Production and composition evaluation of extracellular vesicles from Aspergillus fumigatus

• Grant number: 19/02504-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Biochemistry of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Fausto Bruno dos Reis Almeida
• Grantee: André Moreira Pessoni
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungus widely distributed in the environment and cited as the main cause of human infections in immunocompromised individuals. The infection success depends on the secretion of several molecules to the extracellular space. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are produced by different organisms and cell types and can cross the cell wall to reach the extracellular space. Fungal EVs contain proteins, lipids, pigments, polysaccharides, DNA and RNA. These components may be crucial in fungal pathophysiology. In the last few months, we have found that A. fumigatus produces a large number of EVs. This observation motivates the present proposal to study the production of EVs by A. fumigatus, in addition to determining the composition of these vesicles. More specifically, we aim to meet the following objectives: (1) Investigate the production of EVs in A. fumigatus; (2) Sequence A. fumigatus total RNA and of the components of its EVs. (3) Identify the obtained vesicles proteome. Our expectation is that the determination of the composition of EVs produced by A. fumigatus reveals important molecules that play crucial roles in the fungal pathogenesis. (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)

BITENCOURT, TAMIRES A.; PESSONI, ANDRE M.; OLIVEIRA, BIANCA T. M.; ALVES, LYSANGELA R.; ALMEIDA, FAUSTO. The RNA Content of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles: At the "Cutting-Edge" of Pathophysiology Regulation. CELLS, v. 11, n. 14, p. 11-pg., 2022-07-01. (19/02504-2, 19/23801-5, 21/06794-5, 20/02841-6)

BITENCOURT, TAMIRES A.; HATANAKA, OTAVIO; PESSONI, ANDRE M.; FREITAS, MATEUS S.; TRENTIN, GABRIEL; SANTOS, PATRICK; ROSSI, ANTONIO; MARTINEZ-ROSSI, NILCE M.; ALVES, LYSANGELA L.; CASADEVALL, ARTURO; et al. Fungal Extracellular Vesicles Are Involved in Intraspecies Intracellular Communication. MBIO, v. 13, n. 1, p. 14-pg., 2022-01-01. (19/02504-2, 19/22596-9, 16/03322-7, 19/22454-0)

Academic Publications

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

PESSONI, André Moreira. Production and composition evaluation of extracellular vesicles from Aspergillus fumigatus. 2021. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.