Functional analysis of peroxiredoxins in the human opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus

• Grant number: 14/16636-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2014
• End date: May 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Iran Malavazi
• Grantee: Krissia Franco de Godoy
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus is a filamentous fungal opportunistic pathogen, and is responsible for several respiratory diseases including the invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which is the most severe form infection. Generally, the microbial infections triggers a host's immune response mediated by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which include organic peroxides and hydrogen peroxide. The ability of pathogenic microorganisms to remain and colonize the host during the immune response can be attributable to the function of the various antioxidant mechanisms. Among these mechanisms lays are a number of antioxidant enzymes including catalases, superoxide dismutases, Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) and Peroxiredoxins (Prx). I many organisms, peroxiredoxins plays a significant role in the permanence of the pathogen within the host due to their ability to decompose lipid hydroperoxides, peroxynitrite, and hydrogen peroxide. Currently there is no information about the functions of the peroxiredoxins in A. fumigatus or the relationship of these proteins with other antioxidant systems in this fungi. Therefore, this project aims to functionally characterize the three perxiredoxins identified in the genome of A. fumigatus. (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)

ROCHA, MARINA CAMPOS; DE GODOY, KRISSIA FRANCO; BANNITZ-FERNANDES, RENATA; MARILHANO FABRI, JOAO H. T.; FERRARI BARBOSA, MAYRA M.; DE CASTRO, PATRICIA ALVES; ALMEIDA, FAUSTO; GOLDMAN, GUSTAVO HENRIQUE; DA CUNHA, ANDERSON FERREIRA; NETTO, LUIS E. S.; et al. Analyses of the three 1-Cys Peroxiredoxins from Aspergillus fumigatus reveal that cytosolic Prx1 is central to H2O2 metabolism and virulence. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 8, AUG 17 2018. (14/16636-4, 16/03322-7, 15/17541-0, 13/22375-6)