About the Authors

William H. Wheat

william.wheat@colostate.edu

Affiliation Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America

Amy L. Casali

Affiliation Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America

Vincent Thomas

Affiliation STERIS SA R&D, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France

John S. Spencer

Affiliation Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America

Ramanuj Lahiri

Affiliations Department of Health & Human Services, HRSA, HSB, National Hansen's Disease Programs, Laboratory Research Branch, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America

Diana L. Williams

Affiliations Department of Health & Human Services, HRSA, HSB, National Hansen's Disease Programs, Laboratory Research Branch, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America

Gerald E. McDonnell

Affiliation Department of Research and Development, STERIS Corporation, Mentor, Ohio, United States of America

Mercedes Gonzalez-Juarrero

Affiliation Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America

Patrick J. Brennan

Affiliation Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America

Mary Jackson

Affiliation Mycobacteria Research Laboratories, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America

Competing Interests

Two of our co-authors are employed by the STERIS Corporation and we do indeed declare our affiliation thereof. GEM is a former post-doctoral researcher in our department. VT has generously supplied (upon our request) the amoebae species that were used in this work as well as the procedures for their propagation. However there are no potential competing interests and our affiliation with these co-authors at STERIS does not alter our adherence to all PLoS NTDs policies on sharing data and materials. STERIS has no competing interests in this work and simply provided us with necessary material to carry out this work. Again, our affiliation with STERIS does not in any way alter our compliance to any of PLoS NTDs data sharing policies.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: WHW VT GEM RL DLW MJ. Performed the experiments: WHW ALC JSS RL DLW MGJ. Analyzed the data: WHW JSS PJB RL DLW MJ. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: WHW VT JSS RL DLW GEM MGJ MJ. Wrote the paper: WHW JSS PJB RL MJ.