English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Background  The reservoir and mode of transmission of  Mycobacterium ulcerans , the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, remain unknown. Ecological, genetic and epidemiological information nonetheless suggests that  M. ulcerans  may reside in aquatic protozoa.    Methodology/Principal Findings  We experimentally infected  Acanthamoeba polyphaga  with  M. ulcerans  and found that the bacilli were phagocytised, not digested and remained viable for the duration of the experiment. Furthermore, we collected 13 water, 90 biofilm and 45 detritus samples in both Buruli ulcer endemic and non-endemic communities in Ghana, from which we cultivated amoeboid protozoa and mycobacteria.  M. ulcerans  was not isolated, but other mycobacteria were as frequently isolated from intracellular as from extracellular sources, suggesting that they commonly infect amoebae in nature. We screened the samples as well as the amoeba cultures for the  M. ulcerans  markers IS 2404 , IS 2606  and KR-B. IS 2404  was detected in 2% of the environmental samples and in 4% of the amoeba cultures. The IS 2404  positive amoeba cultures included up to 5 different protozoan species, and originated both from Buruli ulcer endemic and non-endemic communities.    Conclusions/Significance  This is the first report of experimental infection of amoebae with  M. ulcerans  and of the detection of the marker IS 2404  in amoeba cultures isolated from the environment. We conclude that amoeba are potential natural hosts for  M. ulcerans , yet remain sceptical about their implication in the transmission of  M. ulcerans  to humans and their importance in the epidemiology of Buruli ulcer.

Amoebae as Potential Environmental Hosts for Mycobacterium ulcerans and Other Mycobacteria, but Doubtful Actors in Buruli Ulcer Epidemiology