Amoebae promote persistence of epidemic strains of MRSA

Sharon A. Huws; Anthony W. Smith; Mark C. Enright; Pauline J. Wood; Michael R. W. Brown

doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.00991.x

Amoebae promote persistence of epidemic strains of MRSA

Sharon A. Huws, Anthony W. Smith, Mark C. Enright, Pauline J. Wood, Michael R. W. Brown

Department of Life Sciences

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Abstract

The control of healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is of concern worldwide. Given the evidence that several pathogenic species replicate within amoebae and emerge more virulent and more resistant and the abundance of amoebae in healthcare settings, we investigated interactions of Acanthamoeba polyphaga with epidemic MRSA isolates. MRSA proliferated in the presence of amoebae, attributable partly to intracellular replication. Following 24 h of co-culture, confocal microscopy revealed that c. 50% amoebae had viable MRSA within phago-lysosomes and 2% of amoebae were heavily infected with viable cocci throughout the cytoplasm. Infection control strategies should recognize the contribution of protozoa.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1130-1133
Number of pages	4
Journal	Environmental Microbiology
Volume	8
Issue number	6
Early online date	16 Feb 2006
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.00991.x
Publication status	Published - Jun 2006

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title = "Amoebae promote persistence of epidemic strains of MRSA",

abstract = "The control of healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is of concern worldwide. Given the evidence that several pathogenic species replicate within amoebae and emerge more virulent and more resistant and the abundance of amoebae in healthcare settings, we investigated interactions of Acanthamoeba polyphaga with epidemic MRSA isolates. MRSA proliferated in the presence of amoebae, attributable partly to intracellular replication. Following 24 h of co-culture, confocal microscopy revealed that c. 50% amoebae had viable MRSA within phago-lysosomes and 2% of amoebae were heavily infected with viable cocci throughout the cytoplasm. Infection control strategies should recognize the contribution of protozoa.",

author = "Huws, {Sharon A.} and Smith, {Anthony W.} and Enright, {Mark C.} and Wood, {Pauline J.} and Brown, {Michael R. W.}",

note = "Huws, S. A., Smith, A. W., Enright, M. C., Wood, P. J., Brown, M. R. W. (2006). Amoebae promote persistence of epidemic strains of MRSA. Environmental Microbiology, 8, (6), 1130-1133. Sponsorship: Lord Dowding Trust for Humane Research / UK Department of Health",

year = "2006",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.00991.x",

language = "English",

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journal = "Environmental Microbiology",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Amoebae promote persistence of epidemic strains of MRSA

AU - Huws, Sharon A.

AU - Smith, Anthony W.

AU - Enright, Mark C.

AU - Wood, Pauline J.

AU - Brown, Michael R. W.

N1 - Huws, S. A., Smith, A. W., Enright, M. C., Wood, P. J., Brown, M. R. W. (2006). Amoebae promote persistence of epidemic strains of MRSA. Environmental Microbiology, 8, (6), 1130-1133. Sponsorship: Lord Dowding Trust for Humane Research / UK Department of Health

PY - 2006/6

Y1 - 2006/6

N2 - The control of healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is of concern worldwide. Given the evidence that several pathogenic species replicate within amoebae and emerge more virulent and more resistant and the abundance of amoebae in healthcare settings, we investigated interactions of Acanthamoeba polyphaga with epidemic MRSA isolates. MRSA proliferated in the presence of amoebae, attributable partly to intracellular replication. Following 24 h of co-culture, confocal microscopy revealed that c. 50% amoebae had viable MRSA within phago-lysosomes and 2% of amoebae were heavily infected with viable cocci throughout the cytoplasm. Infection control strategies should recognize the contribution of protozoa.

AB - The control of healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is of concern worldwide. Given the evidence that several pathogenic species replicate within amoebae and emerge more virulent and more resistant and the abundance of amoebae in healthcare settings, we investigated interactions of Acanthamoeba polyphaga with epidemic MRSA isolates. MRSA proliferated in the presence of amoebae, attributable partly to intracellular replication. Following 24 h of co-culture, confocal microscopy revealed that c. 50% amoebae had viable MRSA within phago-lysosomes and 2% of amoebae were heavily infected with viable cocci throughout the cytoplasm. Infection control strategies should recognize the contribution of protozoa.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.00991.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.00991.x

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VL - 8

SP - 1130

EP - 1133

JO - Environmental Microbiology

JF - Environmental Microbiology

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ER -

Amoebae promote persistence of epidemic strains of MRSA

Abstract

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