In Vitro and In Vivo Effect of Peptides Derived from 14-3-3 <i>Paracoccidioides </i>spp. Protein

• Main Authors: Liliana Scorzoni, Ana Carolina Alves de Paula e Silva, Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira, Claudia Tavares dos Santos, Junya de Lacorte Singulani, Patricia Akemi Assato, Caroline Maria Marcos, Lariane Teodoro Oliveira, Nathália Ferreira Fregonezi, Diego Conrado Pereira Rossi, Leandro Buffoni Roque da Silva, Carlos Pelleschi Taborda, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Maria José Soares Mendes-Giannini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Journal of Fungi
• Subjects: paracoccidioidomycosis; <i>Paracoccidioides</i> spp.; 14-3-3 protein; <i>Galleria mellonella</i>; <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>; vaccine
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/1/52

Background: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a chronic disease that causes sequelae and requires prolonged treatment; therefore, new therapeutic approaches are necessary. In view of this, three peptides from <i>Paracoccidioides brasiliensis</i> 14-3-3 protein were selected based on its immunogenicity and therapeutic potential. Methods: The in vitro antifungal activity and cytotoxicity of the 14-3-3 peptides were evaluated. The influence of the peptides in immunological and survival aspects was evaluated in vivo, using <i>Galleria mellonella</i> and the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes in <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. Results: None of the peptides were toxic to HaCaT (skin keratinocyte), MRC-5 (lung fibroblast), and A549 (pneumocyte) cell lines, and only P1 exhibited antifungal activity against <i>Paracoccidioides</i> spp. The peptides could induce an immune response in <i>G. mellonella</i>. Moreover, the peptides caused a delay in the death of <i>Paracoccidioides</i> spp. infected larvae. Regarding <i>C. elegans</i>, the three peptides were able to increase the expression of the antimicrobial peptides. These peptides had essential effects on different aspects of <i>Paracoccidioides</i> spp. infection showing potential for a therapeutic vaccine. Future studies using mammalian methods are necessary to validate our findings.