Expression of long non-coding RNAs in patients infected with cutaneous leishmaniasis

• Grant number: 19/13541-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2019
• End date: November 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Flavia Lombardi Lopes
• Grantee: Mariana Cordeiro Almeida
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease considered a serious public health problem, being endemic in 98 countries. The causative agents of the disease are protozoa of the genus Leishmania. According to the clinical manifestations, the disease is classified in two types: tegumentary leishmaniasis (LT) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). LT is the most common type of disease, and encompasses cutaneous and mucocutaneous forms. American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (LTA) is responsible for Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (LCL), the simplest disease form, and also for more severe forms such as Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (CML). In Brazil, LTA cases are registered in all regions of the country. From 3 to 5% of LCL cases progress to CML. Physiological mechanisms are regulated mainly by DNA that is influenced by a set of processes called epigenetic mechanisms, which guarantee a time and tissue-specific regulation of gene expression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) present diverse functions within cellular mechanisms such as regulation of gene expression, recruitment of transcriptional factors, besides regulatory action during pathologies and activation of immune response. This work aims to process data obtained in previous studies to elucidate the expression of annotated and differentially expressed lncRNAs in patients infected with tegumentary leishmaniasis who present primary lesions and eventually develop mucocutaneous lesions.

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)

ALMEIDA, MARIANA CORDEIRO; FELIX, JULIANA DE SOUZA; LOPES, MARIA FERNANDA DA SILVA; ATHAYDE, FLAVIA REGINA FLORENCIO DE; TROIANO, JESSICA ANTONINI; SCARAMELE, NATALIA FRANCISCO; FURLAN, AMANDA DE OLIVEIRA; LOPES, FLAVIA LOMBARDI. Co-expression analysis of lncRNA and mRNA suggests a role for ncRNA-mediated regulation of host-parasite interactions in primary skin lesions of patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis. Acta Tropica, v. 245, p. 7-pg., 2023-06-16. (19/13541-6)