Investigating the Role of Endogenous Retroviruses in helminth infection under High Fat Diet Conditions.

• Grant number: 25/05025-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Djalma de Souza Lima Júnior
• Grantee: Camila Marcos Varjão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/09270-2 - Decoding the role of endogenous retroviruses in controlling type 2 immunity, AP.JP

Abstract

Helminth infections are common parasitic diseases that affect millions of people worldwide, being particularly prevalent in developing countries. These infections trigger chronic inflammation and immune system dysregulation, but the exact mechanisms underlying this disease remain incompletely understood. Recent studies suggest that endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), ancient viral elements integrated into the human genome, may influence immunity and inflammation, being associated with various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as cancer. However, the role of ERVs in helminthiasis remains largely unexplored, especially under high-fat diet (HFD) conditions. Evidence indicates that HFD can modulate immune responses and increase systemic inflammation, raising the hypothesis that the interaction between ERVs and HFD may influence the course of helminth infection.This project aims to investigate the role of ERVs activation in the immune response to Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection in mice subjected to a high-fat diet. We intend to characterize the ERV expression profiles in the lungs of these animals, assess their influence on parasite burden, and examine the effects of ERV reactivation during infection. To achieve this, mice will be fed an HFD and infected with N. brasiliensis, and ERV expression in lung tissue will be initially analyzed. Subsequently, an experimental approach using an antiretroviral cocktail will be employed to inhibit ERV activation and evaluate its impact on parasite burden, egg count, and immune response.The expected results may provide new insights into the relationship between ERVs, helminthiasis, and diet, expanding our understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in this interaction. Furthermore, the findings may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic approaches and dietary strategies for the prevention and management of helminth infections.