Working Group on Sporothrix

"Sporothrix schenckii Cell Wall and Host-Fungus Interplay"


Name(s) of Coordinator(s): Dr. Leila M Lopes Bezerra, leila@uerj.br / leila.lopes_bezerra@pq.cnpq.br, and Dr. Hector Mora Montes (co-coordinator), h.mora@abdn.ac.uk.


Primary purpose as specified in the original application:

The working group aims to be a forum where specialist in cell wall analysis, already working on S. schenckii, may join efforts to build collaborative networks to increase the knowledge in this area. Furthermore, we are interested in understanding the role of the cell surface components in the interaction of this fungus to its hosts.

The main aspects this Working Group will cover are:
Biosynthesis, structure, function and roles in virulence and immune
sensing of S. schenckii cell wall glycoproteins
The study of cell surface adhesins which mediate the interaction of
Sporothrix schenckii and related pathogenic species to host tissues.
Development of in vitro models to study the fungus interaction with
extracellular matrix proteins and host cells, as well as, in vivo models
(subcutaneous and disseminated sporotrichosis) for the analysis of
the immune modulation in experimental sporotrichosis.
Immunoproteomics and proteomic analysis of different species of medical interest, and phylogenetic analysis of Latin American isolates.
In addition, this Working Group is aiming the organization of international
workshops and meetings to bring together specialized researchers working in
this and other aspects of S. schenckii biology