RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 RNA interference (RNAi) for the silencing of extracellular serine proteases genes in Acanthamoeba: molecular analysis and effect on pathogenicity. A1 Ortega Rivas, Antonio A1 Lorenzo Morales, Jacob A1 Foronda, Pilar A1 Abreu Acosta, Néstor A1 Ballart, David A1 Martínez Carretero, Enrique A1 Valladares Hernández, Basilio A2 Didácticas Específicas A2 Instituto de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias K1 Acanthamoeba K1 RNAi K1 Pathogenecity K1 Serine protease AB Silencing of extracellular serine protease genes was undertaken by interference RNA (RNAi). Chemically synthesized, small interfering RNA (siRNA) were highly specific and efficient in silencing the catalytic domain of extracellular serine proteases of Acanthamoeba. In order to confirmthe silencing phenomenon, the extracellular serine protease activities in RNAi-treated parasites were compared to non-treated parasites, usingzymographyprofiles,Acanthamoeba-conditionedmedium(ACM)proteaseactivity,cytotoxicityassaysandextracellularserine protease mRNA levels analysis. Zymography profiles showed a decrease in the extracellular protease levels in the moderate pathogenic and pathogenic strains, after treatment with siRNA. These results were supported after the ACM protease activity and CPE assays were performed in all studied isolates, showing a lower protease activity or cytotoxicity both in the pathogenic and moderate pathogenic strains treated with RNAi. These results support that extracellular serine proteases are directly involved in the pathogenesis and virulence of Acanthamoeba. YR 2005 FD 2005 LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/38858 UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/38858 LA en DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna RD 27-dic-2024