title: Antibodies Against Glycolipids Enhance Antifungal Activity of Macrophages and Reduce Fungal Burden After Infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
abstract: Paracoccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease endemic in Latin America. Polyclonal antibodies to acidic glycosphingolipids (GSLs) from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis opsonized yeast forms in vitro increasing phagocytosis and reduced the fungal burden of infected animals. Antibodies to GSL were active in both prophylactic and therapeutic protocols using a murine intratracheal infection model. Pathological examination of the lungs of animals treated with antibodies to GSL showed well-organized granulomas and minimally damaged parenchyma compared to the untreated control. Murine peritoneal macrophages activated by IFN-γ and incubated with antibodies against acidic GSLs more effectively phagocytosed and killed P. brasiliensis yeast cells as well as produced more nitric oxide compared to controls. The present work discloses a novel target of protective antibodies against P. brasiliensis adding to other well-studied mediators of the immune response to this fungus.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Medical Mycology IMTSP- LIM53, University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Renata A
authors: RA
authors: Bueno
authors: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Thomaz
authors: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Julian E
authors: JE
authors: Muñoz
authors: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Cássia J
authors: CJ
authors: da Silva
authors: Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New YorkNY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New YorkNY, USA.
authors: Joshua D
authors: JD
authors: Nosanchuk
authors: Fluminense Federal University Niterói, Brazil.
authors: Márcia R
authors: MR
authors: Pinto
authors: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Luiz R
authors: LR
authors: Travassos
authors: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Medical Mycology IMTSP- LIM53, University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Carlos P
authors: CP
authors: Taborda
keywords: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis; glycosphingolipids; nitric oxide; paracoccidioidomycosis; polyclonal antibodies