>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Human Coronaviruses (HCoVs) are found within the family Coronaviridae (genus, Coronavirus) and are enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses. Infections of humans by coronaviruses are not normally associated with severe diseases. However, the identification of the coronavirus responsible for the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) showed that highly pathogenic coronaviruses can enter the human population. The SARS-CoV epidemic resulted in 8 422 cases with 916 deaths globally (case fatality rate: 10.9%). In 2004 a group 1 Coronavirus, designated Human Coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63), was isolated from a 7 month old Dutch child suffering from bronchiolitis. In addition, HCoV-NL63 causes disease in children (detected in approximately 10% of respiratory tract infections), the elderly and the immunocompromised. This study was designed to express the full length nucleocapsid (N) proteins of HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV for antibody production in an animal model. The NL63-N/pFN2A and SARSN/ pFN2A plasmid constructs were used for this study. The presence of the insert on the Flexi ® vector was confirmed by restriction endonuclease digest and sequence verification. The sequenced chromatographs obtained from Inqaba Biotec were consistent with sequences from the NCBI Gen_Bank. Proteins were expressed in a KRX Escherichia coli bacterial system and analysed using 15% SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting. Thereafter, GST-tagged proteins were purified ith an affinity column purification system. Purified fusion proteins were subsequently cleaved with Pro-TEV Plus protease, separated on 15% SDS-PAGE gel and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250. The viral fusion proteins were subsequently used to immunize Balbc mice in order to produce polyclonal antibodies. A direct ELISA was used to analyze and validate the production of polyclonal antibodies by the individual mice. This is a preliminary study for development of diagnostic tools for the detection of HCoV-NL63 from patient samples collected in the Western Cape. / South Africa

Orientadores: Paulo Eduardo Neves Ferreira Velho, Maria Letícia Cintra / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T07:25:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lania_BrunoGrosselli_M.pdf: 3238329 bytes, checksum: 957e602fc97c4a033665229ade46faca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Introdução: o processo de cicatrização é longo e complexo, dura meses nos humanos, e depende de diversos fatores locais e gerais. Ele pode ser divido em três fases: inflamatória, proliferativa e de remodelação. Para que ocorra, é necessária uma cascata de eventos e a participação de diversos tipos de células, bem como de substâncias por elas secretadas. Entre estas destacam-se as substâncias pró-cicatriciais, como a leptina, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 e o IGF-1, as anti-cicatriciais, como a adiponectina, IL-12, o IFN-?, o IFN-? e, finalmente, o TNF-?, que possui ação variável, de acordo com a concentração circulante desta substância. Muito há para se pesquisar nesse campo, e o desenvolvimento de produtos, com princípios ativos que estimulam a cicatrização, mas de baixo custo, que aproveite matérias-primas encontradas na região, poderia beneficiar um número grande de indivíduos. Foi demonstrado que o uso do óleo do farelo de arroz induz a proliferação de linfócitos, a síntese de citocinas, o aumento da hematopoese e a atividade fagocítica de macrófagos. Objetivos: testar a efetividade do óleo de arroz na cicatrização de feridas cutâneas, e avaliar, tanto no tecido lesado, como no sangue, a sua ação em fatores que atuam na cicatrização. Material e métodos: sobre feridas cirúrgicas circulares produzidas pela exérese da pele, com bisturi, no dorso de ratos, (45 animais, divididos em três grupos) foi aplicado um produto à base de óleo de arroz (patente BR 10 2012 008718 9). O processo de cicatrização foi avaliado por meio do estudo histológico e da quantificação tissular (por meio da PCR real time) e sérica (por meio da técnica Elisa), de fatores que atuam na cicatrização: leptina, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IGF-1, adiponectina, IL-12, IFN-?, IFN- ? e TNF- ?. Resultados e conclusões: comparativamente com o controle, foi encontrada diferença significante na celularidade das feridas e detectada ação sistêmica do produto, face ao aumento dos níveis séricos de adiponectina, leptina, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-? e IFN-?. Os resultados deste trabalho poderão ser úteis para a indústria farmacêutica e cosmecêutica brasileira ou internacional / Abstract: The wound healing process is long and complex, lasts months and depends on many local and general factors. It can be divided into three phases: inflammatory, proliferative and remodeling. For that to occur, it is necessary a cascade of events involving several cell types, as well as substances secreted by them. Among these we highlight the pro-healing substances such as leptin, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IGF-1, anti-scarring such as IL-12, IFN-?, IFN- ? and, finally, TNF-?, which possesses variable action, according to the circulating concentration of this substance. More research is needed in this field, and the development of products with active ingredients that stimulate healing, but of low cost, which uses raw materials found in the region, could benefit a large number of individuals. It has been shown that the use of rice bran oil induces lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine synthesis, increased hematopoiesis and phagocytic activity of macrophages. The objectives of this study were to test the effectiveness of rice oil topical use and assess both the injured tissue and blood to evaluate its action on factors that act in healing. Methods: Circular surgical wounds were produced by excision of skin with a scalpel in the back of rats (45, divided into three groups), then applied saline solution or essentials fatty acids or rice bran oil (patent BR 10 2012 0087 18 9). The healing process was evaluated by histological examination and quantification of tissue (by real time PCR) and serum (by ELISA technique), factors that act in healing, namely leptin, IL-2, IL -4, IL-6, IGF-1, adiponectin, IL-12, IFN-?, IFN-? and TNF-?. Compared with control, there was significant difference in the cellularity of the wound healing area and systemic action of the product detected by the increases in serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-? and IFN -?. The results of this study may be useful to the Brazilian or international pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industry / Mestrado / Clinica Medica / Mestre em Clinica Medica

Orientador: José Andrés Yunes / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T08:28:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Milani_Mateus_M.pdf: 3959646 bytes, checksum: a36674e099fefbc487286cdc33006c0a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A leucemia linfoide aguda (LLA) é o câncer mais comum na infância. O transplante de células primárias de LLA humana em camundongos imunosuprimidos tem sido de suma importância para o entendimento da fisiopatologia da doença e para o teste de novos fármacos. Ao contrário de modelos animais de tumores sólidos, cujo volume é facilmente medido na superfície dos animais, a LLA infiltra órgãos inacessíveis ao exterior, daí a necessidade de definir métodos adequados para o monitoramento da progressão da doença. Resultados aqui apresentados indicam que proteínas secretadas pela LLA podem servir como marcadores quantitativos da carga leucêmica, facilmente aferidos por ELISA de amostras de plasma sanguíneo. Dentre três proteínas testadas (B2M, IGFBP2 e Hsp90), o ELISA de Hsp90 apresentou sensibilidade superior à análise da porcentagem de células leucêmicas no sangue dos animais, por citometria de fluxo de células marcadas com anti-huCD45. Os níveis de Hsp90 humano no plasma sanguíneo mostraram-se positivamente correlacionados com o porcentual de células leucêmicas na medula óssea e fígado e em menor grau com os níveis do baço e sangue periférico (SP) ao longo do tempo, tanto nas LLA de linhagem B quanto nas LLA-T. O ELISA de Hsp90 permite detectar a instauração da leucemia nos animais transplantados, até duas semanas antes da detecção pelo método tradicional de análise de sangue periférico por citometria de fluxo. Ao contrário do observado para IGFBP2, o tratamento dos animais leucêmicos com Dexametasona ou um inibidor da PI3K não interferiu nos níveis de Hsp90, que se mantiveram proporcionais à porcentagem de células leucêmicas huCD45+ no sangue periférico. No conjunto, os resultados demonstram que a análise do plasma dos animais por ELISA de Hsp90 é um método melhor do que os atualmente utilizados, para diagnóstico precoce e acompanhamento de LLA humana quando em níveis de doença residual mínima, ou seja, quando a porcentagem de células de LLA é inferior a 5% do total de células da medula óssea / Abstract: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of childhood cancer . The transplantation of human primary ALL cells in immunodeficient mice has been of much importance for understanding the disease's pathophysiology and testing new drugs. Unlike animal models of solid tumors whose volume is easily measured on the animal surface, the ALL infiltrates organs that are inaccessible to external antigens, hence the need to define more suitable methods for monitoring the disease's progression. Results presented here indicate that proteins secreted by the ALL can serve as quantitative markers of leukemic burden and are easily measured by ELISA of blood plasma samples. Among three tested proteins (B2M, IGFBP2 and Hsp90), Hsp90 ELISA analysis showed higher sensitivity than the analysis of leukemic cells on animal blood by flow cytometry of anti- huCD45 labeled cells. The levels of Hsp90 in human blood plasma were shown to be positively correlated with the percentage of leukemic cells in the bone marrow and liver and to a lesser extent with the levels in the spleen and peripheral blood (PB) over time, both in B-lineage ALL as in ALL-T. The Hsp90 ELISA allows the leukemia's engraftment detection in transplanted animals up to two weeks prior to detection by the traditional method of peripheral blood analysis by flow cytometry. Unlike observed for IGFBP2, treatment of leukemic animals with Dexamethasone or PI3K inhibitors did not interfere in Hsp90 levels, which remained proportional to the percentage of huCD45+ leukemic cells in the peripheral blood. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the analysis of animal plasma by Hsp90 ELISA is a better method than those currently used for early diagnosis and monitoring of human ALL on minimal residual disease levels, when the percentage of ALL cells is less than 5 % of the total bone marrow cells / Mestrado / Genetica Animal e Evolução / Mestre em Genética e Biologia Molecular

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The sexual behaviours, attitudes, beliefs and communication of 1896 black first-year university students were examined by means of a structured questionnaire for their contribution to the development of a university-based sex counselling programme. The areas of sexuality investigated included intra-familial communication about contraception and sexuality, belief in sex myths, knowledge of and myths about AIDS and the manner of acquisition of sex knowledge. The results of this study are consistent in reflecting much greater deficits in the knowledge of respondents about sexuality than encountered in the literature. Statistically significant gender differences were found for intra-familial communication about contraception, prejudice towards AIDS victims, knowledge of the modes of HIV infection, prejudice towards homosexuals, belief in myths about sexuality, age at which sex information was acquired, the preferred source of information about sexuality, attitude towards pre-marital intercourse, experience of pre-marital intercourse, belief about the acceptability of abortion, experience of pre-marital intercourse and worry about masturbation. No gender differences were found for belief in myths about high-risk AIDS infection, exposure to sex information within educational institutions and approval of sex education. The statistically significant gender differences which were found for most of the questionnaire items reflect the different sexual socialization experiences of respondents. Male and female students may therefore require counselling interventions geared to their respective needs Concern about AIDS has become central to university student sexual behaviour as well as protection against rape and sexual harassment and male responsibility for contraception. All campus counsellors will eventually experience the impact of AIDS and other sexually·transmitted diseases in their sessions with clients. Sexual harassment, rape, contraceptive failure and abortion will also increasingly impact on counselling sessions and require the university-based counsellor's involvement in broader university-wide prevention programmes as well as group based interventions. The development of a university-based sex counselling programme requires comprehensive interventions ranging from individual counselling to human sexuality courses. An awareness of the high profile sexuality problems as perceived by students, is essential for the development of preventive programmes at the group and academic class level as well as at the level of inf luencing uni versi ty policy. Knowledge of the merits of different theoretical positions and interventions for particular sexual problems is crucial for counselling intervention or referral. A systemic model of intervention for sexuality problems is proposed. The task of university-based sex counselling programmes is made more onerous by the paucity and ineffectiveness of sex information students are exposed to, the lack of sex education in the schools and the inadequate quality and degree of intrafamilial communication about sexuality. A significant proportion of respondents engage in pre-marital sexual intercourse without the benefit of adequate sex knowledge. The results of this study emphasize the need for research on the sexuality of, black South Africans, the particular vulnerabilities of first-year university students to sexuality problems and the dire need for structured sex education programmes at school as well as university.

Diabetes has, in the past three decades, surged immensely. Because of this, new insulin analogues are constantly in the making.  In clinical studies, the presence of antidrug antibodies can prove a challenge when measuring insulin. In order to overcome the interference from antidrug antibody complexes on the total insulin measurement in human serum, several pre-treatment methods on insulin and polyclonal antibodies spiked samples were tried using ELISA analysis. Several different methods were tried, acid dissociation using a glycine buffer with and without ethanol in different concentrations, high ionic strength dissociation using MgCl2, Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and filtration. The best results were found when using the acid dissociation technique. Using glycine promising results were achieved, especially when 20 % ethanol was added to the acid mixture. Pre-treatment using PEG, MgCl2 and filtration was unsuccessful with the methods used. The main goal was reached through the use of glycine with the addition of 20% ethanol for acid dissociation. The proposed method still leaves significant room for optimisation and needs further verification on real patient samples. However, it is a good step in the direction of a global methodology using ELISA to overcome antidrug antibody interference for total insulin measurement in human serum.

Background: Horses are much predisposed and susceptible to excessive and acute inflammatory responses that cause the recruitment and stimulation of polymorphnuclear granulocytes (PMN) together with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the release of cytokines. The aim of the study is to develop easy, quick, cheap and reproducible methods for measuring tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in the equine whole blood cultures ex-vivo time- and concentration dependently. Results: Horse whole blood diluted to 10, 20 and 50 % was stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), PCPwL (a combination of phytohemagglutinin E, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen) or equine recombinant TNF-α (erTNF-α). TNF-α and IL-1Ra were analyzed in culture supernatants, which were collected at different time points using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Both cytokines could be detected optimal in stimulated 20 % whole blood cultures. TNF-α and IL-1Ra releases were time-dependent but the kinetic was different between them. PCPwL-induced TNF-α and IL-1Ra release was enhanced continuously over 24–48 h, respectively. Similarly, LPS-stimulated TNF-α was at maximum at time points between 8–12 h and started to decrease thereafter, whereas IL-1Ra peaked later between 12–24 h and rather continued to accumulate over 48 h. The equine recombinant TNF-α could induce also the IL-1Ra release. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that similar to PCPwL, LPS stimulated TNF-α and IL-1Ra production time-dependently in whole blood cultures, suggesting the suitability of whole blood cultures to assess the release of a variety of cytokines in health and diseases of horse.

Les phosphates de calcium sont des biomatériaux couramment utilisés dans de nombreuses spécialités médicales. L'amélioration de ces biomatériaux vise à augmenter leur ostéointégration et leur bioactivité. Le strontium possédant d'intéressantes capacités de modification de la physiologie osseuse, l'incorporation de ce dernier au sein de phosphates de calcium par substitution ionique pourrait permettre un déplacement de la balance osseuse vers la formation osseuse.Notre travail a permis de démontrer la capacité des particules de phosphates de calcium substitués en strontium à augmenter la prolifération des ostéoblastes en culture et à modifier l'expression et la synthèse des principales protéines impliquées dans la physiologie osseuse (Collagène de type I, Serpine H1, métalloprotéinases matricielles 1 et 2, inhibiteurs tissulaires des MMPs). Par ailleurs, la poudre de phosphates de calcium ne contenant pas de strontium a entrainé une sécrétion accrue de chimiokines pro-inflammatoires (MCP-1 et GRO-?) qui n'a pas été observée pour la poudre substituée. Enfin, des études in-vivo réalisées dans un modèle de défaut osseux murin a permis de démontrer une plus grande résorbabilité de la poudre contenant du strontium et sa plus grande capacité à stimuler la réparation osseuse. / Calcium phosphate are widely used in medicine. Their upgrade tend to enhance their biocompatibility and their bioactivity. Strontium has interesting capability to modify the bone physiologie. Its incorporation in calcium phosphates could lead to modify the bone balance toward osteogenesis.The present work reveal the capacities of such biomaterials to enhance the replication of osteoblasts ant to modify the expression and the synthesis of proteins implicated in the bone balance (type I collagen, serpinH1, Matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 2, tissular inhibitors of MMPs). Moreover, non substituted calcium phosphate powders enhance the expression and synthesis of inflammatory cytokines (MCP-1 and Gro-a). This fact was not observed with the non substituted powder. In-vivo studies on a mouse model permit us to demonstrate the higher resorbability and the higher bone healing capability of the substituted powder.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) are important enzymes for the development of amperometric enzyme linked immunosensors. The selectivity of each enzyme towards its analyte deepens its importance in determining the sensitivity of the resultant immunosensor. In designing immunosensors that have customized transducer surfaces, the incorporation with FAD and iron based enzymes ensures that electron kinetics remains optimal for electrochemical measurement. Various different immobilization strategies are used to produce response signals directly proportional to the concentration of analyte with minimal interferences. The combination of self-assembled monolayers and supramolecular chemistry affords stability and simplicity in immunosensor design. In this work, two electrochemical strategies for the detection of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG) is presented. This involves the modification of a gold surface with a thiolated β-cyclodextrin epichlorohydrin polymer (βCDPSH) to form a supramolecular inclusion complex with ferrocene (Fc)-functionalised carboxymethyl cellulose polymer (CMC). Cyclic voltammetry indicated that ferrocene is in close proximity to the electrode surface due to the supramolecular complex formed with βCDPSH. Furthermore, strategy (a) for the detection of hCG used α-antihCG labelled (HRP) as reporter conjugate. Strategy (b) maintained the CMC bifunctionalised with Fc and recognition antibody for hCG hormone. However, the system was functionalised with a HRP enzyme and detection is done by using GOx reporter conjugates for in situ production of hydrogen peroxide. The reduction of H2O2 was used for the amperometric detection of hCG by applying a potential of 200 mV. The sensitivity and limit of detection of both strategies were calculated from calibration plots. For strategy (a) the LOD was found to be 3.7283 ng/mL corresponding to 33.56 mIU/mL and a sensitivity of 0.0914 nA ng-1 mL-1. The corresponding values for strategy (b) are 700 pg/mL (6.3 mIU/mL) and 0.94 nA ng-1 mL-1.

O vírus respiratório sincicial (RSV) é responsável por importante morbidade em receptores de transplante de células tronco-hematopoéticas (TCTH), especialmente no período que antecede a enxertia. A imunidade induzida pela infecção pelo RSV é transitória e as reinfecções são freqüentes. O comportamento e papel dos anticorpos anti-RSV em receptores de TCTH é desconhecido. Em amostras de soro estocadas, ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA) foi aplicado para detecção de anticorpos anti-RSV para avaliar a dinâmica desses anticorpos antes e após o TCTH, em pacientes com e sem infecção pelo RSV, bem como a resposta de anticorpos específicos nos pacientes com infecção pelo RSV diagnosticada por imunofluorescência direta. A mediana do tempo de coleta das amostras pré-TCTH foi de -35 e -44 dias nos casos e controles, respectivamente, com média de títulos de anticorpos anti-RSV de 2490 UA/mL e 2872 UA/mL, respectivamente. Após o transplante, as medianas de tempo das 3 amostras analisadas dos pacientes com infecção pelo RSV foram d+14, d+52 e d+89 e os respectivos títulos de anticorpos foram 2457 UA/mL, 2715 UA/mL e 2950 UA/mL. Nos pacientes sem infecção pelo RSV (controles), as medianas de tempo das 3 amostras analisadas foram d+9, d+69 e d+93 e os respectivos títulos de anticorpos foram 2738 UA/mL, 2794 UA/mL e 2642 UA/mL. Não houve diferença estatística entre os dois grupos. Nenhum dos pacientes com infecção pelo RSV apresentou elevação de quatro vezes nos títulos de anticorpos / Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection can cause significant morbidity and mortality in haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, especially when upper respiratory tract infection (RTI) progresses to lower RTI, which is expected to occur in more than 50% of the patients. The humoral immunity induced by RSV infection is transient and reinfections are frequent. The dynamics and role of anti-RSV antibodies in HSCT recipients are unknown. In stored serum samples, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) was applied to evaluate the dynamics of anti-RSV antibodies in HSCT recipients with and without RSV infection, as well as the specific humoral response in HSCT recipients with RSV infection diagnosed by direct immunofluorescent assay in nasal wash samples. Pre-transplant samples were selected at a median time of 35 and 44 days and the mean concentration of RSV antibodies were 2490 AU/mL and 2872 AU/mL, in cases and controls, respectively. After HSCT, serum samples from patients with RSV infection (cases) were evaluated at median time of 14, 52 and 89 days, and the respective mean concentrations of anti- RSV antibodies were 2457 AU/mL, 2715 AU/mL and 2950 AU/mL. In patients without RSV (controls), serum samples were evaluated at median time of 9, 69 and 93 days, and the respective mean concentrations of anti-RSV antibodies were 2738 AU/mL, 2794 AU/mL e 2642 AU/mL. Difference was not statistically significant. No patient developed a four-fold rise in RSV antibody titers

A tuberculose é uma doença crônica granulomatosa caracterizada por um déficit de imunidade antígeno específica do hospedeiro, cuja resposta imune é ativamente regulada por citocinas. No Brasil há mais de 50 milhões de habitantes infectados pelo Mycobacterium tuberculosis. O objetivo foi avaliar a linfoproliferação e a produção de citocinas por células mononucleares do sangue periférico (PBMC) estimuladas por quatro diferentes antígenos do M. tuberculosis, um complexo, o antígeno sonicado, e três purificados, ESAT-6, antígeno 85B e antígeno HBHA, eventuais candidatos à vacina anti-tuberculose. Para avaliação da produção de IFN-g e IL-10 foram utilizados dois métodos: Elispot e Elisa à partir de sobrenadante de cultura de PBMC. Para essas avaliações, os pacientes com tuberculose ativa (TB-A) foram comparados a dois subgrupos de indivíduos controles. O primeiro subgrupo foi constituído por indivíduos saudáveis PPD+ e o segundo por indivíduos curados de um episódio de tuberculose (TB-C). Nossos resultados de linfoproliferação e de Elisa revelaram diminuição da resposta linfoproliferativa e da produção de IFN-g dos pacientes em comparação com os indivíduos PPD+, enquanto os indivíduos TB-C apresentaram em geral resultados intermediários. Observou-se também que as respostas à PHA não diferiam significativamente entre os grupos, ressaltando a natureza antígeno específica da hiporreatividade na tuberculose. Adicionalmente, verificamos maior reatividade ao antígeno complexo, sonicado, que aos antígenos purificados, e entre estes, a reatividade foi maior para ESAT-6 e 85B que para HBHA, A resposta ao HBHA pode ter sido eventualmente subestimada por razões técnicas, como utilização de dose sub-ótima ou perda da atividade biológica. Em relação ao Elispot para IFN-g, não pudemos observar diferenças entre os grupos, tanto quando se considerou o número total de spots, como quando se contou apenas spots com diâmetro > 65 mm, apresentando portanto uma sensibilidade aparentemente menor comparado aos outros 2 métodos. A comparação entre os métodos revelou pouca correlação entre seus resultados, que pode ser eventualmente explicado pela diferente contribuição das populações celulares (T CD4+ e T CD8+) para cada uma das provas munológicas. Finalmente, a análise da produção de IL-10 medida por Elisa no sobrenadante de cultura e por spots de IL10, também não revelou diferenças entre os grupos. Convém notar que o Elisa detectou baixas concentrações de IL-10 nos sobrenadantes, porém o Elispot demonstrou número elevado de spots e boa correlação entre as resposta aos antígenos. Em conclusão, nossos resultados sugerem que métodos \'clássicos\', e já estabelecidos, como linfoproliferação e Elisa, persistem válidos para se avaliar a imunidade celular, e que em nossas condições laboratoriais, a técnica de Elispot não representou, até o momento, uma melhora na qualidade da avaliação imunológica. / Tuberculosis is a chronic granulomatous disease characterized by a deficit of the antigen-specific immunity of the host, whose immune response is actively regulated by cytokines. In Brazil there are 50 million people infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the lymphoproliferative response e the IFN-g response by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) indiced with 4 different antigens isolated from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a complex, crude, the sonicate antigen, and 3 other, purified ones, Esat-6, 85B, and HBHA, the last 3 eventual candidates to the design of a vaccine against tuberculosis. We used 2 methods to evaluate the IFN-g and IL-10 productions, namely Elispot and Elisa of supernatant of PBMC cultures. We studied a group of active tuberculosis patients (TB-A), and compared them with controls individuals comprising 2 groups, one made of healthy PPD+ individuals and the second one of individuals who have been cured from an episode of tuberculosis in the past (TB-C). Our results of lymphoproliferation and Elisa revealed decrease in the lymphoproliferative and IFN-g responses by patients\' PBMC as compared to the PPD+ group, with the TB-C group in general presenting intermediate results. We also observed that the responses to the mitogen PHA were not statisically different among the groups, denoting the antigen-specific nature of the immune deficit in tuberculosis. In addition, we verified that stronger reactivity to the complex antigen than with the purified antigens, and, among the latter, the reactivity was stronger with Esat-6 and 85B as compared to HBHA, Reactivity to HBHA may have been understimated due to technical reasons, such as loss of .the biological activity of the molecule or use of a sub-optimal dose. By using the Elispot for IFN-g we were not able to detect differences among the groups, even when we counted all spots formed or spots with more than > 65 mm in diameter. Thus our Elispot for IFN-g apparently showed lower sensitivity than the other 2 methods. Furthermore, comparisons between the methods revealed low correlation between their results, a finding that may be explained by the differning contribution of different subpopulations (T CD4+ and T CD8+) to each of the results. Finally, analysis of the production of IL-10 as measured by Elisa in the culture supernatants as well as by Elispot revealed no differences among the groups. It is noteworthy that the levels of IL-10 detected by Elisa were low, but the Elispot revealed high number of spots and a good correlation between the antigen responses. In conclusion, we may say that our well standardized \'classical\' methods Elisa and lymphoproliferation persist useful to evaluate cellular immunity responses, and that the Elispot technique, up to now and in our laboratorial conditions, did not represent an improvement in the quality of the immunological evaluation.