Role of fungal extracellular vesicles during cellular communication

• Grant number: 25/05708-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Fausto Bruno dos Reis Almeida
• Grantee: Renan Eugênio Araujo Piraine
• 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

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in fungal communication, influencing the fungus-host relationship and the transfer of virulence factors. During infections by pathogenic fungi, a bidirectional communication mediated by EVs is established, originating both from fungi and immune system cells. These EVs act in infection and defense processes, participating in the fungal communication network and coordinating the immune response. In addition to modulating immunity, fungal EVs are involved in adaptive mechanisms, such as thermotolerance, which aid in fungal survival under adverse conditions.This project aims to investigate the role of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans EVs in immunomodulation and the induction of thermotolerance, as well as explore the antifungal potential of immune cell-derived EVs. For this purpose, in vitro models of neutrophils and macrophages will be used, from which EVs will be isolated for characterization and interaction assays with the fungi. Neutrophils will be stimulated with fungal EVs to evaluate the production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), while macrophages will be stimulated and analyzed for phagocytic and microbicidal activity.Concurrently, the induction of thermotolerance in fungi exposed to fungal EVs will be studied, assessing cell viability and the expression of heat stress markers. The expected results will contribute to understanding fungal EV-mediated immunomodulation and thermotolerance, as well as exploring the potential of immune system EVs in controlling pathogenic fungal infections, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies. (AU)