Alternative Non-Mammalian Animal and Cellular Methods for the Study of Host-Fungal Interactions

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Fusco-Almeida, Ana Marisa ; Silva, Samanta de Matos ; dos Santos, Kelvin Sousa ; Gualque, Marcos William de Lima ; Vaso, Carolina Orlando ; Carvalho, Angelica Romao ; Medina-Alarcon, Kaila Petrolina ; Pires, Ana Carolina Moreira da Silva ; Belizario, Jenyffie Araujo ; de Souza Fernandes, Ligia ; Moroz, Andrei ; Martinez, Luis R. ; Ruiz, Orville Hernandez ; Gonzalez, Angel ; Mendes-Giannini, Maria Jose Soares

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF FUNGI; v. 9, n. 9, p. 29-pg., 2023-09-01.

Abstract

In the study of fungal pathogenesis, alternative methods have gained prominence due to recent global legislation restricting the use of mammalian animals in research. The principle of the 3 Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) is integrated into regulations and guidelines governing animal experimentation in nearly all countries. This principle advocates substituting vertebrate animals with other invertebrate organisms, embryos, microorganisms, or cell cultures. This review addresses host-fungus interactions by employing three-dimensional (3D) cultures, which offer more faithful replication of the in vivo environment, and by utilizing alternative animal models to replace traditional mammals. Among these alternative models, species like Caenorhabditis elegans and Danio rerio share approximately 75% of their genes with humans. Furthermore, models such as Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor demonstrate similarities in their innate immune systems as well as anatomical and physiological barriers, resembling those found in mammalian organisms. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/15586-4 - Establishment of a three-dimensional model to determine the pharmacological efficacy and safety of nitrofuran and indoles derivatives and evaluation of Histoplasma capsulatum infection
• Grantee: Carolina Orlando Vaso
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 21/14839-9 - Development of co-culture of pulmonary and cerebral spheroids and cerebral organoids for the evaluation of the interaction of Cryptococcus sp. and study of the antifungal activity of peptides derived from Galleria mellonella
• Grantee: Marcos William de Lima Gualque
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 21/03805-6 - Monospecies and mixed biofilms of Trichophyton and Staphylococcus: influence of nutrients and presence of persister cells
• Grantee: Jenyffie Araujo Belizario
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 19/23622-3 - Functional characterization of genes related to the biofilm formation in the fungal pathogens Histoplasma capsulatum and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
• Grantee: Maria José Soares Mendes Giannini
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants