Leishmaniasis in Latin America: an advanced perspective on immunopathogenetic factors of cutaneous and visceral infection, immunomodulators of the sandflies vector saliva and immunogenic exo-antigens of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi as vaccine candidates

• Grant number: 14/50315-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2016
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Marcia Dalastra Laurenti
• Grantee: Marcia Dalastra Laurenti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais:( Atuais ): Fernando Tobias Silveira
• Pesquisadores principais:( Anteriores ): Marcia Dalastra Laurenti
• Associated research grant(s): 24/09348-4 - 11th International Symposium on Phlebotomine Sandflies (ISOPS XI), AR.EXT; 18/18909-9 - 1st International Caparica Congress on Leishmaniasis 2018, AR.EXT
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/09818-0 - Establishment of in vitro and in vivo experimental models to study the host-parasite interaction in atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum, BP.PD; 20/11494-8 - Role evaluation of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in human infection caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, BP.TT; 20/02626-8 - Nitric oxide and reactive species of oxygen evaluation in human infection caused by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi, BP.TT; + associated scholarships 19/17957-2 - In situ expression of Th17 profile immune mediators in lesions of patients with American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, BP.IC; 19/13880-5 - Leishmaniasis in Latin America: an advanced perspective on immunopatogenetic factors of cutaneous and visceral infection., BP.PD; 19/01726-1 - Detection of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi in the oral swab of individuals living in an endemic area for Visceral Leishmaniasis, BP.TT; 17/03141-5 - Characterization of histopathological changes and cellular immune response in cutaneous lesions of patients with Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in Panamá, BP.DD; 16/23789-7 - CD1a + and CD11c + cell expression in patients' skin lesions with non-ulcerated or atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, BP.IC - associated scholarships

Abstract

Human leishmaniasis, both the cutaneous or muco-cutaneous forms, as well as the systemic visceral form, remain representing till how, an important public health problem around the world, especially in tropical and subtropical areas of the globe, where geographic, climate and social-economic factors contribute for the maintenance and dispersion of these diseases. In this way, Latin America appears as one of most compromised areas by these injuries, where some countries such as Brazil, in the South America, and Panama and Honduras, in the Central America, present an interesting epidemiological feature due to some peculiarities related not only to the antigenic capacity of Leishmania species, as well as the interaction of these parasites with the human Immune response, resulting in the immunopatogenetic process that can give rise to the tegumentary leishmaniasis or systemic visceral leishmaniasis. The imunopathogenetic basis are one of the targets of greatest interest of this project, which will be Investigated by gene expression and in situ phenotypic markers, trying to better understanding the cell signaling factors and the cytokines profiles of innate and adaptive immune responses of the hosts related to these different forms of the disease. (AU)

Scientific publications

(23)

(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)

ARAUJO FLORES, GABRIELA VENICIA; SANDOVAL PACHECO, CARMEN MARIA; TOMOKANE, THAISE YUMIE; OCHOA, WILFREDO SOSA; VALERIANO, CONCEPCION ZUNIGA; CASTRO GOMES, CLAUDIA MARIA; PEREIRA CORBETT, CARLOS EDUARDO; LAURENTI, MARCIA DALASTRA. Evaluation of Regulatory Immune Response in Skin Lesions of Patients Affected by Nonulcerated or Atypical Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Honduras, Central America. Mediators of Inflammation, 2018. (15/01154-7, 14/50315-0)

CALEGARI-SILVA, TERESA C.; VIVARINI, AISLAN C.; PEREIRA, RENATA DE M. S.; DIAS-TEIXEIRA, KARINA L.; RATH, CAROLINA T.; PACHECO, AMANDA S. S.; SILVA, GABRIELLE B. L.; PINTO, CHARLENE A. S.; DOS SANTOS, JOSE V.; SALIBA, ALESSANDRA M.; et al. Leishmania amazonensis downregulates macrophage iNOS expression via Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1): a novel parasite evasion mechanism. European Journal of Immunology, v. 48, n. 7, p. 1188-1198, JUL 2018. (14/50315-0)

DA MATTA, VANIA LUCIA R.; GONCALVES, ANDRE N.; GOMES, CLAUDIA MARIA C.; CHOUMAN, ISLAM H.; FERREIRA, FREDERICO M.; CAMPOS, MARLIANE B.; LIMA, LUCIANA V.; DOS SANTOS, THIAGO VASCONCELOS; RAMOS, PATRICIA KARLA; FURTADO, RODRIGO R.; et al. Gene Signatures of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Clinical-Immunological Profiles of Human Infection by Leishmania (L.) chagasi in Amazonian Brazil. MICROORGANISMS, v. 11, n. 3, p. 14-pg., 2023-03-01. (14/50315-0, 20/02626-8)

SANDOVAL PACHECO, CARMEN MARIA; ARAUJO FLORES, GABRIELA VENICIA; FAVERO FERREIRA, AUREA; SOSA OCHOA, WILFREDO; RIBEIRO DA MATTA, VANIA LUCIA; VALERIANO, CONCEPCION ZUNIGA; PEREIRA CORBETT, CARLOS EDUARDO; DALASTRA LAURENTI, MARCIA. Histopathological features of skin lesions in patients affected by non-ulcerated or atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis in Honduras, Central America. International Journal of Experimental Pathology, v. 99, n. 5, p. 249-257, OCT 2018. (15/01154-7, 14/50315-0)

SANDOVAL, CARMEN; ARAUJO, GABRIELA; SOSA, WILFREDO; AVALOS, SARA; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO; CORBETT, CARLOS; ZUNIGA, CONCEPCION; LAURENTI, MARCIA. In situ cellular immune response in non-ulcerated skin lesions due to Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi infection. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, v. 27, FEB 26 2021. (18/04698-6, 14/50315-0, 17/24834-9, 15/01154-7)

LAURENTI, MARCIA DALASTRA; SOSA-OCHOA, WILFREDO; ARAUJO FLORES, GABRIELA VENICIA; SANDOVAL PACHECO, CARMEN MARIA; TOMOKANE, THAISE YUMIE; DA SILVA OLIVEIRA, LUANDA MARA; ZUNIGA, CONCEPCION; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO TOBIAS; PEREIRA CORBETT, CARLOS EDUARDO. valuation of systemic immunity in atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagas. PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, v. 44, n. 1-2, NOV 2021. (17/24834-9, 14/50315-0, 18/04698-6)

SANDOVAL PACHECO, CARMEN M.; ARAUJO FLORES, V, GABRIELA; GONZALEZ, KADIR; DE CASTRO GOMES, CLAUDIA M.; PASSERO, LUIZ F. D.; TOMOKANE, THAISE Y.; SOSA-OCHOA, WILFREDO; ZUNIGA, CONCEPCION; CALZADA, JOSE; SALDANA, AZAEL; et al. Macrophage Polarization in the Skin Lesion Caused by Neotropical Species of Leishmania sp. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH, v. 2021, APR 12 2021. (14/50315-0, 17/24834-9, 15/01154-7, 18/04698-6)

GONZALEZ, KADIR; CALZADA, JOSE EDUARDO; TOMOKANE, THAISE YUMIE; SANDOVAL PACHECO, CARMEN MARIA; ARAUJO FLORES, GABRIELA VENICIA; CASTRO GOMES, CLAUDIA MARIA; PEREIRA CORBETT, CARLOS EDUARDO; SALDANA, AZAEL; LAURENTI, MARCIA DALASTRA. In situ study of cellular immune response in human cutaneous lesions caused by Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis in Panama. PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, v. 43, n. 3, OCT 2020. (17/03141-5, 14/50315-0)

GONZALEZ, K.; CALZADA, J. E.; CORBETT, C. E. P.; SALDANA, A.; LAURENTI, M. D.. Involvement of the Inflammasome and Th17 Cells in Skin Lesions of Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis. Mediators of Inflammation, v. 2020, OCT 28 2020. (17/03141-5, 14/50315-0)

GONZALEZ, K.; CALZADA, J. E.; DIAZ, R.; PAZ, H.; GARCIA, V.; MIRANDA, A.; TOMOKANE, T.; PUGA, S.; SALDANA, A.; LAURENTI, M.. Performance of immunohistochemistry as a useful tool for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Panama, Central America. Parasitology International, v. 71, p. 46-52, AUG 2019. (14/50315-0, 17/03141-5)

LIMA, ANA CAROLINA S.; GOMES, CLAUDIA MARIA C.; TOMOKANE, THAISE Y.; CAMPOS, MARLIANE BATISTA; ZAMPIERI, RICARDO A.; JORGE, CAROLINA L.; LAURENTI, MARCIA D.; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO T.; CORBETT, CARLOS EDUARDO P.; FLOETER-WINTER, LUCILE MARIA. Molecular tools confirm natural Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis/L. (V.) shawi hybrids causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Amazon region of Brazil. GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, v. 44, n. 2, 2021. (14/50315-0, 12/08338-8)

LIMA, LUCIANA; VASCONCELOS-DOS-SANTOS, THIAGO; CAMPOS, MARLIANE; RAMOS, PATRICIA KARLA; GOMES, CLAUDIA; LAURENTI, MARCIA; DA MATTA, VANIA; CORBETT, CARLOS; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO. New record of preclinical diagnosis of American visceral leishmaniasis in Amazonian Brazil encourages optimizing disease control. PARASITE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CONTROL, v. 10, AUG 2020. (14/50315-0)

CARDOSO, CAMILA A.; ARAUJO, GABRIELA, V; SANDOVAL, CARMEN M.; NOGUEIRA, PAULA M.; ZUNIGA, CONCEPCION; SOSA-OCHOA, WILFREDO H.; LAURENTI, MARCIA D.; SOARES, RODRIGO P.. Lipophosphoglycans from dermotropic Leishmania infantum are more pro-inflammatory than those from viscerotropic strains. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, v. 115, p. 6-pg., 2020-01-01. (18/04698-6, 17/24834-9, 14/50315-0)

ALCANTARA, LARISSA DOS SANTOS; CAMPOS, MARLIANE BATISTA; LIMA, ANA CAROLINA STOCCO; PONTILLO, ALESSANDRA; SOUZA, KAMILLA BATISTA DA SILVA; FERREIRA, AUREA FAVERO; CAMARGO, CRISTINA PIRES; OBA-SHINJO, SUELI MIEKO; LAURENTI, MARCIA DALASTRA; CORBETT, CARLOS EDUARDO PEREIRA; et al. Transcriptomic and Immunopathological Profiles of Inflammasomes in Different Clinical Forms of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. MICROORGANISMS, v. 13, n. 5, p. 15-pg., 2025-04-24. (14/50315-0)

JESUS, JESSICA ADRIANA; ARAUJO FLORES, GABRIELA VENICIA; SOUZA, DALETE CHRISTINE DA SILVA; TRISTAO, DANIELA COSTA; SERRANO, DOLORES REMEDIOS; LALATSA, AIKATERINA; LAURENTI, MARCIA DALASTRA; LAGO, JOAO HENRIQUE GHILARDI; FERRAZ, HUMBERTO GOMES; DA SILVA, ROSANA PEREIRA; et al. Dicentrine Purified from the Leaves of Ocotea puberula Controls the Intracellular Spread of L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (V.) braziliensis Amastigotes and Has Therapeutic Activity as a Topical Treatment in Experimental Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. MICROORGANISMS, v. 13, n. 2, p. 17-pg., 2025-02-01. (22/15834-3, 14/50315-0, 23/12447-1, 23/01641-1)

CAMILA A CARDOSO; GABRIELA V ARAUJO; CARMEN M SANDOVAL; PAULA M NOGUEIRA; CONCEPCION ZÚNIGA; WILFREDO H SOSA-OCHOA; MÁRCIA D LAURENTI; RODRIGO P SOARES. Lipophosphoglycans from dermotropic Leishmania infantum are more pro-inflammatory than those from viscerotropic strains. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, v. 115, 2020-09-21. (18/04698-6, 14/50315-0, 17/24834-9)

SILVEIRAA, FERNANDO T.. What makes mucosal and anergic diffuse cutaneous leishmaniases so clinically and immunopathogically different? A review in Brazil. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, v. 113, n. 9, p. 505-516, SEP 2019. (14/50315-0)

FLORES, GABRIELA V. ARAUJO; PACHECO, CARMEN M. SANDOVAL; FERREIRA, AUREA F.; TOMOKANE, THAISE YUMIE; NUNES, JULIANA B.; COLOMBO, FABIO A.; SOSA-OCHOA, WILFREDO H.; ZUNIGA, CONCEPCION; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO T.; CORBETT, CARLOS E. P.; et al. Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi isolated from skin lesions of patients affected by non-ulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis lead to visceral lesion in hamsters. Parasitology International, v. 93, p. 9-pg., 2022-12-26. (17/24834-9, 18/04698-6, 14/50315-0)

GABRIELA BEATRIZ RODRIGUEZ SEGURA; WILFREDO HUMBERTO SOSA OCHOA; VÂNIA LÚCIA RIBEIRO DA MATTA; MERCEDES MARTÍNEZ; CAROL RODRIGUEZ TERCERO; RAQUEL ROMERO GONZALEZ; CARMEN M. SANDOVAL PACHECO; GABRIELA V. ARAUJO FLORES; FERNANDO TOBIAS SILVEIRA; MARIA MERCEDES RUEDA HENRIQUEZ; et al. Can domestic dogs be considered a good reservoir of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi in an endemic area of nonulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis in Southern Honduras?. Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, v. 65, 2023-03-24. (14/50315-0)

PACHECO, CARMEN M. SANDOVAL M.; FLORES, GABRIELA V. ARAUJO V.; FERREIRA, AUREA F. F.; DA MATTA, VANIA L. R.; GOMES, CLAUDIA M. DE CASTRO M.; SOSA-OCHOA, WILFREDO H. H.; ZUNIGA, CONCEPCION; SILVEIRA, FERNANDO T. T.; CORBETT, CARLOS E. P.; LAURENTI, MARCIA D.. Role of antigen-presenting cells in non-ulcerated skin lesions caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi. PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 11-pg., 2023-01-31. (18/04698-6, 17/24834-9, 14/50315-0)

FURTADO, RODRIGO R.; ALVES, ANA CAMILA; LIMA, LUCIANA V. R.; DOS SANTOS, THIAGO VASCONCELOS; CAMPOS, MARLIANE B.; RAMOS, PATRICIA KARLA S.; GOMES, CLAUDIA MARIA C.; LAURENTI, MARCIA D.; DA MATTA, VANIA LUCIA; CORBETT, CARLOS EDUARDO; et al. Visceral Leishmaniasis Urbanization in the Brazilian Amazon Is Supported by Significantly Higher Infection Transmission Rates Than in Rural Area. MICROORGANISMS, v. 10, n. 11, p. 17-pg., 2022-11-01. (14/50315-0)

ARAUJO FLORES, GABRIELA VENICIA; SANDOVAL PACHECO, CARMEN MARIA; TOMOKANE, THAISE YUMIE; OCHOA, WILFREDO SOSA; VALERIANO, CONCEPCION ZUNIGA; CASTRO GOMES, CLAUDIA MARIA; PEREIRA CORBETT, CARLOS EDUARDO; LAURENTI, MARCIA DALASTRA. Evaluation of Regulatory Immune Response in Skin Lesions of Patients Affected by Nonulcerated or Atypical Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Honduras, Central America. Mediators of Inflammation, v. 2018, p. 7-pg., 2018-01-01. (14/50315-0, 15/01154-7)

BATISTA, LUIS FABIO S.; PACHECO, CARMEN M. SANDOVAL; FLORES, GABRIELA V. ARAUJO; FERREIRA, FREDERICO M.; GONCALVES, ANDRE N. A.; SOSA-OCHOA, WILFREDO H.; DA MATTA, VANIA L. R.; GOMES, CLAUDIA M. C.; ZUNIGA, CONCEPCION; CORBETT, CARLOS E. P.; et al. Molecular Insights into Cell-Mediated Immunity in Atypical Non-Ulcerated Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. MICROORGANISMS, v. 13, n. 2, p. 20-pg., 2025-02-01. (14/50315-0, 20/10430-6, 22/16578-0)