The participation of innate immune receptors in the autophagy induction in response to Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

• Grant number: 12/02786-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Dario Simões Zamboni
• Grantee: Catarina Veltrini Horta
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/04596-0 - Generation of gene-deficient mice by using CRISPR/Cas genome editing, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Chaga's disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi protozoan, is one of the most serious parasitic disease in Latin America, affecting approximately 10 million people. The control of infection by mammalian hosts is dependent on effective immune recognition of the parasites by innate immune cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells. These cells express pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and Nod-like receptors (NLRs) that account for pathogen recognition and generation of effective immune responses, such as autophagy process. This process is considered an emerging effector mechanism in the pathogen elimination by innate immune cells. On the order hand, the role of autophagy during T. cruzi infection is unclear. In this context, we aim to investigate the role of autophagy in response to T. cruzi infection. Furthermore, we aim to evaluate the role of innate immune receptors in the autophagy induction in response to T. cruzi infection.