Resumo

The Paracoccidioides genus consists of dimorphic fungi, etiologic agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Currently, phylogenetic studies divide the Paracoccidioides genus in two species named Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Paracoccidioides lutzii. The first is divided in three phylogenetic species, S1, PS2 and PS3 and the second named Pb01-like. The correct molecular taxonomy of this fungus has opened new possibilities for the study and understanding of their relationships with their hosts. Paracoccidioides sp have some features that allow their growth in adverse conditions provided by the host, which may contribute to disease development that enables them to adhere and invade host tissues. Adhesion is provided by a particular class of proteins present in the cell wall called adhesins, capable of mediating interactions with the fungal host tissues during infection. This study aims to evaluate the adhesion profile to epithelial lineage of A549 (pneumocytes type II) of different phylogenetic species of P. brasiliensis and P. lutzii, as well as, the Paracoccidioides adhesin’ genes expression, by Real Time PCR. The adhesion experiments showed that the infection does not present a standard set for each phylogenetic group of species, varied patterns was observed within the same group. Among the phylogenetic species, the "S1" had the highest rates of infection reflecting the virulence of these isolates, although this is well marked in all isolates. By Real Time PCR, apparently, there isn´t a pattern in the adhesin expression, and depending on the isolate, the adhesins may be more or less expressed. This study opened new perspectives in the study of the host-Paracoccidioides species complex interaction, showing that this relationship is complex and depending on the phylogenetic species. Different arsenal may be used by the pathogen to adhere and causing infection in the host leading to different forms of manifestation of this disease.