Study of the therapeutic effect of attenuated strains of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium alone and associated with violacein in different murine models

• Grant number: 09/12659-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2010
• End date: December 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Brocchi
• Grantee: Igor Alexandre Campos Damiani
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Salmonella enterica Typhimurium, a facultative anaerobic bacterium presents tropism for tumor-growth areas. Besides, it was demonstrated that when attenuated strains that carry and express exogenous DNA, iRNA, cytokines and enzymes are used as therapeutic vectors against neoplasic cells, there is a decrease in tumor size and even cure of the treated animal. It was also observed that this bacterial lineage acts synergistically with some chemotherapeutic agents, such as cyclophosphamide. This interesting property creates new perspectives in cancer research, in which great efforts have been made to seek a drug carrier that could selectively target and destroy malignant cells. In this project, the therapeutic effect of two attenuated strains, ”himA and ”himD, lacking the a or b subunits of IHF (Integration Host Factor), respectively, will be analyzed. The therapeutic potential of such strains has not yet been tested. Besides, we will also investigate if these strains improve violacein effects, a compound of high antitumor efficacy.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

DAMIANI, Igor Alexandre Campos. Study of the therapeutic effect of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium attenuated strains in murine models of cancer. 2011. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia Campinas, SP.