scholarly journals Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis by Naegleria fowleri: Pathogenesis and Treatments

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Güémez ◽  
Elisa García
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Naegleria Fowleri ◽  
Initial Exposure ◽  
Immunomodulatory Agents ◽  
Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Nægleria Fowleri ◽  
Amoebic Meningoencephalitis ◽  
The Brain

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba (FLA) that is commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba.” This parasite can invade the central nervous system (CNS), causing an acute and fulminating infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Even though PAM is characterized by low morbidity, it has shown a mortality rate of 98%, usually causing death in less than two weeks after the initial exposure. This review summarizes the most recent information about N. fowleri, its pathogenic molecular mechanisms, and the neuropathological processes implicated. Additionally, this review includes the main therapeutic strategies described in case reports and preclinical studies, including the possible use of immunomodulatory agents to decrease neurological damage.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Indolocarbazoles from Streptomyces sanyensis as a Novel Source of Therapeutic Agents against the Brain-Eating Amoeba Naegleria fowleri

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 789
Author(s):  
Aitor Rizo-Liendo ◽  
Ines Sifaoui ◽  
Luis Cartuche ◽  
Iñigo Arberas-Jiménez ◽  
María Reyes-Batlle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Ros Generation ◽  
Naegleria Fowleri ◽  
Lethal Infection ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Cell Membrane Disruption ◽  
Nægleria Fowleri ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogenic ◽  
Amoebic Meningoencephalitis ◽  
The Brain

Naegleria fowleri is an opportunistic pathogenic free-living amoeba which is able to rapidly colonize the central nervous system (CNS) and causes a lethal infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Furthermore, more than 98% of the known cases of PAM are fatal and affect mainly children under 12 and young adults. Until now, no fully effective therapeutic agents against N. fowleri are available and hence the urgent need to find novel agents to treat PAM. At present, PAM therapy is based on the combination of amphotericin B, miltefosine, among others, with unwanted toxic effects. Recently, our team isolated various indolocarbazoles (ICZs) from the culture of a mangrove strain of Streptomyces sanyensis which showed activity against kinetoplastids and the Acanthamoeba genus. Hence, in this study, the activity of the previously isolated ICZs, staurosporine (STS), 7-oxostaurosporine (7OSTS), 4′-demethylamino-4′-oxostaurosporine, and streptocarbazole B, was evaluated against two type strains of N. fowleri. Furthermore, the performed activity assays revealed that STS was the most active ICZ presenting an inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) of 0.08 ± 0.02 µM (SI 109.3). Moreover, STS induced programmed cell death (PCD) in the treated amoebae by triggering DNA condensation, mitochondrial disfunction, cell membrane disruption, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Therefore, STS could be a promising therapeutic agent against PAM.

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis with Naegleria fowleri: Clinical review

1996 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy D.P. Barnett ◽  
Allen M. Kaplan ◽  
Robert J. Hopkin ◽  
Michael A. Saubolle ◽  
Mark F. Rudinsky
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Review ◽  
Naegleria Fowleri ◽  
Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis ◽  
Nægleria Fowleri ◽  
Amoebic Meningoencephalitis

scholarly journals Naegleria fowleri: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 6677-6681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddie Grace ◽  
Scott Asbill ◽  
Kris Virga
Keyword(s):  
Case Reports ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Naegleria Fowleri ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Free Living Amoeba ◽  
Nægleria Fowleri ◽  
Amoebic Meningoencephalitis

ABSTRACTNaegleria fowlerihas generated tremendous media attention over the last 5 years due to several high-profile cases. Several of these cases were followed very closely by the general public.N. fowleriis a eukaryotic, free-living amoeba belonging to the phylum Percolozoa.Naegleriaamoebae are ubiquitous in the environment, being found in soil and bodies of freshwater, and feed on bacteria found in those locations. WhileN. fowleriinfection appears to be quite rare compared to other diseases, the clinical manifestations of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis are devastating and nearly always fatal. Due to the rarity ofN. fowleriinfections in humans, there are no clinical trials to date that assess the efficacy of one treatment regimen over another. Most of the information regarding medication efficacy is based on either case reports orin vitrostudies. This review will discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis, pharmacotherapy, and prevention ofN. fowleriinfections in humans, including a brief review of all survivor cases in North America.

scholarly journals Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Angrup ◽  
L Chandel ◽  
A Sood ◽  
K Thakur ◽  
SC Jaryal
Keyword(s):  
Naegleria Fowleri ◽  
Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis ◽  
Nægleria Fowleri ◽  
Amoebic Meningoencephalitis

scholarly journals Identification of Naegleria fowleri proteins linked to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis

Microbiology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 163 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Jamerson ◽  
Jacqueline A Schmoyer ◽  
Jay Park ◽  
Francine Marciano-Cabral ◽  
Guy A Cabral
Keyword(s):  
Naegleria Fowleri ◽  
Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis ◽  
Nægleria Fowleri ◽  
Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
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