Synthesis and evaluation of the potential inhibitory activity of carbohydrates that mimic GPI anchor of T. cruzi

• Grant number: 14/21200-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: October 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Ivone Carvalho
• Grantee: Ana Luísa Malaco Morotti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 16/14192-7 - Synthesis and evaluation of fluorescent Trypanosoma cruzi GPI anchors in support of drug discovery for Chagas' disease, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Diseases caused by trypanosomatids represent a health problem of great importance worldwide. Among them, Chagas disease affects thousands of people, being a cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in countries which are in development. The low financial returns and the low income of affected individuals do not arouse interest by pharmaceutical industries in research and development of new treatments. The therapeutic arsenal for Chagas disease is scarce and often ineffective, drawing attention to the necessity of development of new compounds and of search for more selective molecular targets in the parasite. Glycophosphatidylinositol anchors (GPI) are responsible for anchoring several proteins of T. cruzi, such as mucins and trans-sialidase. Several studies have shown that these molecules are important for invasion and survival of the parasite in the host. Thus, the synthesis of parts of GPI anchor of T. cruzi becomes an interesting strategy for further studies related to biological functions and interactions performed by this class of molecules. In addition, it will assist for the search of new molecular targets, and for the development of potential structures which can mimic GPI anchors, to be used as antigen or adjuvant in vaccines. (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)

MALACO MOROTTI, ANA LUISA; MARTINS-TEIXEIRA, MARISTELA BRAGA; CARVALHO, IVONE. Protozoan Parasites Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Anchors: Structures, Functions and Trends for Drug Discovery. Current Medicinal Chemistry, v. 26, n. 23, p. 4301-4322, 2019. (14/21200-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MOROTTI, Ana Luísa Malaco. Synthesis of GPI anchor analogues to support the discovery of new molecular targets of Trypanosoma cruzi. 2018. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.