Isolation of Acanthamoeba Species and Bacterial Symbiont Variability in Puna Salt Plains, Argentina

Ronnie Mooney, Kiri Rodgers, Sandro Carnicelli, Matías E. Carnevale, Maria Eugenia Farias, Fiona L. Henriquez*

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Acanthamoeba spp. are widespread protists that feed on bacteria via phagocytosis. This predation pressure has led many bacteria to evolve strategies to resist and survive inside these protists. The impact of this is not well understood, but it may limit detection and allow survival in extreme environments. Three sites in the Puna salt plains, Catamarca province, Argentina, were sampled for Acanthamoeba spp., verified using PCR and Sanger sequencing. The intracellular microbiome was analysed with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and compared to the overall site microbiome. Acanthamoeba were found at all locations, and their intracellular microbiome was similar across samples but differed from the overall site microbiome. Pseudomonas spp., a clinically relevant genus, was most abundant in all isolates. This study suggests Acanthamoeba can protect bacteria, aiding their detection avoidance and survival in harsh conditions.
Original languageEnglish
Article number70059
Number of pages10
JournalEnvironmental Microbiology Reports
Volume17
Issue number1
Early online date14 Dec 2024
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 14 Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Acanthamoeba
  • microbiome
  • intracellular
  • symbiosis

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