Acanthamoeba castellaniiPromotion of In Vitro Survival and Transmission of Coxsackie B3 Viruses

Abstract

This work was undertaken to determine whetherAcanthamoebacould play a role in the survival and transmission of coxsackieviruses and focused on in vitro interactions betweenAcanthamoeba castellaniiand coxsackie B3 viruses (CVB-3). Residual virus titer evaluations and immunofluorescence experiments revealed a remarkable CVB-3 adsorption on amoeba surfaces and accumulation inside cells. The survival of viruses was independent of the dynamics of amoeba replication and encystment. In addition, our results indicated that virus-infected amoebas can release infectious viruses during interaction with human macrophages. On the basis of these data,Acanthamoebaappears to be a potential promoter of the survival of coxsackieviruses and their transmission to human hosts.