Study of the murine infection by Trypanosoma Cruzi clone Sylvio X10/4, a low virulence parasite

• Grant number: 13/08199-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: José Maria Álvarez Mosig
• Grantee: José Maria Álvarez Mosig
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Considering that low virulence Trypanosoma cruzi strains may account for a significant fraction of the parasites responsible for the human Chagas infection, the present project aims to continue our studies in the murine model of infection by Sylvio X10/4 parasites, a T. cruzi clone that induces very low levels of parasitaemia in immunocompetent mice and in C3H/HePAS mice promotes the development of a chronic myocarditis which display many of the characteristics of the human disease. The intended studies, which in part represent an extension of research lines already initiated in our laboratory, can be grouped in two large sub-projects:I) Analysis of the immune response during infection with Sylvio X10/4 parasites, a sub-project that will focus three aspects: a) Control of blood trypomastigotes; b) Costimulation requirements for the development of the immune response to the parasite; and c) Phenotypic and functional evaluation of regulatory T cells (CD4+FoxP3+) along the first weeks of infection.II) Analysis of the immune elements involved in chronic heart pathology, a subproject that will focus two aspects: a) Analysis of the eventual role of the PD1/PD-L1 interaction in the development of chronic myocardiopathy; and b) Involvement of TLR molecules in the in vivo recognition of T. cruzi by heart muscle tissue. (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)

FONSECA, RAISSA; SALGADO, RAFAEL MOYSES; DA SILVA, HENRIQUE BORGES; DO NASCIMENTO, ROGERIO SILVA; D'IMPERIO-LIMA, MARIA REGINA; ALVAREZ, JOSE MARIA. Programmed Cell Death Protein 1-PDL1 Interaction Prevents Heart Damage in Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 9, MAY 7 2018. (15/20432-8, 13/08199-0, 14/03802-3)

SANTANA, DANNI YOHANI; SALGADO, RAFAEL MOYSES; FEVEREIRO, MARINA; DO NASCIMENTO, ROGERIO SILVA; FONSECA, RAISSA; SARAIVA CAMARA, NIELS OLSEN; EPIPHANIO, SABRINA; FARIAS MARINHO, CLAUDIO ROMERO; BARRETO-CHAVES, MARIA LUIZA; D' IMPERIO-LIMA, MARIA REGINA; et al. MyD88 activation in cardiomyocytes contributes to the heart immune response to acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection with no effect on local parasite control. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 12, n. 8, AUG 2018. (13/08199-0)

ALVAREZ, JOSE M.; FONSECA, RAISSA; DA SILVA, HENRIQUE BORGES; MARINHO, CLAUDIO R. F.; BORTOLUCI, KARINA R.; SARDINHA, LUIZ R.; EPIPHANIO, SABRINA; D'IMPERIO LIMA, MARIA REGINA. Chagas Disease: Still Many Unsolved Issues. Mediators of Inflammation, 2014. (13/08199-0)