Sarcocystis neurona is a protozoan parasite that causes the serious neurologic disease equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). The life cycle of S. neurona progresses through multiple developmental stages that differ morphologically and molecularly. The S. neurona merozoite surface is covered by multiple related proteins, which are orthologous to the surface antigen (SAG) gene family of Toxoplasma gondii. The SAG surface antigens in T. gondii and another related parasite Neospora caninum are life cycle stage-specific and seem necessary for parasite transmission and persistence of infection. The present research was conducted to explore the gene family of SnSAGs in S. neurona. Specifically, the project identified new SnSAGs in the draft genome sequence of S. neurona and examined the stage-specific expression and potential function of these surface antigens. For the first part of the study, expression of the S. neurona merozoite surface antigens was evaluated in the sporozoite and bradyzoite stages. The studies revealed that SnSAG2, SnSAG3 and SnSAG4 are expressed by sporozoites, while SnSAG5 appeared to be downregulated in this life cycle stage. In S. neurona bradyzoites, SnSAG2, SnSAG3, SnSAG4 and SnSAG5 were either absent or expression was greatly reduced. For the second part of the study, the draft sequence of the S. neurona genome was searched for potential new SnSAGs. Multiple searches revealed sixteen potential new SnSAG genes, and bioinformatic analyses of the sequences revealed characteristics consistent with the SAG gene family. Two of the new SnSAGs, designated SnSAG7 and SnSAG8, have been characterized in detail. The studies showed that SnSAG7 is expressed by the merozoite stage, while SnSAG8 is expressed by the bradyzoite stage. The third part of the study assessed the role of SnSAGs in host cell attachment and/or invasion by S. neurona. Serum neutralization assays using polyclonal serum raised against SnSAG1, SnSAG2, SnSAG3, and SnSAG4 suggested that SnSAG1 and SnSAG4 play a role in host cell attachment and/or invasion; treatment with antibodies against SnSAG2 and SnSAG3 were inconclusive. The information acquired about the stage-specific expression of the SnSAGs, identification of new SnSAG paralogues, and their functional characterization will help to understand the importance of the SnSAG proteins for parasite survival and could lead to improved methods for EPM prevention and/or treatment.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:41:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:06:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP / FAPESP:09/50926-1

A neurocisticercose (NC) é uma doença infecciosa de origem parasitária, caracterizada pelo acometimento do sistema nervoso central (SNC) pela forma larvária da Taenia solium. É considerada uma das doenças infecciosas mais freqüentes nesta localização em humanos. Representa um dos grandes problemas de saúde pública para a maioria dos países em desenvolvimento, sendo que dados recentes mencionam 50 mil mortes por ano e não menos que 20 milhões de pessoas infectadas pelo cisticerco no mundo. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: avaliar a utilidade do uso da seqüência FLAIR de ressonância magnética (RM) no diagnóstico desta doença; comparar os principais achados da seqüência FLAIR com os das demais seqüências de RM; determinar a localização preferencial das lesões de NC, bem como os estágios da forma larval mais encontrados nesta série. Avaliaram-se prospectivamente, exames de RM de 115 pacientes com NC, com idades entre quatro e 64 anos, apresentando lesões intracranianas. Realizaram-se seqüências pesadas em T1, T2, FLAIR e T1 após a injeção do meio de contraste paramagnético. As seqüências pós-contraste foram realizadas imediatamente após a injeção e após alguns minutos. Todos os exames de RM foram avaliados por dois examinadores. Para poder avaliar a utilidade do uso da seqüência FLAIR em casos da doença, valorizou-se a detecção do escólex, que é considerada como patognomônica de NC. Cada um dos examinadores detectou, para cada uma das seqüências em cada exame de RM, a localização das lesões (parenquimatosa, meníngea, ventricular ou associação de uma ou mais das anteriores), o número total de lesões e em quantas foi visualizado o escólex e o número de lesões calcificadas. Determinaram-se ainda a topografia das lesões, ou seja, supratentorial, infratentorial ou associação de ambas, e o estágio em que as lesões se encontravam dentro do espectro da doença: vesicular, vesicular coloidal, nodular ou nodular calcificado. Não foi observada diferença estatística significativa entre os resultados obtidos pelos dois examinadores, demonstrando concordância interna. Dos 115 exames de RM oitenta (69,6%), apresentavam lesões parenquimatosas; onze (9,6%) meníngeas; seis (5,2%) ventriculares; dezoito (15,6%), associação. A seqüência FLAIR foi a que permitiu a detecção do maior número de lesões com escólex; já a seqüência T1 pós-contraste tardio foi a que propiciou a detecção do maior número de lesões. Em 32 casos para o examinador A e em 28 para o B, o escólex foi visualizado em apenas uma das seqüências, sendo em 27 e 24 destes casos respectivamente, na seqüência FLAIR. Constatou-se, predominância de lesões em situação supratentorial. Em relação aos estágios da forma larval, observou-se que, em 98,3 a 99,1% dos casos, existia o estágio vesicular; entre 47,0 e 50,4% estágio vesicular coloidal; estágio nodular foi caracterizado entre 65,2 e 69,6% dos casos e em 31,3 a 33% observou-se o estágio nodular calcificado. Em conclusão: a seqüência FLAIR foi a que proporcionou a caracterização do maior número de escólex, cuja detecção é considerada critério absoluto e permite o diagnóstico definitivo da doença. A seqüência FLAIR demonstrou um número total de lesões maior que as seqüências T1 pré-contraste e T2; porém, a seqüência T1 pós-contraste tardio foi a que permitiu a visualização do maior número total de lesões. A forma parenquimatosa foi a mais encontrada nesta série: 69,6% dos pacientes. Predominaram lesões em situação supratentorial (68,7% a 71,3%). Com relação ao estágio evolutivo da forma larval, houve uma predominância do estágio vesicular (98,3 a 99,1%), associação de pelo menos dois estágios em 65,2 e 69,6%, e a presença dos quatro estágios do cisticerco em 31,3 a 33,0% dos casos / Neurocysticercosis (NC) is an infectious disease of parasitic origin characterized by the involvement of the central nervous system (SNC) by the larval form of the Taenia solium, being considered as one of the more frequent infectious diseases in this location in humans. It represents an important public health problems, for most of the development countries. Recent data mention 50,000 deaths a year and not less than 20 million people infected by the cisticerci, in the world. The objectives of this study went evaluate to usefulness of the use of the sequence FLAIR of magnetic resonance (MR), in the diagnosis of this disease, to compare the main findings of the sequence FLAIR to the other sequences of MR and to define the preferential location of the NC lesions, as well as the apprenticeships in the larval way more found in this series. We studied prospectly MR exams of 115 patients with NC, with ages varying between 4 and 64 years, presenting intracranial lesions. The MR protocol inclued T1, T2, FLAIR and T1 weighted after the injection of the paramagnetic contrast. The post-contrast sequences were done immediately after the injection and after some minutes. All the RM exams were evaluated by two examiners. So that it was possible to evaluate the usefulness of the use of the sequence FLAIR in the detection of the scolex that is considered pathognomonic of this disease. Each one of the examiners detected for each one of the sequences in each exam of MR, which the location of the lesions (parenchymal, subarachnoid, ventricular or association of one or more of the previous ones), the total number of lesions, in how many it was visualized the scolex and the number of calcified lesions. It was still determined which the topography of the lesions (supratentorial, infratentorial or association of both), and which the apprenticeship of the lesions in the spectrum of the disease: vesicular, colloidal vesicular, nodular or calcified nodular. Significant statistical difference was not observed among the results obtained by the two examiners, demonstrating internal agreement. Of the 115 exams of RM 80 (69.6%), presented parenchymal lesions, 11 (9.6%) subarachnoid, 6 (5.2%) ventricular and 18 (15.6%) association. FLAIR allowed the detection of the largest number of lesions with scolex, the late post-enhanced detected the largest number of lesions. In 32 cases for the examiner A and in 28 for B, the scolex was visualized in just one of the sequences, being respectively in 27 and 24 of these cases, in the FLAIR sequence. It preferential location of lesions was in the supratentorial compartment. In relation to the apprenticeships in the larval way it was observed that in 98.3 to 99.1% of the cases the vesicular apprenticeship existed, among 47.0 to 50.4% presence of the colloidal vesicular apprenticeship, the nodular was characterized among 65.2 to 69.6% of the cases and in 31.3 to 33% it was observed to the presence of the calcified nodular lesions. In conclusion: the sequence FLAIR detected the larger number of scólex, whose that is considered a criteria for the definitive diagnosis of the disease. The FLAIR sequence demonstrated a larger total number of lesions that the sequences pré-contrast T1 and T2, but the late post-enhanced T1 was the sequence that allowed the visualization of the largest total number of lesions. The parenchymal was found in this series 69.6% of the patients. Lesions prevailed in supratentorial situation (68.7% to 71.3%). With relationship to the evolutionary apprenticeship in the larval way there was a prevalence of the vesicular apprenticeship (98.3 to 99.1%), association of at least two stages in 65.2 to 69.6% and the presence of the four stages of the disease among 31.3 to 33.0% of the cases

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:41:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:06:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Os hidrogéis foram obtidos a partir de material polimérico reticulado por processo de radiação ionizante de acordo com a técnica de Rosiak. Nos últimos 40 anos o uso dos hidrogéis têm sido investigado para diversas aplicações como curativos. Neste trabalho foram sintetizadas membranas de hidrogéis com poli(N-2- pirolidona) (PVP), poli(álcool vinílico) (PVAl), quitosana e argila laponita em encapsulamento do fármaco para liberação controlada de glucantime sobre a superfície cutânea de tecidos lesados por leishmaniose. O tratamento tradicional dos pacientes infectados pelos parasitas é feito com antimoniato pentavalente de forma injetável. Entretanto estes antimoniatos são muito tóxicos e provocam efeitos colaterais nestes pacientes, além disso, pacientes portadores de doenças cardíacas e renais não podem fazer uso deste tratamento. No tratamento com membranas de hidrogéis aplicadas na superfície de tecidos lesados pela leishmaniose, o fármaco é liberado diretamente no ferimento de forma controlada, diminuindo os efeitos colaterais. As membranas preparadas neste trabalho foram caracterizadas por difração de raios X (DRX), análise de termogravimetria (TG), intumescimento, fração gel, espectroscopia no infravermelho (FTIR), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e microscopia de força atômica (AFM). As caracterizações funcionais foram feitas com teste de citotoxicidade e de liberação do fármaco in vitro e in vivo, de acordo com o protocolo de ética do Instituto de Medicina Tropical do Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP. O teste \"in vivo\" dessas membranas provou ser eficiente na liberação controlada de fármacos diretamente nas superfícies lesadas pela leishmaniose. Nos testes \"in vivo\" as membranas de PVP/PVAl/argila 1,5% e glucantime apresentaram evidente contribuição para redução do ferimento chegando a uma cura clínica. / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP / FAPESP:09/50926-1

Orientadores: Jancarlo Ferreira Gomes, Alexandre Xavier Falcão / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T15:19:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carvalho_JulianaBarboza_M.pdf: 1818938 bytes, checksum: d44ab358d0482575e52d1f77a3f4c07b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: As parasitoses intestinais são altamente prevalentes no mundo, estando entre as maiores causadoras de doenças e óbitos em seres humanos. Atualmente, o diagnóstico laboratorial destas parasitoses é realizado por meio de procedimentos técnicos manuais, desenvolvidos na sua grande maioria há décadas, o que justifica a aplicabilidade de técnicas mais sensíveis e práticas para esta finalidade, visando obter resultados eficientes, especialmente em programas governamentais direcionados à Saúde Pública. Sendo assim, o objetivo do projeto foi de avaliar e validar uma nova técnica parasitológica, denominada TF-Test Modified, em comparação com três técnicas parasitológicas convencionais consagradas pela literatura: TF-Test Conventional; Rugai, Mattos e Brisola; e Kato-Katz/Helm-Test. As etapas do trabalho consistiram em realizar coleta de material fecal de 457 indivíduos localizados em regiões endêmicas para parasitoses no município de Campinas, SP; no processamento laboratorial de 1.828 exames; no diagnóstico de 14 espécies parasitárias; e na análise estatística qualitativa de resultados de maneira abrangente. Dentre as espécies parasitárias encontradas, helmintos e protozoários intestinais foram detectados em 42,23% de indivíduos pela técnica de TF-Test Modified, ante 36,76% por TF-Test Conventional, 5,03% por Kato-Katz/Helm-Test, e 4,16% por Rugai, Mattos e Brisola. Destes casos, 54,40% de infecção simples dos indivíduos demonstrou serem portadores de monoparasitismo. A nova técnica parasitológica de TF-Test Modified, quando comparada com as demais técnicas, apresentou alto valor de infecção, como exemplo para dupla, tripla e múltipla, de maneira a perfazer um total de 98,37% de infecções. Ademais, a nova técnica apresentou índice Kappa com grau de concordância Quase Perfeito em todos os parâmetros avaliados com estimativa de 95% (P<0,05), permitiu encontrar com alta eficiência diagnóstica todas as espécies parasitárias estudadas, mostrou um notável diagnóstico verdadeiro, especialmente quando analisada comparativamente com as outras três técnicas convencionais. O atual estudo permitiu concluir que a técnica de TF-Test Modified pode ser utilizada de forma abrangente no diagnóstico qualitativo de protozoários e helmintos intestinais de humanos. O ganho de sensibilidade diagnóstica proporcionada por esta nova técnica deverá ser de estimável contribuição para o diagnóstico individual laboratorial, inquéritos populacionais e controle das parasitoses intestinais, de modo a repercutir em contribuição social / Abstract: Intestinal parasites are highly prevalent worldwide and is among the largest cause of illness and death in humans. Currently, the laboratory diagnosis of these parasites is accomplished through technical procedures manuals, developed mostly for decades, justifying the applicability of more sensitive techniques and practices for this purpose, to obtain effective results, especially in government programs aimed at Public Health. Thus, the objective of the project was to evaluate and validate a new technique parasite, called TF-Test Modified, compared with three conventional parasitological techniques enshrined in literature: TF-Test Conventional; Rugai, Mattos and Brisola, and Kato-Katz / Helm-Test. The steps of the work consisted of conducting a collection of fecal samples from 457 individuals located in regions endemic for parasitic infections in Campinas, SP, in laboratory processing of 1,828 examinations, the diagnosis of 14 parasitic species, and the qualitative statistical analysis of results so comprehensive. Among the species found parasitic, helminths and intestinal protozoa were detected in 42,23% of subjects using the technique of TF-Test Modified, against 36,76% by TF-Test Conventional, 5,03% by Kato-Katz/Helm-Test, and 4,16% Rugai, Mattos and Brisola. Of these cases, 54,40% of single infections of individuals were shown to be carriers of monoparasitism. The new technique parasitological TF-Test Modified compared to other techniques of infection showed a high value, for example double, triple and multiple so as to make a total of 98,37% infections . Moreover, the new technique presented Kappa index level of agreement with Almost Perfect in all parameters with estimated 95% (P <0.05), allowed to meet with high diagnostic efficiency all parasitic species studied showed remarkable true diagnosis, especially when viewed in comparison with other three conventional techniques. The current study showed that the technique TF-Test Modified can be used comprehensively in qualitative diagnosis of intestinal protozoa and helminths of humans. The gain in diagnostic sensitivity afforded by this new technique should be estimable contribution to the individual diagnostic laboratory, population surveys and control of intestinal parasites, in order to reflect on social contribution / Mestrado / Parasitologia / Mestra em Parasitologia

Investigou-se a existência de relação entre células normais de triatomíneos, formas evolutivas do T.cruzi e hospedeiros mamíferos. Hemócitos do vetor de espécies hematófagas não infectadas (Triatoma infestans, T. palidipennis, Dipetalogaster maximus, Rhodnius prolixus e Panstrongylus megistus) foram reconhecidos por soros de pacientes e camundongos infectados com Trypanosoma cruzi, por meio da técnica de imunofluorescência, enquanto que os hemócitos de um inseto fitófago, Diactor billineatus (ninfas e adultos) não foram reconhecidos pelos mesmos soros. Uma parcial reação cruzada foi observada entre hemócitos de T. infestans e soros de portadores de leishmaniose , o que não ocorreu com as amostras de portadores de doenças autoimunes, infecção com HIV e indivíduos normais. O tratamento de hemócitos com metaperiodato de sódio aboliu a fluorescência, mostrando que antígenos carboidratos estão envolvidos. O uso de lectinas marcadas revelou que N acetil-d-glicosamina, manose, glicose e &#946;gal fazem parte da estrutura celular. O immunoblotting com extrato de hemócitos foi realizado com soros de pacientes chagásicos crônicos antes e depois do tratamento específico. Estes soros de ambos casos foram absorvidos com tripomastigotas e epimastigotas. Um número considerável de bandas desapareceu nos soros tratados com tripomastigotas, mas não com epimastigotas. Proteínas de 61-70, 41-50, 31-40 e 21-30 kDa foram as envolvidas no processo de absorção. Após a quimioterapia, as bandas de 121-130, 91-100, 81-90 e 61-60 kDa desapareceram nos soros não absorvidos. Um grupo de camundongos fêmeas A/Sn foi imunizado com hemolinfa livre de hemócitos (HL) e outro grupo com hemócitos (Hc) e desafiados com 5x102 tripomastigotas sangüícolas.(cepa Y). Picos de parasitemia dos camundongos HL e Hc foram observados um ou dois dias após o grupo controle. Apesar da parasitemia de ambos os grupos ter sido baixa, o grupo HL apresentou 43% de mortalidade, enquanto que o grupo Hc mostrou apenas 14 % de mortalidade. As citocinas IFN&#947; e TNF&#945; estão envolvidas no processo de proteção,\' assim como óxido nítrico e anticorpos líticos. Os hemócitos induziram uma redução de IL-10, inibindo a resposta Th2. Desde que os hemócitos e tripomastigotas compartilham epítopos comuns, epítopos de hemócitos devem ser melhor estudados em virtude de seu potencial uso no imunodiagnóstico, imunoproteção e avaliação terapêutica. / Immunological relationship between normal triatomine cells, developmental life-cycle stages of T. cruzi and infected mammal hosts was investigated. Hemocytes from uninfected hematophagous vector species of triatomines (Triatoma infestans, T. palidipennis, Dipetalogaster maximus, Rhodnius prolixus and Panstrongylus megistus) were recognized by sera from patients and mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, by means of immunofluorescence assay (IFA), whereas hemocytes from a phytophagous bug, Diactor billineatus (nymphs and adults) were not recognized by the same sera. Hemocytes from T. infestans were partially recognized by leishmaniasis sera, but, not by samples from patients with autoimmune diseases, HIV positive sera. The treatment of hemocytes with sodium metaperiodate practically abolished the fluorescence staining, indicating the presence of carbohydrate antigens. These antigens were revealed be comprised of N acetyl-D-glucosamine, mannose and glucose and &#946;gal, by means of fluorescent labelled lectins. Sera from chronic chagasic patients before and after the chemotherapy were reactive with hemocytes of P. megistus on immunoblotting, and the same sera previously absorbed with formaldehyde fixed cultured epimastigotes as well trypomastigotes. On immunoblotting a substantial number of bands diminished with sera absortion with trypomastigotes, but not with epimastigotes. Proteins of 61-70, 41-50, 31-40 and 21-30 kDa were the major proteins involved in the process of serum absorptions. After chemotherapy, protein bands of 121-130, 91-100, 81-90 and 51-60 kDa disappeared in unabsorbed sera. A group of female A/Sn mice were immunized with hemolymph free of hemocytes (MHL) and other group with hemocytes (MHC). Animais were challenged with 5x102 bloodstream trypomastigotes (Y strain). Parasitemia peaks of MHL and MHC groups were observed one or two days after the control group. In spite of the parasitemia for both groups was about 63% lower than the control group, the mortality for the MHL was 43%, differing from the MHC, which was 14% only. The Cytokines, IFN&#947; and TNF&#945;, were shown to be involved in the protection of immunized mice, and also the nitric oxide and complement dependent lytic antibodies. Hemocytes showed to play a role in the reduction of the IL-10 production, inhibiting Th2 response. Thus, hemocytes and trypomastigotes share common epitopes, and these epitopes are potentially useful for immunodiagnosis, immunopratection, and evaluation of chemotherapic efficiency in Chagas\' disease control.

Larvas de cisticercos de Taenia crassiceps foram deixadas em repouso em TRIS 9mM pH 7,2 com 1mM EDTA até 180 minutos, os sobrenadantes coletados e processados nos 30, 60, 120 e 180 minutos, dando origem aos antígenos de excreção e secreção (ES 30; ES 60; ES 120 e ES 180). A caracterização do antígeno de excreção e secreção de larvas de Taenia crassiceps foi feito por SDS-PAGE e imunoblot utilizando anticorpos monoclonais (AcMos) anti-T. crassiceps e anti-T. solium e anticorpos humanos. Os resultados mostraram que o rendimento do antígeno ES foi menor nos primeiros 30 minutos (0,4 &#181;g) por larva quando comparado os demais ES (ES 60: 2,4 &#181;g; ES 120: 2,9 &#181;g; ES 180: 2,5 &#181;g). O SDS-PAGE confirmou que no ES 30 há menos proteínas. No imunoblot, o ES 180 mostrou que 6 AcMos (anti-LV-Tcra; anti-ES-Tcra; anti-LV-Tso: A3; anti-T-Tso: B4, B11 e A6) reconheceram apenas as frações 18- e 14-kDa do antígeno ES 180. Os AcMos anti-E-Tso (B8) e anti-LV-Tso (B6) não reconheceram frações do antígeno ES 180. Anticorpos presentes em amostras humanas de pacientes com NC reconheceram as frações protéicas entre 94- a 30-kDa e as de 18- e 14-kDa. Utilizando antígeno ES 180 e amostras de soros de pacientes supostamente saudáveis (GC), foram identificadas proteínas acima de 30-kDa e somente uma amostra reconheceu a de 16- kDa, anômala em relação ao perfil 18- e 14-kDa. As amostras de soro de pacientes com outras parasitoses mostraram reatividade com frações &#8805; de 30-kDa do ES 180 e o maior índice de reatividade foi com a proteína 71-KDa. Um total de 77%; 70%; 60% e 70% das amostras de pacientes com toxocaríase, esquistossomose mansônica, hidatidose e Chagas, respectivamente, reconheceram a fração 71-kDa do ES 180. O antígeno ES pode contribuir com futuros estudos abordando a complexa relação parasito hospedeiro na cisticercose e na produção de vacinas para o uso em suínos. / Cysticercus Larvae of Taenia crassiceps were maintained in TRIS 9mM pH 7,2 with 1mM EDTA for 180 minutes; the supernatant was collected and processed at 30; 60; 120 and 180 minutes, originating excretion-secretion antigens (ES 30; ES 60; ES 120 and ES 180). The characterization of the ES antigen was conducted through SDS-PAGE and immunoblot using anti-T. crassiceps and anti-T. solium monoclonal antibodies (AcMos) and human antibodies. The results showed that the production of ES antigen was lower in the first 30 min. (0,4 &#181;g) compared with the others (ES 60: 2,4 &#181;g; ES 120: 2,9 &#181;g; ES 180: 2,5 &#181;g). The SDS-PAGE confirmed that ES 30 presented less protein. By immunoblot,6 AcMos (anti-LV-Tcra; anti-ES-Tcra;anti-LV-Tso: A3; anti-T-Tso: B4, B11 and A6) have recognized only the 18- and 14-kDa fractions of the ES 180. The anti-E-Tso (B8) and the anti-LV-Tso (B6) AcMos did not recognize any fractions. Antibodies from human samples NC recognized the proteins from 94- to 30-kDa and from 18- and 14-kDa. Using serum samples of apparently healthy individuals (GC), the ES 180 antigen showed proteins &#62; 30-kDa and one sample recognized the 16-kDa fraction, anomalous when compared to the 18- and 14-kDa fractions. The serum samples of subjects with other parasitoses showed reactivity &#8805; 30-kDa, more frequently with 71-KDa protein. A total of 77%; 70%; 60% and 70% of the samples from subjects presenting toxocariasis, esquistossomose mansonic, hydatidosis and Chagas disease, respectively, recognized the 71-kDa fraction of ES 180. The ES antigen may contribute to further studies on the complex cysticercosis parasite/host relation as well as for the production of vaccines for swine.

One of Africa’s neglected tropical diseases, African Trypanosomiasis, is not only fatal but also has a crippling impact on economic development. Heat shock proteins play a wide range of roles in the cell and they are required to assist the parasite as it moves from a cold blooded insect vector to a warm blooded mammalian host. The expression of heat shock proteins increases during these heat shock conditions, and this is considered to play a role in differentiation of these vector-borne parasites. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is an important molecular chaperone that is involved in protein homeostasis, Hsp40 acts as a co-chaperone and stimulates its intrinsically weak ATPase activity. In silico analysis of the T. brucei genome has revealed the existence of 12 Hsp70 proteins and 65 Hsp40 proteins to date. A novel Hsp70, TbHsp70.c, was recently identified in T. brucei. Different from the prototypical Hsp70, TbHsp70.c contains an acidic substrate binding domain and lacks the C-terminal EEVD motif. By implication the substrate range and mechanism by which the substrates are recognized may be novel. The ability of a Type I Hsp40, Tbj2, to function as a co-chaperone of TbHsp70.c was investigated. The main objective of this study was to biochemically characterize TbHsp70.c and its partnership with Tbj2 to further enhance our knowledge of parasite biology. TbHsp70.c and Tbj2 were heterologously expressed and purified and both proteins displayed chaperone activities in their ability to suppress aggregation of thermolabile MDH. TbHsp70.c also suppressed aggregation of rhodanese. ATPase assays revealed that the ATPase activity of TbHsp70.c was stimulated by Tbj2. The targeted inhibition of the function of heat shock proteins is emerging as a tool to combat disease. The small molecule modulators quercetin and methylene blue are known to inhibit the ATPase activity of Hsp70. However, methylene blue did not significantly inhibit the ATPase activity of TbHsp70.c; while quercetin, did inhibit the ATPase activity. In vivo heat stress experiments indicated an up-regulation of the expression levels of TbHsp70.c. RNA interference studies showed partial knockdown of TbHsp70.c with no detrimental effect on the parasite. Fluorescence microscopy studies of TbHsp70.c showed a probable cytoplasmic subcellular localization. In this study both TbHsp70.c and Tbj2 demonstrated chaperone activity and Tbj2 possibly functions as a co-chaperone of TbHsp70.c.

A detecção microscópica de gametócitos pode subestimar sua prevalência e induzir uma avaliação errônea do potencial de transmissão da malária em áreas endêmicas, mantendo desconhecida a proporção de indivíduos infectados que são potenciais transmissores da doença. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a padronização de métodos moleculares para detecção e quantificação de gametócitos de P. falciparum e P. vivax. Descrevemos um método de qRT-PCR, que tem como alvo transcritos do gene pvs25 e pfs25. Detectamos transcritos de pvs25 em 96,4% das amostras sanguíneas provenientes de indivíduos infectados por P. vivax. qRT-PCR foi mais sensível do que a RT-PCR convencional, que tem como alvo o mesmo gene. Descobrimos que a maioria (61,9%) dos portadores de gametócitos são assintomáticos ou tem parasitemias subpatentes e não teriam sido detectados pelas estratégias de controle de rotina da malária. Porém, esses portadores de gametócitos não identificados, geralmente possuem baixas densidades de gametócitos e contribuem com até 4% da carga global de gametócitos na comunidade. / The microscopic detection of gametocytes may underestimate their prevalence, leading to an inaccurate assessment of the potential for malaria transmission in receptive areas and a poor estimate of the proportion of infected individuals who are infectious. We aimed to standardize molecular methods for detection and quantification of gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Here, we describe a qRT-PCR that targets transcripts of the mature gametocyte-specific pvs25 gene. We found mature gametocytes in 53 of 55 (96.4%) P. vivax infections diagnosed during an ongoing cohort study in a farming settlement located in the southern of Amazonas state. SYBR green qRT-PCR was more sensitive than a conventional RT-PCR that targets the same gene. Most (61.9%) gametocyte carriers were either asymptomatic or had subpatent parasitemias, and would have been missed by routine malaria control strategies. However, potentially undiagnosed gametocyte carriers usually had low-density infections and contributed up to 4% to the overall gametocyte burden in the community.

Many virus infections induce a transient state of immune suppression in the infected host. Virus-induced T cell suppression can be caused by T cell activation-induced cell death (AICD), dendritic cell (DC) apoptosis, DC dysfunction, and/or the enhanced expression of immune-suppressive cytokines. It has been previously demonstrated that naïve bystander CD8 T cells derived from hosts experiencing an acute virus-specific T cell response underwent AICD when polyclonally activated by anti-CD3 in vitro (Zarozinski et al., 2000). Susceptibility of naïve bystander T cells to AICD could prevent the development of a new T cell response during an ongoing immune response, and thus render infected hosts immune suppressed. Although immune suppression could result in an enhanced susceptibility to superinfections, virus-infected individuals are more commonly resistant to superinfecting pathogens. Because of these seemingly contradictory conditions, we sought to investigate how acute viral infections impact naïve bystander CD8 T cells in vivo. More specifically, we asked whether bystander CD8 T cells are susceptible to immune suppression or whether they can contribute to the resistance to superinfections. In order to address this, we examined the responses of bystander CD8 T cells activated with cognate antigen during acute viral infections in vivo. We generated several in vivomodels using P14 (LCMV glycoprotein-specific), HY (male antigen-specific), and OT-I (ovalbumin-specific) transgenic CD8 T cells, which we defined as bystander during acute infections with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), Pichinde virus (PV), vaccinia virus (VV), and murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Consistent with the enhanced susceptibility to cell death noted in vitro, we found that bystander CD8 T cells activated with cognate antigen in vivo during acute viral infections underwent markedly reduced proliferation. Virus-induced transient T cell suppression in vivo was not exclusively mediated by Fas-FasL- or TNF-induced AICD or due to an enhanced susceptibility to apoptosis. Instead, immune suppression in vivowas associated with a delayed onset of division, which we found not to be due to a defect in antigen presentation, but rather due to a T cell intrinsic defect. Despite the suppressed proliferation of TCR-stimulated bystander CD8 T cells in vivo, we found an enhancement of the effector functions exerted by bystander CD8 T cells activated during acute viral infections. During acute viral infections or after stimulation with type 1 IFN (IFN-αβ) inducers, some bystander CD8 T cells were sensitized to immediately exert effector functions such as IFN-γ production and degranulation upon stimulation with high affinity cognate antigen. Sensitization of naïve CD8 T cells required self-MHC I and indirect effects of IFN-αβ, while IL-12, IL-18, and IFN-γ were not individually required. IL-15 was not required for the rapid expression of IFN-γ, but was required for up-regulation of granzyme B (GrzB). P14 and OT-I CD8 T cells, which are capable of homeostatic proliferation, could be sensitized by poly(I:C), but HY CD8 T cells, which are poor at homeostatic proliferation, could not, suggesting that the requirement for MHC I may be to present low affinity cryptically cross-reactive self antigens. Sensitized naive CD8 T cells up-regulated the t-box transcription factor Eomesodermin (Eomes), which can regulate these rapid effector functions. In conclusion, we demonstrate in this thesis that acute viral infections impact naïve bystander CD8 T cells such that their response to cognate antigen is altered. Prior to cognate antigen engagement, bystander CD8 T cells up-regulated Eomes, CD122, and GrzB. Following cognate antigen engagement, bystander CD8 T cells rapidly degranulated and expressed the effector cytokine IFN-γ. The ability of bystander CD8 T cells to rapidly exert effector functions may contribute to the resistance of virus-infected individuals to superinfections. Despite these rapid effector functions, the proliferation of TCR-stimulated bystander CD8 T cells was markedly inhibited. This reduced proliferation was found not to be a defect in antigen presentation, but was a T cell intrinsic defect in initiating division. Thus, bystander CD8 T cells were also susceptible to virus-induced immune suppression. It is also likely that virus-specific CD8 T cells that are not activated until later in the response, so-called latecomer CD8 T cells, may also be susceptible to immune enhancement and suppression. Thus, latecomer CD8 T cells would be able to rapidly exert effector functions at the expense of proliferation. Taken together, we propose that during an immune response, due to spatial and temporal gradients of antigen and inflammation, it is likely that a combination of heterogeneous T cells with different signal strengths and sequences of exposure from cytokines and peptide-MHC constitute the total T cell response to pathogens.