Immunoregulatory role of extracellular vesicles from Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus

• Grant number: 24/01074-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Fausto Bruno dos Reis Almeida
• Grantee: Júlia Leão Froldi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06794-5 - Fungal extracellular vesicles: immunomodulation and cellular communication, AP.JP2
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/05600-3 - The Role of Extracellular Vesicles and Sit4 Phosphatase in Pathogenicity, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Fungal infections are associated with around 1.6 million deaths per year, affecting more than 1 billion people. Among the main pathogenic fungi, Cryptococcus spp., Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. are notable for their high mortality. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are structures formed by a lipid bilayer that carry several biomolecules that play important roles in fungal pathophysiology. Understanding the role of fungal EVs in host immunomodulation is crucial for understanding fungal pathogenesis and, consequently, for developing new antifungal therapies. In this sense, we propose to better understand the role of fungal EVs produced by Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus during immunomodulation. More specifically, we propose to evaluate the production of inflammatory mediators and the cellular activity of macrophages stimulated with fungal EVs, evaluating the importance of TLR2, TLR4 and Dectin-1 type receptors in the recognition of these EVs. These results may identify potential prophylactic and therapeutic targets.