Immunomodulation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by salivary proteins from Aedes aegypti mosquito.

• Grant number: 15/22934-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Anderson de Sá Nunes
• Grantee: Anderson de Sá Nunes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In one of the PhD theses developed during our Young Investigator Award entitled "Functional immunome of Aedes aegypti saliva", we demonstrated that the mosquito's salivary gland extract (SGE) is able to consistently modulate the clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model for studying multiple sclerosis. We have shown that the presence of the SGE in the emulsion employed to induce the disease was able to decrease the incidence, delay the onset of the clinical signs and, in the few animals that became sick, the symptoms were milder than those observed in the untreated group. Several mechanisms are involved in the EAE modulation by the SGE, causing a reduction in the proliferative response of specific lymphocytes and diminishing the production of IFN-gama and IL-17, Th1 and Th17 encephalomyelogenic cytokines, respectively. Although promising, the findings of this thesis did not unveil the molecule responsible for the modulation described, significantly limiting the impact of our work and the scientific journal to be chosen for the publication. For this reason, after the thesis approval, we performed new functional and biochemical experiments and identified 3 salivary molecules potentially involved in the observed phenotype. In the present project, we intend to express these molecules and characterize their activity in the EAE model, improving the relevance and the scientific impact of our study. This investment in the publications' quality generated with FAPESP grants has been clearly supported by the Foundation's Scientific Director, Dr. Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, in his institutional presentations. (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)

BARROS, MICHELE S.; LARA, PRISCILA G.; FONSECA, MONIQUE T.; MORETTI, EDUARDO H.; FILGUEIRAS, LUCIANO R.; MARTINS, JOILSON O.; CAPURRO, MARGARETH L.; STEINER, ALEXANDRE A.; SA-NUNES, ANDERSON. Aedes aegypti saliva impairs M1-associated proinflammatory phenotype without promoting or affecting M2 polarization of murine macrophages. PARASITES & VECTORS, v. 12, MAY 16 2019. (16/04921-1, 13/12467-0, 15/22934-0, 17/11540-7)

LARA, PRISCILA G.; ESTEVES, ELIANE; SALES-CAMPOS, HELIOSWILTON; ASSIS, JOSIANE B.; HENRIQUE, MARESSA O.; BARROS, MICHELE S.; NETO, LEILA S.; SILVA, PEDRO, I; MARTINS, JOILSON O.; CARDOSO, CRISTINA R. B.; et al. AeMOPE-1, a Novel Salivary Peptide From Aedes aegypti, Selectively Modulates Activation of Murine Macrophages and Ameliorates Experimental Colitis. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 12, p. 15-pg., 2021-07-19. (20/03175-0, 13/00740-4, 09/09892-6, 15/22934-0, 13/07467-1)