Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40736175›Full record

ArticleInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science2025

Achromobacter in the Conjunctival Sac Microbiota: Potential Association With Acanthamoeba Keratitis Related to Orthokeratology Lenses.

Qingquan Shi, Zhenyu Wei, Jinding Pang, Ahyan Ilman Qudsi, Mingda Wei, Zijun Zhang, Yang Zhang, Zhiqun Wang, Kexin Chen, Xizhan Xu and 2 more

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Article in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Qingquan ShiBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Zhenyu WeiBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Jinding PangBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Ahyan Ilman QudsiBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Mingda WeiBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Zijun ZhangBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Yang ZhangBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Zhiqun WangBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Kexin ChenBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xizhan XuBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Xinxin LuBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Qingfeng LiangBeijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a severe infection linked to orthokeratology lens use, whereas the involvement of conjunctival microbiota in AK remains poorly understood. This study investigates microbiota dysbiosis in AK pathogenesis to inform microbiota-based interventions. Methods: Conjunctival swabs from 14 patients with AK and 10 healthy controls underwent 16S rRNA sequencing. Microbiome analysis compared diversity, taxa, and metabolic pathways. Functional assays quantified Achromobacter-enhanced Acanthamoeba adhesion and migration. Metagenomics and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with species-specific probes confirmed endosymbiosis. Results: Patients with AK showed reduced bacterial diversity compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.001) but similar richness. Relative abundance of Achromobacter in the AK group was higher compared to the healthy control group (P < 0.001). Achromobacter dominated microbiota among the AK group, being identified as a key biomarker via the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). In vitro, Achromobacter increased Acanthamoeba adhesion (P = 0.007) and the migration area (P < 0.05). Metagenomic analysis and FISH further showed Achromobacter spp. as potential endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed upregulated phenylalanine, fatty acid, and propanoate metabolism in the AK group (all P < 0.001). MetaCyc highlighted enriched pyruvate fermentation to isobutanol, aerobic respiration I, and L-isoleucine biosynthesis II in the AK group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: AK-associated conjunctival dysbiosis features Achromobacter dominance, reduced diversity, and altered metabolism. Achromobacter is associated with enhanced adhesion and migration of Acanthamoeba, indicating a possible symbiotic interaction and its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Indexed as

Acanthamoeba KeratitisAchromobacterConjunctivaContact LensesMicrobiotaOrthokeratologic ProceduresAcanthamoebaAdultDNA, BacterialDysbiosisFemaleHumansIn Situ Hybridization, FluorescenceMaleMiddle AgedRNA, Ribosomal, 16SDNA, BacterialRNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Identifiers

PMID40736175
PMCPMC12315931

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.