War of the Microbial Worlds

N. fowleri harbours microbial organisms including viruses, and bacteria, some of which are potential pathogens. The precise nature of this symbiosis is not clear, but it is suggested that such interactions enable pathogenic microbes to survive hostile conditions and this association can lead to their transmission to susceptible hosts to establish infection. In this context, Naegleria can act as vehicles for the multiplication and dispersal of pathogenic microbes as well as providing shelter for such bacteria from antibiotic and disinfection treatments. These findings suggest that employing anti-amoebic approaches in eradicating bacterial pathogens may be an effective strategy to counter threat from both Naegleria as well as bacterial pathogens. For example, Naegleria-Legionella interactions have gained significant attention by the scientific and the medical community.