Post-mortem culture of Balamuthia mandrillaris from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of a case of granulomatous amoebic meningoencephalitis, using human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Journal of medical microbiology. [J Med Microbiol] Journal article | | Title | Post-mortem culture of Balamuthia mandrillaris from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of a case of granulomatous amoebic meningoencephalitis, using human brain microvascular endothelial cells. | | Author(s) | Jayasekera S, Sissons J, Tucker J, Rogers C, Nolder D, Warhurst D, Alsam S, White JM, Higgins EM, Khan NA | | Institution | School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Birkbeck College University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UK. | | Source | J Med Microbiol 2004 Oct; 53(Pt 10):1007-12. | | MeSH | Amebiasis
Amoeba
Animals
Blood-Brain Barrier
Brain
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Endothelial Cells
Granuloma
Humans
Papio
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
| | Abstract | The first isolation in the UK of Balamuthia mandrillaris amoebae from a fatal case of granulomatous amoebic meningoencephalitis is reported. Using primary cultures of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), amoebae were isolated from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The cultures showed a cytopathic effect at 20-28 days, but morphologically identifiable B. mandrillaris amoebae were seen in cleared plaques in subcultures at 45 days. The identification of the organism was later confirmed using PCR on Chelex-treated extracts. Serum taken while the patient was still alive reacted strongly with slide antigen prepared from cultures of the post-mortem isolate, and also with those from a baboon B. mandrillaris strain at 1:10,000 in indirect immunofluorescence, but with Acanthamoeba castellanii (Neff) at 1:160, supporting B. mandrillaris to be the causative agent. If the presence of amoebae in the post-mortem CSF reflects the condition in life, PCR studies on CSF and on biopsies of cutaneous lesions may also be a valuable tool. The role of HBMECs in understanding the interactions of B. mandrillaris with the blood-brain barrier is discussed. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 15358823 |
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