Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
University of La Laguna, Spain
Title: Free-living Amoebae infections: Emerging pathogens under the radar
Biography
Biography: Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
Abstract
Free-Living amoebae present a few genera that are able to act as opportunistic pathogens and have been recognized as causative agents of Lethal Encephalitis and Amoebic Keratitis. Among them Naegleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba species infection cases are dramatically rising worldwide. No standardized diagnostic tools and a lack of fully effective anti-amoebic Agents are of high concern. Regarding therapy against these amoebae, the existence of a highly resistant cyst stage in the amoebic life cycle is the main obstacle in the development of fully effective therapeutic agents. In this speech, the experience and most interesting cases gathered in our laboratory in TB recent years regarding diagnosis and treatment are presented.
