Analysis of the human endogenous retrovirus in HTLV infected patients

• Grant number: 18/25468-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: June 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Ester Cerdeira Sabino
• Grantee: Flavia Cristina da Silva Sales
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV), were exogenous retroviruses that infected gemline cells of our ancestors. These HERVs represent around 8% of the human genome. These HERVs has been associated with many neurological diseases with patterns of degeneration and inflammation, such as Multiple Sclerosis and Amiotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. HTLV is the etiologic agent of HTLV associated mielophathy/ Tropical Spatic Paraparesis, a neurological disease pathophysiologically determined by its inflammation and neurodegeneration, which potentially compromises the the quality of life of the infected patients. Today, its believed that there are around 2.5 million infected individuals. Essentially, only 1.5% of the infected patients may develop the disease. Unfortunately, we lack of the information which determine the potential risk for HAMTSP development. HERVs may present a role in this disease, and have been poorly investigated, and the available studies are controversial. Therefore the aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of the HERVs transcriptional activity in HTLV patients, and possibly contribute for the better understanding of HERVs role in HTLV disorders. (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)

CANDIDO, DARLAN S.; CLARO, INGRA M.; DE JESUS, JAQUELINE G.; SOUZA, WILLIAM M.; MOREIRA, FILIPE R. R.; DELLICOUR, SIMON; MELLAN, THOMAS A.; DU PLESSIS, LOUIS; PEREIRA, RAFAEL H. M.; SALES, FLAVIA C. S.; et al. Evolution and epidemic spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil. Science, v. 369, n. 6508, SI, p. 1255+, SEP 4 2020. (20/04558-0, 16/00194-8, 19/21301-5, 18/14389-0, 18/14933-2, 17/13981-0, 20/04836-0, 18/25468-9, 16/18445-7, 18/09383-3, 18/17176-8, 19/12000-1, 19/07544-2, 19/24251-9)

FARIA, NUNO R.; MELLAN, THOMAS A.; WHITTAKER, CHARLES; CLARO, INGRA M.; CANDIDO, DARLAN DA S.; MISHRA, SWAPNIL; CRISPIM, MYUKI A. E.; SALES, FLAVIA C.; HAWRYLUK, IWONA; MCCRONE, JOHN T.; et al. Genomics and epidemiology of the P.1 SARS-CoV-2 lineage in Manaus, Brazil. Science, v. 372, n. 6544, p. 815+, MAY 21 2021. (20/04558-0, 19/21568-1, 19/21301-5, 18/14389-0, 17/13981-0, 20/04272-9, 18/25468-9, 16/18445-7, 19/21858-0, 18/17176-8, 19/12000-1, 19/07544-2, 18/12579-7, 19/24251-9)