Trancriptome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains after incubation with macrophages activated with vitamin A and D

• Grant number: 12/18933-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: December 15, 2012
• End date: May 14, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Mario Hiroyuki Hirata
• Grantee: Joás Lucas da Silva
• Supervisor: Forest Rohwer
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: San Diego State University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/08645-5 - Transcriptome analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains infecting giant multinucleated cells, activated with vitamin A and D, using a next generation sequencer., BP.PD

Abstract

The ability to survive in harsh environments, including within macrophages, has been described as one of the most important abilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although important, the gene expression of persistent M. Tuberculosis is still not fully elucidated. In this project we are assessing the global gene expression of M. Tuberculosis strains within multinucleated giant macrophages in vitro grown with supplements of vitamin A and B. These cells were infected with M. Tuberculosis and analyzed over a period of 12 days. Mycobacteria were isolated from eukaryotic cells and total RNA extracted. The sequencing is being performed on an illumina HiScan platform. It is expected that global gene expression of M. tuberculosis H37Rv and Beijing 272 provide new information on the biology of mycobacteria helping to understand how physiological adaptations, required in mycobacterial persistence are variable between different strains and how these adaptations contribute to the disease development. Finally, new molecular targets for development of new drugs and genes involved in this persistence may be evidenced. (AU)