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Gonçales RA, Portis IG, dos Reis TF, Basso Júnior LR, Martinez R, Zhu H, Pereira M, Soares CMDA, Coelho PSR. Identification and immunogenic potential of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2023; 4:1243475. [PMID: 37746134 PMCID: PMC10512324 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1243475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
In fungal pathogens the cell wall plays an important role in host-pathogen interactions because its molecular components (e.g., polysaccharides and proteins) may trigger immune responses during infection. GPI-anchored proteins represent the main protein class in the fungal cell wall where they can perform several functions, such as cell wall remodeling and adhesion to host tissues. Genomic analysis has identified the complement of GPI-anchored proteins in many fungal pathogens, but the function has remained unknown for most of them. Here, we conducted an RNA expression analysis of GPI-anchored proteins of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis which causes paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an important human systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America. The expression of the GPI-anchored proteins was analyzed by quantitative PCR in both the mycelium and yeast forms. qPCR analysis revealed that the transcript levels of 22 of them were increased in hyphae and 10 in yeasts, respectively, while 14 did not show any significant difference in either form. Furthermore, we cloned 46 open reading frames and purified their corresponding GPI-anchored proteins in the budding yeast. Immunoblot and ELISA analysis of four purified GPI-anchored proteins revealed immune reactivity of these proteins against sera obtained from PCM patients. The information obtained in this study provides valuable information about the expression of many GPI-anchored proteins of unknown function. In addition, based on our immune analysis, some GPI-anchored proteins are expressed during infection and therefore, they might serve as good candidates for the development of new diagnostic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Igor Godinho Portis
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Thaila Fernanda dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Luiz Roberto Basso Júnior
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Roberto Martinez
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heng Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sergio Rodrigues Coelho
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Gonçales RA, Ricci-Azevedo R, Vieira VCS, Fernandes FF, Thomaz SMDO, Carvalho A, Vendruscolo PE, Cunha C, Roque-Barreira MC, Rodrigues F. Paracoccin Overexpression in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Enhances Fungal Virulence by Remodeling Chitin Properties of the Cell Wall. J Infect Dis 2020; 224:164-174. [PMID: 33201217 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The thermodimorphic fungi Paracoccidioides spp. are the etiological agents of paracoccidioidomycosis. Although poorly studied, paracoccin (PCN) from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis has been shown to harbor lectinic, enzymatic, and immunomodulatory properties that affect disease development. METHODS Mutants of P. brasiliensis overexpressing PCN (ov-PCN) were constructed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. ov-PCN strains were analyzed and inoculated intranasally or intravenously to mice. Fungal burden, lung pathology, and survival were monitored to evaluate virulence. Electron microscopy was used to evaluate the size of chito-oligomer particles released by ov-PCN or wild-type strains to growth media. RESULTS ov-PCN strains revealed no differences in cell growth and viability, although PCN overexpression favored cell separation, chitin processing that results in the release of smaller chito-oligomer particles, and enhanced virulence. Our data show that PCN triggers a critical effect in the cell wall biogenesis through the chitinase activity resulting from overexpression of PCN. As such, PCN overexpression aggravates the disease caused by P. brasiliensis. CONCLUSIONS Our data are consistent with a model in which PCN modulates the cell wall architecture via its chitinase activity. These findings highlight the potential for exploiting PCN function in future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil.,Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rafael Ricci-Azevedo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vanessa C S Vieira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fabrício F Fernandes
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandra M de O Thomaz
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia E Vendruscolo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Holanda RA, Muñoz JE, Dias LS, Silva LBR, Santos JRA, Pagliari S, Vieira ÉLM, Paixão TA, Taborda CP, Santos DA, Bruña-Romero O. Recombinant vaccines of a CD4+ T-cell epitope promote efficient control of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis burden by restraining primary organ infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005927. [PMID: 28938005 PMCID: PMC5627964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an infectious disease endemic to South America, caused by the thermally dimorphic fungi Paracoccidioides. Currently, there is no effective human vaccine that can be used in prophylactic or therapeutic regimes. We tested the hypothesis that the immunogenicity of the immunodominant CD4+ T-cell epitope (P10) of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis gp43 antigen might be significantly enhanced by using a hepatitis B virus-derived particle (VLP) as an antigen carrier. This chimera was administered to mice as a (His)6-purified protein (rPbT) or a replication-deficient human type 5 adenoviral vector (rAdPbT) in an immunoprophylaxis assay. The highly virulent Pb18 yeast strain was used to challenge our vaccine candidates. Fungal challenge evoked robust P10-specific memory CD4+ T cells secreting protective Th-1 cytokines in most groups of immunized mice. Furthermore, the highest level of fungal burden control was achieved when rAdPbT was inoculated in a homologous prime-boost regimen, with 10-fold less CFU recovering than in non-vaccinated mice. Systemic Pb18 spreading was only prevented when rAdPbT was previously inoculated. In summary, we present here VLP/P10 formulations as vaccine candidates against PCM, some of which have demonstrated for the first time their ability to prevent progression of this pernicious fungal disease, which represents a significant social burden in developing countries.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, Fungal/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Cytokines/immunology
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Fungal Proteins/immunology
- Fungal Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Fungal Vaccines/immunology
- Glycoproteins/immunology
- Hepatitis B virus/genetics
- Immunization
- Immunodominant Epitopes/immunology
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Immunologic Memory
- Liver/microbiology
- Lung/microbiology
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Paracoccidioides/growth & development
- Paracoccidioides/immunology
- Paracoccidioidomycosis/immunology
- Paracoccidioidomycosis/microbiology
- Paracoccidioidomycosis/prevention & control
- Spleen/microbiology
- Th1 Cells/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
- Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/genetics
- Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Assunção Holanda
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia Parasitária, Universidade CEUMA, Maranhão, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Julián Esteban Muñoz
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lucas Santos Dias
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Julliana Ribeiro Alves Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Ambiental, Universidade CEUMA, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Sthefany Pagliari
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | | | - Tatiane Alves Paixão
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel Assis Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Oscar Bruña-Romero
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina, Brazil
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Silva Ferreira C, de Castro Ribeiro EM, Miranda Goes AD, Mello Silva BD. Current strategies for diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis and prospects of methods based on gold nanoparticles. Future Microbiol 2016; 11:973-85. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2016-0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a human systemic granulomatous mycosis caused by thermodimorphic fungi from Paracoccidioides genus. The disease is prevalent in Latin America and triggers a serious clinical condition. Consequently, rapid diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent progression of the disease, which can result in death. Currently, there are several established methods for PCM diagnosis. However, many of these tests still present challenges in terms of cost, accessibility and efficiency. In this scenario, gold nanoparticles represent a promising alternative since they have particular optical and electronic properties, which allow its use for biomolecules detection. This review will briefly present techniques available for PCM diagnosis and the perspectives of implementation of gold nanoparticles for diagnosis of this mycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyntia Silva Ferreira
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/DECBI – Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB – Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro – Ouro Preto, CEP 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Erica Milena de Castro Ribeiro
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/DECBI – Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB – Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro – Ouro Preto, CEP 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Alfredo de Miranda Goes
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia/ICB – Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Breno de Mello Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas/DECBI – Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB – Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro – Ouro Preto, CEP 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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Torres I, Hernandez O, Tamayo D, Muñoz JF, García AM, Gómez BL, Restrepo A, McEwen JG. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis PbP27gene: knockdown procedures and functional characterization. FEMS Yeast Res 2013; 14:270-80. [DOI: 10.1111/1567-1364.12099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Isaura Torres
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB); Medellín Colombia
- Instituto de Biología; Universidad de Antioquia; Medellín Colombia
| | - Orville Hernandez
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB); Medellín Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación en Biociencias; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; Institución Universitaria Colegio Mayor de Antioquia; Medellín Colombia
| | - Diana Tamayo
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB); Medellín Colombia
- Instituto de Biología; Universidad de Antioquia; Medellín Colombia
| | - Jose F. Muñoz
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB); Medellín Colombia
- Instituto de Biología; Universidad de Antioquia; Medellín Colombia
| | - Ana M. García
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB); Medellín Colombia
| | - Beatriz L. Gómez
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB); Medellín Colombia
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Universidad del Rosario; Bogotá Colombia
| | - Angela Restrepo
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB); Medellín Colombia
| | - Juan G. McEwen
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular; Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB); Medellín Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina; Universidad de Antioquia; Medellín Colombia
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Inhibition of PbGP43 expression may suggest that gp43 is a virulence factor in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68434. [PMID: 23874627 PMCID: PMC3708949 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycoprotein gp43 is an immunodominant diagnostic antigen for paracoccidioidomycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. It is abundantly secreted in isolates such as Pb339. It is structurally related to beta-1,3-exoglucanases, however inactive. Its function in fungal biology is unknown, but it elicits humoral, innate and protective cellular immune responses; it binds to extracellular matrix-associated proteins. In this study we applied an antisense RNA (aRNA) technology and Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation to generate mitotically stable PbGP43 mutants (PbGP43 aRNA) derived from wild type Pb339 to study its role in P. brasiliensis biology and during infection. Control PbEV was transformed with empty vector. Growth curve, cell vitality and morphology of PbGP43 aRNA mutants were indistinguishable from those of controls. PbGP43 expression was reduced 80–85% in mutants 1 and 2, as determined by real time PCR, correlating with a massive decrease in gp43 expression. This was shown by immunoblotting of culture supernatants revealed with anti-gp43 mouse monoclonal and rabbit polyclonal antibodies, and also by affinity-ligand assays of extracellular molecules with laminin and fibronectin. In vitro, there was significantly increased TNF-α production and reduced yeast recovery when PbGP43 aRNA1 was exposed to IFN-γ-stimulated macrophages, suggesting reduced binding/uptake and/or increased killing. In vivo, fungal burden in lungs of BALB/c mice infected with silenced mutant was negligible and associated with decreased lung ΙΛ−10 and IL-6. Therefore, our results correlated low gp43 expression with lower pathogenicity in mice, but that will be definitely proven when PbGP43 knockouts become available. This is the first study of gp43 using genetically modified P. brasiliensis.
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Oliveira CR, Rezende CMF, Silva MR, Pêgo AP, Borges O, Goes AM. A new strategy based on SmRho protein loaded chitosan nanoparticles as a candidate oral vaccine against schistosomiasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1894. [PMID: 23209848 PMCID: PMC3510068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 09/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases and an effective control is unlikely in the absence of improved sanitation and vaccination. A new approach of oral vaccination with alginate coated chitosan nanoparticles appears interesting because their great stability and the ease of target accessibility, besides of chitosan and alginate immunostimulatory properties. Here we propose a candidate vaccine based on the combination of chitosan-based nanoparticles containing the antigen SmRho and coated with sodium alginate. Methods and Findings Our results showed an efficient performance of protein loading of nanoparticles before and after coating with alginate. Characterization of the resulting nanoparticles reported a size around 430 nm and a negative zeta potential. In vitro release studies of protein showed great stability of coated nanoparticles in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Further in vivo studies was performed with different formulations of chitosan nanoparticles and it showed that oral immunization was not able to induce high levels of antibodies, otherwise intramuscular immunization induced high levels of both subtypes IgG1 and IgG2a SmRho specific antibodies. Mice immunized with nanoparticles associated to CpG showed significant modulation of granuloma reaction. Mice from all groups immunized orally with nanoparticles presented significant levels of protection against infection challenge with S. mansoni worms, suggesting an important role of chitosan in inducing a protective immune response. Finally, mice immunized with nanoparticles associated with the antigen SmRho plus CpG had 38% of the granuloma area reduced and also presented 48% of protection against of S. mansoni infection. Conclusions Taken together, this results support this new strategy as an efficient delivery system and a potential vaccine against schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases and an effective control is unlikely in the absence of improved sanitation and vaccine. The selection of a suitable delivery system and an adjuvant to aid in the stimulation of the appropriate immune response is a critical step in the path to the development and employment of successful anti-schistosome vaccines. Here we propose a candidate vaccine based on chitosan nanoparticles associated with the antigen SmRho and coated with alginate, as an alternative strategy to induce protection against S. mansoni infection. This vaccination strategy offers many technical advantages, including the possibility of administration by oral route, which makes the vaccine safer than injectable vaccines and facilitates its use mainly in underdeveloped areas. Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared and characterized; the results showed that the formulation has features suitable to be delivery orally. Immunization studies suggest that the combination of chitosan nanoparticles associated to the antigen SmRho and CpG is an efficient vaccine candidate against schistosomiasis, which was able to modulate the granuloma area, that represents the major pathological response in schistosomiasis and also to induce protection against infection of S. mansoni.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina R. Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Cíntia M. F. Rezende
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marina R. Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Pêgo
- INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Olga Borges
- CNC, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology; University of Coimbra; Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde; University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alfredo M. Goes
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Travassos LR, Taborda CP. New advances in the development of a vaccine against paracoccidioidomycosis. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:212. [PMID: 22701452 PMCID: PMC3373149 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an endemic Latin American mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and also by the recently described P. lutzii. The systemic mycosis is the 10th leading cause of death due to infectious diseases in Brazil. As published, 1,853 patients died of PCM in the 1996–2006 decade in this country. The main diagnostic antigen of P.brasiliensis is the 43 kDa glycoprotein gp43, and its 15-mer peptide QTLIAIHTLAIRYAN, known as P10, contains the T-CD4+ epitope that elicits an IFN-γ-mediated Th1 immune response, which effectively treats mice intratracheally infected with PCM. The association of peptide P10 with antifungal drugs rendered an additive protective effect, even in immunosuppressed animals, being the basis of a recommended treatment protocol. Other immunotherapeutic tools include a peptide carrying a B cell epitope as well as protective anti-gp43 monoclonal antibodies. New delivery systems and gene therapy have been studied in prophylactic and therapeutic protocols to improve the efficacy of the recognized antigens aiming at a future vaccine as co-adjuvant therapy in patients with PCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz R Travassos
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, são Paulo, Brazil
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