Use of phage display as a tool in the diagnosis and control of diseases transmitted by hematophagous vectors

• Grant number: 19/03779-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Aparecida Sadae Tanaka
• Grantee: Aparecida Sadae Tanaka
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alexandre Keiji Tashima ; Francisco Jose Alves Lemos ; Isaias Glezer ; Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior ; Jayme Augusto de Souza-Neto ; Luciano Puzer ; Vitor Marcelo Silveira Bueno Brandão de Oliveira
• Associated research grant(s): 24/02303-5 - Screening gut antigens of Rhipicephalus microplus tick through the phage display technique, AP.R; 20/05451-4 - COVID-19: selection of specific inhibitors for main protease Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 by phage display, AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/22590-9 - Technological support for the production of recombinant proteins and maintenance of insect cells in culture., BP.TT; 24/06810-9 - Technological support for the production of recombinant proteins and maintenance of insect cells in culture., BP.TT; 23/14340-0 - Expression and purification of structural proteins pr and prM from flavivirus., BP.IC; + associated scholarships 23/06523-7 - Investigation and characterization of secondary functions of ribosomal proteins from the tick Rhipicephalus microplus, BP.IC; 20/02433-5 - Library construction of cDNA fragments of R. microplus proteolytic enzymes (peptidases) and serpins on the surface of filamentous phages, BP.PD; 19/26101-4 - Biochemical characterization of the putative Kazal serinoprotease inhibitor (AaKz211) modulated in dengue virus 2- infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, BP.IC - associated scholarships

Abstract

Neglected diseases are responsible for epidemics with countless deaths each year in many countries, especially in developing countries. Most neglected diseases are transmitted by hematophagous vectors. Over the last decades, our group has been working on the prospection of active molecules produced by hematophagous arthropods, vectors of diseases. In the last project, our group evaluated the role of previously prospective molecules in the interaction of vectors with their etiological agents. In the present project, we are going to use phage display, vector proteins and flaviviruses (eg DENV-2) to identify cyclic peptides (using template peptide SFTI - sunflower trypsin inhibitor) and antibodies as targets for diagnosis, antiviral and vector control. The vectors targeted by this project will be the mosquito Aedes aegypti (vector of dengue, yellow fever, zika) and the tick of the species Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, ectoparasite of cattle. Our group already has extensive experience in the phage display technique using filamentous phage, and to extend this experience, T7 phage libraries and libraries of antibody fragments displayed on phage will be constructed in collaboration with international researchers (Dr. A. Mulenga, USA and Dr. M Hust, Germany). The cyclic peptide libraries will be used in the selection of inhibitors for dengue 2 proteases and digestive proteases of Ae. aegypti larvae. The libraries of tick intestine cDNA fragments will be screened for immunoglobulins from resistant or immunized bovines and the libraries of recombinant human antibody fragments will be screened for flavivirus prM proteins. The selected phages will be sequenced, the sequences of peptides obtained with high frequency will synthesized by company. Selected cDNA fragments and antibody fragments will be produced in bacteria or yeast. Recombinant proteins or peptides will be tested as antivirals, larvicide, antigens for tick control and differential diagnosis of flavivirus (dengue, yellow fever and zika). The molecules identified with biotechnological potential should be used for vector control, viral replication control (DENV-2) and flavivirus diagnosis. For the success of this project, in addition to international collaborations, we will have the collaboration of Brazilian researchers from UNIFESP, UFABC, UNESP, UENF, UFRGS and Fiocruz de Campo Grande, as well as technicians, postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The project also aims to train human resources. (AU)

Scientific publications

(8)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MANZATO, VERONICA MORAES; SOARES TORQUATO, RICARDO JOSE; ALVES LEMOS, FRANCISCO JOSE; NISHIDUKA, ERIKA; TASHIMA, ALEXANDRE KEIJI; TANAKA, APARECIDA SADAE. versatile inhibitor of digestive enzymes in Aedes aegypti larvae selected from a pacifastin (TiPI) phage display librar. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, v. 590, p. 139-144, JAN 29 2022. (12/03657-8, 19/03779-5)

SILVA, FERNANDO A. A.; COSTA, GABRIEL C. A.; PARIZI, LUIS F.; VAZ JUNIOR, ITABAJARA DA SILVA; TANAKA, APARECIDA S.. Biochemical characterization of a novel sphingomyelinase-like protein from the Rhipicephalus microplus tick. Experimental Parasitology, v. 254, p. 10-pg., 2023-09-13. (20/02433-5, 12/03657-8, 19/03779-5)

MANZATO, VERONICA DE MORAES; DI SANTO, CAMILA; TORQUATO, RICARDO JOSE SOARES; COELHO, CAMILA; GALLO, GLORIA; HARDY, LEON; WURTELE, MARTIN; TANAKA, APARECIDA SADAE. Boophilin D1, a Kunitz type protease inhibitor, as a source of inhibitors for the ZIKA virus NS2B-NS3 protease. Biochimie, v. 214, p. 6-pg., 2023-07-03. (12/03657-8, 19/03779-5)

COSTA, GABRIEL C. A.; SILVA, FERNANDO A. A.; TORQUATO, RICARDO J. S.; VAZ, ITABAJARA SILVA; PARIZI, LUIS F.; TANAKA, APARECIDA S.. Evaluation of the biological function of ribosomal protein S18 from cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES, v. 15, n. 4, p. 8-pg., 2024-03-23. (12/03657-8, 20/02433-5, 19/03779-5)

COSTA, GABRIEL CERQUEIRA ALVES; TORQUATO, RICARDO JOSE SOARES; GOMES, VINICIUS DE MORAIS; ROSA-FERNANDES, LIVIA; PALMISANO, GIUSEPPE; TANAKA, APARECIDA SADAE. Functional characterization of a cystatin A from the bat Myotis davidii. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, v. 274, p. 6-pg., 2024-06-29. (20/05451-4, 20/04923-0, 18/18257-1, 19/03779-5, 18/15549-1, 20/02433-5)

SERINO-SILVA, CAROLINE; BITTENCOURT RODRIGUES, CAROLINE FABRI; MIYAMOTO, JACKSON GABRIEL; HATAKEYAMA, DANIELA MIKI; KAVAZOI, VICTOR KOITI; DA ROCHA, MARISA MARIA TEIXEIRA; TANAKA, APARECIDA SADAE; TASHIMA, ALEXANDRE KEIJI; DE MORAIS-ZANI, KAREN; GREGO, KATHLEEN FERNANDES; et al. Proteomics and life-history variability of Endogenous Phospholipases A2 Inhibitors (PLIs) in Bothrops jararaca plasma. PLoS One, v. 19, n. 2, p. 19-pg., 2024-02-06. (21/11707-4, 18/25786-0, 19/03779-5, 12/03657-8, 17/20106-9)

COSTA, GABRIEL C. A.; SILVA, FERNANDO A. A.; MANZATO, VERONICA M.; TORQUATO, RICARDO J. S.; GONZALEZ, YAMILE G.; PARIZI, LUIZ F.; VAZ JUNIOR, ITABAJARA DA SILVA; TANAKA, APARECIDA S.. A multiepitope chimeric antigen from Rhipicephalus microplus-secreted salivary proteins elicits anti-tick protective antibodies in rabbit. Veterinary Parasitology, v. 318, p. 11-pg., 2023-04-13. (20/02433-5, 12/03657-8, 19/03779-5, 12/20597-9, 15/09268-1)

FERREIRA, GRAZIELE CRISTINA; MANZATO, VERONICA DE MORAES; OKAMOTO, DEBORA NOMA; FERNANDES, LIVIA ROSA; SANTOS, DEIVID MARTINS; COSTA, GABRIEL CERQUEIRA ALVES; SILVA, FERNANDO ALLAN ABREU; TORQUATO, RICARDO JOSE SOARES; PALMISANO, GIUSEPPE; JULIANO, MARIA APARECIDA; et al. Sunflower Trypsin Monocyclic Inhibitor Selected for the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2 by Phage Display. BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN, v. 47, n. 11, p. 10-pg., 2024-11-01. (20/05451-4, 20/04923-0, 18/18257-1, 19/03779-5, 18/15549-1, 20/02433-5, 12/03657-8, 21/12804-3, 21/14179-9)