Acanthamoeba News and Research

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Acanthamoeba is a genus of opportunistic protozoan amebic species widely distributed in nature. Furthermore, it is part of a broader family of free-living amebae that can autonomously survive in the environment, but can also parasitize in human, the host, and result in serious infections.

Study finds high levels of enteric pathogens in children from Alabama's rural areas, highlights sanitation issues

The study reveals a significant presence of enteric pathogens in children from Alabama's Black Belt region, linking well water consumption to increased pathogen detection and underscoring the need for improved sanitation infrastructure.

19 Nov 2023

New drug candidate found to be highly effective in treating rare sight-threatening eye infection

A drug candidate, based on pioneering UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital research and currently under development by SIFI S.p.A., has been found to be highly effective in treating a rare sight-threatening eye infection in a new international clinical trial.

26 Oct 2023

IRIS Registry presents latest eye research at AAO 2022

The IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) powered several big data studies this year, most of which will be presented and discussed at AAO 2022 Gather, the 126th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

30 Sep 2022

People wearing reusable contact lenses more likely to develop rare sight-threatening eye infection

People who wear reusable contact lenses are nearly four times as likely as those wearing daily disposables to develop a rare sight-threatening eye infection, finds a study led by UCL and Moorfields researchers.

23 Sep 2022

Disease-causing amoebas that live on organic leafy vegetables could be a threat to public health

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Lisbon, Portugal (23-26 April), suggests that disease-causing amoebas that live on organic leafy vegetables can shelter human pathogens like Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Helicobacter and are a potential risk to public health.

23 Apr 2022

How SARS-CoV-2 enters the central nervous system

The central nervous system (CNS) is highly protected in the human body. Yet, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) invades the CNS, causing profound clinical complications. How is the CNS involved in a respiratory virus infection?

15 Feb 2021

Fight for Sight poll: Brits put their eyesight at risk through unsafe contact lens habits

Poll results released today by charity Fight for Sight highlight that many Brits are frequently putting their eyesight at risk through unsafe contact lens habits, unaware that these could lead to a painful and sight-threatening eye infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis.

10 Jul 2019

Silver nanoparticles coated with anti-seizure drugs can kill brain-eating amoebae

Halloween is just around the corner, and some people will celebrate by watching scary movies about brain-eating zombies.

24 Oct 2018

New outbreak of rare eye disease identified in contact lens wearers

A new outbreak of a rare but preventable eye infection that can cause blindness, has been identified in contact lens wearers in a new study led by UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital researchers.

21 Sep 2018

Fraunhofer researchers pursue gentle approach to treat microbial keratitis

Microbial infections of the cornea can have serious consequences, including blindness in the worst case. The treatment of keratitis, a condition caused by certain pathogens, always presents major challenges to ophthalmologists.

1 Mar 2018

Waterborne disease outbreaks can be traced to plumbing systems in buildings

Traditional water treatment efforts have focused on water leaving the treatment plant, but a large number of recent waterborne disease outbreaks in the U.S. can be traced to plumbing systems in buildings.

9 Nov 2017

UAB optometrist offers tips to keep eyes healthy during summer months

While the warm summer months are perfect for spending time outside, several environmental factors can spell trouble for eyesight. One University of Alabama at Birmingham optometrist says knowledge of what to do, and what not to do, will keep eyes healthy.

26 Jun 2015

New contact lens microbiology workshop aims at preventing Acanthamoeba keratitis

The American Academy of Ophthalmology today announced a contact lens microbiology workshop on Sept. 12 aimed at preventing Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare infection among contact lens wearers that causes severe eye pain, redness, light sensitivity and potential vision loss.

18 Aug 2014

FDA clears Abbott's RevitaLens Ocutec contact lens disinfecting solution

Abbott has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) market clearance for RevitaLens Ocutec™, a unique next-generation multi-purpose disinfecting solution for silicone hydrogel and conventional soft contact lenses.

30 Sep 2010

Study reveals how galectin-3 carbohydrate-binding protein promotes angiogenesis

A new study describes how a carbohydrate-binding protein, galectin-3, promotes angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels. Targeting the protein, scientists identified two approaches that significantly reduced angiogenesis in mice. These discoveries, published online August 16 in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, may lead to novel treatments for diseases caused by excessive angiogenesis, including age-related macular degeneration, cancer, and diabetes.

16 Aug 2010

Court certifies class action lawsuit against Abbott Medical Optics

An Orange County Superior Court Judge has certified a class action against Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., on behalf of all California consumers who purchased a contact lens solution the Centers for Disease Control have linked to a parasitic infection that can cause blindness or the complete loss of an eye.

16 Nov 2009

UT Southwestern ophthalmologist receives 2009 Castroviejo Medal

Dr. H. Dwight Cavanagh, vice chairman of ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been named the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Castroviejo Medal, one of the top ophthalmology prizes in the world.

30 Oct 2009

A virus-infecting virus

Using the Genome Sequencer System from 454 Life Sciences, a Roche company, French scientists have identified a small virus that can actually be parasitic to a larger one.

7 Nov 2008

Contact lenses are home to pathogenic amoebae

Contact lenses increase the risk of infection with pathogenic protozoa that can cause blindness. New research, published in the November issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology, shows that a high percentage of contact lens cases in Tenerife are contaminated with Acanthamoeba that cannot be killed by normal contact lens solution.

20 Oct 2008

Contact lens solution linked to Acanthamoeba keratitis

The use of a particular contact lens solution has a strong association with Acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare severe eye infection, report researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago in a study published online this week by the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

17 Jun 2007