the opportunistic pathogen, Acanthamoeba castellanii is the causative agent for the sight threatening infection Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). it is commonly associated with contact lens wearers, and prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate due to an inadequate preventive strategy to protect the lens from this protist. This problem is compounded by the lack of an effective acanthamoebocide, particularly with cysticidal activity in the contact lens solutions. We have used cytotoxicity assays and a variety of biophysical approaches to show that two molecules with tails made of alkyl carbon, alkylphosphocholines (APCs) and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) had significant chain-length dependent efficacy against A. castellanii trophozoites, the latter producing death via permeabilization, and DNA complexing. QACs were more effective than APCs and had activity against cysts. Conversely, the QAC with 12 alkyl carbon chain, was non toxic, its presence increased A. castellanii trophozoites biomass and delayed encystation by 96 h. Interestingly, it was unable to induce excystation and increased trophozoite sensitivity to APC16. These results present a mono-and multi-inhibitor management strategy effective against trophozoites and cysts that may be useful for formulating into contact lense cleaning solutions and reducing AK incidence. Acanthamoeba are free-living protists, existing as active trophozoites and non-replicative cysts characterised by double cellulose cell walls 1. They have opportunistic tendencies and can cause the diseases, Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), cutaneous acanthamoebiasis (CA) and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) 2,3. Whilst CA and GAE are lethal but rare and affect the skin and CNS, respectively, the non-lethal AK causes severe infection in the cornea, threatening sight loss and causing emotional and psychological trauma, described as life-changing in patients 4. Trophozoites to cysts interconversion and vice versa (encystation and excystation) is induced by external environmental cues 5,6 and poses significant challenges for curative treatment particularly causing AK resurgences and relapses 7. AK cases are increasing and prevalence is high amongst contact lens users 8,9. Cases of AK within the UK have risen drastically within the last 20 years and continue to do so 10. The reason for this upsurge in incidence rates does not appear to be as a result of increased lens wearers but is as of yet unknown, likely the result of multiple factors 10. Spatial geographic differences are common with 15 times more cases reported in the UK than the USA 11,12 , and 8 times more in Scotland than England 13. These differences are strongly linked with water supply, quality and usage 12. Indeed, the incidence of AK in contact lens users is believed to be due to rinsing of contact lenses with domestic tap water 14. Further, the lack of anti-acanthamoebocides in cleaning solutions is another issue. Despite the presence of preservative compounds such as polyhexamethylene biguanide used in existing solutions,...