Study of the participation of proteases in pathological processes

• Grant number: 19/11683-8
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: November 01, 2019 - October 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Karaoglanovic Carmona
• Grantee: Adriana Karaoglanovic Carmona
• Home Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Andrea Soares da Costa Fuentes ; Marcos Leoni Gazarini Dutra

Abstract

Our proposal is to study peptidases involved in different biological systems and performing very diversified functions. Thus, in this project, we will continue the study of the participation of Plasmodium proteases in the pathophysiology of malaria, expanding the results obtained in the previous project (FAPESP 2015-11861-2). Also in this line, we will seek inhibitors of the different classes of proteases of Plasmodium, glimpsing the development of new antimalarial drugs (sub-line 1). Another proposal of research is the study of the cysteine peptidases of the insect Diaphorina citri, vector of citrus disease Huanglongbing (HLB). This disease severely compromises the development of plants, causing enormous losses in fruit production and economic losses to the world citriculture. Previously, our group identified and characterized a cathepsin B and a cathepsin L from D. citri. We will continue in this line searching for other cysteine cathepsins of D. citri and will perform inhibition tests with different citrus cystatin, aiming to combat the HLB vector. These studies may be useful for the production of transgenic plants by overexpressing inhibitors capable of retarding the development and proliferation of the insect (sub-line 2). (AU)