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Hindi Research Article
Development of a Murine Model of Neuroparacoccidioidomycosis
Vinicius Sousa Pietra Pedroso1, M´arcia de Carvalho Vilela1, Patr´Ã„±cia Campi Santos2, Patr´Ã„±cia Silva Cisalpino2, Rosa Maria Esteves Arantes3, Milene Alvarenga Rachid1,3, Antˆonio L´ ucio Teixeira1*
1Laborat´orio de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Bioqu´Ã„±mica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciˆencias Biol´ogicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
2Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Cincias Biolgicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
3Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Cincias Biolgicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- *Corresponding Author:
- Antˆonio L´ucio Teixeira
Laborat´orio de Imunofarmacologia
Departamento de Bioqu´Ã„±mica e Imunologia
Instituto de Ciˆencias Biol´ogicas (ICB)
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos
6627, Belo Horizonte
Brazil
E-mail: altexr@gmail.com
Received date: 08 April 2010; Accepted date: 21 July 2010
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis is the most important systemic mycosis in Latin America. In the last decades, it was verified that central nervous system involvement is frequent, occurring in 12.5% of the cases. Despite the relevance of this severe form of the disease, there are not experimental models for the study of the interactions established between the fungus and the central nervous system. We developed a murine model of neuroparacoccidioidomycosis with intracranial inoculation of 106 yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (strain PB18) in C57BL/6 mice. Animals developed lesions similar to those described in human patients and morbidity was evaluated by the SHIRPA behavioral battery, showing progressive and severe cognitive compromise. With the development of this model, future studies will be able to evaluate several pathogenic and therapeutic aspects of neuroparacoccidioidomycosis in order to improve survival or lessen morbidity of this severe disease.
