Niamh Forde | University of Leeds - Inglaterra

• Grant number: 16/50433-9
• Support type: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Duration: August 04, 2017 - August 20, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Cooperation agreement: Newton Fund, with FAPESP as a partner institution in Brazil
• Principal Investigator: Juliano Coelho da Silveira
• Grantee: Juliano Coelho da Silveira
• Visiting researcher: Niamh Forde
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Leeds, England
• Principal investigator abroad: Niamh Forde
• Institution abroad: University of Leeds, England
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The majority of reproductive wastage occurs in the first 2-3 weeks of pregnancy. Establishing successful early pregnancy requires communication between the gametes and the maternal environrnent as well as successful bi-directional communication between the developing conceptus (embryo proper and extra-embryonic membranes) and the uterine environment. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a new form of cell-to-cell communication within different systems. EVs the type of which is dependent on their size (exosomes, microvesicles) have been detected in different body fluids and can carry miRNAs, mRNAs and proteins which can be incorporated into target tissues to modify their function. This proposal will generate samples to investigate the composition and functional role EVs during the period of establishment of uterine receptivity to implantation and pregnancy recognition during the time when most pregnancy loss occurs. In order to generate new insights into the mechanisms involved in conceptus-maternal crosstalk, we will generate biological samples, which will allow to investigate the contents of EVs secreted by conceptuses with different developmental outcomes. This proposal will shift paradigms related to pregnancy establishment. Additionally, this proposal will stimulate the exchange of knowledge between Brazil and United Kingdom participants contributing to the development of long-term collaborations. (AU)