BackgroundEntamoeba histolytica kills human cells by ingesting fragments of live cells until the cell eventually dies, a process termed amebic trogocytosis. In a previous study, we showed that acidified amebic lysosomes are required for both amebic trogocytosis and phagocytosis, as well as cell killing.MethodsAmebic cysteine proteases (CPs) were inhibited using an irreversible inhibitor, E-64d.ResultsInterfering with amebic CPs decreased amebic trogocytosis and amebic cytotoxicity but did not impair phagocytosis.ConclusionsWe show that amebic CPs are required for amebic trogocytosis and cell killing but not phagocytosis. These data suggest that amebic CPs play a distinct role in amebic trogocytosis and cell killing
