We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Secreted aspartyl proteinase (PbSap) contributes to the virulence of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection.
- Authors
Castilho, Daniele Gonçalves; Chaves, Alison Felipe Alencar; Navarro, Marina Valente; Conceição, Palloma Mendes; Ferreira, Karen Spadari; da Silva, Luiz Severino; Xander, Patricia; Batista, Wagner Luiz
- Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent deep mycosis in Latin America and is caused by fungi from the Paracoccidioides genus. Virulence factors are important fungal characteristics that support the development of disease. Aspartyl proteases (Saps) are virulence factors in many human fungal pathogens that play an important role in the host invasion process. We report here that immunization with recombinant Sap from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (rPbSap) imparted a protective effect in an experimental PCM model. The rPbSap-immunized mice had decreased fungal loads, and their lung parenchyma were notably preserved. An aspartyl protease inhibitor (pepstatin A) significantly decreased pulmonary injury and reduced fungal loads in the lung. Additionally, we observed that pepstatin A enhanced the fungicidal and phagocytic profile of macrophages against P. brasiliensis. Furthermore, PbSAP expression was highly altered by environmental conditions, including thermal stress, dimorphism switching and low pH. Hence, our data suggest that PbSap is an important virulence regulator in P. brasiliensis.
- Subjects
PARACOCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS; SYSTEMIC mycoses; MYCOSIS fungoides; ASPARTYL peptides; PARACOCCIDIOIDES brasiliensis; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2018, Vol 12, Issue 9, p1
- ISSN
1935-2727
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pntd.0006806