Identification of pathogenicity mechanism induced during co-infection with Mayaro virus and Plasmodium berghei ANKA

• Grant number: 22/06970-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Carla Claser
• Grantee: José Wandilson Barboza Duarte Júnior
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/24470-0 - Study of immune-pathological alterations induced during co-infection with Alpha virus and Malaria in murine model, AP.JP

Abstract

The recent increase in epidemic outbreaks of arboviruses in Brazil, such as Mayaro virus (MAYV), in regions where malaria is endemic, increases the risk of co-infection. MAYV and Plasmodium (malaria pathogens) induce pro-inflammatory response in the host, resulting in complications such as arthralgia in MAYV infections and cerebral malaria and malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, the initial clinical signs and symptoms of MAYV to other arboviruses oftenly cause a "false-negative" diagnosis for MAYV. Consequently, the impact of co-infection with Plasmodium and MAYV on host susceptibility remains unclear. The present study aim to determine a model of coinfection with MAYV and Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbAluc) in immunologically competent adult mice, to discover the immune responses involved in the co-infection that can modify the respective pathologies induced by both pathogens. The immunological and pathological indicators detected in these models of co-infection will allow the identification of possible biomarkers of the disease, as well as of host factors that can be used as a target for therapeutic drugs.