National Institute of Science and Technology for Tropical Diseases (INCT-DT) Management committee Edgar M. Carvalho (Coordinator) Selma Jerônimo (Vice-coordinator) Walderez Dutra Songeli Freire Menezes Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira Maria Ilma Araújo Main researchers Edgar Marcelino de Carvalho Filho, Selma Maria Bezerra Jerônimo, Andréa Gazzinelli, Geraldo Gileno de Sá Oliveira, Guilherme Correa de Oliveira, Jamary Oliveira Filho, Kenneth John Gollob, Léa Cristina de Carvalho Castellucci, Maria Ilma Araújo, Maria Olívia Bacellar, Nicolaus Albert Schriefer, Paulo Roberto Lima Machado, Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira, Songelí Menezes Freire, Walderez Ornelas Dutra Main research topics 1) Determine the pathogenesis of tropical diseases, 2) identify markers of clinical evolution and therapeutic response; 3) develop new strategies for treatment and control of tropical diseases. These projects are grouped into five main areas of research: 1) Immunopathogenesis, immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy of leishmaniasis; 2) Biological markers of disease expression in T. cruzi infection; 3) biomarkers and immunotherapy in HTLV-1 infection; 4) Immunogenetics of leprosy; 5) Markers of protection and pathogenesis in schistosomiasis. There is also a training program of healthy professionals in the endemic area to perform clinical and laboratorial diagnosis of hanseniasis, schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis. Summary of achievements and perspectives The inefficacy of regulating the immune response leads to the development of autoimmune diseases as well as allergic diseases. INCT-DT researchers had demonstrated that antigens of Schistosoma mansoni (SM 22.1, SM 29 and PIII) inhibit allergic responses and inflammatory diseases. These molecules can be used to control asthma and autoimmune diseases. The HTLV-1 has high prevalence in Brazil, but is overlooked due to the concept that the majority of infected people do not develop disease. We have shown that over 50% of those infected will develop neurological or periodontal or articular diseases or dry syndrome. While Interleukin-17 is an inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 suppresses the immune response. Studies conducted by INCT-DT in Bahia and Minas Gerais have shown that while IL-17 is associated with inflammation, but may also be related to the protection of cutaneous leishmaniasis, IL-10 may alleviate the clinical manifestations of these diseases that are related with an exacerbated immune response. It was settled out a training program for health professionals with reference to the control and diagnosis of schistosomiasis, as well as the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of leprosy and leishmaniasis in endemic areas of these diseases. In addition, undergraduate students, PhD, Masters and technicians has also participating of INCT-DT. It is hoped that next year several biomarkers of severity of infection by L. brazilien-
sis, leprosy and HTLV-1 are identified. In subsequent years new forms of prophylaxis and treatment of tropical diseases will be identified. Main publications 1. Cardoso, L. S.; Oliveira, S. C.; Góes, A. M.; Oliveira, R. R.; Pacífico, L. G.; Marinho, F. V.; Fonseca, C. T.; Cardoso, F. C.; Carvalho, E. M. and Araujo, M. I. Schistosoma mansoni antigens modulate the allergic response in a murine model of ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 160:266-274, 2009. 2. Costa, G.C.; Rocha, M.O.C.; Moreira, P.R.; Menezes, C.A.S.; Silva, M.R.; Gollob, K.J. and Dutra, W.O. Functional IL-10 Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy. The Journal of Infectious Diseases; 199:451– 4, 2009. 3. Bacellar, O.; Faria, D.; Nascimento, M.; Cardoso, T.M.; Gollob, K.J.; Dutra, W.O.; Scott, P. and Carvalho, E.M. Interleukin 17 Production among Patients with American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. The Journal of Infectious Diseases; 200:75–8, 2009. 4. Dutra, W.O.; Menezes, C.A.S.; Villani, F.N.A.; Costa, G.C.; Silveira, A.B.M.; Reis, D. d’Ávila.; Gollob, K.J. Cellular and genetic mechanisms involved in the generation of protective and pathogenic immune responses in human Chagas disease. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 104(Suppl. I): 208-218, 2009. 5. Lopes, D.O.; Paiva, L.F.; Aguiar, M.M.; Cardoso, F.C.; Rajão, M.A.; Pinho, J.M.; Caliari, M.V.; Oliveira, R.C.; Mello, S.M.; Leite, L.C.C.; Oliveira, S.C. Sm21.6 a novel EF-hand family protein member located on the surface of Schistosoma mansoni adult worm that failed to induce protection against challenge infection but reduced liver pathology. Vaccine, 27:4127-4135, 2009. 6. Durães, F.V.; Carvalho, N.B.; Melo. T.T.; Oliveira, S.C.; Fonseca, C.T.; IL-12 and TNF-alpha production by dendritic cells stimulated with Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula tegument is TLR4- and MyD88dependent. Immunol. Lett, 125(1): 72-77, 2009. Contacts Rua João das Botas, S/N, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Serviço de Imunologia 5º andar - CEP:40.110-160 Salvador, Bahia - Brasil E-mail: edgar@ufba.br e imuno@ufba.br http://inctdt.cebio.org/
Epidemiology and molecular biology lab with the researches realizing gene expression analysis
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