Study of role of Trypanosoma cruzi parasite on release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)

• Grant number: 12/01522-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: April 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Karina Alves de Toledo
• Grantee: Karina Alves de Toledo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Fátima Pereira de Souza ; Marcelo Fábio Gouveia Nogueira ; Phileno Pinge Filho

Abstract

Diseases triggered by protozoa consist of serious public health problem, mainly due to high relative mortality associated with them. The Chagas Disease, described for the first time by Carlos Chagas in 1909, which the aetiological agent is the Trypanosoma cruzi, can develop fatal events as inflammation of the myocardium, the meninges and brain regions. Currently, control of replication of the parasite by drugs involves intense immune response included innate immunity cells such as monocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils. A new paradigm in innate immunity has recently been described whichh neutrophils release their DNA in response to infectious stimuli. The formation of these extracellular traps, or NETs, is an active and distinct process from apoptosis and necrosis. In addition, it involves proinflammatory and antimicrobial immune response. The NETs quickly capture and kill many pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and parasites as Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania sp. In this ways, NETs contributes to the replication control and elimination of those microorganisms by the host. This project is mainly aimed to investigate during T.cruzi infection, host neutrophils are stimulated to form and release NETs. The study also aims to answer questions about the efficiency of NETs to control of T.cruzi parasite load, and the identification of possible target parasite molecules involved in the induction of NETs. To do so, will be use different techniques as microscopy, flow cytometry, electrophoresis, chromatography, spectrophotometry and in vivo assays. This project will assit in developing new strategies to control the inflammatory response during infection by T.cruzi in order to control the parasite load and therefore the pathogenesis associated with it. (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)

SOUSA-ROCHA, DANIEL; THOMAZ-TOBIAS, MARIANA; ALVES DINIZ, LARISSA FIGUEIREDO; SAMPAIO SOUZA, PRISCILA SILVA; PINGE-FILHO, PHILENO; TOLEDO, KARINA ALVES. Trypanosoma cruzi and Its Soluble Antigens Induce NET Release by Stimulating Toll-Like Receptors. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 10, OCT 2 2015. (12/01522-8)