Acanthamoeba isolates from the Houston Coastal Center: some characteristics and establishment in pure culture.

Acanthamoeba species were isolated from soil samples taken at the University of Houston Coastal Center. Five pure culture isolates (clones) were established starting from single Acanthamoeba cysts. All five isolates were able to grow and encyst at 37 degrees C in synthetic media. The isolates also were able to infect, cause cytopathogenic effects and death of African green monkey kidney tissue culture cells.