Antimicrobial Agent Targets in Acanthamoeba - A treatment for contact-lens induced infection
Through improper storage, handling, and disinfection of contact lenses, Acanthamoeba, a microscopic amoeba, can enter the eye and cause severe ulcerations of the cornea - a condition called Acanthamoeba keratitis.
Current treatments are extremely cumbersome and often fail as Acanthamoeba can develop into cysts that are resistant to the drugs used to treat it. Even if successful, the damage to the eye can be so extensive that a cornea transplant is required. Moreover, the drug-resistant cysts remaining in the eye can re-infect the transplanted cornea.
In order to tackle these problems, researchers at the University of Strathclyde have identified a compound that can effectively treat and prevent the disease. The team have obtained evidence that by inhibiting a biological pathway, it is possible to restrict the growth of the parasite in vitro. Key Benefits
- Prevention and treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis
- Eliminates risk of re-infection
- Simple treatment
- Affordable
Applications
- Improved contact lens solutions for prevention of infection
- Improved drugs for treatment of infection
IP Status
The technology is protected by a patent application filed by the University of Strathclyde as GB0504998.6. Contact is welcomed from organisations interested in developing, licensing or exploiting this technology.
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