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Communication

Molecular Typing of Acanthamoeba Using Mitochondrial rDNA Spacers

CHLAREAS,12, rue du Maconnais, 54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
Microorganisms 2025, 13(10), 2285; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102285
Submission received: 18 August 2025 / Revised: 9 September 2025 / Accepted: 26 September 2025 / Published: 30 September 2025

Abstract

Acanthamoeba is a widespread free-living amoeba known as an opportunistic parasite of humans and other animals. It comprises several species, whose characterisation relies currently on the analysis of 18S rDNA sequences, recognising more than twenty genotypes; however, the distinction between closely related lineages remains unclear. In this study, the spacer region between the mitochondrial large and small subunits of rRNA genes was analysed for its usefulness as a marker for molecular typing. Previous studies have shown that the mitochondrial spacer contains a group of five transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and that its length and sequence vary considerably between strains. A total of forty-two mitochondrial spacers were examined here, including twenty-five newly recovered sequences, from ten genotypes covering the three morphological groups of Acanthamoeba. The results showed that lineage-specific profiles can be defined for morphological groups 2 and 3 species (MG2 and MG3), with phylogenetic analysis consistent with that of rDNA, allowing for strain identification at the subtype level. In addition, morphological group 1 (MG1) species have a different tRNA gene arrangement distinguishing them from the others. Mitochondrial spacers therefore appear to be promising phylogenetic markers for the molecular typing of Acanthamoeba.
Keywords: Acanthamoeba; genotype; molecular typing; mitochondrial DNA; mitochondrial spacer; tRNA Acanthamoeba; genotype; molecular typing; mitochondrial DNA; mitochondrial spacer; tRNA

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MDPI and ACS Style

Corsaro, D. Molecular Typing of Acanthamoeba Using Mitochondrial rDNA Spacers. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 2285. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102285

AMA Style

Corsaro D. Molecular Typing of Acanthamoeba Using Mitochondrial rDNA Spacers. Microorganisms. 2025; 13(10):2285. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102285

Chicago/Turabian Style

Corsaro, Daniele. 2025. "Molecular Typing of Acanthamoeba Using Mitochondrial rDNA Spacers" Microorganisms 13, no. 10: 2285. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102285

APA Style

Corsaro, D. (2025). Molecular Typing of Acanthamoeba Using Mitochondrial rDNA Spacers. Microorganisms, 13(10), 2285. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102285

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