The vector-borne protozoan Leishmania spp. cause the spectrum of disease known as leishmaniasis in human and animal hosts. The most common manifestations of leishmaniasis are the chronic, ulcerative skin disease cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), and the more serious visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in which parasites take up residence in internal organs, causing death if not treated. The role of neutrophils (PMNs) in the immune response to CL and VL is unclear. It is s generally thought that PMNs are only a short-lived effector cell, and have been disregarded as playing a role in chronic Leishmania spp. infection. As both CL and VL are diseases characterized by increased inflammatory immune mediators, we hypothesized that PMNs from human or animal models of chronic leishmaniasis would display different properties from PMNs from healthy controls. We found in a subset of CL and VL patients circulating PMNs expressing HLA-DR, the human form of MHC class II, a molecule thought to be restricted primarily to professional antigen cells. When we examined PMNs recruited to CL skin lesions in human patients, or similar lesions in experimental murine model of CL, we found significantly increased MHC class II+ PMNs. Circulating HLA-DR+ PMNs also expressed the co-stimulatory molecules CD80, CD86 and CD40. While this suggested an antigen-presenting cell-like phenotype by these HLA-DR+ PMNs, compared to conventional HLA-DR- PMNs, HLA-DR+ PMNs showed not only a neutrophil-like appearance and function, but in fact increased activation, degranulation, intracellular MPO and phagocytosis of parasites and zymosan particles. Incubation of healthy control whole blood with inflammatory cytokines resulted in increased HLA-DR+ PMNs and the presence of hladrb1 mRNA, suggesting a connection between neutrophil “priming” and upregulation of HLA-DR. In addition to HLA-DR+ PMNs in CL patients, we also identified the presence of so-called “low-density” neutrophils (LD-PMNs). These neutrophils, which are enriched in low-density fractions following centrifugation of blood over a density gradient, are reported in numerous disease states, including cancer, HIV, and systemic lupus erythematosus. In some disease states, LD-PMN are reported to be immunosuppressive toward T cell activation and proliferation. However, LD-PMNs from leishmaniasis patients showed no evidence of immunosuppression. Additionally, we found that LD-PMNs show significantly increased surface expression of MHC class II, suggesting a heretofore unappreciated connection between these atypical neutrophil phenotypes. We also investigated the in vitro interactions with different Leishmania infantum life-stages, both those that cause acute infection (promastigotes) and amastigotes, which are found during chronic stages of the disease. We found that PMNs are readily infected by all L. infantum life-stages, but that amastigotes may have different methods of interacting with PMN surface receptors and are better equipped to avoid PMN anti-microbial responses. These data suggest that circulating PMNs in chronic leishmaniasis may have unique phenotypes and interact differently with the Leishmania spp. life-cycle present during chronic infection. Further investigation of the role of PMNs and atypical PMN phenotypes in chronic disease may help identify new immunomodulatory roles for this cell type.

[Truncated abstract] Natural killer (NK) cell alloreactivity can be exploited in haploidentical haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to improve graft survival, reduce graft versus host disease and decrease leukaemic relapse. NK cells lyse cells that have reduced expression of class I HLA molecules. In an allogeneic setting, donor NK cells may be activated by the absence of donor (self) class I HLA molecules on recipient cells; the absence of self-epitopes being detected by inhibitory KIR receptors on donor NK cells. The way in which genetic polymorphism of the receptors and ligands affects NK allorecognition of missing self, has not been fully elucidated. HLA-C molecules are divided into two groups, C1 and C2, with KIR2DL1 recognising cells expressing C2 and KIR2DL2 and KIR2DL3 recognising cells expressing C1. Donor NK cells expressing KIR2DL2 or KIR2DL3 can be alloreactive towards a recipient if they lack the C1 epitope and donor NK cells expressing KIR2DL1 can be alloreactive towards a recipient if they lack the C2 epitope. KIR3DL1 recognises the Bw4 epitope present on one-third of HLA-B alleles and certain HLA-A alleles. NK cells from donors expressing KIR3DL1 can be alloreactive towards recipients whose cells lack Bw4. Mismatches of KIR related HLA epitopes does not always results in NK alloreactivity. Therefore it is not possible to reliably predict NK alloreactivity based solely on the donor's HLA type and KIR repertoire and the recipient's HLA type. ... All Bw4-positive HLA-B alleles, with the exception of HLA-B*1301 and B*1302, protected targets from lysis. HLA-A*2402 and HLA-A*3201 unequivocally protected target cells from lysis whereas HLA-A*2501 and HLA-A*2301 provided only weak protection from lysis. KIR3DL1-dependent alloreactive NK clones were identified in donors whose only Bw4 positive allele was HLA-A*2402 but not in donors whose only Bw4 positive HLA allele was HLA-B*1301 or B*1302. Finally this thesis demonstrated that an activating KIR can control NK cell alloreactivity. Donors who are C2 negative and KIR2DS1 positive had NK cells that expressed the activating receptor KIR2DS1 and were capable of lysing cells expressing the C2 epitope. More so, KIR2DS1 dependent NK clones were shown to override inhibitory signals generated by NKG2A interacting with its ligand, HLA-E. The identification of these NK clones has important implications for haploidentical HSCT in that recipient expressing all three NK epitopes, C1, C2 and Bw4 were previously thought to be resistant to alloreactive NK cells controlled by inhibitory receptors. Such patients may be amenable to haploidentical HSCT from C2 negative, KIR2DS1 positive donors. These results will improve the ability to predict NK cell alloreactivity based on a donor's HLA type and KIR repertoire and the recipient?s HLA type.

In examining the role of the �legal rule� in Indonesian law, and in particular environmental law related to water quality management, this thesis questions the often expressed view that laws in Indonesia are sound, they merely fail to be implemented. It proposes that this appraisal of the situation does not take a sufficiently deep assessment and that a cause for non-implementation lies within the drafting of the laws themselves. It is argued that the ineffective system for environmental protection in Indonesia can be related to a failure to recognise the role of the �legal rule� in environmental law. A proposition presented in this thesis is that the arrangements for environmental law making in Indonesia lacks a strong rule foundation and, for this reason, it is not capable of producing shared understandings by lawmakers about producing and reproducing environmental law as legal sub-system. Another central proposition is that Indonesian environmental law has a form and style, which negates the role of the legal rule in environmental management and control. Despite the changes brought by reformasi, the central position of the legal rule in environmental law and, indeed, the necessary rule foundation to the development of the legal system, has yet to achieve full recognition. If this situation is related to the system of water quality management and pollution control in Indonesia, it can be seen that environmental improvement will not be achieved until underlying issues concerning the structure, form and style of environmental law making are addressed.

La mécatronique est l'intégration de différentes sciences et techniques de la mécanique, de l'automatique, de l'électronique et de l'informatique. L'évolution rapide des marchés concurrents exige la diminution du temps de développement d'un produit tout en augmentant la qualité et la performance du système. Il est donc nécessaire d'augmenter l'efficacité du processus de conception. Pour répondre à cette nécessité, en complément des outils d'analyse, la simulation, et spécialement le prototypage virtuel, est devenu l'une des clés technologiques. Il est difficile de trouver des outils de simulation capables d'analyser des systèmes pluridisciplinaires dépendants de différents domaines. Pourtant, un environnement qui permet une simulation intégrée multidisciplinaire de systèmes mécatroniques est nécessaire pour une évaluation fonctionnelle plus précise de la conception du produit et pour améliorer la qualité et l'efficacité de cette conception. La présente contribution décrit une méthode de conception et de simulation des systèmes mécatroniques. On identifie d'abord le modèle de comportement et le modèle géométrique 3D associé. Ensuite, le modèle de comportement est vu comme un système dynamique hybride formé de deux automates hybrides couplés (Partie Opérative, Partie Commande). Nous présentons ensuite les simulateurs OpenMASK, OpenModelica, le standard IEEE1516 HLA et les travaux reliés à cette architecture de simulation distribuée. Dans une démarche descendante, nous présentons ensuite notre approche et notre expérimentation pour intégrer les fonctionnalités de HLA dans ces simulateurs, pour distribuer les éléments de modélisation de systèmes mécatroniques de haut niveau et enfin pour compléter Modelica sur le formalisme des automates hybrides qui nous est indispensable. Nous proposons des extensions pour intégrer le temps réel en vue de simulations interactives. Nous appliquons enfin cette approche sur les simulateurs cités en utilisant le bus HLA CERTI sous un environnement Linux à partir d'un exemple représentatif d'un système mécatronique

Peu d'antigènes tumoraux présentent à la fois une expression dans un grand nombre de cellules tumorales et exercent un rôle vital pour leur développement. Mon travail de thèse a consisté à étudier les réponses en lymphocytes T dirigées contre deux de ces protéines : la Survivine et la Midkine. Nous avons démontré que ces deux protéines induisent spécifiquement des lymphocytes T CD4+ et CD8+ capables de reconnaître des cellules tumorales. Nous avons également identifié les séquences immunogéniques (épitopes T) dans ces antigènes. Deux épitopes CD4 et CD8 de la Midkine sont localisés dans le peptide signal. Notre étude montre que la Midkine constitue une nouvelle cible pour la vaccination contre de nombreux cancers et propose des séquences peptidiques originales comme candidats vaccins.

A new homozygous humanized HLA transgenic mouse strain, HLA-A2.1+/+HLA-DP4+/+hCD4+/+mCD4-/-IAβ-/-β2m-/- (HLA-A2/DP4), was obtained by crossing the HLA transgenic HLA-A2.1+/+β2m-/-(A2) mice and HLA transgenic HLA-DP4+/+hCD4+/+mCD4-/-IAβ-/-(DP4) mice. In HLA-A2/DP4 mice, HLA-A2 restricted or HLA-DP4 restricted T cell responses against HBs antigen of hepatitis B virus after immunization with the HBsAg vaccine are similar to those induced in A2 mice, in DP4 mice, in HBV-infected or HBsAg-vaccinated humans. These results show that cellular responses induced in HLA-A2/DP4 mice faithfully mimic human responses counterparts. Thus, these mice represent an excellent animal model for preclinical experimentations to evaluate or compare the effectiveness of responses "human" induced in vivo by candidate vaccines. The model will also facilitate the identification of new epitopes HLA-A2 and HLA-DP4 restricted, which will be of future reactive for clinical monitoring response against infection in humans. By exploiting these HLA-A2/DP4 mice, we identified four new HLA-DP4-restricted epitopes from HBsAg and two new HLA-A2 restricted epitopes derived from protein M1.

<p>Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a key factor in the development of cervical cancer. Out of the more than 100 known HPV types 13 are considered oncogenic. In addition to presence of the virus several other factors have been proposed to influence risk of cervical cancer. This thesis focuses on viral load and HLA class II alleles as risk factors for cervical cancer.</p><p>To enable quantification of the most common oncogenic HPV types, a real-time PCR-based assay was developed and evaluated in terms of technical sensitivity and specificity.</p><p>This assay was then employed on archival smears from 457 cases and 552 controls to assess associations between viral load and cervical carcinoma <i>in situ</i> (CIS). Whereas the data indicate a pronounced dose dependent effect of HPV 16 load on the risk of CIS, other HPV types only seem to increase CIS risk at higher viral loads. These effects were observed even when cytology indicated that cells were normal.</p><p>We then investigated viral load as a risk factor for invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC) in a retrospective study comprising 139 cases and 550 controls. Viral load contributed similarly to the risk of ICC as to the risk of CIS.</p><p>Finally, associations between HLA class II alleles, viral load and CIS were investigated. Carriers of the DRB1*1301 allele were less prone to infections and high viral loads of HPV 31 and -18/45. Moreover, DRB1*1301 had a protective effect against CIS among women infected by HPV 31 or -18/45. In contrast, carriers of DRB1*1501 and DQB1*0602 were more susceptible to infections and high viral loads of HPV 16.</p><p>These results indicate that HPV load may have HPV-type specific effects on cervical cancer risk. Furthermore, HLA class II alleles may confer either susceptibility or protection against cervical cancer by acting on the HPV infections preceding tumor development.</p>

<p>Cervical cancer is a multifactorial disease. Infection by oncogenic types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major environmental risk factor and host genetic susceptibility also influences disease development. </p><p>The aim of this thesis is to identify and analyse risk genes involved in the genetic predisposition to cervical carcinoma. A unique and extensive population-based affected sib-pair (ASP) material and a large case-control sample were used in the investigations.</p><p>In paper I the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II DQB1 and DRB1 loci are confirmed, for the first time in a family-based material, as genetic susceptibility factors for cervical cancer. It is also proposed that the HLA class II DPB1 locus independently contributes to risk of developing disease. In addition, no evidence is found for an involvement of the class I HLA-B and HLA-A loci in the genetic predisposition. Paper II conclude that the Fas receptor –670 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) do not have a major impact on the susceptibility to cervical carcinoma <i>in situ</i> in the Swedish population. In paper III we show that interactions between the HPV16 E6 gene subtype and host HLA class II genotype potentially occur during infection and disease progression. Paper IV suggests that three chromosomal regions, 9q32, 12q24 and 16q24, contain risk factors of low to moderate effects on cervical cancer development. In paper V linkage signals are further identified between a 9q32 gene encoding the thymic stromal co-transporter (TSCOT) and the disease in ASPs with mean age over 30.5 years at diagnosis within the sib-pair.</p><p>These findings are important contributions towards understanding more about the aetiology of this complex cancer. The identification of new susceptibility regions opens up for further characterisation, replication and candidate gene analysis.</p>

HLA-DR1 transgenic (DR1 Tg) mice provide a model for evaluating the breadth and specificity of CD4 T cell responses that may develop in humans following influenza infection or vaccination. Recent studies identified a tremendously broad HLA-DR1-restricted CD4 T cell responses in DR1 Tg mice infected intranasally with influenza A/New Caledonia/20/99 (NC). In this study, our goals were to characterize B cell responses after NC infection in DR1 Tg mice and establish the correlation between B cell responses and CD4 T cell responses in this system. Influenza-specific B cell responses following virus administration were analyzed in DR1 Tg mice and in the genetically matched H-2b strain C57BL/10J (B10). Following intranasal (i.n.) NC infection, B cell responses in B10 mice featured strong IgG2b and IgG2c production and were typical of previously described B cell responses to a variety of mouse-adapted influenza strains. In contrast, B cell responses in DR1 Tg mice followed delayed kinetics and were strongly skewed to IgG1 production, suggesting the Th2 polarization of CD4 T cell responses. The different antibody isotype profile in DR1 Tg mice compared to B10 mice was evident in antibody secreting cells (ASCs) frequencies and in circulating Abs levels. Surprisingly, although DR1 Tg mice had lower influenza-specific Abs levels, they exhibited higher neutralizing Abs titers early in the response. B cell responses following intranasal infection of influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (PR8) or intramuscular vaccination of inactivated NC in DR1 Tg mice were different from the observed IgG1 bias after i.n. NC infection. After i.n. PR8 infection, B cell responses were similar in DR1 Tg mice and B10 mice, characterized by predominant IgM/IgG3 production. Additionally, following intramuscular administration of inactivated NC, B cell responses were skewed towards IgG2c production in both DR1 Tg mice and B10 mice, suggesting the Th1 polarization of CD4 T cell responses. A mechanistic understanding of IgG1/Th2 biased B cell responses and better neutralizing Abs production in DR1 Tg mice following i.n. NC infection may have implications for the optimal control of influenza infection.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a key factor in the development of cervical cancer. Out of the more than 100 known HPV types 13 are considered oncogenic. In addition to presence of the virus several other factors have been proposed to influence risk of cervical cancer. This thesis focuses on viral load and HLA class II alleles as risk factors for cervical cancer. To enable quantification of the most common oncogenic HPV types, a real-time PCR-based assay was developed and evaluated in terms of technical sensitivity and specificity. This assay was then employed on archival smears from 457 cases and 552 controls to assess associations between viral load and cervical carcinoma in situ (CIS). Whereas the data indicate a pronounced dose dependent effect of HPV 16 load on the risk of CIS, other HPV types only seem to increase CIS risk at higher viral loads. These effects were observed even when cytology indicated that cells were normal. We then investigated viral load as a risk factor for invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC) in a retrospective study comprising 139 cases and 550 controls. Viral load contributed similarly to the risk of ICC as to the risk of CIS. Finally, associations between HLA class II alleles, viral load and CIS were investigated. Carriers of the DRB1*1301 allele were less prone to infections and high viral loads of HPV 31 and -18/45. Moreover, DRB1*1301 had a protective effect against CIS among women infected by HPV 31 or -18/45. In contrast, carriers of DRB1*1501 and DQB1*0602 were more susceptible to infections and high viral loads of HPV 16. These results indicate that HPV load may have HPV-type specific effects on cervical cancer risk. Furthermore, HLA class II alleles may confer either susceptibility or protection against cervical cancer by acting on the HPV infections preceding tumor development.