Last Updated: 23/07/2025
Importance of cell recruitment and differentiation of the innate immune system in malaria
Objectives
Considering that the cells of the innate immune system represent the first line of defense, producing inflammatory mediators that amplify the innate immunity and model the development of the acquired immune response against the pathogen, this project aims to investigate in the murine model the recruitment of subpopulations of innate immune system cells such as neutrophils and monocytes to the spleen in P. berghei ANKA. As well as, the differentiation of monocytes into dendritic cells and macrophages, and to identify the functional phenotype of these in macrophages classically (M1) or alternatively (M2) activated by flow cytometry.
Malaria is an infectious-parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium and one of the major public health problems in the world. The parasitosis may manifest in uncomplicated form or develop into severe forms, such as cerebral malaria. Epidemiological evidence suggests that not only cerebral malaria but also non-cerebral malaria is associated with long-term neurological changes. Given that the malaria parasite is not neurotropic, neurological sequelae are a consequence of a neuroinflammatory response triggered by an imbalance between a pro-and anti-inflammatory immune response. The infection of C57BL / 6 and BALB / c mice with rodent plasmodium, P. berghei ANKA, represent experimental models used to study the immune response and its complications in cerebral malaria and its uncomplicated form, respectively. The brain tissue of P. berghei ANKA-infected mice will also be analyzed, where this project will investigate the functional profile of microglia (M1- and M2-like), macrophages of the central nervous system, deposition of beta-amyloid bodies, and phagocytic capacity of Microglia. All experimental protocols were submitted and approved for evaluation by the Animal Use Ethics Committee (CEUA) of Fiocruz.
Jun 2017 — May 2020
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