Acanthamoeba

**Semantic type:** Eukaryote

**Definition:** A genus of motile, unicellular eukaryotic amoebae within the family of Acanthamoebidae that are characterized with the presence of acanthopodia (spiny surface projections) and are commonly found in air, soil, and water environments. Members of the Acanthamoeba genus are opportunistic and nonopportunistic human pathogens, and may cause granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, cutaneous acanthamebiasis and amoebic keratitis.

**Synonyms:** - ACANTHAMOEBA