Paracoccidioides lutzii: development of a therapeutic vaccine from specific antigens for use in vaccine combined with the P10 peptide P. brasiliensis

• Grant number: 13/18655-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Pelleschi Taborda
• Grantee: Carlos Pelleschi Taborda
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). The immunodominant antigen of P. brasiliensis is the gp43 glycoprotein that is recognized by approximately 100% of the sera from patients with PCM, making it an important tool for the diagnosis of disease. The peptide P10 is one of the epitopes of gp43, and studies have shown that this can be used as a vaccine in mice PCM. Recently, a comparative analysis of polymorphisms shared between atypical isolates of P. brasiliensis, suggested the creation of a new species within the genus, Paracoccidioides lutzii, which in Brazil is endemic to the North and Midwest. The fact that isolated P. lutzii belong to distinct phylogenetic group suggests that approaches to identify the fungus, serodiagnosis and vaccine development based only on gp43 and its immunoprotective epitope P10, may not be effective for all isolates. Recently, it was shown that in isolates of P. lutzii, the region corresponding to P10 of P. brasiliensis, presents important mutation in the core peptide that virtually extinguished the protective ability. In this context, this project aims to expand the characterization studies of P. lutzii and identify different targets for use in the development of a therapeutic vaccine. (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)

BUENO, RENATA A.; THOMAZ, LUCIANA; MUNOZ, JULIAN E.; DA SILVA, CASSIA J.; NOSANCHUK, JOSHUA D.; PINTO, MARCIA R.; TRAVASSOS, LUIZ R.; TABORDA, CARLOS P.. Antibodies Against Glycolipids Enhance Antifungal Activity of Macrophages and Reduce Fungal Burden After Infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 7, FEB 3 2016. (11/17267-4, 13/18655-3)

THOMAZ, LUCIANA; NOSANCHUK, JOSHUA D.; ROSSI, DIEGO C. P.; TRAVASSOS, LUIZ R.; TABORDA, CARLOS P.. Monoclonal antibodies to heat shock protein 60 induce a protective immune response against experimental Paracoccidioides lutzii. Microbes and Infection, v. 16, n. 9, p. 788-795, SEP 2014. (11/17267-4, 13/18655-3)

MUNOZ, JULIAN E.; ROSSI, DIEGO C. P.; ISHIDA, KELLY; SPADARI, CRISTINA C.; MELHEM, MARCIA S. C.; GARCIA, DANIEL M.; CAIRES, ANTONIO C. F.; TABORDA, CARLOS P.; RODRIGUES, ELAINE G.. Antifungal Activity of the Biphosphinic Cyclopalladate C7a against Candida albicans Yeast Forms In Vitro and In Vivo. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 8, MAY 3 2017. (12/08760-1, 13/18655-3)