High oxygen concentrations inhibit Acanthamoeba spp.
Date
2021Abstract
Efficacious treatments against Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) is challenging, often ineffective and linked to the intragenotype
variation in the drug efficacy. Increased oxygen can facilitate host response and can inhibit some organisms. Herein, we
report the effect of increased oxygen concentrations on Acanthamoeba spp. growth and its effect on ROS (reactive oxygen
species) production. The exposition to pure oxygen could reduce cell growth by at least 60% for Acanthamoeba castellanii
Neff, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, and Acanthamoeba griffini. The increase in ROS production confirming that oxygen cell’s
growth inhibition was due to oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to determine oxygen saturation level, time of oxygen
exposition, and number of sessions needed to eliminate the parasite.