Characterization of a cell communication mechanism in amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba in response to infection by the giant Tupanvirus

• Grant number: 24/19249-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Victor de Miranda Boratto
• Grantee: Paulo Victor de Miranda Boratto
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Amoebae are among the oldest eukaryotes on our planet, equipped with unique survival strategies in response to adverse conditions, such as extreme temperature variations, nutrient deprivation, and parasitic infections. Studies on primitive eukaryotes can provide new insights into the evolutionary origins of defense strategies in eukaryotic cells. Amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba are ubiquitous and play important ecological roles, such as controlling microbial populations and recycling organic matter in the soil, as well as contributing to the etiology of encephalitis and keratitis in humans. Importantly, amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba can be infected and maintain a complex interaction with giant viruses.In previous studies, we characterized a defense strategy in which amoebae artificially induced to encyst were refractory to giant virus infection. However, if they were infected before this stimulus, the viruses reversed the resistance phenotype, leading to the massive production of viral particles. The chronological aspect of the relationship between these organisms leads us to hypothesize the existence of a cell communication mechanism among these amoebae, capable of providing a temporal advantage in mounting an escape response against giant virus attacks. Thus, in this study, we aim to identify and characterize cell communication mechanisms among Acanthamoeba in response to infection by tupanviruses (TPV). To achieve this, we will initially treat amoeba cultures with conditioned medium from cells previously infected by TPV. These samples will be used in various biological assays, gene expression assays related to encystment, observation of cellular morphology through transmission electron microscopy, as well as metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses.We expect to identify new defense mechanisms in eukaryotes, with direct implications for understanding viral infections and proposing strategies for treating infectious diseases. Considering the ecological role of Acanthamoeba, we aim to contribute new knowledge regarding the biology and ecological significance of the interactions between amoebae and giant viruses. (AU)