title: Protection induced in BALB/c mice by the high-molecular-mass (hMM) fraction of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
abstract: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a granulomatous disease caused by a dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The present study investigated the protective activity of the P. brasiliensis high-molecular-mass (hMM) fraction (approximately 380 kDa) in experimental murine PCM. In the first step, lymphocyte proliferation and production of IFNgamma (but not IL-4) were observed in "in vitro" spleen cells (from female BALB/c mice infected (i.v.) with P. brasiliensis) that were stimulated with hMM fractions. In the second step, female BALB/c mice were previously immunized (s.c.) with hMM fraction (25 microg/protein = F-25 and 50 microg/protein = F-50), and the colony-forming units (CFU) of the lung and spleen, the histopathological characteristics of the granulomatous lesions, and plasmatic gp43 soluble antigens and anti-hMM IgG levels were analyzed at 28 and 56 days after infection. The lung and liver CFU were lower in mice previously immunized with the hMM fraction (P < 0.05). The granulomatous lesions revealed a greater degree of compaction and organization, with no dissemination of the fungus to other organs. Lower soluble antigen levels (P < 0.05) and higher IgG anti-hMM fraction (P < 0.05) were observed in immunized groups. The results for CFU, histopathology and antigenemia suggest that the hMM fraction has a protective effect in experimental paracoccidioidomycosis in BALB/c mice.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Araucária, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wander R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Pavanelli
authors.forename: Mari S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kaminami
authors.forename: Juliana R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Geres
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: I C C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.forename: Eiko N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Itano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002845:Chromatography; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000097:blood; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010228:Paracoccidioides / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C103180:43 kDa protein, Paracoccidioides; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D016207:Cytokines; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G