FFC#13/2014

Targeting extracellular Protein Disulphide Isomerase to control Burkholderia cenocepacia lung infections

FFC#13/2014

Targeting extracellular Protein Disulphide Isomerase to control Burkholderia cenocepacia lung infections

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Francesca Pacello (Dip. di Biologia, Università di Roma Tor Vergata)

RESEARCHERS

6

CATEGORY

AREA 3 Bronchopulmonary infection

DURATION

2 years

GOAL

€ 41.000

RESULTS

Researchers confirmed the important role of ERp57 protein and the capacity of EGCG to contrast ERp57 in respirathory epithelial cells. EGCG decreases in this way the inflammatory mechanism following B. cenocepacia infection. A collateral interesting observation was that B. cenocepacia evades autophagy process into macrophages cells. Pilot experiments were carried out in order to optimize bacterial infective dose and drug administration in endotracheally infected mice; when these data will be assessed it will be possible to investigate the usefulness of EGCC in therapies aimed at the control of B. cenocepacia in CF lung. It could be interesting to hypothesize a combined therapy based on EGCG and autophagy inducers.

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