Paracoccidioides brasiliensis causes paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) that is one of the most prevalent systemic human mycoses in Latin America. Armadillos show a high incidence of PCM infection and could, therefore, be a natural reservoir for this fungus. In this study were compared the virulence profiles of isolates obtained from nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) (PbT1 and PbT4) and isolates from PCM patients (Pb265 and Bt83). Pathogenicity was evaluated by fungal load and analysis of colony morphology. Immunity against the fungus was tested by delayed type hypersensitivity test (DTH) and antibody quantification by ELISA. The higher virulence of PbT1 and PbT4 was suggested by higher fungal load in spleen and lungs. Armadillo isolates and Bt83 presented a cotton-like surface contrasting with the cerebriform appearance of Pb265. All isolates induced cellular and humoral immune responses in infected BALB/c mice. DTH reactions were similarly induced by the four isolates, however, a great variability was observed in specific antibody levels, being the highest ones induced by Bt83 and PbT4. The present work confirms that armadillos harbor P. brasiliensis, whose multiplication and induced immunity in experimentally infected mice are heterogeneous, resembling the behavior of isolates from human PCM. This study reinforces the possibility that armadillos play an important role in the biological cycle of this pathogen.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1413-86702008000100013 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
A new quantitative reverse transcription PCR assay to improve the routine diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis.
Med Mycol
December 2024
Mycology Department, National Reference Center for Invasive Mycoses and Antifungals, Translational Mycology Research Group, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
Paracoccidioides are dimorphic fungal pathogens and the etiological agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). This severe systemic mycosis is restricted to Latin America, where it has been historically endemic. Currently, PCM presents the fewest diagnostic tools available when compared to other endemic mycoses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultiple Tolerization Subtractive Immunization in the Obtention of Specific Monoclonal Antibodies Against .
Monoclon Antib Immunodiagn Immunother
December 2024
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil.
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a chronic endemic mycosis in Latin America, predominantly caused by (Pb18) and (Pl01). Diagnosing PCM is challenging due to species-specific antigenic differences, therefore new biomarkers for accurate and rapid detection are needed. This study explores multiple tolerization subtractive immunization (MTSI) to generate monoclonal antibodies against rare or weakly expressed epitopes of Pb18 and Pl01, potentially improving PCM diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvestigation of the inhibitory properties of azo-dyes on chorismate synthase from .
J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem
December 2024
Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria.
Article Synopsis
- The herbicide glyphosate effectively inhibits the enzyme EPSPS, highlighting the shikimate pathway as a target for developing new antimicrobial and herbicidal agents.
- The final enzyme in this pathway, chorismate synthase (CS), was tested with various azo-dyes, leading to the identification of PH011669 as a significant inhibitor with specific dissociation and inhibition values.
- The study utilized molecular docking and MD simulations to analyze how PH011669 interacts with CS, providing foundational insights for future development of novel enzyme inhibitors.
We report a patient with lobomycosis caused by Paracoccidioides loboi fungi in the Andes-Amazon region of Bolivia. We examined clinical, epidemiologic, and phylogenetic data and describe potential transmission/environmental aspects of infection. Continued surveillance and identification of lobomycosis cases in South America are crucial to prevent the spread of this disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFmiRNAs regulate the metabolic adaptation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis during copper deprivation.
Microbes Infect
November 2024
Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- - Copper is vital for cellular functions like detoxifying harmful molecules and energy production, but during infections, the body limits its availability to hinder pathogens.
- - The study investigates the role of miRNAs (a type of regulatory molecule) in the response of the fungus P. brasiliensis to low copper levels, complementing earlier findings on iron and zinc.
- - Using RNA sequencing, researchers identified 14 miRNAs that change expression during copper scarcity, with implications for processes like oxidative stress and cell structure adaptation, indicating miRNAs play a key role in the fungus’s metabolic adjustments.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!