Author(s): Victoria Green, Ethan Jensen, Ethan Stryker
Mentor(s): Daniel Clark
Institution Weber
Naegleria fowleri, a thermophilic, pathogenic amoeba, is the causative agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare and almost universally fatal infection with a 97.5% mortality rate. The amoeba, often found in the sediments of warm freshwater environments, infects hosts via the nasal passages, leading to fatal brain inflammation and swelling. Currently, there is no standardized treatment protocol for PAM, although rare attempts at treatment have been successful. This study investigates the potential efficacy of multi-drug combinations, using amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, and rifampin, to improve treatment outcomes against N. fowleri. Infection assays were conducted using human cells (HeLa cervical carcinoma cells, and IMR32 neuroblastoma cells) to assess the amoeba’s response to these treatment combinations. In testing various drug combinations against N. fowleri, we found that the combination of amphotericin B, fluconazole, and rifampin achieved the highest levels of N. fowleri cell death while allowing the cultured human cells to survive. Preliminary results show which drug combinations provide better chances at survival. These findings underscore the critical importance of therapeutic treatments to improve survival rates for PAM patients, providing hope for individuals who currently have few effective treatment options.