Paracoccidioides lutzii and other fungi of medical importance: development of therapeutic vaccine and alternative treatment with synthetic compounds in the control of systemic mycoses.

Author(s)

Diego Conrado Pereira Rossi

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2017-03-24

Examining board members

Carlos Pelleschi Taborda; Sandro Rogerio de Almeida; Leila Maria Lopes Bezerra; Benedito Correa; Karen Spadari Ferreira

• Advisor: Carlos Pelleschi Taborda

Abstract

Most of antifungal treatments are not completely effective or long, thus there is a need to search new alternatives. In order to prospect new epitopes for a vaccine to Paracoccidioides lutzii and Cryptococcus spp.. A system was developed with the purpose of purify epitopes from macrophages in the context of MHCII. Also, a search for epitopes in the cell wall and supernatant of Paracoccidioides spp. was done. The antifungal activity of miltefosina was evaluated against Paracoccicioides spp.. Miltefosine demonstrated inhibitory activity similar to amphotericin B. Fungicidal activity occurred at low concentrations, ultrastructural alterations and melanin production were observed. The activity of C7a in vitro and in vivo against Candida spp. was analyzed. The results showed fungicidal activity at low values. Also, it was revealed that inhibition of formation of hyphae/pseudohyphae and morphological alterations. In vivo assays demonstrated a significant decrease of fungal border of intravaginal and intravenous infected mice. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/08760-1 - Paracoccidioides lutzii: new challenges in developing a therapeutic vaccine. Phase 1: an experimental murine model
• Grantee: Diego Conrado Pereira Rossi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate