Sporothrix brasiliensis Infection Modulates Antimicrobial Peptides and Stress Management Gene Expression in the Invertebrate Biomodel Galleria mellonella

• Published in: Journal of fungi (Basel) Vol. 9; no. 11; p. 1053
• Main Authors: Reis, Nathália Faria, de Jesus, Myrela Conceição Santos, de Souza, Lais Cavalcanti dos Santos Velasco, Alcântara, Lucas Martins, Rodrigues, Julia Andrade de Castro, Brito, Simone Cristina Pereira, Penna, Patrícia de Azambuja, Vieira, Cecília Stahl, Silva, José Rodrigo Santos, Penna, Bruno de Araújo, Machado, Ricardo Luiz Dantas, Mora-Montes, Hector M., Baptista, Andréa Regina de Souza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Antimicrobial peptides; Fungal infections; Fungi; Galleria mellonella; Gene expression; Hemocytes; Immune response; Immune system; Innate immunity; Insects; Invertebrates; Investigations; Pathogens; Peptides; Public health; Sporothrix brasiliensis; Sporotrichosis; Virulence; Yeast; Zoonoses; zoonosis; United States > US
• ISSN: 2309-608X; 2309-608X
• DOI: 10.3390/jof9111053

Sporothrix brasiliensis is the most pathogenic species, responsible for the Brazilian cat-transmitted sporotrichosis hyperendemic. In this scenario, an investigation of the pathogen–host interaction can provide relevant information for future treatment strategies. To this end, the invertebrate Galleria mellonella has proven to be a suitable alternative for evaluating the virulence of pathogenic fungi, since the insect immune system is similar to the mammalian innate immune response. The aim of this work was to investigate phenotypic and molecular aspects of the immune response of G. mellonella throughout the S. brasiliensis infection. Hemocyte density and the evolution of the fungal load were evaluated. In parallel, RT-qPCR expression analysis of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides (Gallerimycin and Galiomycin) and stress management genes (C7 Contig 15362 and C8 Contig 19101) was conducted. The fungal load and hemocyte densities increased simultaneously and proportionally to the deleterious morphological events and larvae mortality. Gallerimycin, C7 Contig 15362 and C8 Contig 19101 genes were positively regulated (p < 0.05) at distinct moments of S. brasiliensis infection, characterizing a time-dependent and alternately modulated profile. Galiomycin gene expression remained unchanged. Our results contribute to the future proposal of potential alternative pathways for treating and consequently controlling S. brasiliensis zoonosis, a major public health issue in Latin America.