Study of natural compounds with antifungal activity to elucidate the action mechanism

• Grant number: 14/23841-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: April 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Ana Lucia Fachin Saltoratto
• Grantee: Ana Lucia Fachin Saltoratto
• Host Institution: Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). Campus Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Mozart de Azevedo Marins

Abstract

Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum) is the main etiological agent of dermatophytosis in the world. Despite the increased incidence of fungal infections, there are few drugs on the market and their targets are limited because of cell similarities shared between fungi and mammalian. The search for new antifungals of natural origin with new targets is increasing due to an increase in the frequency of infectious diseases, as well as multiple drug resistance (MDR). The objective of this project is to evaluate the antifungal activity against T.rubrum of some natural products: trans chalcone, licochalcone, apigenin, itaconic acid, rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid (the active product of propolis), and purified glycoalkaloids of Solanum lycocarpum. Thereafter, we have the prospect to elucidate the mechanisms of action of compounds that showed potential biological activity using molecular (gene expression by microarray, real time PCR or array) and cellular assays (morphologic changes in membrane damage, quantification of ergosterol and protoplast regeneration). (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(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)

FRANCO, MATHEUS ELOY; BITENCOURT, TAMIRES APARECIDA; MARINS, MOZART; FACHIN, ANA LUCIA. In silico characterization of tandem repeats in Trichophyton rubrum and related dermatophytes provides new insights into their role in pathogenesis. DATABASE-THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DATABASES AND CURATION, JUN 11 2017. (12/03845-9, 14/23841-3, 12/02920-7)

MICHELOTTO CANTELLI, BRUNA ALINE; BITENCOURT, TAMIRES APARECIDA; KOMOTO, TATIANA TAKAHASI; BELEBONI, RENE OLIVEIRA; MARINS, MOZART; FACHIN, ANA LUCIA. Caffeic acid and licochalcone A interfere with the glyoxylate cycle of Trichophyton rubrum. BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY, v. 96, p. 1389-1394, DEC 2017. (16/22701-9, 15/23435-8, 14/23841-3)

FRANCO, MATHEUS ELOY; BITENCOURT, TAMIRES APARECIDA; MARINS, MOZART; FACHIN, ANA LUCIA. In silico characterization of tandem repeats in Trichophyton rubrum and related dermatophytes provides new insights into their role in pathogenesis. DATABASE-THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DATABASES AND CURATION, v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2017-06-11. (14/23841-3, 12/02920-7, 12/03845-9)

BITENCOURT, TAMIRES APARECIDA; MACEDO, CLAUDIA; FRANCO, MATHEUS ELOY; ASSIS, AMANDA FREIRE; KOMOTO, TATIANA TAKAHASI; STEHLING, ELIANA GUEDES; BELEBONI, RENE OLIVEIRA; MALAVAZI, IRAN; MARINS, MOZART; FACHIN, ANA LUCIA. Transcription profile of Trichophyton rubrum conidia grown on keratin reveals the induction of an adhesin-like protein gene with a tandem repeat pattern. BMC Genomics, v. 17, MAR 18 2016. (14/23841-3, 12/02920-7, 12/03845-9)