Prospection of new epitopes with vaccine potential in the control of experimental infection by Paracoccidioides lutzii

• Grant number: 18/25171-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: February 01, 2019
• End date: November 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Pelleschi Taborda
• Grantee: Leandro Buffoni Roque da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/08730-6 - Fungal pathogenicity: environmental effects, immune response and vaccine modulation in the Brazilian endemic mycoses paracoccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/20622-2 - Prospection of new epitopes antigenic from P. lutzii isolate with vaccine potential, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The group of systemic mycoses, including paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis, among others, caused death in 3,583 individuals between 1996-2006 in Brazil. Paracoccidioidomycosis was the most important with approximately 51.2% of cases followed by histoplasmosis with 4.8% in non-HIV patients. Considering AIDS as the underlying cause of death and endemic systemic mycoses as associated conditions, histoplasmosis appears at 10.1% and PCM at 1.4%. The use of antifungal drugs is the best tool currently available for the treatment of these infections. However, patients are usually undergoing long periods of treatment, and relapses and sequelae are frequent. Vaccine models developed against aspergillosis, candidiasis, cryptococcosis, coccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis have been described, however, an effective vaccine does not yet exist. In relation to PCM, our group has been working on the development of a peptide vaccine (P10), originating from a fraction of the immunodominant glycoprotein gp43 from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. However, a mutation in the gp43 gene present in Paracoccidioides lutzii impairs the use of P10 in the control of infection by this species. This project will address the prospection of epitopes with vaccine potential and the development of strategies in the presence / absence of antifungal drugs. Thus, advances are expected in the formulation of a vaccine strategy against P. lutzii, in addition to consolidating our knowledge about the immunopathogenesis of this mycosis with importance in public health in Brazil.

Scientific publications

(6)

(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)

SILVA, LEANDRO B. R.; TAIRA, CLEISON L.; CLEARE, LEVI G.; MARTINS, MICHELE; JUNQUEIRA, MAGNO; NOSANCHUK, JOSHUA D.; TABORDA, CARLOS P.. Identification of Potentially Therapeutic Immunogenic Peptides From Paracoccidioides lutzii Species. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, v. 12, MAY 11 2021. (19/20622-2, 18/25171-6, 16/08730-6)

SILVA, LEANDRO B. R.; TAIRA, CLEISON L.; DIAS, LUCAS S.; SOUZA, ANA C. O.; NOSANCHUK, JOSHUA D.; TRAVASSOS, LUIZ R.; TABORDA, CARLOS P.. Experimental Therapy of Paracoccidioidomycosis Using P10-Primed Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Isolated From Infected Mice. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 10, JUL 31 2019. (18/25171-6, 16/08730-6)

SHIMABUKURO, NATALI; CATARUCI, AMALIA C. DE S.; ISHIKAWA, KARIN H.; OLIVEIRA, BRUNA E. DE; KAWAMOTO, DIONE; ANDO-SUGUIMOTO, ELLEN S.; ALBUQUERQUE-SOUZA, EMMANUEL; NICOLI, JACQUES R.; FERREIRA, CAROLINE M.; DE LIMA, JEAN; et al. Bifidobacterium Strains Present Distinct Effects on the Control of Alveolar Bone Loss in a Periodontitis Experimental Model. FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY, v. 12, SEP 24 2021. (17/22345-0, 15/18273-9, 16/13156-7, 18/25171-6, 16/14687-6, 17/16377-7, 16/13159-6)

EMIDIO, ELUZIA C. P.; URAN J, MARTHA E.; SILVA, LEANDRO B. R.; DIAS, LUCAS S.; DOPRADO, MARIANA; NOSANCHUK, JOSHUA D.; TABORDA, CARLOS PELLESCHI. Melanin as a Virulence Factor in Different Species of Genus Paracoccidioides. JOURNAL OF FUNGI, v. 6, n. 4, DEC 2020. (16/08730-6, 18/25171-6, 19/20622-2)

DIAS, LUCAS DOS SANTOS; SILVA, LEANDRO B. R.; NOSANCHUK, JOSHUA D.; TABORDA, CARLOS PELLESCHI. Neutrophil Cells Are Essential for The Efficacy of a Therapeutic Vaccine against Paracoccidioidomycosis. JOURNAL OF FUNGI, v. 7, n. 6, JUN 2021. (18/25171-6, 16/08730-6)

DA SILVA, LEANDRO B. R.; TABORDA, CARLOS P.; NOSANCHUK, JOSHUA D.. Advances in Fungal Peptide Vaccines. JOURNAL OF FUNGI, v. 6, n. 3, SEP 2020. (16/08730-6, 19/20622-2, 18/25171-6)