Role of NFAT during experimental infection induced by T. gondii

• Grant number: 14/14859-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: João Santana da Silva
• Grantee: Verônica Marcela Saltarelli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/14524-9 - Modulation of T lymphocytes differentiation in infections by Protozoa, Fungi and Bacteria, AP.TEM

Abstract

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) are proteins that play an important role in the development and function of the immune system. In T cells, NFATs proteins are capable of regulating cell activation and are involved in controlling in the thymocytes development and lymphocytes T differentiation. The Toxoplasma gondii infection induce an excessive Th1 response, that if uncontrolled becomes deleterious to the host. Since the induction of an efficient adaptive response is triggered by signals dependent innate immune response and the balance between the effector T responses (Th1 and Th17) and regulatory T. In this study we evaluate the role of NFAT during oral T. gondii infection, correlating the susceptibility / resistance to infection with the diverse profile of responses induced by these pathogens.