Exploring Potential Virulence Regulators in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Isolates of Varying Virulence through Quantitative Proteomics

Author(s)

Castilho, Daniele G. ^[1] ; Chaves, Alison F. A. ^[1] ; Xander, Patricia ^[2] ; Zelanis, Andre ^[3] ; Kitano, Eduardo S. ^[4] ; Serrano, Solange M. T. ^[4] ; Tashima, Alexandre K. ^[5] ; Batista, Wagner L. ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, BR-04044010 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Biol, BR-09913030 Diadema, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencia & Tecnol, BR-12231280 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[4] Inst Butantan, Lab Especial Toxinol Aplicada CeTICS, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Bioquim, BR-04023062 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH; v. 13, n. 10, p. 4259-4271, 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

Few virulence factors have been identified for Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the agent of paracoccidioidomycosis. In this study, we quantitatively evaluated the protein composition of P. brasiliensis in the yeast phase using minimal and rich media to obtain a better understanding of its virulence and to gain new insights into pathogen adaptation strategies. This analysis was performed on two isolates of the Pb18 strain showing distinct infection profiles in B10.A mice. Using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, we identified and quantified 316 proteins in minimal medium, 29 of which were overexpressed in virulent Pb18. In rich medium, 29 out of 295 proteins were overexpressed in the virulent fungus. Three proteins were found to be up-regulated in both media, suggesting the potential roles of these proteins in virulence regulation in P. brasiliensis. Moreover, genes up-regulated in virulent Pb18 showed an increase in its expression after the recovery of virulence of attenuated Pb18. Proteins up-regulated in both isolates were grouped according to their functional categories. Virulent Pb18 undergoes metabolic reorganization and increased expression of proteins involved in fermentative respiration. This approach allowed us to identify potential virulence regulators and provided a foundation for achieving a molecular understanding of how Paracoccidioides modulates the host-pathogen interaction to its advantage. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/19321-9 - Proteomic and peptidomic characterization of Brazilian spider venoms by mass spectrometry
• Grantee: Alexandre Keiji Tashima
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/14392-2 - Evaluation of the involvement of Ras GTPase from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in thermo-dimorphism and during oxidative and nitrosative stress
• Grantee: Wagner Luiz Batista
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants