with taurine before placing them on the cornea. Group 5: Corneas coincubated for 15 min with trophozoites; subsequently, taurine was added. Results are similar for both times, as evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. As expected, in the corneas of Group 1, no alterations were observed in the corneal epithelium. In the corneas of Group 2, few adhered trophozoites were observed on the corneal surface initiating migrations through cell junctions as previously described; however, in corneas of Groups 3, 4 and 5, abundant trophozoites were observed, penetrating through different corneal cell areas, emitting food cups and destabilizing corneal surface in areas far from cell junctions. Significant differences were confirmed in trophozoites adherence coincubated with taurine (p &lt; 0.05). Taurine does not prevent the adhesion and invasion of the amoebae, nor does it favor its detachment once these have adhered to the cornea, suggesting that taurine in the physiological concentrations found in tears stimulates pathogenic mechanisms of A. castellanii.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens12081049","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,16]],"date-time":"2023-08-16T10:08:09Z","timestamp":1692180489000},"page":"1049","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Taurine, a Component of the Tear Film, Exacerbates the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Acanthamoeba castellanii in the Ex Vivo Amoebic Keratitis Model"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4172-7153","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lizbeth","family":"Salazar-Villatoro","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Infect\u00f3mica y Patog\u00e9nesis Molecular, Centro de Investigaci\u00f3n y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Ciudad de Mexico 07360, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Bibiana","family":"Ch\u00e1vez-Mungu\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Infect\u00f3mica y Patog\u00e9nesis Molecular, Centro de Investigaci\u00f3n y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Ciudad de Mexico 07360, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Celia Esther","family":"Guevara-Estrada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratorio de amibas Anfiz\u00f3icas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Aut\u00f3noma de M\u00e9xico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Anel","family":"Lagunes-Guill\u00e9n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Infect\u00f3mica y Patog\u00e9nesis Molecular, Centro de Investigaci\u00f3n y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Ciudad de Mexico 07360, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dolores","family":"Hern\u00e1ndez-Mart\u00ednez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratorio de amibas Anfiz\u00f3icas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Aut\u00f3noma de M\u00e9xico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0181-5821","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ismael","family":"Castelan-Ram\u00edrez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratorio de amibas Anfiz\u00f3icas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Aut\u00f3noma de M\u00e9xico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5881-4638","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maritza","family":"Oma\u00f1a-Molina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratorio de amibas Anfiz\u00f3icas, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Aut\u00f3noma de M\u00e9xico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1051\/parasite\/2015010","article-title":"An update on Acanthamoeba keratitis: Diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment","volume":"22","author":"Khan","year":"2015","journal-title":"Parasite"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"299","article-title":"Amoebas from the genus Acanthamoeba and their pathogenic properties","volume":"64","author":"Kot","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ann. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1586\/14787210.1.2.205","article-title":"Treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis","volume":"1","author":"Seal","year":"2003","journal-title":"Expert Rev. Anti-Infect. Ther."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pt.2006.02.004","article-title":"The pathophysiology of Acanthamoeba keratitis","volume":"22","author":"Clarke","year":"2006","journal-title":"Trends Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1574-695X.2007.00232.x","article-title":"Pathogenic and opportunistic free-living amoebae: Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri, and Sappinia diploidea","volume":"50","author":"Visvesvara","year":"2007","journal-title":"FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"461329","article-title":"Reevaluating the role of Acanthamoeba proteases in tissue invasion: Observation of cytopathogenic mechanisms on MDCK cell monolayers and hamster corneal cells","volume":"2013","author":"Cruz","year":"2013","journal-title":"Biomed Res. Int."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exppara.2010.02.004","article-title":"Acanthamoeba castellanii: Morphological analysis of the interaction with human cornea","volume":"126","year":"2010","journal-title":"Exp. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exppara.2006.02.023","article-title":"Acanthamoeba castellanii: Structural basis of the cytopathic mechanisms","volume":"114","author":"Bonilla","year":"2006","journal-title":"Exp. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3245","DOI":"10.1128\/IAI.72.6.3245-3251.2004","article-title":"Induction of morphological and electrophysiological changes in hamster cornea after in vitro interaction with trophozoites of Acanthamoeba spp.","volume":"72","author":"Tsutsumi","year":"2004","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biochi.2008.07.007","article-title":"Role of lactoferrin in the tear film","volume":"91","author":"Flanagan","year":"2009","journal-title":"Biochimie"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7580.2005.00394.x","article-title":"The role of eye-associated lymphoid tissue in corneal immune protection","volume":"206","author":"Knop","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Anat."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"348","DOI":"10.1001\/archophthalmol.2007.74","article-title":"Effect of human tears on Acanthamoeba-induced cytopathic effect","volume":"126","author":"Cao","year":"2008","journal-title":"Arch. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.16.2.273-307.2003","article-title":"Acanthamoeba spp. as agents of disease in humans","volume":"16","author":"Cabral","year":"2003","journal-title":"Clin. Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.1139\/w04-057","article-title":"Human IgA inhibits adherence of Acanthamoeba polyphaga to epithelial cells and contact lenses","volume":"50","year":"2004","journal-title":"Can. J. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1139\/bcb-2016-0054","article-title":"Effects of lactoferrin on the viability and the encystment of Acanthamoeba trophozoites","volume":"95","author":"Tomita","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biochem. Cell. Biol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijmm.2007.05.010","article-title":"Role of human tear fluid in Acanthamoeba interactions with the human corneal epithelial cells","volume":"298","author":"Alsam","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int. J. Med. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"799","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajo.2010.11.003","article-title":"Amino Acid profiles in human tear fluids analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry","volume":"151","author":"Nakatsukasa","year":"2011","journal-title":"Am. J. Ophthalmol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"R1046","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpregu.00072.2007","article-title":"Restriction of sulfur-containing amino acids alters claudin composition and improves tight junction barrier function","volume":"293","author":"Skrovanek","year":"2007","journal-title":"Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"2673","article-title":"Review: Taurine: A \u201cvery essential\u201d amino acid","volume":"18","author":"Ripps","year":"2012","journal-title":"Mol. Vis."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.1089\/jop.2017.0008","article-title":"Antioxidant and Osmoprotecting Activity of Taurine in Dry Eye Models","volume":"34","author":"Bucolo","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Ocul. Pharmacol. Ther."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejphar.2016.04.029","article-title":"Free amino acids: An innovative treatment for ocular surface disease","volume":"787","author":"Rusciano","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur. J. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"108245","article-title":"Acanthamoeba castellanii: Effect of neuroactive substances on trophozoite migration","volume":"236\u2013237","year":"2022","journal-title":"Exp. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Page, F.C. (1988). Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa, Freshwater Biological Association."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"873","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-015-4821-4","article-title":"Acanthamoeba genotypes T3 and T4 as causative agents of amoebic keratitis in Mexico","volume":"115","year":"2016","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"185","article-title":"Experimental infection of mice and monkeys by Acanthamoeba","volume":"35","author":"Culbertson","year":"1959","journal-title":"Am. J. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"431","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00932382","article-title":"The effect of the passages of Acanthamoeba strains through mice tissues on their virulence and its biochemical markers","volume":"80","author":"Mazur","year":"1994","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"257","DOI":"10.3347\/kjp.1999.37.4.257","article-title":"Upregulated expression of the cDNA fragment possibly related to the virulence of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni","volume":"37","author":"Im","year":"1999","journal-title":"Korean J. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3271","DOI":"10.1002\/jssc.201500546","article-title":"Determination of taurine in human tear fluid by capillary electrophoresis with indirect amperometric detection based on electrogenerated bromine","volume":"38","author":"Du","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Sep. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exppara.2017.09.018","article-title":"Acanthamoeba culbertsoni isolated from a clinical case with intraocular dissemination: Structure and in vitro analysis of the interaction with hamster cornea and MDCK epithelial cell monolayers","volume":"183","year":"2017","journal-title":"Exp. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1186\/1756-3305-5-6","article-title":"Biology and pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba","volume":"5","author":"Siddiqui","year":"2012","journal-title":"Parasit. Vectors"},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Percival, S.L., Yates, M.V., Chalmers, R.M., and Gray, N.F. (2014). Microbiology of Waterborne Diseases, Academic Press."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1006\/expr.1999.4417","article-title":"Acanthamoeba castellanii: Characterization of an adhesin molecule","volume":"92","author":"Kennett","year":"1999","journal-title":"Exp. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5775","DOI":"10.1128\/IAI.73.9.5775-5781.2005","article-title":"Biochemical characterization and functional studies of Acanthamoeba mannose-binding protein","volume":"73","author":"Garate","year":"2005","journal-title":"Infect. Immun."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"625","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-017-2547-0","article-title":"Acanthamoeba-mediated cytopathic effect correlates with MBP and AhLBP mRNA expression","volume":"10","author":"Ng","year":"2017","journal-title":"Parasit. Vectors"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S18","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1550-7408.2006.00159.x","article-title":"Relationship between adhesion and cytopathic effect of four strains of Acanthamoeba spp.","volume":"53","author":"Bonilla","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Eukaryot. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"256310","article-title":"Morphological Features and In Vitro Cytopathic Effect of Acanthamoeba griffini Trophozoites Isolated from a Clinical Case","volume":"2014","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"508","DOI":"10.1002\/jcp.1041450317","article-title":"Phagocytosis in Acanthamoeba: I. A mannose receptor is responsible for the binding and phagocytosis of yeast","volume":"145","author":"Allen","year":"1990","journal-title":"J. Cell. Physiol."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"150","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1550-7408.1996.tb04496.x","article-title":"Chemosensory responses of Acanthamoeba castellanii: Visual analysis of random movement and responses to chemical signals","volume":"43","author":"Schuster","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Eukaryot. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"769","DOI":"10.2307\/3283890","article-title":"In vitro destruction of nerve cell cultures by Acanthamoeba spp.: A transmission and scanning electron microscopy study","volume":"82","author":"Pettit","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1550-7408.1985.tb03033.x","article-title":"Structural bases of the cytolytic mechanisms of Entamoeba histolytica","volume":"32","author":"Orozco","year":"1985","journal-title":"J. Protozool."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1133","DOI":"10.1128\/aem.51.5.1133-1137.1986","article-title":"Cytopathology of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Naegleria species for cultured rat neuroblastoma cells","volume":"51","author":"Fulford","year":"1986","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"366","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtos.2017.03.006","article-title":"TFOS DEWS II Tear Film Report","volume":"15","author":"Willcox","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ocul. Surf."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"470","DOI":"10.1128\/AAC.00715-07","article-title":"Cytotoxic activity of N-chlorotaurine on Acanthamoeba spp.","volume":"52","author":"Nagl","year":"2008","journal-title":"Antimicrob. Agents Chemother."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1011","DOI":"10.1097\/ICO.0000000000001927","article-title":"N-chlorotaurine Inactivates Acanthamoeba and Candida albicans in the Porcine Ex Vivo Corneal Infection Model","volume":"38","author":"Teuchner","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cornea"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1016\/0020-7519(91)90041-5","article-title":"Sucker-like structures in two strains of Acanthamoeba: Scanning electron microscopy study","volume":"21","author":"Diaz","year":"1991","journal-title":"Int. J. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"564","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1574-6976.2006.00023.x","article-title":"Acanthamoeba: Biology and increasing importance in human health","volume":"30","author":"Khan","year":"2006","journal-title":"FEMS Microbiol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"369","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exppara.2013.01.011","article-title":"Acanthamoeba royreba: Morphological features and in vitro cytopathic effect","volume":"133","year":"2013","journal-title":"Exp. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Castelan-Ram\u00edrez, I., Salazar-Villatoro, L., Ch\u00e1vez-Mungu\u00eda, B., Salinas-Lara, C., S\u00e1nchez-Garibay, C., Flores-Maldonado, C., Hern\u00e1ndez-Mart\u00ednez, D., Anaya-Mart\u00ednez, V., \u00c1vila-Costa, M.R., and M\u00e9ndez-Cruz, A.R. (2020). Schwann Cell Autophagy and Necrosis as Mechanisms of Cell Death by Acanthamoeba. Pathogens, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens9060458"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"744","DOI":"10.1093\/cercor\/11.8.744","article-title":"GABA(B) receptors mediate motility signals for migrating embryonic cortical cells","volume":"11","author":"Behar","year":"2001","journal-title":"Cereb. Cortex"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20866","DOI":"10.1038\/srep20866","article-title":"Identification of a Vibrio cholerae chemoreceptor that senses taurine and amino acids as attractants","volume":"6","author":"Nishiyama","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"807","DOI":"10.1099\/jmm.0.45636-0","article-title":"Chemotactic response of Helicobacter pylori to human plasma and bile","volume":"53","author":"Worku","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Med. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1080\/10799893.2016.1217884","article-title":"Correction to: Evidence of a M1-muscarinic GPCR homolog in unicellular eukaryotes: Featuring Acanthamoeba spp. bioinformatics 3D-modelling and experimentations","volume":"37","author":"Baig","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Recept. Signal. Transduct. Res."}],"container-title":["Pathogens"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0817\/12\/8\/1049\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T20:35:16Z","timestamp":1760128516000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0817\/12\/8\/1049"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,16]]},"references-count":52,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8]]}},"alternative-id":["pathogens12081049"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/pathogens12081049","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-0817"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2076-0817"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,16]]}}}