부산대학교 도서관

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2008.07.027 Byline: Alexandre F. Marques (a), Marcelo B. da Silva (a), Maria A.P. Juliano (b), Julian E. MunhA[micro]z (a), Luiz R. Travassos (c), Carlos P. Taborda (a) Abstract: Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic granulomatous disease manifested in the acute/subacute or chronic forms. The anergic cases of the acute/subacute form are most severe, leading to death threatening conditions. Drug treatment is required to control the disease but the response in anergic patients is generally poor. A 15-mer peptide from the major diagnostic antigen gp43, named P10, induces a T-CD4.sup.+ helper-1 immune response in mice of different haplotypes and protects against intratracheal challenge with virulent P. brasiliensis. Presently, P10 immunization and chemotherapy were associated in an attempt to improve antifungal treatment in Balb/c mice made anergic by adding dexamethasone to the drinking water. The combined drug/peptide treatment significantly reduced the lung CFUs in infected anergic mice, largely preserved lung alveolar structure and prevented fungal dissemination to liver and spleen. Results recommend that a P10-based vaccine should be associated to chemotherapy for improved treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis aiming especially at anergic cases. Author Affiliation: (a) Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Microbiology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil (b) Department of Biophysics, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil (c) Department Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Article History: Received 13 May 2008; Accepted 8 July 2008