Assessment of pathogenic mechanisms of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV) related to the development of an acute and latent/persistent disease.

• Grant number: 12/19131-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Eurico de Arruda Neto
• Grantee: Miriã Ferreira Criado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/51818-8 - The profile of viral infections in chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract: adenoamigdaliana hypertrophy and secretory otitis media, rhinosinusitis, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 15/13990-4 - Comparative study of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (HRSV) infection in cells of lymphoid and epithelial origin: expression of microRNAs, kinases, and inflammasome activation, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is one of the most important virus in public health because is responsible for high morbidity and mortality around the world. In spite of its great importance, the pathogenesis of HRSV is still poorly understood. Numerous host and viral factors have been suggested to be involved in RSV disease, but their roles remain controversial.Acute respiratory disease caused by HRSV is more studied and better characterized, but recent reports shown that HRSV also could be envolved in persistent infections "in vitro", in animal models and in the human lungs, and thus also be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases. Recent results from our group showed detection of HRSV genome and F protein in adenoids and tonsillitis from patients with chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy without symptoms of acute respiratory infection. Confirmation that HRSV causes latency or persistence in these tissues will be important and inedited results. Furthermore, the HRSV persistency for long time in the adenoids can be a virus reservoir, explaning sazonal strains resurgence in the population. Then, the major goal of this project is to better understand the mechanisms involved in the HRSV pathogenesis in the acute and latent/persistent diseases linked to the fact we have rare samples, tools and experience with reverse genetics. Therefore, a better understanding about the HRSV effects in the imune system as determinants envolved in this process is essentials to develop efficient vaccine and therapies to control the HRSV disease.