Study of humoral and cellular immune response modulation induced by Mayaro and Chikungunya viruses in coinfected mice

• Grant number: 22/15124-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Carla Claser
• Grantee: Raquel de Oliveira Souza
• 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 the Zika, Dengue, Yellow Fever, and Chikungunya (CHIKV) virus, has caused serious public health problems. This increase causes other lesser known circulating arboviruses, such as Mayaro (MAYV), to be neglected. The presence of these different arboviruses in areas where MAYV co-circulates increases the risk of co-infection during outbreak periods. Although there are reports of MAYV co-infection with other arboviruses, there are few studies reporting MAYV and CHIKV co-infection. Both CHIKV and MAYV belong to the Alphavirus genus, and due to the antigenic proximity, the clinical symptoms are similar, interfering with the serological diagnosis. Recent studies have shown that infection with alphavirus triggers, in exposed individuals, a potent humoral response capable of providing protection against reinfection. Using a murine model, was demonstrated that mice previously exposed to CHIKV show partial cross-protection, mediated by the innate immune response, to MAYV infection. However, there are still gaps regarding the understanding of the antibody response as well as the role of B cells in immunity against these alphaviruses. Therefore, this project aims to study how the humoral and cellular immune response, focusing on B cells, is modulated in the paw of mice coinfected with MAYV and CHIKV. C57BL/6 immunologically competent adult mice will be coinfected in the paw following different models of coinfection. Understanding the antibody-mediated humoral immune response is crucial for vaccine development, as it represents a major advantage in controlling alphavirus infection.

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)

KIM, YOUNG CHAN; WATANABE, YASUNORI; ARLEN-CELINA, LUECKE; SONG, XIYONG; SOUZA, RAQUEL DE OLIVEIRA; STASS, ROBERT; AZAR, SASHA R.; ROSSI, SHANNAN L.; CLASER, CARLA; KUEMMERER, BEATE MAREIKE; et al. Immunogenic recombinant Mayaro virus-like particles present natively assembled glycoprotein. NPJ VACCINES, v. 9, n. 1, p. 13-pg., 2024-12-17. (22/15124-6, 18/24470-0)

SOUZA, RAQUEL DE OLIVEIRA; DUARTE JUNIOR, JOSE WANDILSON BARBOZA; DELLA CASA, VICTORIA SIMOES; ROSA, DANIELA SANTORO; RENIA, LAURENT; CLASER, CARLA. Unraveling the complex interplay: immunopathology and immune evasion strategies of alphaviruses with emphasis on neurological implications. FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY, v. 14, p. 18-pg., 2024-08-15. (21/13004-0, 22/06970-0, 18/24470-0, 22/13236-1, 22/15124-6)

Academic Publications

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

SOUZA, Raquel de Oliveira. Study of the modulation of humoral and cellular immune response induced by Mayaro and Chikungunya in co-infected mice.. 2025. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.