Identification of peptides capable of inhibiting the internalization process of Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes in differentiated macrophage cells.

• Grant number: 23/03651-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Marcia Aparecida Silva Graminha
• Grantee: Maysa Alves de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Leishmaniases are considered Neglected Diseases, resulting from infection by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, being endemic in large areas of the tropics, subtropics and Mediterranean basin, affecting more than 98 countries. According to the World Health Organization, around one billion people live in areas endemic for leishmaniasis and are at risk of acquiring the infection. The organization estimates an annual incidence of 30,000 cases for visceral leishmaniasis and more than one million for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Despite representing a serious public health problem, there are no vaccines available for human use, and the existing therapeutic alternatives are not effective, associated with high toxicity and high cost. That said, it is necessary to identify new antigens and therapeutic targets for the development of new tools to control and fight leishmaniasis. Thus, using a library of peptides and applying the biopanning technique, this research project aims to identify specific peptides capable of reducing the rate of macrophage infection, using differentiated THP-1 monocytes and the Leishmania braziliensis species as an experimental model, which may bring new elements to the understanding of the intricate parasite-host interaction related to the establishment of leishmaniasis that can be applied for research and development of new therapeutic or vaccine targets for the control of leishmaniasis.