Study of the modulation of macrophages and dendritic cells with extracellular vesicles purified from conidia of Trichophyton rubrum

• Grant number: 23/09689-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Karen Spadari Ferreira
• Grantee: Lorrayne Camila de Souza Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dermatophytes are important fungal infections, the etiological agent, Trichophyton rubrum, being responsible for most cases of superficial fungal infections in the world. Cases of disease severity are rare, but when present, we know that the imbalance of the host's immune system, such as CARD-9 deficiency, would be one of the mechanisms involved in this process. On the other hand, Trichophyton rubrum fungi produce several virulence factors, which are essential for them to escape the immune response and establish themselves in the keratinized tissue of the host. Among these factors, we can highlight the extracellular vesicles produced and released by the fungus to communicate with the host cell or with other fungal cells. Thus, this project aims to analyze the ability of these extracellular vesicles to modulate the immune response in macrophages and dendritic cells. Based on these results, we can clarify one of the probable mechanisms these fungi use to remain in the host tissue.