A. castellanii and P. aeruginosa mutually exacerbate damage to corneal cells during coinfection

At the National Cheng Kung University Hospital, numerous cases of amoebic keratitis had been identified with concurrent bacterial infections. Among these bacterial coinfections, accounted for 50% of the reported cases. However, the impact of pathogenic bacteria on amoeba-induced corneal damage remains unclear. In our study, we successfully demonstrated that accumulated on the surface and caused more severe corneal damage. We also indicated that the exposure of to amoeba-soluble antigens enhanced its adhesion ability, promoted biofilm formation, and led to more severe corneal cell damage. These findings significantly contributed to our understanding of the risk associated with coinfection in the progression of amoeba keratitis.