L'analyse des modes B+/- -> pi+/- pi0 et B+/- -> K+/- pi0 a été menée avec un échantillon de données de 205 fb-1 correspondant à environ 227 millions de paires de mésons B, collectées par le détecteur BABAR. Les rapports d'embranchement et les asymétries de CP obtenus sont: B( B+/- -> pi+/- pi0) = (5.57 +/- 0.60 +/- 0.33) 10E-6 B( B+/- -> K+/- pi0) = (11.50 +/- 0.65 +/- 0.57) 10E-6 Acp( B+/- -> pi+/- pi0) = -0.01 +/- 0.10 +/- 0.02 Acp( B+/- -> K+/- pi0)= 0.06 +/- 0.06 +/- 0.01 Les contraintes sur l'angle le triangle d'unitarité par les analyses d'isospin des modes pi pi et K pi ont été étudiées. Des contraintes plus significatives ont été obtenues avec la symétrie SU(3) pour les modes B, Bs -> pipi/ Kpi / KK. Elles sont en bon accord avec l'ajustement CKM standard. Dans le futur une telle analyse pourrait entrer en compétition avec l'ajustement CKM standard, et permettre de déterminer des paramètres de Nouvelle Physique ou de brisure de SU(3) à partir des données.

3BP2 is a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain- and Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing adapter protein that has been linked through genetic evidence to a rare human disease called cherubism 146. 3BP2 was originally cloned in a screen to identify c-Abl SH3 binding proteins 23,24. In overexpression studies, 3BP2 has been implicated as a positive regulatory adapter molecule coupled to immunoreceptor on T cells 67,69,70, B cells 68, NK cells 71-73 and mast cells 74,75. It was also evident that 3BP2 forms complexes with a number of signaling molecules, such as Zap-70, LAT, phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1), Grb2, Cbl, and Fyn in Jurkat cells 67 and Vav1, Vav2, PLC-γ, and Syk in Daudi B cells 68. Despite the growing body of biochemical data to support the importance of 3BP2 in cells of the hematopoietic lineage, a clear picture of the biological function of 3BP2 has yet to emerge. To elucidate the in vivo function of 3BP2, our laboratory has generated 3BP2 gene-deficient mice through homologous recombination 452. The 3BP2-deficient (3BP2-/-) mice were born at the expected Mendelian frequency and were fertile and viable. 3BP2-/- mice accumulate splenic marginal-zone (MZ) B cells, possess a reduced frequency of peritoneal B-1 B cells, and have a diminished thymus-independent type 2 (TI-2) antigen response. 3BP2-/- B cells demonstrate diminished proliferation and cell survival following cross-linking of the B-cell receptor (BCR). Following BCR ligation, 3BP2 might be recruited to BCR complex through its inducible interaction with BCR costimulatory molecule CD19. In the absence of 3BP2, the activation of BCR downstream effectors such as MAPK Erk1/2, JNK, and c-Abl is normal; however, 3BP2 deficiency leads to defects in Syk phosphorylation and calcium flux. In addition to defects in peripheral B cell activities, 3BP2 deficiency contributes to defects in neutrophil activities. In response to the chemotactic peptide, fMLF, 3BP2-/- neutrophils fail to establish directional migration in vitro. There is a defect in the accumulation of filamentous actin at the leading edge of migrating 3BP2-/- neutrophils which might be responsible for the random movement of these cells under shallow gradient of fMLF. In vivo, there is a delay in the recruitment of circulating neutrophils to the site of chemically induced inflammation in 3BP2-/- mice. Compared to wildtype neutrophils, 3BP2-/- neutrophils fail to properly produce superoxide anion (O2-) following fMLF stimulation. Defects in both directional migration and superoxide production of 3BP2-/- neutrophils might contribute to the reduction in bacteria clearance and the increased mortality in 3BP2-/- mice post Listeria Monocytogenes infection. In Chapter 1 of this thesis, I have reviewed basic structures and functions of the domain modules found in adapter proteins. In addition, I have reviewed the findings from numerous reports on the function of 3BP2 in different cell types. A discussion of the physical appearance and some of the initial characterization of 3BP2-deficient mice (3BP2-/-) we have generated in our laboratory are included in Chapter 1. The second part of Chapter 1 consists of an introduction on B cell receptor signaling pathway and B-cell development and activation. A discussion of G protein-coupled receptor-mediated neutrophil functions can also be found in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 contains all the methods and materials used in my study. Chapter 3 includes the characterization of peripheral B cell compartment of 3BP2-/- mice as well as the role of 3BP2 downstream of B-cell antigen receptor and in T-independent immune response. In chapter 4, I present data from experiments designed to examine the role of 3BP2 downstream of a G protein-coupled receptor, fMLF receptor, of neutrophils. I also show the requirement of 3BP2 in the clearance of Listeria Monocytogenes. In chapter 5, I propose two models for 3BP2 action based on the findings in B cells and neutrophils and discuss future areas for investigation.

B virus (Macacine herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine herpesvirus 1, herpes B virus) is an Old World monkey simplex virus endemic in macaques. B virus infection in its natural host, macaque, is very similar to HSV-­‐1 infection in humans causing mild or asymptomatic infection. On the other hand, zoonotic infection in humans results in death in the absence of early initiation of antiviral drugs. Viruses evade host immune responses in order to survive and propagate. Most herpes viruses including HSV-­‐1 down-­‐regulate major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I) surface expression on infected cells in order to prevent CD8+ T-­‐cell recognition and subsequent cell lysis. MHC class I molecules bind to the inhibitory receptors of NK cells and prevent NK cell activity. Thus, this mechanism protects HSV-­‐1 infected cells from CD8+ T-­‐cell lysis, making them sensitive to natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. To investigate if B virus pathogenicity is a result of novel immune evasion mechanisms employed by B virus, we determined NK cell regulation during B virus infection. To this end, our experiments demonstrate that B virus does not down-­‐ regulate MHC I expression as effectively as HSV-­‐1, leading us to hypothesize that B virus in-­‐ fected cells are resistant to NK cell activity. We examined the expression of MHC I chain related genes (MICA/ MICB), which are activation ligands to NKG2D receptors on NK cells. Our results show that there is no significant difference in MICA and MICB expression between HSV-­‐1 and B virus infected cells. Furthermore, we tested for the up-­‐regulation of cytokines and chemokines responsible for NK cell activation and migration. Our results indicate a significant up-­‐regulation of IFN-­‐α from PBMCs co-­‐cultured with HSV-­‐1 infected cells, which plays an important role in activating NK cells. NK cells within these PBMCs up-­‐regulate perforin release indicative of NK cell activity. PBMCs co-­‐cultured with B virus infected cells do not up-­‐regulate any cytokines or chemokines responsible for NK cell activity. As a result the NK cells within these PBMCs do not significantly up-­‐regulate perforin release. These results demonstrate that B virus employs a novel immune evasion mechanism to subvert NK cell activity.

3BP2 is a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain- and Src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing adapter protein that has been linked through genetic evidence to a rare human disease called cherubism 146. 3BP2 was originally cloned in a screen to identify c-Abl SH3 binding proteins 23,24. In overexpression studies, 3BP2 has been implicated as a positive regulatory adapter molecule coupled to immunoreceptor on T cells 67,69,70, B cells 68, NK cells 71-73 and mast cells 74,75. It was also evident that 3BP2 forms complexes with a number of signaling molecules, such as Zap-70, LAT, phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1), Grb2, Cbl, and Fyn in Jurkat cells 67 and Vav1, Vav2, PLC-γ, and Syk in Daudi B cells 68. Despite the growing body of biochemical data to support the importance of 3BP2 in cells of the hematopoietic lineage, a clear picture of the biological function of 3BP2 has yet to emerge. To elucidate the in vivo function of 3BP2, our laboratory has generated 3BP2 gene-deficient mice through homologous recombination 452. The 3BP2-deficient (3BP2-/-) mice were born at the expected Mendelian frequency and were fertile and viable. 3BP2-/- mice accumulate splenic marginal-zone (MZ) B cells, possess a reduced frequency of peritoneal B-1 B cells, and have a diminished thymus-independent type 2 (TI-2) antigen response. 3BP2-/- B cells demonstrate diminished proliferation and cell survival following cross-linking of the B-cell receptor (BCR). Following BCR ligation, 3BP2 might be recruited to BCR complex through its inducible interaction with BCR costimulatory molecule CD19. In the absence of 3BP2, the activation of BCR downstream effectors such as MAPK Erk1/2, JNK, and c-Abl is normal; however, 3BP2 deficiency leads to defects in Syk phosphorylation and calcium flux. In addition to defects in peripheral B cell activities, 3BP2 deficiency contributes to defects in neutrophil activities. In response to the chemotactic peptide, fMLF, 3BP2-/- neutrophils fail to establish directional migration in vitro. There is a defect in the accumulation of filamentous actin at the leading edge of migrating 3BP2-/- neutrophils which might be responsible for the random movement of these cells under shallow gradient of fMLF. In vivo, there is a delay in the recruitment of circulating neutrophils to the site of chemically induced inflammation in 3BP2-/- mice. Compared to wildtype neutrophils, 3BP2-/- neutrophils fail to properly produce superoxide anion (O2-) following fMLF stimulation. Defects in both directional migration and superoxide production of 3BP2-/- neutrophils might contribute to the reduction in bacteria clearance and the increased mortality in 3BP2-/- mice post Listeria Monocytogenes infection. In Chapter 1 of this thesis, I have reviewed basic structures and functions of the domain modules found in adapter proteins. In addition, I have reviewed the findings from numerous reports on the function of 3BP2 in different cell types. A discussion of the physical appearance and some of the initial characterization of 3BP2-deficient mice (3BP2-/-) we have generated in our laboratory are included in Chapter 1. The second part of Chapter 1 consists of an introduction on B cell receptor signaling pathway and B-cell development and activation. A discussion of G protein-coupled receptor-mediated neutrophil functions can also be found in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 contains all the methods and materials used in my study. Chapter 3 includes the characterization of peripheral B cell compartment of 3BP2-/- mice as well as the role of 3BP2 downstream of B-cell antigen receptor and in T-independent immune response. In chapter 4, I present data from experiments designed to examine the role of 3BP2 downstream of a G protein-coupled receptor, fMLF receptor, of neutrophils. I also show the requirement of 3BP2 in the clearance of Listeria Monocytogenes. In chapter 5, I propose two models for 3BP2 action based on the findings in B cells and neutrophils and discuss future areas for investigation.

Die hier vorgestellte Untersuchung des radiativen elektroschwachen "Pinguin"-Zerfalls B->K*(892)Gamma, der durch den "Schleifen"-Übergang b->sGamma stattfindet, stellt einen wichtigen Test des Standardmodells und einen Kandidaten für die Suche nach Neuer Physik dar. Der benutzte Datensatz wurde auf der Y(4S)-Resonanz mit dem BABAR-Detektor am asymmetrischen Elektron-Positron-Speicherring PEP-II des Stanford Linear Accelerator Centers (SLAC) aufgezeichnet. Die B->K*Gamma Verzweigungsverhältnisse wurden in vier K*-Zerfallskanälen gemessen. Eine Suche nach direkter CP-Verletzung im B->K*Gamma Kanal wurde ebenfalls durchgeführt. / The presented study of the radiative electroweak "penguin"-decay B->K*(892)gamma, proceeding by the b->sgamma "loop"-transition, provides an important test of the Standard Model and a candidate of the search for New Physics. The used data sample has been recorded at the Y(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the asymmetric electron-positron- collider PEP-II of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) in California. The B->K*gamma branching fractions are measured in four K*-decay modes. A search for direct CP-violation in the B->K*gamma mode has also been carried out.

The human hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the prototype member of the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. Various other hepadnaviruses are used as models to study human HBV infections as all Hepadnaviridae family members have similar virus structure and replication strategies. The studies performed and described in this thesis were carried out using duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infection of Pekin ducks as a model system. Hepadnavirus infections can have either an acute or a chronic outcome. The factors that contribute to these outcomes include the immune response, the age of the host at the time of infection as well as size of viral inoculum. The overall aim of this project was to gain a detailed understanding of the mechanisms involved in clearance of virus and resolution of acute DHBV infections. As a first step, molecular and immunohistochemical detection methods for a range of cellular markers in ducks had to be developed as assays were not readily available. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR assays (qRT-PCR) were developed for the detection of mRNA of the duck T-lymphocyte markers, CD3, CD4, CD8, duck cytokines, IFN-α, IFN-γ, TNF-α and the duck housekeeping genes, β-actin and GAPDH. Immunohistochemistry was developed for the detection of duck CD4 + and CD8 + on T cells and for the detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as a marker of cell proliferation. These methods were then widely used throughout the project. The innate immune response during HBV infections is not well understood. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are a family of pattern recognition receptors that form part of the innate immune response and are involved in the recognition of bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens. The only TLR that have been reported to recognise viral pathogens are TLR- 2, TLR-3, TLR-4, TLR-7 and TLR-9. The possible role of TLR during hepadnavirus infections had not been well characterized to date. In this project cDNA sequences for duck TLR-2, TLR-4 and TLR-7 were identified and characterised and qRT-PCR assays were developed for their detection. Changes in duck TLR-2, TLR-4 and TLR-7 mRNA expression during hepadnavirus infection were identified following DHBV infection of primary duck hepatocytes (PDH) in vitro. The results showed increased levels of expression of duck TLR early during infection indicating an involvement of TLR and the innate immune response during DHBV infection. During the in vivo DHBV infection studies performed to date TLR mRNA expression remained unchanged. As previously mentioned hepadnavirus infection can have an acute or chronic outcome. We aimed to understand the mechanisms involved during the resolution of acute DHBV infection and to elucidate specific factors contributing to the successful resolution of infection. During acute infections immune markers were monitored by qRT-PCR and histological analysis of fixed liver sections was performed. Liver sections were analysed to detect liver inflammation, the number and size of Kupffer cells, hepatocyte apoptosis and changes in hepatocyte proliferation throughout the course of acute DHBV infection in 6-week-old ducks. By determining the percentage of DHBV-positive hepatocytes two patterns of clearance of acute DHBV infection were observed; early clearance of infected hepatocytes occurring before day 14 post infection (p.i.), and late clearance occurring after day 14, but before or on day 31 p.i. This viral clearance was seen to occur in a cell by cell pattern. Higher levels of hepatocyte proliferation and apoptotic hepatocytes were detected during the clearance phase (on day 14 p.i.) of the late clearance group. Periodic acid schiff-diastase (PAS-D) staining was used to show significant increases in both cell number and size of Kupffer cells. Levels of IFN-γ mRNA increased significantly over the uninfected age-matched control ducks on day 14 p.i. Levels of CD3, CD4 and CD8 mRNA expression also increased over the uninfected controls on days 14 and 31 p.i. In summary, we found that resolution of acute DHBV infection occurred on a cell by cell pattern of clearance, it was accompanied by increases in hepatocyte proliferation, apoptotic hepatocytes and activated Kupffer cells, indicating that T lymphocytes and cell death play important roles in the rapid clearance of DHBV infection. Following resolution of acute hepadnaviral infections residual viral DNA has been found to persist. Residual HBV DNA in humans can result in reactivation of HBV infection following liver transplantation or immunosuppressive drug treatment. This leads to possible pathogenic outcomes thus the need for further investigations. Previous studies performed in the duck model have shown that the major form of residual DNA is present as covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). We aimed to understand how this residual cccDNA was being maintained and if replication was involved in the process. Following resolution of infection in ducks, levels of residual DHBV DNA were monitored by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Ducks were treated with the Bristol-Myers Squibb nucleoside analogue Entecavir (ETV) in order to suppress any possible replication that might be maintaining levels of residual cccDNA. In DHBV-infected but non-ETV treated ducks, the levels of residual DHBV DNA decreased gradually when measured on days 60, 221 and 316 p.i. The observed decrease in residual DHBV DNA occurred in parallel with decreases in the rate of hepatocyte proliferation measured by PCNA staining. This finding suggests that levels of residual DHBV DNA and hepatocyte proliferation are linked and we hypothesise that hepatocyte turnover is involved in the clearance of residual DHBV DNA. ETV treatment did not have an effect on the levels of residual DHBV DNA which suggests that it is present in a subset of long-lived hepatocytes that do not support virus replication. Mathematical modelling was performed to predict the rate of hepatocyte proliferation required for the elimination of residual cccDNA. The mathematical modelling showed that the predicted rate of hepatocyte proliferation was consistent with the rate of hepatocyte proliferation measured by PCNA. Further mathematical modelling showed that residual cccDNA is most likely to survive mitosis and it decreases due to several rounds of hepatocyte proliferation required for its elimination. Altogether, this project has elucidated mechanisms involved during the resolution of acute DHBV infection and also possible mechanisms by which residual DHBV DNA is maintained following resolution of infection. Detailed understanding of the virological and immunological events that occur during the resolution of an acute hepadnavirus infection would assist in the development of new therapeutic treatments for the cure of chronic HBV infections. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1345121 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2008

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Medicine, 1997. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 189-204.

Submitted by Priscila Nascimento (pnascimento@icict.fiocruz.br) on 2012-11-23T15:50:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 elo-de-oliveira-rodrigues.pdf: 697936 bytes, checksum: fb3899c2c6d659498d8e8ab0a1a0b33a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-11-23T15:50:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 elo-de-oliveira-rodrigues.pdf: 697936 bytes, checksum: fb3899c2c6d659498d8e8ab0a1a0b33a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. / O Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos, Biomanguinhos, é uma unidade da FIOCRUZ produtora de vacinas, biofármacos e reativos. O Departamento de Controle de Qualidade, pertencente a unidade de Biomanguinhos, é responsável pelos diversos ensaios físico-químicos, microbiológicos e biológicos para liberação dos produtos finais, produtos intermediários e matérias-primas. Devido à necessidade de normalizar seus ensaios referentes a produtos finais e intermediários, várias medidas têm sido tomadas como: calibração e qualificação de equipamentos, validação de métodos analíticos, aquisição de padrões, entre outras atividades de melhoria. Uma das dificuldades encontradas pelos laboratórios de controle de qualidade é a aquisição de padrões que tenham características semelhantes aos produtos produzidos em Biomanguinhos. A disponibilidade de materiais de referência/padrões que atendam às necessidades do laboratório e a dificuldade em obtê-los, além dos custos elevados, os tornam impeditivos para uso nos ensaios rotineiros. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo estabelecer a prática da produção de material de referência in housepara os métodos que são utilizados para o controle de qualidade de produtos obtidos em Biomanguinhos. O planejamento eelaboração do material de referência de trabalho serão realizados considerando-se todas as condições necessárias para que a substância candidata atenda às normas vigentes relacionadas à normalização de métodos de controle de qualidade. A implantação da metodologiae dos requisitos necessários para obtenção do material serão descritos neste trabalho. O material “candidato” a material de referência é opolirribosil-ribitol fosfato, o PRRP, que após conjugação com a proteína monomérica tetânica, torna-se o princípio ativo da vacina contra Haemophilus influenzae, a vacina Hib. A avaliação do material de referência candidato é baseada nos estudos de caracterização, homogeneidade e estabilidade, utilizando-se ferramentas estatísticas adequadas, visando à atribuição do seu valor com uma incerteza de medição associada, atendendo aos propósitos desejados e agregando maior confiabilidade aos produtos analisados pelo laboratório. Além do uso interno, há a intenção de produzir este material de referência emitindo certificado de acordo com as normas vigentes, e assim fornecê-lo também para o INCQS, órgão da FIOCRUZ responsável pelo controle de qualidade nacional de vacinas e medicamentos. / The Institute of Technology in Immunobiologicals, Biomanguinhos, is a vaccine, biopharmaceuticals, and diagnostic kits production unit that belongs to Fiocruz. The Quality Control Department is responsible for the many physical-chemical, microbiological, and biological assays performed to release the final and intermediate products and the raw materials. Due to the need of standardization of the assays, some measures have been being taken, such as equipments’ calibration and qualification, validation of analytical methods, and standards purchase. One of the challenges faced by the quality control laboratories is the acquisition of standards that have the same characteristics as the Biomanguinhos products. The low availability of standards and reference materials that attend the laboratories’ needs and the difficulties in obtaining these products, besides the high costs, make their use in the laboratories routine almost impossible. This thesis intends to establish the production practice for the in-house reference materials used in Biomanguinhos’ quality control assays. The planning and elaboration of the reference materials will be made according to the current legislation that concerns the standardization of quality control methods. The deployment of the methodology and of the requirements for the material obtainment will be discussed in this work. The ‘candidate’ to be a reference material is the polyrribosil ribitol phosphate (PRRP) that, after conjugation with the tetanical monomeric protein, becomes the active substance of the Haemophilus influenzaevaccine (Hib). The evaluation of the candidate material is based in characterization, homogeneity and stability studies, using suitable statistical tools, in order to assign its value with an associated measurement uncertainty. It aggregates reliability to the products analyzed in the laboratories. Besides the internal use, the purpose of this work is to certify the reference material in accordance with the current regulations, so that itcan be more trustable and therefore be used by INCQS, Fiocruz unit responsible for the nationalquality control of vaccines and other pharmaceutical products.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-02-02T12:26:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 HelioTeotonioAlvesFilho_DISSERT.pdf: 3908581 bytes, checksum: bfd157a1c2630b1d572b7c84fecae9eb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-02-07T16:54:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 HelioTeotonioAlvesFilho_DISSERT.pdf: 3908581 bytes, checksum: bfd157a1c2630b1d572b7c84fecae9eb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-07T16:54:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 HelioTeotonioAlvesFilho_DISSERT.pdf: 3908581 bytes, checksum: bfd157a1c2630b1d572b7c84fecae9eb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-29 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / O planejamento do setor de saneamento b?sico ? uma necessidade real nos munic?pios para que se fa?a ocorrer o desenvolvimento da qualidade de vida da popula??o, visto que h? uma grande liga??o do saneamento com a sa?de p?blica. A Lei n? 11.445 de 2007, entre suas diretrizes para o saneamento b?sico, no cen?rio nacional, exige a elabora??o do Plano Municipal de Saneamento B?sico (PMSB) dos munic?pios, sendo condi??o para valida??o de contrato com prestadoras de servi?os de saneamento b?sico e para receber recursos federais para o setor. Dada a situa??o preocupante constatada nos munic?pios do Rio Grande do Norte, em que apenas cerca de 5% tinham finalizado o seu PMSB, em 2010, faz-se necess?rio saber a situa??o atual e descobrir as raz?es que levaram ao grande d?ficit no planejamento. Para tanto, este trabalho buscou fazer o diagn?stico da situa??o dos PMSB em todos os munic?pios do estado, atrav?s de question?rio respondido online (Google Forms) e por telefone, buscando saber sobre o andamento da elabora??o de seu respectivo PMSB e sobre as dificuldades enfrentadas durante o processo. Para verificar a coer?ncia dos dados e preencher a lacuna deixada pela aus?ncia de informa??es de alguns munic?pios, foram utilizados dados secund?rios obtidos da Companhia de ?guas e Esgotos do Rio Grande do Norte e do Panorama da Situa??o dos Planos Municipais de Saneamento B?sico no Brasil constru?do pelo Minist?rio das Cidades. Os resultados mostraram um cen?rio ainda preocupante: cerca de 23,5% dos munic?pios possuem PMSB e 24,2% est?o em processo de elabora??o. As principais dificuldades percebidas pelos munic?pios est?o na car?ncia de recursos financeiros e falta de profissionais qualificados no pr?prio munic?pio, no entanto, a vontade pol?tica tamb?m ? uma dificuldade, embora n?o claramente percebida por eles. / Planning in the sanitation sector is a real need in the counties in order that occur the development of the population's quality of life since there is a great connection between sanitation and public health. The Law 11.445 of 2007 in its guidelines for basic sanitation in the national scenario requires the establishment of the Municipal Plan of Sanitation (PMSB) of counties with this being condition for contract validation with sanitation service providers and to receive federal funds for the sector. Given the worrying situation found in the counties of Rio Grande do Norte, where only about 5% had completed their PMSB in 2010, it is necessary to know the current situation and find out the reasons that led to this large deficit in the planning. Therefore, this study aimed to diagnose the PMSB situation in all counties in the state through questionnaire answered online (Google Forms) and by telephone seeking to know about the progress of the elaboration of their respective PMSB and about the difficulties faced during the process. To check the consistency of the data and fill the gap left by the lack of information from some counties we used secondary data obtained from the Company of Water and Sewers of Rio Grande do Norte and from ?Overview of the situation of Municipal Sanitation Planning in Brazil? built by Ministry of Cities. The results showed an expected and still worrying scenario: about 23.5% of the counties have PMSB and 24.2% are in the elaboration process. The main difficulties perceived by counties are the lack of financial resources and lack of qualified professionals in the own city, however, the political will is also a difficulty, though clearly not perceived by them.