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Infection and Immunity, September 2005, p. 5775-5781, Vol. 73, No. 9
0019-9567/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.73.9.5775-5781.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Biochemical Characterization and Functional Studies of Acanthamoeba Mannose-Binding Protein

Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Vision Research and the New England Eye Center,¹ Departments of Biochemistry,² Anatomy and Cell Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111³

Received 6 February 2005/ Returned for modification 7 March 2005/ Accepted 15 April 2005

Acanthamoebae produce a painful, sight-threatening corneal infection. The adhesion of parasites to the host cells is a critical first step in the pathogenesis of infection. Subsequent to adhesion, the parasites produce a potent cytopathic effect (CPE) leading to target cell death. Recent studies showing that acanthamoebae express a mannose-binding protein (MBP) and that free -mannose (-Man) specifically inhibits the adhesion of parasites to host cells suggest that the MBP plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba infection by mediating host-parasite interactions. However, direct evidence showing that Acanthamoeba MBP is a virulence protein has been lacking. In this study, we demonstrate that the polyclonal immunoglobulin Y (IgY) antibodies prepared against affinity-purified Acanthamoeba MBP markedly inhibit the adhesion of parasites to host cells. The antibody also inhibited the Acanthamoeba-induced CPE on host cells. In contrast, preimmune IgY did not influence either the adhesion of the parasites to host cells or the amoeba-induced CPE. Using a variety of approaches, including affinity chromatography on an -Man gel, electrophoresis under native and denaturing conditions, biotinylation of cell surface proteins, and immunostaining, it was conclusively established that Acanthamoeba MBP is located on the surface membranes of the parasites. Neutral-sugar analysis and lectin binding experiments using succinylated concanavalin A, a plant lectin with high affinity for mannose, revealed that Acanthamoeba MBP is itself a mannose-containing glycoprotein. N-Glycanase treatment to remove N-linked oligosaccharides shifted the subunit molecular mass of MBP from 130 kDa to 110 kDa. Hexosamine analysis revealed that Acanthamoeba MBP lacks detectable levels of GalNAc, suggesting the absence of O-linked oligosaccharides. In summary, we have characterized Acanthamoeba MBP and have shown that it is a major virulence protein responsible for host-parasite interactions and the parasite-induced target cell destruction.

Editor: W. A. Petri, Jr.

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