Efficacy of cell-free antigens in evaluating cell immunity and inducing protection in a murine model of histoplasmosis

Autor(es)

Sá-Nunes, Anderson ; Medeiros, Alexandra I. ; Nicolete, Roberto ; Frantz, Fabiani Gai ^[4] ; Panunto-Castelo, Ademilson ; Silva, Célio L. ; Faccioli, Lúcia Helena

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Microbes and Infection; v. 7, n. 4, p. 584-592, Apr. 2005.
• Área do conhecimento: Ciências Biológicas - Imunologia
• Assunto(s): Histoplasmose Vacinas Antígenos de vírus

Resumo

Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic pathogenic fungus that causes a wide spectrum of disease when mycelial fragments are inhaled. Resistance to H. capsulatum is dependent on cellular immunity mediated by T cells and macrophages. Here we standardized the production of extracts containing cell-free antigens (CFAgs) and observed their efficacy in evaluating cellular immunity during murine histoplasmosis. CFAgs induced a more potent delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in H. capsulatum-infected mice than did histoplasmin-a classical antigen. This DTH response to CFAgs is able to determine the immune status of infected mice and to predict their death. Moreover, CFAgs stimulated spleen cells from immune mice to produce higher amounts of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in vitro. Finally, immunization with CFAgs protected against a lethal inoculum of H. capsulatum. These results demonstrate that CFAgs may be useful for the evaluation of cellular immune response and as a potential source for the development of a vaccine against histoplasmosis. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 00/01079-0 - Avaliacao da deplecao de granulocitos na histoplasmose experimental murina.
• Beneficiário: Anderson de Sá Nunes
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 95/09691-6 - Mecanismos envolvidos no recrutamento de eosinófilos e sua participação no desenvolvimento da hiper-reatividade brônquica
• Beneficiário: Lúcia Helena Faccioli
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores