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| Author(s): |
Gustavo Rolim Barbosa
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) |
| Defense date: | 2021-04-30 |
| Examining board members: |
Beatriz Simonsen Stolf Carboni;
Adriano Cappellazzo Coelho;
José Angelo Lauletta Lindoso;
Adriana Rios Lopes Rocha
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| Advisor: | Beatriz Simonsen Stolf Carboni |
| Abstract | |
Leishmania spp. are parasitic protozoa that cause leishmaniasis, an endemic disease in more than 98 countries, with more than 1 million new cases each year in the world. Symptomatic infection in man manifests itself in different clinical forms, which are grouped into cutaneous and visceral. The parasite is transmitted to the hosts through the bite of female sandflies. Leishmania promastigotes transmitted by the vector differentiate into amastigotes within the phagocytic cells of the vertebrate host. To survive the varied and hostile environments, the parasite has several virulence factors whose abundances vary according to the phase of the biological cycle. Oligopeptidase B (OPB) is a serine peptidase of the prolyl peptidase family (clan SC, family S9), characterized by the presence of a serine in the active site. This protein has been considered a virulence factor in trypanosomatids. In fact, infections of mice with OPBdeficient Leishmania show late lesion development, although little is known about the role of this protein, which is secreted in exosomes, in the parasite infection process. To fill the existing gaps, this project aimed to produce L. (L.) amazonensis recombinant OPB and to evaluate its effects on the infection of macrophages by this parasite. We were able to produce and purify a recombinant soluble OPB in a bacterial system and used the recombinant protein to produce an anti-OPB serum in BALB / c mice. We evaluated the activity and the enzymatic profile of the recombinant OPB, and our results indicate that the enzyme is active and has a profile similar to OPBs of other Leishmania species. Infection assays with BALB / c medullary macrophages show that OPB does not alter the infection profile of L. (L.) amazonensis LV79 strain, however further assays are required to determine the importance of this protein in L. (L.) amazonensis infection. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 19/02391-3 - Importance of oligopeptidase B (OPB) in the infection of macrophages by L. (L.) amazonensis |
| Grantee: | Gustavo Rolim Barbosa |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |