RESUMO OLIVEIRA, M. F. S. Avaliação da cobertura vacinal em Menores de cinco anos em Bom Jesus, Província do Bengo Angola, 2010. 111f. 2011. (Dissertação) Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto-USP, Ribeirão Preto, 2011. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a cobertura vacinal em crianças menores de cinco anos na comuna de Bom Jesus, Bengo, Angola e descrever as relações entre esse indicador com algumas características do contexto sócio econômico e demográfico local, do saneamento do meio, dos agregados familiares, das crianças e das mães ou responsáveis das mesmas. Material e Métodos: trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, transversal e censitária, com 1205 crianças menores de cinco anos residentes em Bom Jesus no 1° semestre de 2010, razão pela qual não estabelecemos relações de associação entre as variáveis em estudo. As fontes de dados foram: 1) O inquérito domiciliar por entrevistas as mães ou responsáveis das crianças e aos chefes de família. 2) Cartão de saúde infantil e de saúde materna para os dados referentes ao estado vacinal das crianças e a vacinação antitetânica das mães ou responsáveis, respectivamente. 3) Registros sobre vacinações dos serviços de saúde de Bom Jesus e da província do Bengo. Para o processamento, analise e tratamento dos dados foi utilizado o software Epi-Info, versão 3.5.2. Resultados: Das 1205 crianças, 67,5 não possuíam cartão de vacina; a cobertura vacinal de Bom Jesus foi de 36,6%, sendo mais elevadas nos bairros Coxe e Matabuleiro com 65,2% e 65%, respectivamente e sem diferença entre os sexos; para a VOP, DTP e Hep B, 72,4%, 69,9% e 67,1% das crianças fizeram as doses com intervalos corretos; a maior cobertura vacinal ocorreu nos menores de 30 dias, com 67,9%, sendo esses valores muito menores que a meta de 90%, do PAV/Angola.A cobertura vacinal específica para a BCG, DTP, VOP, contra Hep B, Sarampo, Febre Amarela e antitetânica foi de 90,8%, 47,2 %, 51%, 14,2 %, 43%, 41,5% e 59%%, respectivamente e podem ser consideradas muito baixas com exceção para a BCG; a taxa de abandono para a DTP, VOP e Hep B foi de 32,2%, 32,8% e 25,4% respectivamente, valores muito superiores a meta que OMS/África recomenda é de até 10%; se constatou que aparentemente a cobertura vacinal aumentava conforme houvesse um incremento da escolaridade do chefe de família da e da mãe ou responsável pela criança, quando o chefe de família fosse o pai, mãe doméstica, com a presença da avó, os pais fossem de etnia kimbundo, melhores condições habitacionais, usuários dos serviços públicos de abastecimento de água e de coleta de lixo; os dados sugerem o decréscimo desse indicador conforme aumenta a idade da mãe ou responsável, o tamanho da família, o número de filhos vivos, a ordem de nascimento e a idade da criança. Conclusões: Os resultados indicam a importância dos inquéritos domiciliares como ferramentas indispensáveis na avaliação da cobertura vacinal real e a probabilidade de alguns fatores contextuais, individuais e familiares influenciarem a variabilidade desse indicador, para além de puderem subsidiar a decisão sobre o aperfeiçoamento de programas locais de imunização. Palavras Chaves: Avaliação, Determinantes sociais de Saúde, Vacinação, Programas de Imunização, Cobertura Vacinal e Taxa de Abandono. / ABSTRACT OLIVEIRA, M. F. S. Evaluation of the vaccine covering in Minors of five years in Bom Jesus, Province of the Bengo Angola, 2010. 111f. 2011. (Dissertation) College of Medicine of Brook Black Color, Ribeirão Preto, 2011. This study it has as objective to evaluate the vaccine covering in minors of five years in Good Jesus ,Bengo, Angola and to describe the relations between this pointer with some characteristics of the context economic partner and demographic place, of the sanitation of the way, the family units, the children, the mothers or responsible of the same ones. Methodology: one is about an evaluative, descriptive research and tax, with 1205 lesser children five year residents in Good Jesus in the first semester of 2010. The sources of data had been: 1) the domiciliary inquiry for interviews the responsible or mothers of the children e to the family heads, through the application of a form elaborated for the effect. 2) Card of infantile health and maternal health for the referring data to the vaccine state of the children and the against the tetanus vaccination of the responsible mothers or, respectively. 3) Registers on existing vaccinations in the local services of health of Good Jesus and the province of the Bengo. For the processing, it analyzes and treatment of the data was used software Epi-Info, version 3.5.2. RESULTS: Of the 1205 children, 67,5 do not passim vaccine card; the vaccine covering of Good Jesus was of 36,6%, being more raised in the quarters Coxe and Matabuleiro with 65,2% and 65%, respectively; it was observed that the children with less than 30 days had presented the biggest vaccine covering with 67,9%, without difference between the sexes. These values are placed very on this side of the 90% goal, established for the PAV/Angola. The specific vaccine covering for the BCG, DTP, Antipóliomielite, against Hepatitis B, Measles, Yellow Fever and antitectanic was of 90,8%, 47.2%, 51%, 14.2%, 43%, 41.5% and 59%, respectively and can be considered very low with exception for the BCG; the tax of abandonment for the DTP, Antipóliomielite and Hepatite B was of 32,2%, 32.8% and 25.4% respectively, very superior values the goal that OMS/Africa recommends is of even 10%; if it evidenced that apparently the vaccine covering increased as had an increment of the schooling of head of family, the schooling of the responsible mother or for the child, when the family head was the father, mother domesticates, with the presence of the grandmother, the parents was speakers of the local language (Kimbundo), with better house conditions and using conditions of the public services of supplying of water and basic sanitation of the environment; the data suggest the decrease of this in agreement pointer it increases the age of the responsible mother or, the size of the family, the number of children livings creature, the increment in the birth order and the age of the child. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the importance of the inquiries domiciliary as indispensable tools in the evaluation of real the vaccine covering and the probability of some contextual, individual and familiar factors to influence the variability of this pointer, stops beyond will be able to subsidize the decision on the perfectioning of local programs of immunization. Key Words: Evaluation, Determinative social of Health, Vaccination, Programs of Immunization, Vaccine Covering and Tax of Abandonment.

As hepatites virais são grave problema no Brasil e a vacina é eficaz para a sua prevenção. O Inquérito de Cobertura Vacinal nas Áreas Urbanas das Capitais dos Estados do Brasil (2007) identificou em Porto Alegre cobertura vacinal contra hepatite B de 87,4 %, abaixo da recomendação. A vacinação na cidade está inserida em serviços com diferentes vínculos institucionais. Este estudo ecológico, subanálise do Inquérito de Cobertura Vacinal nas Áreas Urbanas das Capitais dos Estados do Brasil, objetiva analisar a distribuição espacial das coberturas da vacina contra hepatite B, sua associação com diferentes tipos e utilização de serviços de saúde em Porto Alegre. A cobertura vacinal não obteve diferenças significativas entre os diferentes estratos sociais; a utilização de um mesmo serviço para vacinação, realização das últimas vacinas em serviço público, utilização de serviço privado e utilização exclusiva de serviços privados para vacinação obtiveram diferenças significativas entre os diferentes estratos sociais. / Viral hepatitis is a major concern in Brazil and its vaccine is effective in its prevention. The Survey of Vaccine Coverage in the Urban Areas of the State Capitals of Brazil (2007) identified that in Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul, the hepatitis B vaccine coverage was 87.4% lower than the recommended values. In this city, vaccination is part of services with different institutional links. The present ecological study, a subanalysis of the Survey of Vaccine Coverage in the Urban Areas of the State Capitals of Brazil, has the objective to analyze the spatial distribution of hepatitis B vaccine coverage; its relationship to different types of healthcare services and the use of healthcare services in Porto Alegre. The vaccine coverage did not differ significantly between the different social strata. The use of the same vaccination service, the performance of the last vaccines in public service, the use of private service and the exclusive use of private services for vaccination significantly differed among the different social strata.

A minoria dos pacientes em processo de remodelamento pulmonar por bronquiolite obliterante (BO) responde a corticosteróides. Nos propusemos assim, a avaliar a importância da tolerância gerada pela imunização via nasal pelo colágeno tipo V (ctV) como uma opção no tratamento da BO. Através da análise morfométrica, mensuramos as dimensões, a densidade de colágeno e infiltrado celular no eixo pré-acinar visando o entendimento na patogênese da BO. Aplicamos essa metodologia a três protocolos: primeiro, o estabelecimento do modelo da BO em camundongos BALB/c. Segundo, a tolerância preventiva a BO. Terceiro, comparar os tratamentos prednisona vs tolerância após a BO já estabelecida. Oito semanas após uma única instilação de HNO3-nasal, as mudanças pulmonares foram caracterizadas pela distorção do lúmen, perda da barreira epitelial, redução ou total obliteração do lúmen do bronquíolo terminal e aumento do espessamento da parede. Modelo da BO: A densidade do infiltrado celular total mostrou valores significantes quando comparados os pulmões BO vs salina e controle (P = 0,001 para ambos), com maior evidência a densidade macrófagos nos pulmões controle vs BO e salina (P = 0,01 e P = 0,04, respectivamente). Tolerância preventiva: A densidade de CD3+ mostrou diminuição significante quando comparado ao estágio intermediário da doença nos pulmões BO vs BO+ctV e controle (P = 0,001 e P = 0,002, respectivamente). Houve também diminuição estatística da densidade de células CD20+ quando comparados os pulmões BO vs ctv+BO, BO+ctV, e controle (P = 0,008, P = 0,004 e P = 0,001). Prednisona vs tolerância: A densidade total de células diminuiu drasticamente quando comparados os pulmões BO vs BO+ctV e controle (P = 0,003 e P = 0,001, respectivamente). As células CD3+ mostraram diminuição quando comparados os pulmões BO vs BO+pr, BO+ctV e controle (P = 0,03, P = 0,03 e P = 0,05, respectivamente). Houve também diminuição das células CD20+ e CD4+ quando comparados os pulmões BO vs BO+ctV e controle (P = 0, 006 e P = 0,004, respectivamente) e (P = 0,001 para ambos). A histoarquitetura e a densidade de células dos pulmões BO+ctV se assemelharam ao pulmões controle. A tolerância pelo ctV comparada com o prednisona, mostrou marcante diminuição da deposição de colágeno e infiltrado celular no eixo pré-acinar. Nossos resultados indicam que o ctV pode atuar como um supressor da resposta imune. Concluímos, portanto, que a morfometria foi um método apropriado para relatar o espectro de mudanças histológicas no modelo de BO proposto. / A minority of patients with remodeling process of lungs following bronquiolite obliterante (BO) responds to corticosteroids. So, we sought to validate the importance of type V collagen (tVc) tolerance from immunization as option in BO model treatment. Througt of morphometric analyses, we have mensured for the dimensions, the collagen and cell infiltration density on pre-acinar axis, target the understand of BO pathogenesis. We applied for tree protocols: First, the establishment of BO model on BALB/c mice. Second, preventive tolerance to BO. Third, prednisone treatment vs tolerance, after BO established. Eight weeks after a single HNO3- nasal instillation, lung changes were characterized by lumen distortion, epithelial layer folding, reduction or total obliteration of terminal bronchiole lumen, and wall thickness increase. The morphological changes coincide with the measurement difference in the study for the tree protocols established. BO model: The total density of immune cells showed stasticaly significance when was compared BO vs saline and control lungs (P = 0.001 for both), more evidence to macrophage on control vs BO and saline lungs (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectevely). Preventive tolerance: The CD3+ density showed a decreased statiscaly significance in lower BO vs BO+tVC and control lungs (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectevely). Also the CD20+ density was decreased when was compared BO vs tVc+BO, BO+tVc and control (P = 0.008, P = 0.004 and P = 0.001). Prednisone vs tolerance: The total density of immune cells was decreased drastically when was compared BO vs BO+tVc and control lungs (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respetevely). These cells were CD3+ when was compared BO vs BO+pr, BO+tVc and control lungs (P = 0.03, P = 0.03 and P = 0.05, respectevely); Also CD20+ cells and CD4+ were decreased when was compared BO vs BO+tVc and conmtrol lungs (P = 0.006 and P = 0.004, respectevely) and (P = 0.001, for both). The histoarchiteture from BO+tVc and immune cells as simmilar to control lungs. The tolerance with tVc when was compared to prednisona, showed us a decreased of collagen and immune cell density in pre-acinar axis. Our results indicating that tVc may acts as a supressor in inflammatory process in bronchiolar remodeling. We conclued that method morphometric was effective for related us the spectrum of histologic changes in BO model propose. Ours results indicating that induction of tVc acts in suppression of the immune response. We conclude that morphometric analise was a aproprieated for related the spectrum of histologic changes for propose BO model.

退休基金面臨的風險來自資產與負債兩方面，負債的風險為實際給付大於預期給付的不確定性，資產面的風險為實際價值小於預期價值的不確定性。造成這兩個風險的因素有很多，其中利率風險是引起資產與負債不確定性的重要因素。因為非預期的利率變動會使資產與負債價值發生變動，而影響退休基金的給付能力。如果資產與負債之間能維持一適當關係，退休基金則可免於利率變動所帶來的不利益。本研究以存續期間作為退休基金資產負債管理的方法，債券為投資工具進行退休基金免疫策略的模擬，結果發現：在資產與負債名目現金流量不受利率變動影響的假設下，不論市場利率如何變動，在傳統的免疫策略下，投資組合必能創造出預期的報酬率；但當上述假設不存在時，免疫狀態將不復存在。為防止退休基金給付能力不足，除應每年確實進行精算評估外，應於市場利率、投資報酬以及薪資上漲率發生變動後，立刻衡量資產與負債現金流量受此變動所引起的改變，並計算變動後資產與負債現值的差額，若發現資產現值小於負債現值時，基金管理人可買賣期貨以延長或縮短投資組合的平均存續期間，促使資產與負債對利率之敏感性不同，好讓投資組合能於利率變動後自動補足此差額。或甚於平均存續期間的計算公式中，將此種變動狀況考慮進去，使免疫策略於資產與負債的名目現金流量因利率變動而改變時仍能發揮免疫效果。

本研究兩個研究主題(1)在不同景氣變動狀態下，殖利率曲線變動與動態避險策略的選擇；(2)不同景氣循環下，債券風險貼水的變動情形。景氣領先指標是一簡單明確訊號，其對於債市參與者改善投資、避險決策之效度應是有趣課題。景氣變動程度不同時，殖利率曲線變動情形亦有所不同；投資人需視殖利率曲線變動情形，選擇不同動態避險策略。當景氣上升時，殖利率曲線短期利率波動幅度大於長期利率波動幅度，以Khang(1979)模式建構動態避險策略；景氣波動程度不大，長短期利率波動方向不一，以多因子模式建構動態避險策略；而當景氣大幅度下降，短期利率下降幅度小於長期利率下降幅度，建議以Bierwag(1977)模式建構動態避險策略。國內動態避險實證分析上，黃慶堂與王芳妮（民80）以Macaulay(1938)、Bierwag(1979)、Khang(1979)與Chambers et al.(1988)模式作分析，Chambers et al.(1988)表現較傳統Macaulay(1938)模式優；史綱與丁子雲(民80)發現以Macaulay1938)模式建構動態避險策略，與長期持有公債收益率無顯著差異。所以Macaulay(1938)模式無法應付國內債券市場的需求，機構投資人應該因應殖利率曲線隨景氣變動情形，選擇較佳動態避險策略規避風險。 　　隨著發行與交易規模的快速成長，以及景氣狀況遞移，我國債市各工具殖利率結構在未來勢必會改變，景氣狀況變化之可能影響，是本研究試圖勾勒的要項；市場結構改變，會造成未來殖利率曲線大幅變化。本文只是推介數種存續期間模式，並討論如何增加嚴謹度。 　　不同景氣循環下，時間風險貼水隨景氣繁榮而擴大，使得公債市場上多為附買回保證金交易形式，投資期長多為固定（附買回契約的期長），投資人所賺取的多為長短期利差；而景氣衰退時，利率相對較低，債券價格高漲，投資人所賺取的多為債券價差，投資期長較不一定；信用風險貼水則因台電公司債稀釋效果、流動性貼水的變動以及信用風險貼水看法不一，而無法確定其與景氣循環的關係；而交易成本貼水方面，證交稅及交易規範形成進入公司債市場的障礙，景氣衰退時，由股市釋出資金，大多進入公債市場，形成短期避險資金，所以當股市出現轉機時，資金轉入股票市場；所以當景氣衰退，公債與公司債殖利率的差距會擴大。本研究副產品是發現公司債稀釋效果顯著，一般公司債發行金額均為五千萬元左右，而台電在四次發行公司債時，金額在五億上下，當台電公司債增加發行量時，台電公司債整體價格下降，殖利率上升，使得一般公司債與台電債券間殖利率差距縮小。銀行擔保效果方面，雖然發行公司會考慮到本身市場評價，選擇公民營銀行作擔保機構，讓其公司債信用等級與其他公司債的信用等級一致，但是公營銀行擔保的公司債殖利率較無擔保公司債低，民營銀行擔保效果亦為統計顯著，而且公民營銀行擔保效果有顯著的差異。

本論文共分七章、二十七節，內容如下：　第一章　前言。對研究動機、 目的、範圍與限制、內容架構做一簡扼說明。第二章 利率風險之概述。 分別就利率風險之定義，對資產、負債之影響，及評估利率風險的方法， 分別加以闡述。第三章 期間分析之理論基礎。期間分析乃是管理利率風 險的方法之一，本章主要就期間分析的演進、目的、計算、特性做一詳述 。第四章 現金流量之預測－－利率情境分析。此章就資產、負債現金流 量之形成，現金流量與利率風險的關係，以及利率情境分析之定義、模型 、假設、優缺點依序加以介紹。 第五章 期間分析之應用。以前兩章為 基礎，對期間窗口(Duration Window)， 投資周期 ( The Planning Period)，利率風險與投資報酬率的關係，最適期間決策 ( The Optimal Du- ration )，資產負債期間的配合，及期間分析的修正，分別逐一探討 。第六章 實證。以保証利率契約 ( GICs; Guarante- ed Interest Contracts ) 為例模擬操作，說明運用資產負債期間配合達到免疫之效果 。第七章 結論與建議。

Recombinant strategies are today dominating in thedevelopment of modern subunit vaccines. This thesis describesstrategies for the production and recovery of protein subunitimmunogens, and how genetic design of the expression vectorscan be used to adapt the immunogens for incorporation intoadjuvant systems. In addition, different strategies fordelivery of subunit vaccines by RNA or DNA immunization havebeen investigated. Attempts to create general production strategies forrecombinant protein immunogens in such a way that these areadapted for association with an adjuvant formulation wereevaluated. Different hydrophobic amino acid sequences, beingeither theoretically designed or representing transmembraneregions of bacterial or viral origin, were fused on gene leveleither N-terminally or C-terminally to allow association withiscoms. In addition, affinity tags derived fromStaphylococcus aureusprotein A (SpA) or streptococcalprotein G (SpG), were incorporated to allow efficient recoveryby means of affinity chromatography. A malaria peptide, M5,derived from the central repeat region of thePlasmodium falciparumblood-stage antigen Pf155/RESA,served as model immunogen in these studies. Furthermore,strategies forin vivoorin vitrolipidation of recombinant immunogens for iscomincorporation were also investigated, with a model immunogendeltaSAG1 derived fromToxoplasma gondii. Both strategies were found to befunctional in that the produced and affinity purified fusionproteins indeed associated with iscoms. The iscoms werefurthermore capable of inducing antigen-specific antibodyresponses upon immunization of mice, and we thus believe thatthe presented strategies offer convenient methods for adjuvantassociation. Recombinant production of a respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) candidate vaccine, BBG2Na, in baby hamster kidney(BHK-21) cells was investigated. Semliki Forest virus(SFV)-based expression vectors encoding both intracellular andsecreted forms of BBG2Na were constructed and found to befunctional. Efficient recovery of BBG2Na could be achieved bycombining serum-free production with a recovery strategy usinga product-specific affinity-column based on a combinatoriallyengineered SpA domain, with specific binding to the G proteinpart of the product. Plasmid vectors encoding cytoplasmic or secreted variants ofBBG2Na, and employing the SFV replicase for self-amplification,was constructed and evaluated for DNA immunization against RSV.Both plasmid vectors were found to be functional in terms ofBBG2Na expression and localization. Upon intramuscularimmunization of mice, the plasmid vector encoding the secretedvariant of the antigen elicited significant anti-BBG2Na titersand demonstrated lung protective efficacy in mice. This studyclearly demonstrate that protective immune responses to RSV canbe elicited in mice by DNA immunization, and that differentialtargeting of the antigens expressed by nucleic acid vaccinationcould significantly influence the immunogenicity and protectiveefficacy. We further evaluated DNA and RNA constructs based on the SFVreplicon in comparison with a conventional DNA plasmid forinduction of antibody responses against theP. falciparumPf332-derived antigen EB200. In general,the antibody responses induced were relatively low, the highestresponses surprisingly obtained with the conventional DNAplasmid. Also recombinant SFV suicide particles inducedEB200-reactive antibodies. Importantly, all immunogens inducedan immunological memory, which could be efficiently activatedby a booster injection with EB200 protein. <b>Keywords</b>: Affibody, Affinity chromatography, Affinitypurification, DNA immunization, Expression plasmid, Fusionprotein, Hydrophobic tag, Iscoms, Lipid tagging, Malaria,Mammalian cell expression, Recombinant immunogen, RespiratorySyncytial Virus, Semliki Forest virus, Serum albumin,Staphylococcus aureusprotein A, Subunit vaccine,Toxoplasma gondii

The recent experience with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic has drawn attention to the need to better understand the public’s response to emergently released vaccines (ERV). This study applied a mixed methods approach to examine the causal pathways underlying the vaccination behaviour during a public health emergency. The integrated evidence from empirical and theoretical-based findings highlights a number of factors to consider in interventions to improve vaccination rates with an ERV. These factors include: 1) providing clear risk messages around the disease and the ERV, 2) improving accessibility to the vaccine, 3) encouraging primary healthcare providers to provide recommendations for vaccination, 4) implementing strategies to increase seasonal influenza vaccination prior to the next public health emergency, 5) developing strategies to target sub-populations more reluctant to accept an ERV. Developing theory-based interventions that are behaviour-specific may be more likely to result in behaviour change within the public in future emergency vaccination campaigns.

<p>Recombinant strategies are today dominating in thedevelopment of modern subunit vaccines. This thesis describesstrategies for the production and recovery of protein subunitimmunogens, and how genetic design of the expression vectorscan be used to adapt the immunogens for incorporation intoadjuvant systems. In addition, different strategies fordelivery of subunit vaccines by RNA or DNA immunization havebeen investigated.</p><p>Attempts to create general production strategies forrecombinant protein immunogens in such a way that these areadapted for association with an adjuvant formulation wereevaluated. Different hydrophobic amino acid sequences, beingeither theoretically designed or representing transmembraneregions of bacterial or viral origin, were fused on gene leveleither N-terminally or C-terminally to allow association withiscoms. In addition, affinity tags derived from<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>protein A (SpA) or streptococcalprotein G (SpG), were incorporated to allow efficient recoveryby means of affinity chromatography. A malaria peptide, M5,derived from the central repeat region of the<i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>blood-stage antigen Pf155/RESA,served as model immunogen in these studies. Furthermore,strategies for<i>in vivo</i>or<i>in vitro</i>lipidation of recombinant immunogens for iscomincorporation were also investigated, with a model immunogendeltaSAG1 derived from<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>. Both strategies were found to befunctional in that the produced and affinity purified fusionproteins indeed associated with iscoms. The iscoms werefurthermore capable of inducing antigen-specific antibodyresponses upon immunization of mice, and we thus believe thatthe presented strategies offer convenient methods for adjuvantassociation.</p><p>Recombinant production of a respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) candidate vaccine, BBG2Na, in baby hamster kidney(BHK-21) cells was investigated. Semliki Forest virus(SFV)-based expression vectors encoding both intracellular andsecreted forms of BBG2Na were constructed and found to befunctional. Efficient recovery of BBG2Na could be achieved bycombining serum-free production with a recovery strategy usinga product-specific affinity-column based on a combinatoriallyengineered SpA domain, with specific binding to the G proteinpart of the product.</p><p>Plasmid vectors encoding cytoplasmic or secreted variants ofBBG2Na, and employing the SFV replicase for self-amplification,was constructed and evaluated for DNA immunization against RSV.Both plasmid vectors were found to be functional in terms ofBBG2Na expression and localization. Upon intramuscularimmunization of mice, the plasmid vector encoding the secretedvariant of the antigen elicited significant anti-BBG2Na titersand demonstrated lung protective efficacy in mice. This studyclearly demonstrate that protective immune responses to RSV canbe elicited in mice by DNA immunization, and that differentialtargeting of the antigens expressed by nucleic acid vaccinationcould significantly influence the immunogenicity and protectiveefficacy.</p><p>We further evaluated DNA and RNA constructs based on the SFVreplicon in comparison with a conventional DNA plasmid forinduction of antibody responses against the<i>P. falciparum</i>Pf332-derived antigen EB200. In general,the antibody responses induced were relatively low, the highestresponses surprisingly obtained with the conventional DNAplasmid. Also recombinant SFV suicide particles inducedEB200-reactive antibodies. Importantly, all immunogens inducedan immunological memory, which could be efficiently activatedby a booster injection with EB200 protein.</p><p><b>Keywords</b>: Affibody, Affinity chromatography, Affinitypurification, DNA immunization, Expression plasmid, Fusionprotein, Hydrophobic tag, Iscoms, Lipid tagging, Malaria,Mammalian cell expression, Recombinant immunogen, RespiratorySyncytial Virus, Semliki Forest virus, Serum albumin,<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>protein A, Subunit vaccine,<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i></p>

The health picture in the developing world is still very bleak. The varlOUS Black populations of South Africa (be they Africans, Indians or Coloureds) are part of this developing world. In a total world population of 4,607 million (of which 75 % are in the developing world); there are 10.3 million annual infant deaths (0-11 months) (of which 97 % are ln the developing countries); and 4.3 million annual child deaths (1-4 years) (of which 98 % are in the developing countries).*l The infant mortality rate (IMR) (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) in 1980 for the developing countries as a whole, and for Southern Africa specifically is 100; as compared to the IMR of 20 for developed countries. South Africa has an IMR of 90 (1982). However, a few relatively simple and inexpensive methods could enable parents themselves to bring about a revolution ln child survival and development. The idea that could make this revolution possible is primary health care. The vehicles that could make this revolution achievable are the spread of education, communications and social organization. The techniques which could make this revolution affordable even with very limited resources, are growth monitoring, oral rehydration therapy, breast-feeding and immunization (GOBI). These four principle life line techniques are low-cost, available now, achieve rapid results and a l most universally relevant. They involve people in taking more responsibility for their own health, and thus promote primary health care. In combination they offer an even greater degree of protection against the synergistic alliance of malnutrition and infection which is the central problem of child health and child development today. *3 In addition, three other changes-female education, family spacing and food supplementation (FFF) are also among the most powerful levers for raising the level of child survival and child health. Although more costly and more difficult to achieve, these changes in the lives of women are of such potential significance that they must also now be count ed among the breakthrough in knowledge which could change the ratio between the health and wealth of nations. *3 However, against this information is the stark reality that only up to 15 % of the world's families are using oral rehydration therapy (ORT), the revolutionary low-cost technique for preventing and treating diarrhoeal dehydration, the biggest single killer of children in the world. *4 This then rai ses the vital question that although the potential for child survival and a healthy and normal child development is there, to what extent is the average mother aware of and implementing these cost-effective methods of GOBI-FFF in her own situation? These questions are thus addressed in this study in an African and an Indian urban communities ln Natal/Kwa Zulu. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1985.