A transferência passiva de anticorpos da mãe para o filho auxilia na adaptação ao meio externo. No recém-nascido (RN), a colonização pelo Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) é precoce, sendo este um importante agente etiológico em infecções neonatais e no lactente jovem, para o qual ainda não se dispõem de vacina. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar as concentrações, títulos e avidez de anticorpos maternos anti-S. aureus do tipo IgG e IgA e a passagem desses anticorpos para os RN por transferência placentária e pelo colostro. MÉTODOS: Estudo caso-controle de 147 parturientes saudáveis. Foram coletadas amostras de soros maternos, de cordão umbilical e colostro. O grupo caso foi definido pela colonização nasal natural pelo S. aureus, sendo que para cada caso (n=49) foram selecionados 2 controles (n=98). Foram utilizadas as metodologias de imunoturbidimetria para dosagem de IgG total, ensaio imunoenzimático para dosagem IgA total e para a aferição das concentrações e títulos de anticorpos específicos anti-S. aureus (IgG sérica, subclasses séricas IgG1 e IgG2, IgA de colostro e os índices de avidez). Foram aplicados testes não paramétricos de Wilcoxon para amostras pareadas e de Mann-Whitney para amostras não pareadas, com intervalo de confiança de 95%, nível de significância p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: No grupo caso, as concentrações séricas de IgG total materna foram maiores mas com menor taxa de transferência placentária de IgG total, ocorrendo o inverso para o grupo controle. Não foram observadas diferenças nas concentrações séricas de IgG materna anti-S. aureus entre os grupos, mas com taxa de transferência placentária significantemente menor no grupo caso. Observou-se que os títulos específicos de IgG1 anti-S. aureus foram mais baixos no soro materno e no cordão do grupo caso, com taxas de transferência similar para os grupos caso e controle. Para os títulos específicos de IgG2 anti-S. aureus, não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos caso e controle, com taxas de transferência similares entre os grupos. Observou-se que os títulos de IgG2 foram maiores que os de IgG1, tanto no soro materno como no de cordão em ambos os grupos. No soro materno e de cordão, não foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos nos ensaios de avidez de IgG anti-S. aureus. No estudo de colostro, a concentração de IgA total foi maior no grupo caso, mas sem diferenças entre os grupos para a IgA anti-S. aureus. A comparação da avidez de anticorpos IgA anti-S. aureus do colostro com a de IgG anti-S. aureus do soro materno, em ambos os grupos, mostrou que a avidez de IgA foi maior. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados demonstraram que a colonização nasal materna por S. aureus não esteve associada com uma maior transferência para o RN de anticorpos IgG ou IgA específicos via placenta ou colostro. A maior transmissão de títulos elevados de IgG2 específicos para o recém-nascido, isto é, anticorpos com uma baixa atividade opsonizante, reitera a maior susceptibilidade neonatal para este agente patogênico. A IgA secretora no colostro apresentou melhor índice de avidez do que a IgG do soro, o que corrobora com a importância da amamentação nos primeiros meses de vida / The passive transfer of antibodies from mother to child assists in adjustment to the external environment. In the newborn (NB), colonization by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) occurs early, which is an important etiologic agent in neonatal and young infant infections, for which no vaccine is available. AIMS: To evaluate concentrations, titers and avidity of anti-S. aureus maternal IgG and IgA antibodies and transmission of these antibodies to the newborns via placental transfer and colostrum. METHODS: Case-control study of 147 healthy pregnant women. Samples of maternal serum, cord blood and colostrum were collected. The case group was defined by natural nasal colonization with S. aureus, and for each case (n = 49) were selected 2 controls (n = 98). Immunoturbidimetric assay was used to measure total IgG, and immunoenzymatic assay to measure total IgA in colostrum and anti-S. aureus concentrations and titers (serum IgG, serum IgG1 and IgG2, colostrum IgA and IgG and IgA avidity indexes). Nonparametric Wilcoxon test for paired samples and the Mann-Whitney test for unpaired samples were applied, with a confidence interval of 95%, significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: In the study group, maternal total IgG serum concentrations were higher but with lower total IgG placental transfer ratio, while the opposite occurred for the control group. No differences were observed in anti-staphylococcal maternal IgG serum concentrations between groups, but placental transfer ratio was significantly lower in the case group. It was observed that anti-S. aureus IgG1 titers were lower in maternal and cord serum from the case group, with with similar transfer ratios for case and control groups. Regarding antistaphylococcal IgG2 titers, no differences were observed between case and control groups, with similar transfer ratios between groups. It was observed that specific IgG2 titers were higher than those of IgG1 in both maternal and cord serum from both groups. In maternal and cord blood serum, no differences between groups were found in avidity assays of anti-S. aureus IgG. In colostrum, total IgA concentrations were higher in the case group, but no differences between groups for anti-S. aureus IgA were detected. The comparison of anti-staphylococcal IgA antibodies avidity in colostrum with anti-S. aureus IgG in maternal serum from both groups, showed that IgA presents higher avidity indexes. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that maternal nasal colonization by S. aureus was not associated with a higher transfer to the NB of specific IgG or IgA antibodies via the placenta or colostrum. The greatest transmission of Sa-specific IgG2 titers to the newborn, i.e., antibodies with low opsonizing activity, reiterates the higher neonatal susceptibility to this pathogen. Secretory IgA in colostrum showed better avidity index than serum IgG, which reinforces the importance of breastfeeding in the early months of life

Immune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a potentially serious complication of heparin therapy and is associated with antibodies directed against a complex of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin. Early diagnosis of HIT is important to reduce morbidity and mortality. I developed an enzyme immunoassay that detects the binding of HIT IgG to PF4-heparin in the fluid phase. This required techniques to purify and biotinylate PF4. The fluid phase assay produces consistently low background and can detect low levels of anti-PF4-heparin. It is suited to testing alternative anticoagulants because, unlike in an ELISA, a clearly defined amount of antigen is available for antibody binding. I was able to detect anti-PF4-heparin IgG in 93% of HIT patients. I also investigated cross-reactivity of anti-PF4-heparin antibodies with PF4 complexed to alternative heparin-like anticoagulants. Low molecular weight heparins cross-reacted with 88% of the sera from HIT patients while half of the HIT sera weakly cross-reacted with PF4-danaparoid (Orgaran). The thrombocytopenia and thrombosis of most of these patients resolved during danaparoid therapy, indicating that detection of low affinity antibodies to PF4-danaparoid by immunoassay may not be an absolute contraindication for danaparoid administration. While HIT patients possess antibodies to PF4-heparin, I observed that HIT antibodies will also bind to PF4 alone adsorbed on polystyrene ELISA wells but not to soluble PF4 in the absence of heparin. Having developed a technique to affinity-purify anti-PF4-heparin HIT IgG, I provide the first estimates of the avidity of HIT IgG. HIT IgG displayed relatively high functional affinity for both PF4-heparin (Kd=7-30nM) and polystyrene adsorbed PF4 alone (Kd=20-70nM). Furthermore, agarose beads coated with PF4 alone were almost as effective as beads coated with PF4 plus heparin in depleting HIT plasmas of anti-PF4-heparin antibodies. I conclude that the HIT antibodies which bind to polystyrene adsorbed PF4 without heparin are largely the same IgG molecules that bind PF4-heparin and thus most HIT antibodies bind epitope(s) on PF4 and not epitope(s) formed by part of a PF4 molecule and part of a heparin molecule. Binding of PF4 to heparin (optimal) or polystyrene/agarose (sub-optimal) promotes recognition of this epitope. Under conditions that are more physiological and sensitive than previous studies, I observed that affinity-purified HIT IgG will cause platelet aggregation upon the addition of heparin. Platelets activated with HIT IgG increased their release and surface expression of PF4. I quantitated the binding of affinity-purified HIT 125I-IgG to platelets as they activate in a plasma milieu. Binding of the HIT IgG was dependent upon heparin and some degree of platelet activation. Blocking the platelet Fc??? receptor-II with the monoclonal antibody IV.3 did not prevent HIT IgG binding to activated platelets. I conclude that anti-PF4-heparin IgG is the only component specific to HIT plasma that is required to induce platelet aggregation. The Fab region of HIT IgG binds to PF4-heparin that is on the surface of activated platelets. I propose that only then does the Fc portion of the bound IgG activate other platelets via the Fc receptor. My data support a dynamic model of platelet activation where released PF4 enhances further antibody binding and more release.

Immune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a potentially serious complication of heparin therapy and is associated with antibodies directed against a complex of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin. Early diagnosis of HIT is important to reduce morbidity and mortality. I developed an enzyme immunoassay that detects the binding of HIT IgG to PF4-heparin in the fluid phase. This required techniques to purify and biotinylate PF4. The fluid phase assay produces consistently low background and can detect low levels of anti-PF4-heparin. It is suited to testing alternative anticoagulants because, unlike in an ELISA, a clearly defined amount of antigen is available for antibody binding. I was able to detect anti-PF4-heparin IgG in 93% of HIT patients. I also investigated cross-reactivity of anti-PF4-heparin antibodies with PF4 complexed to alternative heparin-like anticoagulants. Low molecular weight heparins cross-reacted with 88% of the sera from HIT patients while half of the HIT sera weakly cross-reacted with PF4-danaparoid (Orgaran). The thrombocytopenia and thrombosis of most of these patients resolved during danaparoid therapy, indicating that detection of low affinity antibodies to PF4-danaparoid by immunoassay may not be an absolute contraindication for danaparoid administration. While HIT patients possess antibodies to PF4-heparin, I observed that HIT antibodies will also bind to PF4 alone adsorbed on polystyrene ELISA wells but not to soluble PF4 in the absence of heparin. Having developed a technique to affinity-purify anti-PF4-heparin HIT IgG, I provide the first estimates of the avidity of HIT IgG. HIT IgG displayed relatively high functional affinity for both PF4-heparin (Kd=7-30nM) and polystyrene adsorbed PF4 alone (Kd=20-70nM). Furthermore, agarose beads coated with PF4 alone were almost as effective as beads coated with PF4 plus heparin in depleting HIT plasmas of anti-PF4-heparin antibodies. I conclude that the HIT antibodies which bind to polystyrene adsorbed PF4 without heparin are largely the same IgG molecules that bind PF4-heparin and thus most HIT antibodies bind epitope(s) on PF4 and not epitope(s) formed by part of a PF4 molecule and part of a heparin molecule. Binding of PF4 to heparin (optimal) or polystyrene/agarose (sub-optimal) promotes recognition of this epitope. Under conditions that are more physiological and sensitive than previous studies, I observed that affinity-purified HIT IgG will cause platelet aggregation upon the addition of heparin. Platelets activated with HIT IgG increased their release and surface expression of PF4. I quantitated the binding of affinity-purified HIT 125I-IgG to platelets as they activate in a plasma milieu. Binding of the HIT IgG was dependent upon heparin and some degree of platelet activation. Blocking the platelet Fc??? receptor-II with the monoclonal antibody IV.3 did not prevent HIT IgG binding to activated platelets. I conclude that anti-PF4-heparin IgG is the only component specific to HIT plasma that is required to induce platelet aggregation. The Fab region of HIT IgG binds to PF4-heparin that is on the surface of activated platelets. I propose that only then does the Fc portion of the bound IgG activate other platelets via the Fc receptor. My data support a dynamic model of platelet activation where released PF4 enhances further antibody binding and more release.

Introducción: en la presente revisión conoceremos los detalles de esta nueva prueba de laboratorio, utilizada para cuantificar los anticuerpos neutralizantes contra el SARS-CoV-2. Esta prueba diagnóstica comienza a tener un mayor protagonismo, a razón del proceso de infección y vacunación en el mundo, para comprender los misterios del correlato de protección inmunológica. Contenido: los anticuerpos neutralizantes tienen la capacidad de bloquear la capacidad del virus, para unirse al receptor ACE2 en las células humanas y estos anticuerpos permiten eliminar el efecto de microorganismos invasores. Su actividad se genera por las proteínas situadas en la superficie de los virus, a las que se unen para «bloquear» la infección. Los anticuerpos neutralizantes se definen in vitro por su capacidad para bloquear la entrada, fusión o salida del coronavirus, es decir son anticuerpos funcionales. Resumen: en la actualidad existen diferentes pruebas de laboratorio (pruebas de inmunoensayo de alto rendimiento), que tienen la capacidad de detectar anticuerpos inmunoglobulinas G anti proteína S del SARS-CoV-2 y que se correlacionan con las pruebas de laboratorio gold standard para la determinación de estos anticuerpos. Es crucial que estas pruebas de inmunoensayo de alto rendimiento, sean validadas en su fabricación contra métodos gold standard para determinar la presencia de anticuerpos neutralizantes. Perspectiva: esta revisión pretende ampliar el conocimiento de esta nueva prueba, que en un futuro permitirán definir los valores de correlato inmunológico generados por las vacunas o por una infección previa.

The generation of recombinant antibodies (Abs) using phage display is a proven method to obtain a large variety of Abs that bind with high affinity to a given antigen. Traditionally, the generation of single-chain Abs depends on the use of recombinant proteins in several stages of the procedure. This can be a problem, especially in the case of cell-surface receptors, because Abs generated and selected against recombinant proteins may not bind the same protein expressed on a cell surface in its native form and because the expression of some receptors as recombinant proteins is problematic. To overcome these difficulties, we developed a strategy to generate single-chain Abs that does not require the use of recombinant protein at any stage of the procedure. In this strategy, stably transfected cells are used for the immunization of mice, measuring Ab responses to immunization, panning the phage library, high-throughput screening of arrayed phage clones, and characterization of recombinant single-chain variable regions. This strategy was used to generate a panel of single-chain Abs specific for the innate immunity receptor Toll-like receptor 2. Once generated, individual single-chain variable regions were subcloned into an expression vector allowing the production of recombinant Abs in insect cells, thus avoiding the contamination of recombinant Abs with microbial products. This cell-based system efficiently generates Abs that bind to native molecules on the cell surface, bypasses the requirement of recombinant protein production, and avoids risks of microbial component contamination. / Dissertation

Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 anaiaraferreira_tese.pdf: 5113092 bytes, checksum: 6a3bf6f59ab187f632c5ffc52b74de32 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-09-16 / Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects humans among other ways, from the gastrointestinal tract, site of expression of ABO antigens through epistatic interactions between ABO, Secretor and Lewis genes. The toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TR) disease resulting from this infection is considered the main cause of posterior uveitis. Objective: To evaluate the risk factors that contribute to infection with T. gondii and development of TR. Materials and Methods: After obtaining informed consent (case 050/2009), peripheral blood and serum samples from 357 patients were analyzed. Patients were divided in two groups according to presence (n=82) or absence (n=275) of clinical diagnosis of TR. ABO and Lewis phenotyping were performed using the methods of hemagglutination in tubes and gel columns, respectively. Indirect immunofluorescence (IFI), ELISA and avidity test were used to define titration and avidity of the anti-T. gondii antibodies. The genotypes FUT2 and FUT3 were identified by PCR-RFLP and the parasite DNA by conventional PCR. Results: From the overall 357 analyzed samples, 74.8% were ELISA reagents and 25.2% were non reagent for IgG anti-T. gondii. IgM antibodies were not found and any samples. High titer (&#8805; 4000) were observed in 8.1% of the patients with TR and 1% of those with other ocular diseases (ODO) (p=0.03), whereas the values of high avidity (&#8805; 60%) were similar between the groups (p=0.44). The PCR results were positive in 21/62 (33.9%) with TR and 1/101 xviii (0.9%) among those with ODO and reagents for IgG anti-T. gondii (p<0.0001). Direct contact with cat and / or dog (p=0.009) and ingestion of raw or undercooked meat (p=0.03) were associated with infection by T. gondii but not the TR. The Le(a-b+) phenotype (p=0.03) showed a lower risk for infection, while the Le(a+b-) phenotype (p=0.08) seems to favor the development of TR. Conclusions: The results demonstrate high frequency of presumable TR among patients with ocular diseases. Besides reveal that majority of patients with TR present low titers of IgG anti-T. gondii, with high avidity and that T. gondii can be find in the peripheral blood of approximately one third of patients independent of ocular lesions resulting from toxoplasmosis. The presence of dogs and cats as well as ingestion of raw or undercooked meat increases the risk of infection by T. gondii, but does not influence the development of TR. The high Leb antigen expression reflects protective effect against infection with T. gondii, as well as the antigen Lea seems to favor the development of TR. / Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infecta os seres humanos dentre outras vias, pelo trato gastrintestinal, local de expressão dos antígenos ABO por meio de interações epistáticas entre os genes ABO, Secretor e Lewis. A retinocoroidite toxoplásmica (RT), doença resultante desta infecção, é considerada a principal causa de uveíte posterior. Objetivo: Avaliar os fatores de risco que contribuem para infecção por T. gondii e desenvolvimento da RT. Materiais e Métodos: Após obtenção do termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido (parecer 050/2009), amostras de sangue periférico e soro de 357 pacientes foram analisadas. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com a presença (n=82) ou ausência (n=275) de diagnóstico clínico da RT. As fenotipagens ABO e Lewis foram realizadas por meio dos métodos de hemaglutinação em tubos e colunas de gel, respectivamente. Imunofluorescência indireta (IFI), ELISA e teste de avidez foram utilizados para definir as classes (IgM e IgG), o título e a avidez dos anticorpos IgG anti-T. gondii. Os genótipos FUT2 e FUT3 foram identificados por PCR-RFLP e o DNA do parasito por PCR convencional. Resultados: Das 357 amostras analisadas, 74,8% foram reagentes no ELISA e 25,2% não reagentes. Não foram encontradas amostras reagentes para IgM. Títulos elevados (&#8805; 4.000) foram observados em 8,1% dos pacientes com RT e em 1% daqueles com outras doenças oculares (ODO) (p=0,03), enquanto que os índices de avidez elevados xvi (&#8805; 60%) foram semelhantes em ambos os grupos (p=0,44). O PCR mostrou-se positivo em 21/62 (33,9%) com RT e em 1/101 (0,9%) daqueles com ODO, reagentes para IgG anti-T. gondii (p<0,0001). Contato direto com gato e/ou cão (p=0.009) e ingestão de carne crua ou mal cozida (p=0.03) associaram-se à infecção por T. gondii, mas não a RT. O fenótipo Le(a-b+) (p=0.03) apresentou menor risco para infecção, enquanto que o fenótipo Le(a+b-) (p=0.08) parece favorecer o desenvolvimento da RT. Conclusões: Os resultados demonstram elevada frequência de RT presumível em pacientes com doenças oculares. Além disso, revelam que a maioria dos pacientes com RT apresentam baixos títulos de anticorpos IgG anti-T. gondii, com alta avidez e que o T. gondii encontra-se no sangue circulante de aproximadamente um terço dos pacientes independente da presença de lesões oculares resultantes da toxoplasmose. A presença de cães e/ou gatos bem como ingestão de carne crua ou mal cozida eleva os riscos de infecção por T. gondii, mas não influenciam no desenvolvimento da RT. A elevada expressão do antígeno Leb reflete efeito protetor contra a infecção pelo T. gondii, assim como o antígeno Lea parece favorecer o desenvolvimento da RT.

No description available.

Neste estudo avaliamos a resposta imune humoral de indivíduos naturalmente expostos à malária em áreas endêmicas no Brasil. Os anticorpos IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM, IgE e IgA anti-formas eritrocitárias de Plasmodium falciparum foram determinadas por ELISA. Anticorpos IgG, IgG1, IgG2 de alta avidez e IgG3 de baixa avidez predominaram nos indivíduos sem complicações de malária ou assintomáticos, enquanto anticorpos IgG4, IgE e IgM predominaram nos indivíduos com complicações clínicas por malária. Os resultados mostram que mesmo em regiões com transmissão instável de malária pode ser observado o desenvolvimento de imunidade protetora quando anticorpos apropriados são produzidos / In this study, we have evaluated the humoral immune response of individuals naturally exposed to malaria living in endemic areas of Brazil. We determined IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM, IgE and IgA antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum blood stages by ELISA. We observed that the level of high avidity IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 and low avidity IgG3 antibodies were higher in asymptomatic individuals or with uncomplicated malaria, while IgG4, IgE and IgM antibodies were higher in individuals with complicated malaria. Taken together the results showed that even in unstable malaria regions it can be observed the development of protective immunity against malaria when appropriate antibodies are produced

Neste estudo avaliamos a resposta imune humoral de indivíduos naturalmente expostos à malária em áreas endêmicas no Brasil. Os anticorpos IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM, IgE e IgA anti-formas eritrocitárias de Plasmodium falciparum foram determinadas por ELISA. Anticorpos IgG, IgG1, IgG2 de alta avidez e IgG3 de baixa avidez predominaram nos indivíduos sem complicações de malária ou assintomáticos, enquanto anticorpos IgG4, IgE e IgM predominaram nos indivíduos com complicações clínicas por malária. Os resultados mostram que mesmo em regiões com transmissão instável de malária pode ser observado o desenvolvimento de imunidade protetora quando anticorpos apropriados são produzidos / In this study, we have evaluated the humoral immune response of individuals naturally exposed to malaria living in endemic areas of Brazil. We determined IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM, IgE and IgA antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum blood stages by ELISA. We observed that the level of high avidity IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 and low avidity IgG3 antibodies were higher in asymptomatic individuals or with uncomplicated malaria, while IgG4, IgE and IgM antibodies were higher in individuals with complicated malaria. Taken together the results showed that even in unstable malaria regions it can be observed the development of protective immunity against malaria when appropriate antibodies are produced