Determination of antibody titers against the recombinant protein HSP60 Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in sera from patients with different clinical forms of paracoccidioidomycosis

• Grant number: 12/07924-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Immunochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ademilson Panunto-Castelo
• Grantee: Gabriela Peron
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The detection of serum antibodies specific for antigens of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has been used as a leading indicator for the diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Moreover, the quantification of these antibodies has been used as a marker for monitoring treatment of patients suffering from PCM, there is a direct correlation between the decrease of serum antibodies specific for some antigens and patient improvement. Published data suggest a potential role of some antigens used in diagnosis, for example the glycoprotein of 43kDa, and immunomodulatory molecules as vaccine targets. Molecules such as heat shock proteins (Hsp) are attractive options since they are related to different phenomena of innate and adaptive immunity. The role of Hsp60 of P. brasiliensis in PCM is not fully known. Studies indicate that this protein, together with Hsp70, are preferentially expressed in yeast compared with the mycelium of P. brasiliensis. Although described in the literature that stimulation of BALB / c mice with Hsp60 leads to a pattern of T helper 1 immune response, our group has discordant data, since the preparation containing Hsp60 induce an immunosuppressive effect associated with the production of TGF-² and induction of B cells producing IL-10. In addition, another group reported that this molecule can induce apoptosis of gamma-delta T cells by activation of caspase-9. The role of this protein in the course of PCM appears to be complex, which led us to evaluate the presence of antibodies specific for the recombinant Hsp60 P. brasiliensis in sera from patients with various forms of PCM. The presence of these antibodies is correlated with the severity of the PCM, and may constitute a new marker of infection by P. brasiliensis. (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)

G. PERON; F.F. FERNANDES; T.N. LANDGRAF; R. MARTINEZ; A. PANUNTO-CASTELO. Recombinant 60-kDa heat shock protein from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: is it a good antigen for serological diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis?. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, v. 50, n. 4, 2017-04-03. (12/08552-0, 13/12278-3, 09/03235-3, 12/07924-0)