The role of ezrin, radixin and moesin (ERM proteins) in cell invasion by extracellular amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi.

• Grant number: 12/25282-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Renato Arruda Mortara
• Grantee: Éden Ramalho de Araujo Ferreira
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/51475-3 - Molecular and cellular biology of the parasitism by Trypanosoma cruzi, AP.TEM

Abstract

Chagas disease is caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) and affects more than 10 million people worldwide (WHO). The cell invasion by extracellular amastigotes of T. cruzi (EAs) is mediated by complex cell signaling events which are involved host and parasite molecules. In this context, recent research has shown that the host cell membrane microdomain plays an important role in signaling and invasion of EAs. It is also known the correlation of membrane microdomais in actin cytoskeleton remodeling which is one of the major cellular components involved in EAs internalization. The interaction between actin cytoskeleton and membrane microdomains, is dependent of proteins that binds in the actin cytoskeleton and also in membrane microdomains, acting as a mediator of the actin cytoskeleton dynamics and the cell membrane. Some of the proteins which mediate this interaction are ezrin, radixin and moesin, forming a group of proteins called ERM proteins. Preliminary results from our laboratory demonstrated the presence of protein ezrin in EAs "cup-like structures" formed in host cell membrane during internalization of these parasites. These structures also have been described as actin-rich structures. This project therefore aims to study cell invasion by EAs focusing on the correlation between the events of actin cytoskeleton changes and membrane microdomains, having as key mediators the ERM proteins.

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)

BONFIM-MELO, ALEXIS; FERREIRA, EDEN R.; FLORENTINO, PILAR T. V.; MORTARA, RENATO A.. Amastigote Synapse: The Tricks of Trypanosoma cruzi Extracellular Amastigotes. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 9, JUN 27 2018. (12/21335-8, 12/25282-6, 11/03357-1, 11/51475-3)

FERREIRA, EDEN R.; BONFIM-MELO, ALEXIS; CORDERO, ESTEBAN M.; MORTARA, RENATO A.. ERM Proteins Play Distinct Roles in Cell Invasion by Extracellular Amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 8, NOV 21 2017. (11/51475-3, 12/25282-6)