The role of Adhesins and antigen-specific antibodies in Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis adhesion

• Grant number: 15/21501-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Iracilda Zeppone Carlos
• Grantee: Maria Luiza de Aguiar Loesch
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a worldwide distributed, although especially present in tropical and subtropical regions, acute or chronic subcutaneous mycosis caused by thermodimorphic fungi from the Sporothrix schenckii species complex. It is commonly caused by the traumatic inoculation of the fungus from contaminated soil, plants, and organic material, affecting both humans and animals. The zoonotic transmission is also possible and has been the characteristic mode in Brazil, where primarily involving the domestic cat. Two pathogenic species have been associated with the endemic areas in Brazil: Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis. The latter is highly prevalent among cats and is also the most virulent species within the complex. For the establishment of infection, the ability of a fungus to adhere to different environmental strata is essential. Adhesins, which are, in their majority, specific glycoproteins which mediate adhesion to the tissues of the host by interacting with extracellular matrix proteins, play a fundamental role in this process. In face of the above, this study is aimed at obtaining and determining the importance of antigen-specific antibodies against the cell wall proteins from S. schenckii e S. brasiliensis in inhibiting fungal adhesion. In order to do that, polyclonal sera will be produced by immunization of mice with a cell wall proteins isolate obtained from the yeast forms of S. schenckii and S. brasiliensis. These sera will be assessed to determine their ability to enhance the fungicidal activity of macrophages through the opsonophagocytosis assay, as well as to inhibit adhesion of the yeasts to fibroblasts and the in vitro biofilm formation.

Academic Publications

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

LOESCH, Maria Luiza de Aguiar. Evaluation of the immunogenic and adhesive properties of the Sporothrix spp enolase. 2017. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas. Araraquara Araraquara.