Study of the mechanisms involved in the protection by perillyl alcohol in the experimental cerebral malaria development

• Grant number: 16/05398-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Alejandro Miguel Katzin
• Grantee: Adriana Alejandra Marin Rodriguez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/01142-0 - Study of Perillyl alcohol effect on cerebral endothelium by in vitro and in vivo assay, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Cerebral malaria (CM) is an often lethal neurovascular syndrome, caused by Plasmodium falciparum infection. Even with appropriate antimalarial treatment until 30-40% of the patients died, so new therapies and /or adjuvants which have as targets important aspects of the disease pathogenesis are urgently needed. Previous results in our laboratory showed that the perillyl alcohol (POH) was able to prevent the experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) development. The inhalation administration of POH increased the survival rate of mice infected and decreased the brain inflammation. Thus, the search for effective therapies for the CM treatment, this study aims to understand the mechanisms involved in the protecting of the ECM development by POH and to determine its potential as a curative therapy and /or adjuvant for the severe malaria treatment and combination with other antimalarials.