Immunoblot of oomycetes Pythium insidiosum: search of candidate antigens for diagnosis of pythiosis

• Grant number: 19/08761-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Sandra de Moraes Gimenes Bosco
• Grantee: Jéssica Luana Chechi
• Supervisor: Theerapong Krajaejun
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Mahidol University, Thailand
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/10804-8 - Immunoproteomics of the oomycete Pythium insidiosum: antigens candidates for the diagnosis of equine pythiosis, BP.DR

Abstract

Pythiosis, the etiological agent of which is the oomycete Pythium insidiosum, is an emerging disease that occurs most frequently in tropical and subtropical countries, affecting several animal species. The disease is difficult to diagnose, because the pathogen's hyphae are often confused with zygomycetes fungi in histological sections. Treatment of pythiosis is also difficult because the pathogen doesn't respond satisfactorily to the antifungal drugs available due to the absence of ergosterol in the plasma membrane, and it is necessary to perform surgical procedures, often extensive, when possible. Studies on the protein characterization of this pathogen are scarce. In Thailand, where the disease is endemic in humans, studies show that the main protein fraction recognized by patients is a 74 kDa protein, which is being considered as an immunodominant antigen. In Brazil the species most affected by the disease is the equine. We highlight that our group has studied the protein profile of P. insidiosum, focusing on virulence factors. Now we are focusing on the characterization of a common immunodominant protein among Brazilian horses and Thailand human patients. Partial data with sera of horses from southeast region of Brazil show the recognition of different molecular weight (ranging from ~144 KDa to ~11 KDa), and isoelectric points (pH between 4-7). From the characterization of such common immunodominant proteins, we expected to improve the diagnosis of pythiosis and contribute for new therapeutic approaches. (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)

CHECHI, JESSICA LUANA; ROTCHANAPREEDA, TIWA; DA PAZ, GISELLE SOUZA; PRADO, ANA CAROLINA; OLIVEIRA, ALANA LUCENA; SOUZA VIEIRA, JOSE CAVALCANTE; RABELO BUZALAF, MARILIA AFONSO; RODRIGUES, ANDERSON MESSIAS; DELAZARI DOS SANTOS, LUCILENE; KRAJAEJUN, THEERAPONG; et al. Prospecting Biomarkers for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches in Pythiosis. JOURNAL OF FUNGI, v. 7, n. 6, JUN 2021. (16/10804-8, 19/08761-7, 18/08009-0)