IMMUNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF A PROTEIN BASED VACCINE GAINST Staphylococcus aureus MULTIDRUG RESISTANT

• Grant number: 24/08191-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Rojas Converso
• Grantee: Khyber Shinwari
• Host Institution: Universidade São Francisco (USF). Campus Bragança Paulista. Bragança Paulista , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/15111-1 - A novel selection and validadtion model for vaccine candidates against Staphylococcus aureus multi drug resistant, AP.R

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium of great interest worldwide being responsible for high levels of hospital and community acquired infections. The impact of S. aureus infections in worsened by the rapid increasing of multidrug resistant strains, which limit the therapeutic options and increase the death toll. Despite the great burden associated with S. aureus infections, there is no vaccine available against this pathogen. S. aureus infections are initiated by asymptomatic colonization of host niches, where the bacterium produces biofilms - complex structures composed of microorganisms surrounded by extracellular matrix, providing increased resistance to antimicrobials and host defense molecules. From biofilms, the bacteria can spread to other tissues causing several diseases. The present research project proposes a new approach for selection and validation of vaccine candidates against S. aureus, combining bioinformatic, transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of bacteria in colonizing biofilms and biofilm-dispersed, virulent phenotypes. The combination of techniques will allow us to identify molecules involved on the transition from colonizing biofilms to invasive biofilm-dispersed forms; these molecules will be produced and evaluated in immunization experiments looking for protection against invasive disease. The research goals associated with this scholarship involves the immunological analysis of the selected proteins, including but not limited to antibody detection by ELISA; analysis of antibody function by flow cytometry; and bactericidal assays; evaluation of cytokine production by CBA; generation of memory T and B cells; protection against lethal challenge.