Abstract
We aim at using the fungal pathogens Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Cryptococcus neoformans as model systems to the study of membranous vesicular structures (exosome-like) and of cell wall components. We intend to isolate and characterize the vesicles, to determine their composition in comparison with cell wall fractions, to evaluate their immunomodulatory potential and the role of monohexosyl ceramide in their secretion mechanisms. In C. neoformans, we intend to understand the role of these vescicles in secretion and distal growth of the capsular material. The importance of extracellular vesicles as a secretory mechanism, as a means of transportation for immunomodulatory and/or relevant components in the host/parasite relationship has been recently recognized. In fungi, however, their presence has only been detected by the groups composing this project and reported in congress abstracts. The analyses will be held in two isolates of P. brasiliensis that evoke mice infections with distinct profiles. Other secreted P. brasiliensis molecules will also be addressed here: chaperone Mdj1 recently found in the cell wall, recombinant isoforms of the gp43 antigen, whose patent has been asked, and a recombinant exocelular subtilase-like proteinase to be hopefully expressed. (AU)
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