Structural and functional characterization of vesicular structures exported by the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

• Grant number: 07/04757-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2007
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Rosana Puccia
• Grantee: Milene Carmes Vallejo
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 06/05095-6 - Analysis of exported vesicular structures and of secreted molecules by the pathogenic fungi Paracoccidioides brasiliensis e Cryptococcus neoformans, AP.TEM

Abstract

We are using the pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis as a fungal model to study extracellular membranous vesicles (exosome-like). We intend to isolate and characterize the vesicles, determine their composition in comparison with cell wall proteins, verify their immunomodulatory role, and the role of monohexosylceramide in their secretion mechanism. The importance of exocytic vesicles as a secretion mechanism, transport of immunomodulatory molecules and their relevance in host/parasite relationship has been recently recognized among microorganisms, including the oportunistic fungus Cryptococcos neoformans. Two abstract meetings record preliminary findings by our group in P. brasiliensis and by others in Histoplasma capsulatum. In this project, we will compare the analyses in two genetically distinct isolates that evoke different profiles of infection in mice. (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)

VALLEJO, MILENE C.; NAKAYASU, ERNESTO S.; LONGO, LARISSA V. G.; GANIKO, LUCIANE; LOPES, FELIPE G.; MATSUO, ALISSON L.; ALMEIDA, IGOR C.; PUCCIA, ROSANA. Lipidomic Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles from the Pathogenic Phase of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. PLoS One, v. 7, n. 6, p. e39463, 2012. (07/04757-8, 06/05095-6)