1. Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing Gp43 protects mice against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection.
- Author
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Assis-Marques MA, Oliveira AF, Ruas LP, dos Reis TF, Roque-Barreira MC, and Coelho PS
- Subjects
- Animals, Antigens, Fungal genetics, Antigens, Fungal immunology, Fungal Proteins genetics, Fungal Proteins immunology, Fungal Vaccines immunology, Glycoproteins genetics, Glycoproteins immunology, Interferon-gamma metabolism, Interleukin-2 metabolism, Lung drug effects, Lung microbiology, Lung pathology, Male, Mice, Paracoccidioides genetics, Paracoccidioidomycosis immunology, Paracoccidioidomycosis pathology, Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetics, Spleen drug effects, Spleen microbiology, Spleen pathology, Vaccination, Antigens, Fungal metabolism, Fungal Proteins metabolism, Glycoproteins metabolism, Paracoccidioides immunology, Paracoccidioidomycosis prevention & control, Paracoccidioidomycosis veterinary, Saccharomyces cerevisiae physiology
- Abstract
The dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). It is believed that approximately 10 million people are infected with the fungus and approximately 2% will eventually develop the disease. Unlike viral and bacterial diseases, fungal diseases are the ones against which there is no commercially available vaccine. Saccharomyces cerevisiae may be a suitable vehicle for immunization against fungal infections, as they require the stimulation of different arms of the immune response. Here we evaluated the efficacy of immunizing mice against PCM by using S. cerevisiae yeast expressing gp43. When challenged by inoculation of P. brasiliensis yeasts, immunized animals showed a protective profile in three different assays. Their lung parenchyma was significantly preserved, exhibiting fewer granulomas with fewer fungal cells than found in non-immunized mice. Fungal burden was reduced in the lung and spleen of immunized mice, and both organs contained higher levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ compared to those of non-vaccinated mice, a finding that suggests the occurrence of Th1 immunity. Taken together, our results indicate that the recombinant yeast vaccine represents a new strategy to confer protection against PCM.
- Published
- 2015
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