Pathophysiology and diagnosis of arthritogenic alphavirus infections

• Grant number: 19/27333-6
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: November 01, 2020 - October 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal researcher: Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo
• Grantee: Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Nuno Miguel Rodrigues Pascoal Faria ; William Marciel de Souza

Abstract

Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Mayaro (MAYV) viruses are arboviruses that cause acute and often symptomatic infections, which are associated with fever and debilitating polyarthralgia/polyarthritis. Recently, CHIKV infections have been associated with deaths in the Americas, which about 25% of these have been reported in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil. On the other hand, MAYV is another endemic arthritogenic alphavirus present in the northern and central-west regions of Brazil, which are also endemic to CHIKV. Therefore, it is important to understand the immunological mechanisms of pre-existent immunity among arthritogenic alphaviruses, as well as to understand the real impact of MAYV to Brazilian's public health. Thus, we propose; (i) conduct a study of genomic epidemiology and pathophysiology in fatal CHIKV cases, (ii) elucidate the immunological mechanisms of cross-protection among circulating arthritogenic alphaviruses, and (iii) develop an accurate, sensitive and inexpensive diagnostic method for MAYV. To achieve this, we will perform a multi-platform omics analysis of fatal and non-fatal CHIKV patients to identify key virus-host interactions related to disease severity. In addition, we will evaluated the immunological mechanisms of cross-protection between arthritogenic alphaviruses using in vitro and in vivo approaches, and we will develop a low cost molecular diagnostic method of easy visualization for MAYV. Therefore, this study will shed light in the evolution, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic development of arboviruses that cause human diseases. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

FUMAGALLI, MARCILIO JORGE; MORAES FIGUEIREDO, LUIZ TADEU; AQUINO, VICTOR HUGO. Linear and Continuous Flavivirus Epitopes From Naturally Infected Humans. FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY, v. 11, AUG 12 2021. Web of Science Citations: 0.