Le repliement des protéines, dernière étape du processus d'expression de l'information génétique, demeure imparfaitement expliqué. Pendant ma thèse, j'ai étudié le repliement oxydant d'une petite protéine riche en ponts disulfure, la toxine a de Naja nigricollis. J'ai pu montrer que l'addition d'un acide aminé dans une boucle de la structure entraîne un ralentissement global du repliement in vitro causé par une permutation des intermédiaires productifs. L'étude en RMN des intermédiaires de repliement a permis de proposer une explication structurale à cette modification de comportement cinétique. Par ailleurs, pour tester l'importance de l'aspect vectoriel du repliement in vivo, j'ai développé une méthode ayant pour but de vectoriser le repliement in vitro. J'ai pu montrer qu'il est possible grâce à des anticorps dirigés contre la toxine a réduite d'inhiber son repliement oxydant, de lever cette inhibition et finalement de modifier sa voie de repliement.

With the full sequence of the human genome now available, anexciting era in biomedical research has started. The sequenceprovides information about all our genes and greatly increasesthe scope to compare genetic activities in different cells, toanalyze genetic variation between individuals and betweendifferent species and, most importantly, to investigatesystematically the whole genome in a gene-by-gene manner, andthus increase our understanding of gene function. This thesis describes studies in which developments weremade in several areas of functional genomics. Messenger RNAlevels were analyzed by the use of an amplification procedure,in which the 3´-ends of the transcripts were selected inorder to amplify the mRNA population in an unbiased fashion. Bysonicating cDNA originating from expressed mRNA, uniformlysized representatives of the transcripts,“signaturetags”, were obtained. The mRNA levels in the original mRNApopulation correlated well with the levels in the amplifiedmaterial, as verified by microarray analysis and realtimequantitative PCR. The expressed transcripts can be identifiedusing pyrosequencing, by comparing the obtained sequenceinformation from the signature tags to information contained invarious sequence databases. In one of the articles, the use ofpyrosequencing is illustrated by efforts to find genes involvedin the disease progression of atherosclerosis. More challenging than the study of mRNA levels is to analyzewhen, where and how proteins fulfill their wide-ranging rolesin all the various cellular processes. Proteins are morecomplex biomolecules than mRNA, each having unique properties.Current techniques for studying proteins need much improvement,and are often limited to investigations of a specific portionof the proteome. One approach for studying the whole proteomeis to systematically generate reagents with specific affinityfor the proteins encoded by the genome, one by one. Theaffinity reagents can be used as flags for their targets,providing a flag-specific detection system, so that the targetproteins can be sub-cellularly localized in the majority ofhuman tissues in an array format. One of the articles includedin the thesis presents a pilot project for large-scale affinityreagent production. The aim was to provide a sound basis forwhole proteome studies, but as a pilot study this investigationwas limited to the proteins encoded by human chromosome 21. Allputative genes on the chromosome were subjected to antibodygeneration in a systematic manner. Small, uniform, and easilyproduced representative portions of the full-length proteinswere expressed. These were denoted“Protein EpitopeSignature Tags”and were designed to be unique for theirfull-length counterparts. The antibodies were produced inrabbits and two of the articles in the thesis discuss differentapproaches for affinity purification of the antibodies toachieve the highest possible specificity towards the targets.The resulting“mono-specific”, but still“multi-epitope”, antibodies can be used for a widerange of additional biochemical studies, such as protein arrayand protein pull-out analyses. <b>Keywords:</b>functional genomics, 3´-end signaturetags, pyrosequencing, amplification, PrEST, chromosome 21,polyclonal antibodies, dual expression, affinitypurification.

<p>With the full sequence of the human genome now available, anexciting era in biomedical research has started. The sequenceprovides information about all our genes and greatly increasesthe scope to compare genetic activities in different cells, toanalyze genetic variation between individuals and betweendifferent species and, most importantly, to investigatesystematically the whole genome in a gene-by-gene manner, andthus increase our understanding of gene function.</p><p>This thesis describes studies in which developments weremade in several areas of functional genomics. Messenger RNAlevels were analyzed by the use of an amplification procedure,in which the 3´-ends of the transcripts were selected inorder to amplify the mRNA population in an unbiased fashion. Bysonicating cDNA originating from expressed mRNA, uniformlysized representatives of the transcripts,“signaturetags”, were obtained. The mRNA levels in the original mRNApopulation correlated well with the levels in the amplifiedmaterial, as verified by microarray analysis and realtimequantitative PCR. The expressed transcripts can be identifiedusing pyrosequencing, by comparing the obtained sequenceinformation from the signature tags to information contained invarious sequence databases. In one of the articles, the use ofpyrosequencing is illustrated by efforts to find genes involvedin the disease progression of atherosclerosis.</p><p>More challenging than the study of mRNA levels is to analyzewhen, where and how proteins fulfill their wide-ranging rolesin all the various cellular processes. Proteins are morecomplex biomolecules than mRNA, each having unique properties.Current techniques for studying proteins need much improvement,and are often limited to investigations of a specific portionof the proteome. One approach for studying the whole proteomeis to systematically generate reagents with specific affinityfor the proteins encoded by the genome, one by one. Theaffinity reagents can be used as flags for their targets,providing a flag-specific detection system, so that the targetproteins can be sub-cellularly localized in the majority ofhuman tissues in an array format. One of the articles includedin the thesis presents a pilot project for large-scale affinityreagent production. The aim was to provide a sound basis forwhole proteome studies, but as a pilot study this investigationwas limited to the proteins encoded by human chromosome 21. Allputative genes on the chromosome were subjected to antibodygeneration in a systematic manner. Small, uniform, and easilyproduced representative portions of the full-length proteinswere expressed. These were denoted“Protein EpitopeSignature Tags”and were designed to be unique for theirfull-length counterparts. The antibodies were produced inrabbits and two of the articles in the thesis discuss differentapproaches for affinity purification of the antibodies toachieve the highest possible specificity towards the targets.The resulting“mono-specific”, but still“multi-epitope”, antibodies can be used for a widerange of additional biochemical studies, such as protein arrayand protein pull-out analyses.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>functional genomics, 3´-end signaturetags, pyrosequencing, amplification, PrEST, chromosome 21,polyclonal antibodies, dual expression, affinitypurification.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-03-13Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:35:43Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pereira_acb_me_sjrp.pdf: 828257 bytes, checksum: de1b44b38dfac1b95be8ef5a683e7543 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O lenho estriado de rupestris ou cascudo (Rupestris stem pitting – RSP), um dos componentes do Complexo do lenho rugoso (“Rugose wood” - RW), é considerado uma das doenças de videira transmitidas por enxertia de grande relevância econômica para a viticultura. O Rupestris stem pitting associated virus – RSPaV foi associado com a doença do lenho estriado ou cascudo, sendo classificado como espécie do gênero Foveavirus, pertencente a família Flexiviridae. No presente trabalho, descrevem-se o sequenciamento do gene da proteína capsidial (CP) de um isolado brasileiro do RSPaV (RSPaV-SP), sua expressão em Escherichia coli, purificação da proteína capsidial recombinante e a produção de anti-soro policlonal em coelho. O sequenciamento do gene resultou em uma seqüência de 780 nucleotídeos e 259 aminoácidos deduzidos com massa molecular estimada de 28 kDa. A análise filogenética, entre a seqüência correspondente à CP do RSPaV-SP e outras variantes do mesmo vírus, evidenciou a formação de 4 grupos distintos, sendo o isolado brasileiro incluído no grupo da variante BS do RSPaV. A proteína capsidial recombinante foi purificada em coluna de afinidade e apresentou massa molecular estimada de 32kDa (4kDa da seqüência do vetor e 28kD da CP do RSPaV-SP). O anti-soro produzido apresentou-se específico na detecção da proteína capsidial recombinante purificada por “Western-blot”, sem reação com proteína heteróloga a partir da diluição 1:4000. Nesta diluição, o anti-soro foi efetivo na detecção do vírus em extratos de plantas infectadas, sendo que nenhuma reação foi observada com extratos de plantas sadias. Considerando-se que este vírus apresenta variações de concentração na planta durante as estações do ano, e que, os testes sorológicos foram realizados durante a estação de baixa concentração do vírus, os resultados... / Rupestris stem pitting (RSP), a component of the rugose wood (RW) complex, is one of the most graft-transmissible grapevine virus diseases with great economic importance for viticulture . Rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (RSPaV), genus Foveavirus within the family Flexiviridae, has been associated with this disease. This work reports the sequencing of the coat protein (CP) gene of a brazilian an isolate of RSPaV (RSPaV-SP), its expression in Escherichia coli, purification of the recombinant coat protein and production of a polyclonal antiserum in rabbit. CP gene was found to be 780nt long, with a 256 deduced amino acid sequence encoding a predicted protein of 28 kDa. In filogenetic analysis, with RSPaV-SP and other variants of the virus, four groups were found and the sequence of RSPaV-SP showed the highest identity with the variant RSPaV-BS. The recombinant coat protein was purified by affinity chromatography and showed a molecular weight of 32kDa (4 kDa from a small vector sequence plus 28 kDa for the CP of RSPaV-SP). The antiserum proved specific for detection of the recombinant protein by Western Blot, and did not react with heterologous proteins starting at a dilution of 1:4000. At this dilution, the antiserum was effective in the virus detection of leaf extracts of infected plants and no reaction was observed with extracts from healthy grapevines. Considering that the virus is found at low concentrations in the plants during the seasons of the year, the results obtained so far were highly satisfactory for RSPaV detection. Serological methods have advantages over the biological indexing method, since they are cheaper and can be used in large-scale tests such as ELISA. Experiments using the ELISA technique were not successful. Purification of the native recombinant protein would be an alternative more efective to detect the virus using these technique.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-12-07Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:17:03Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 bastos_jpst_me_botfmvz.pdf: 410858 bytes, checksum: 65d4c4f6f1d9565cc9e57b146657bfd7 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses do preparado de anticorpos policlonais (PAP) produzido contra diferentes cepas de bactérias ruminais sobre parâmetros de fermentação ruminal (pH, AGCC, nitrogênio amoniacal e lactato) em bovinos recebendo dieta de alto concentrado. Foram utilizadas oito fêmeas bovinas, canuladas no rúmen, alimentadas (ad libitum) duas vezes ao dia com dieta de alto concentrado. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o quadrado latino 4 x 4, replicado duas vezes. Os quatro tratamentos foram estruturados de acordo com as diferentes doses do produto (T1: 0,0 g/animal/dia, “controle”; T2: 1,5 g/animal/dia; T3: 3,0 g/animal/dia e T4: 4,5 g/animal/dia) e em diferentes períodos experimentais. Cada período experimental foi constituído de 21 dias, sendo que as colheitas de líquido ruminal foram realizadas a cada duas horas nos tempos de 0 a 12 horas, após a alimentação, no último dia de cada período e posteriormente analisadas. Não foi observado efeito de interação entre tempo e tratamento (p > 0,05) para os dados de pH. Independentemente do tempo de amostragem, não foi observado efeito linear ou quadrático dos níveis de administração do PAP sobre o pH ruminal. Não foram observados efeitos significativos (p > 0,05) sobre a concentração de AGCC total, nitrogênio amoniacal ou proporções molares dos ácidos acético, propiônico e butírico e lactato. Também não foram observados efeitos nos parâmetros de degradabilidade in situ para as três diferentes fontes alimentares utilizadas e para os valores de digestibilidade in vivo. Com isso, pode-se concluir que as diferentes doses do PAP não foram suficientes para alterar o ambiente ruminal sendo necessária à realização de mais testes que refutem ou não essa resposta. / Due the prohibition of antibiotics in ruminants diets arouse the necessity to find new alternatives for ionophores utilization without hazard to human health. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different doses of polyclonal antibody preparation (PAP) on ruminal fermentation parameters (pH, short chain fatty acids, ammonia nitrogen and lactate) in cattle fed high concentrate diets. Eight rumen cannulated cows were used in a latin square 4x4, twice replicated. The treatments were T1: 0.0 g/animal/day, “control”; T2: 1.5 g/animal/day; T3: 3.0 g/animal/day; T4: 4.5 g/animal/day with four experimental periods with 21 days each. Sample collection was carried out at the last day of each period with two hours of interval between each collection. There was no interaction between time and treatment (p > 0.05) for pH data. Independently from time of sampling there was no linear or quadratic effect on total short chain fatty acids (tSCFA), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) or molar proportion of acetate, propionate and butirate. There were no significant differences to degradability and digestibility values in this trial. Thus, it can be concluded that different levels of PAP were not sufficient to alter rumen environment with the necessity of more studies to validate or not this observation.

Orientador: Mário de Beni Arrigoni / Banca: Paulo Henrique Mazza Rodrigues / Banca: Rafael da Costa Cervieri / Resumo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses do preparado de anticorpos policlonais (PAP) produzido contra diferentes cepas de bactérias ruminais sobre parâmetros de fermentação ruminal (pH, AGCC, nitrogênio amoniacal e lactato) em bovinos recebendo dieta de alto concentrado. Foram utilizadas oito fêmeas bovinas, canuladas no rúmen, alimentadas (ad libitum) duas vezes ao dia com dieta de alto concentrado. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o quadrado latino 4 x 4, replicado duas vezes. Os quatro tratamentos foram estruturados de acordo com as diferentes doses do produto (T1: 0,0 g/animal/dia, "controle"; T2: 1,5 g/animal/dia; T3: 3,0 g/animal/dia e T4: 4,5 g/animal/dia) e em diferentes períodos experimentais. Cada período experimental foi constituído de 21 dias, sendo que as colheitas de líquido ruminal foram realizadas a cada duas horas nos tempos de 0 a 12 horas, após a alimentação, no último dia de cada período e posteriormente analisadas. Não foi observado efeito de interação entre tempo e tratamento (p > 0,05) para os dados de pH. Independentemente do tempo de amostragem, não foi observado efeito linear ou quadrático dos níveis de administração do PAP sobre o pH ruminal. Não foram observados efeitos significativos (p > 0,05) sobre a concentração de AGCC total, nitrogênio amoniacal ou proporções molares dos ácidos acético, propiônico e butírico e lactato. Também não foram observados efeitos nos parâmetros de degradabilidade in situ para as três diferentes fontes alimentares utilizadas e para os valores de digestibilidade in vivo. Com isso, pode-se concluir que as diferentes doses do PAP não foram suficientes para alterar o ambiente ruminal sendo necessária à realização de mais testes que refutem ou não essa resposta. / Abstract: Due the prohibition of antibiotics in ruminants diets arouse the necessity to find new alternatives for ionophores utilization without hazard to human health. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different doses of polyclonal antibody preparation (PAP) on ruminal fermentation parameters (pH, short chain fatty acids, ammonia nitrogen and lactate) in cattle fed high concentrate diets. Eight rumen cannulated cows were used in a latin square 4x4, twice replicated. The treatments were T1: 0.0 g/animal/day, "control"; T2: 1.5 g/animal/day; T3: 3.0 g/animal/day; T4: 4.5 g/animal/day with four experimental periods with 21 days each. Sample collection was carried out at the last day of each period with two hours of interval between each collection. There was no interaction between time and treatment (p > 0.05) for pH data. Independently from time of sampling there was no linear or quadratic effect on total short chain fatty acids (tSCFA), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) or molar proportion of acetate, propionate and butirate. There were no significant differences to degradability and digestibility values in this trial. Thus, it can be concluded that different levels of PAP were not sufficient to alter rumen environment with the necessity of more studies to validate or not this observation. / Mestre

The influence of interferon gamma and specific antibodies on the infection with E. cuniculi in vivo has been studied. Reconstruction of SCID mice with CD4+ T-lymphocytes from BALB/c mice and from mice with defect gene for interferon gamma was used. Effects of the treatment with mouse recombinant interferon gamma and anti-E. cuniculi sera on survival of E. cuniculi infected SCID mice were monitored. The influence of the immunization with E. cuniculi antigen on the survival of E. cuniculi infected mice with defect gene for interferon gamma was examined.

A contaminação da água para consumo humano por toxinas produzidas por cianobactérias é um problema de saúde pública e das autoridades em todo o mundo. Microcistina-LR (MCLR) é uma cianotoxina heptapeptídica cíclica que inibe as proteínas fosfatases PP1 E PP2A nos hepatócitos. Microcistinas são produzidas por diversos gêneros de cianobactérias e mais de 70 variações estruturais têm sido caracterizadas em florações naturais. Por serem haptenos, as microcistinas são incapazes de induzir uma resposta imune em animais. Conseqüentemente, foi necessário aplicar métodos de conjugação envolvendo a adição de uma proteína carreadora, mcKLH (cationized Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin). Portanto, o objetivo inicial desta tese foi o de obter anticorpos monoclonal (em camundongos) e policlonal (em coelho) anti- MCLR. Com relação ao anticorpo monoclonal foram obtidos 9 hibridomas (k29, k210, k317, k248, k284, k290, k2161, k2226, k2232), sendo que apenas 5 se mostraram estáveis (k29, k317, k248, k284, k2232). Estes foram selecionados para serem isotipados, expandidos em líquido ascítico, purificados em coluna cromatográfica de proteína-A e titulados. Dentre estes cinco hibridomas secretores de anticorpos, o clone k317 foi o que melhor reconheceu (mais específico) a toxina MCLR. Os anticorpos do sobrenadante de meio de cultura do hibridoma e o fluido ascítico purificado foram identificados pelo ensaio ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) previamente padronizado. Mesmo sensibilizando a placa de ELISA com diferentes antígenos, tais como MCLR-cBSA, MCLR, MCLR, MCRR, MCYR e MCLA, o clone 17 foi o que apresentou melhor linearidade frente às variantes de microcistina. Portanto, o clone 17 (isótipo IgG1) obtido é muito promissor e será usado para detecção de MCLR na água para consumo humano através do desenvolvimento de um kit de ELISA competição. Com relação ao anticorpo policlonal, o antígeno de imunização foi MCLR-mcKLH, enquanto que o antígeno de sensibilização foi MCLR-cBSA para o ensaio de titulação de anticorpos de classe IgG por ELISA indireto. Na seqüencia, foi padronizado um ensaio ELISA competição utilizando somente a toxina MCLR como antígeno de sensibilização. Este método Caseína foi padronizado, validado e comparado com o kit comercial Abraxis®. O kit ELISA competição que utiliza anticorpo policlonal, nomeado como método Caseína, foi avaliado quanto Limite Inferior de Quantificação, Especificidade, Seletividade, influência do metanol no ensaio, Recuperação, Linearidade, Precisão, Exatidão e Robustez. Este método de triagem apresentou excelente resultado quando comparado ao kit comercial Abraxis®, pois foi capaz de detectar tanto variantes de microcistinas como nodularinas no ambiente aquático. O ensaio ELISA competição utilizando anticorpo policlonal anti-MCLR foi submetido à patente pela Agência USP de Inovação (I.N.P.I. 018090046230). / The contamination of drinking water by cyanobacterial toxins is a public health issue and a concern for water authorities throughout the world. Microcystin-LR (MCLR) is a hazardous cyclic heptapeptide cyanotoxin, which inhibits protein phosphatase PP1 and PP2A in hepatocytes. Microcystins are produced by several genera of cyanobacteria and presents more than 70 structural variations characterized in natural blooms. As haptens, microcystins are unable to invoke an immune response in animals. Consequently, the application of conjugation methods with an additional carrier protein, the KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin) was necessary. The main objective of this study was to obtain monoclonal (in mice) and polyclonal (in rabbits) antibodies for reacting against MCLR. In what refers to monoclonal antibodies, 9 hybridomas (k29, k210, k317, k248, k284, k290, k2161, k2226, k2232) were obtained; however only 5 were stables (k29, k317, k248, k284, k2232). These were selected to be isotyped, expanded in ascitic fluid, purified by protein-A column chromatography and then, they were titrated. Out of these five antibody-secretor hybridomas, clone k317 was the best to recognize (more specific) the MCLR toxins. Antibodies in hybridoma cell culture supernatant and purified ascites fluid were identified by ELISA assay (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) as prior standardized. Even when sensitizing ELISA plate with different antigens, as MCLR-cBSA, MCLR, MCLR, MCRR, MCYR and MCLA, clone 17 presented the best linearity against microcystin variants. Therefore, the obtained clone 17 (isotype IgG1) is a promising clone and shall be used for detecting MCLR in drinking water through the development of a competitive ELISA immunoassay kit. In what refers to the polyclonal antibody, MCLR-mcKLH was used as immunization antigen, while MCLR-cBSA was used as sensitizing antigen for the IgG titration assay by indirect ELISA. In the sequence, a competition ELISA assay was standardized using the MCLR toxin as sensitizing antigen. This Casein method was standardized, validated and compared to the commercial kit Abraxis®. The competition ELISA kit using polyclonal antibody, known as Casein method, was analyzed concerning its Quantification Inferior Limit, Specificity, Selectivity, methanol influence of the assay, Recuperation, Linearity, Precision, Accuracy and Robustness. This screening method reached excellent results if compared to the commercial kit Abraxis®, for being able to detect both the microcystins variants and the nodularins in aquatic environmental. The competition ELISA assay using anti-MCLR polyclonal antibody was submitted to the grant of a patent by USP Innovation Agency (INPI 018090046230).

Polyclonal plantings of Populus deltoides are expected to display increased site resource use, productivity, and tolerance to stress through plasticity changes leading to niche differentiation (i.e changes to crown/canopy structures). In the present study, P. deltoides Clones S7C8, 110412, and polyclonal plots were tested for differentially expressed genes and enriched biological pathways between planting schemes. Transcriptomic analysis of leaves revealed upregulation of an active growth gene and gene family members that play important roles in plant stress and stress tolerance in polyclonal plantings. A gene associated with oxidative stress was upregulated in polyclonal plantings across all treatments. Secondary metabolic pathways including arginine and proline metabolism were upregulated in monoclonal plantings and downregulated in polyclonal plantings. Phenotypic results displayed greater aboveground biomass in polyclonal plantings. Results suggested a potential increased tolerance in polyclonal plantings to water and heat stress, including increased productivity and resource usage.

Les lymphocytes B mémoires circulants incluant ceux infectés par EBV de façon latente retournent périodiquement vers les territoires lymphoïdes secondaires où ils subissent une différenciation en cellules productrices d'immunoglobulines permettant au virus d'initier la réplication virale. Cependant, le suivi et la gestion de la réactivation de EBV et son association avec des néoplasies lymphoïdes chez les sujets infectés par le VIH restent un sujet de controverse et nécessite une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes impliqués. Dans cette étude, nous avons proposé de nouveaux outils biologiques pour la quantification de l'ADN EBV permettant la discrimination entre le réservoir latent et le cycle lytique du virus. Nous avons montré que la taille de ces réservoirs est étroitement associée à une activation polyclonale plus ou moins importante des cellules B. Nous avons également observé une association entre les marqueurs d'activation immunitaire et de réactivation de EBV avec la survenue de lymphome B. En outre, nous avons décrit l'évolution de gammapathies monoclonales chez des sujets infectés par le VIH sous traitement antirétroviral, et la persistante du pic monoclonal d'immunoglobulines était associée à des charges virales EBV plus élevés. Par conséquent, l'activation des lymphocytes B et subséquemment la réactivation EBV joueraient vraisemblablement les rôles principaux dans la survenue de tumeurs bénignes ou malignes des lymphocytes B au cours de l'infection VIH. / It is assumed that circulating memory B cells including those latently infected by EBV return periodically to lymphoid nodes where they are stimulates and undergo differentiation into immunoglobulin-producing cells allowing the virus to initiate viral replication. However, the monitoring and the management of EBV reactivation and it association with lymphoid malignancies in HIV-infected patients are still being controversies and need a better understanding of the probable mechanisms involved. In this study, we proposed novel biological tools for EBV DNA quantification allowing discriminating latent and lytic reservoir. We showed that the EBV reservoir levels are closely associated with the polyclonal B-cell activation. We also observed an association between immune activation and EBV reactivation markers with the occurrence of B-cell lymphoma. Moreover, we described a long term evolution of monoclonal gammapathies in HIV-infected subjects and the persistence of the immunoglobulis monoclonal pike was found to be associated with higher EBV reservoir levels. Therefore, the B-cell activation and subsequently EBV reactivation likely play the main roles on the occurrence of B lymphocytes malignancies during HIV infection.