Com a ampliação das estruturas do modelo de desenvolvimento capitalista, temos observado uma grande aproximação entre o sistema de saúde e o sistema produtivo tecnológico em medicina. Esse processo tem possibilitado uma acumulação ampliada de capital, e conformado ao longo do tempo um verdadeiro complexo econômico-industrial da saúde (GADELHA, 2003), cujo traço mais marcante é a sua enorme divisão territorial do trabalho e a incorporação de novos paradigmas científico-tecnológicos na produção de insumos médicos e no fornecimento de serviços ligados a medicina. Nesse trabalho analisaremos algumas das dinâmicas territoriais engendradas pelo complexo econômico-industrial da saúde no território paulista, se concentrado principalmente na relação entre o segmento dos reagentes para diagnóstico e o estabelecimento de uma rede de serviços de análise laboratorial de saúde em alguns pontos da cidade de São Paulo, processo que tem engendrado uma modernidade urbanizadora no tocante ao desenvolvimento de uma economia da saúde, hoje fortemente calcada em novos paradigmas organizacionais e tecnológicos. Estão sendo considerados para a operacionalização da pesquisa os conceitos de circuitos espaciais produtivos e seus respectivos círculos de cooperação no espaço (SANTOS & SILVEIRA, 2010 [2001]), das indústrias produtoras dos reagentes de diagnóstico e dos laboratórios consumidores desses reagentes. Analisaremos como essas indústrias e laboratórios fazem um uso corporativo do território (SANTOS, 2009 [1993]) e nesse processo utilizam as redes de infraestrutura historicamente concentradas em alguns pontos do território paulista, de maneira a favorecer sua acumulação de capital, implicando num novo uso do espaço e acarretando consequências inéditas no trato da saúde da população. / With the expansion of the structures of the capitalist development model, we have observed a great approach between the health system and the technological productive system in medicine. This process has enabled an expanded capital accumulation, and has formed over time an industrial economic complex of health (GADELHA, 2003), whose most striking feature is its huge territorial division of labor and the incorporation of new scientific technological paradigms in the production of medical inputs and providing related services to medicine. In this paper we analyze some of territorial dynamics engendered by the health industrial economic complex in São Paulo state territory, mainly focused on the relationship between the segment of reagents for diagnostic and establishment of a network of laboratory analysis services of health in some points of the city\'s São Paulo, process that has engendered an urbanizing modernity regarding the development of a health economy, today strongly based on new organizational and technological paradigms. Are being considered for the research\'s operationalization the concepts of productive space circuits and their respective circles of cooperation in space (SANTOS & SILVEIRA, 2010 [2001]), of the industries producing diagnostic reagents and of the laboratory consumers of these reagents. We analyze how these industries and laboratories made use corporate of territory (SANTOS, 2009 [1993]) and in these process made use the infrastructure networks historically concentrated in some parts of the state territory, in order to favor the accumulation of capital, implying a new space\'s use and causing unprecedented consequences in dealing with the populations health.

La photopolymérisation joue un rôle prééminent dans l'industrie comme en témoigne son nombre d'applications croissant dans des domaines classiques tels que les revêtements, les encres et les adhésifs mais aussi dans des domaines de haute technologie comme l’optoélectronique, l’imagerie laser, la stéréolithographie et la nanotechnologie. En effet, la photopolymérisation présente de nombreux avantages. C’est un processus rapide. Elle peut être réalisée à température ambiante et/ou sans solvant, permettant ainsi de limiter la formation de COV. Enfin, la photopolymérisation permet de réticuler dans des zones spatialement bien définies puisqu’elle se fait uniquement dans les zones exposées au rayonnement lumineux. Depuis 2011, le système photoamorçant fait l’objet d’intenses recherches pour développer des systèmes capables d’amorcer des réactions de polymérisation dans des conditions d’irradiation douces de manière à limiter les risques de toxicité et les coûts relatifs à l’utilisation de sources UV. Néanmoins, les systèmes reportés sont caractérisés par des réactivités modérées et peuvent difficilement rivaliser avec les systèmes UV actuels. Dans ce contexte, nous avons synthétisé une large librairie de molécules photosensibles construites à partir de chromophores naphtalimides ou dicétopyrrolopyrroles et capables d’amorcer une réaction de polymérisation dans des conditions d’irradiation douces. La fonctionnalisation ad hoc des chromophores et les propriétés photochimiques qui en découlent ont été exploitées pour développer des systèmes photoamorçants très performants capables d’absorber la lumière dans le domaine du proche UV ou du visible, émise par les LEDs. / Photoinitiated polymerization has gained significant importance in industry as illustrated by the large number of applications of this technique in conventional areas such as coatings, inks, and adhesives but also high-tech domains, like optoelectronics, laser imaging, stereolithography, and nanotechnology. Indeed, photopolymerization presents several advantages such as decreasing the time of reaction, the possibility to be performed at room temperature or without solvents limiting the formation of volatile organic compounds. Moreover, the possibility to irradiate with high precision specific zones allows the spatial-control of the polymerization. Since 2011, photoinitiating systems able to initiate polymerization under soft light irradiation sources have been the subject of intense efforts to minimize the risks and the cost related to UV irradiation. However, even if some results are promising, the reported systems still present moderate reactivity and can hardly compete with actual UV systems. In this context, we have synthesized a large library of photosensitive molecules based on naphthalimide and dicetopyrrolopyrrole derivatives are able to initiate the polymerization under soft irradiation sources. The ad hoc functionalization of the chromophore and the consequent tuning of the photochemical properties have been used to develop highly efficient photoinitiating systems able to absorb into the near UV and visible spectra emitted by LED.

The development of synthetic molecular receptors that can selectively bind anions, translocate them through a lipidic bilayer membrane and release them on the other side is a very topical and emerging field of supramolecular chemistry, warranted by the biological importance of transmembrane anion transport.The first part of this thesis is devoted to the study of the transmembrane transport of chloride and of the organic ion pair propylammonium chloride with calix[6]arene receptors functionalized with three (thio)urea arms on their small rim. The transport of chloride across the lipid bilayer of liposomes was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy using the lucigenin assay. We report the first example of calix[6]arenes able to act as mobile carrier for the transport of chloride via a Cl-/NO3- antiport. We furthermore show that our calixarene systems are able to perform the cotransport of propylammonium chloride, with the chloride bound at the level of the (thio)urea groups and the ammonium included in the calixarene cavity. To provide direct proof of cotransport, we developed a 1H NMR methodology involving a thulium- complex shift reagent with which we were able to distinguish the signals of the ammonium transported inside the liposomes from those of the external ammonium. We also highlight the role of the complexing calixarene cavity for the cotransport by comparing the calixarenes to known transporters deprived of a cavity. The transmembrane transport organic ion pairs could find applications in the transport of biologically relevant ammonium compounds such as catecholamines and amino acids. Our results are reported in the publication “Repositioning Chloride Transmembrane Transporters: Transport of Organic Ion Pairs” Grauwels, G. Valkenier, H. Davis, A. P. Jabin, I. Bartik, K. Angew. Chemie - Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 6921–6925.The second part of this thesis is devoted to the study of binding of chloride to receptors embedded in a lipid membrane, the first step of the transmembrane transport process. Both 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy proved to be inadequate to study the binding using liposomes or micelles as model membranes. With liposomes, the NMR signals are too broad to be exploited and in the case of micelles, the competition between the lipid headgroups and chloride made it impossible to obtain a NMR signature which unambiguously characterizes chloride binding. The 35Cl NMR signal is on the other hand strongly affected by the presence of anion receptors, both in organic solvents and when incorporated lipid bilayers. We developed a methodology to evaluate the binding of chloride, based on the monitoring of the chloride linewidth during titration experiments. A linear relationship between the linewidth and the concentration of receptors is observed and the slopes can be exploited to compare the binding strengths of different structurally related receptors. We show that 35/37Cl NMR is a versatile tool which can help in the understanding and development of new transporters by providing new insights of the physicochemical understanding of the transport process. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur et technologie / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Foamy viruses (FVs) or heterologous retroviruses pseudotyped with FV glycoprotein enable transduction of a great variety of target tissues of disparate species. Specific cellular entry receptors responsible for this exceptionally broad tropism await their identification. Though, ubiquitously expressed heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HS-PG) is known to serve as an attachment factor of FV envelope (Env)-containing virus particles, greatly enhancing target cell permissiveness. Production of high-titer, FV Env-containing retroviral vectors is strongly dependent on the use of cationic polymer-based transfection reagents like polyethyleneimine (PEI). We identified packaging cell-surface HS-PG expression to be responsible for this requirement. Efficient release of FV Env-containing virus particles necessitates neutralization of HS-PG binding sites by PEI. Remarkably, remnants of PEI in FV Env-containing vector supernatants, which are not easily removable, negatively impact target cell transduction, in particular those of myeloid and lymphoid origin. To overcome this limitation for production of FV Env-containing retrovirus supernatants, we generated 293T-based packaging cell lines devoid of HS-PG by genome engineering. This enabled, for the first, time production of inhibitor-free, high-titer FV Env-containing virus supernatants by non-cationic polymer-mediated transfection. Depending on the type of virus, produced titers were 2- to 10-fold higher compared with those obtained by PEI transfection.

A Proteína Verde Fluorescente recombinante, GFPuv, é um sistema marcador atrativo pois, sua presença pode ser visualizada através da intensidade de fluorescência emitida, sem o uso de substratos ou meios complexos. Sendo uma molécula estável à presença de substâncias orgânicas, temperaturas acima de 70°C e ampla faixa de pH, é um potencial Indicador Biológico (IH) para diversas aplicações. A estabilidade térmica da GFPuv, foi avaliada pela medida da perda de intensidade de fluorescência, expressa em valores D (min), tempo de exposição necessário para redução de 90% da intensidade de fluorescência inicial da GFPuv. GFPuv (3,5-9,0 µg/mL), expressa por E. coli e isolada por extração de Partição em Três Fases (TPP) e purificação por Cromatografia de Interação Hidrofóbica (IDC), foi diluída nas soluções parenterais preparadas em tampão (10 mM cada: Tris-EDTA, pH 8; Fosfato, pH 6 e 7, e Acetato, pH 5) e em água para injeção, WFI; pH = 6,70±0,40), e expostas a temperaturas de 25°C e ao intervalo entre 80°C e 100°C. A 95°C, os valores D para a GFPuv em soluções de 1,5% a 50% de glicose variaram de: (i) 1,63 (±0,23) min em acetato pH 5; (ii) 2,64 ± 0,26 min em WFI; (iii) 2,50 ± 0,18 min em fosfato pH 6; (iv) 3,24 ± 0,28 min em fosfato pH 7 e, (v) 2,89 ± 0,44 min em Tris-EDTA pH 8. Cloreto de sódio associado aos tampões proporcionou influência positiva na estabilidade da GFPuv, sendo que em soluções de Tris-EDTA, a adição de 15-20% de NaCl dobrou a estabilidade térmica da GFPuv (valores D de 65,79 min e 18,12 min a 80 °C e 85°C) em relação à solução sem cloreto de sódio. Nos processos de esterilização por óxido de etileno (45°C-60°C), a GFPuv pode ser utilizada como IB para monitorar a distribuição de gás dentro da câmara, pois, apresentou variação na concentração remanescente de até 80%, após processamento, estabelecendo áreas distintas dentro da câmara. No tratamento em autoclave, a GFPuv em solução apresentou resistência térmica em solução de fosfato pH 7,0 (valor F = 2,53 min (± 0,12)). Quando expressa por esporos de Bacillus subtilis, a intensidade de fluorescência emitida por esporos sobreviventes se manteve. A estabilidade térmica da GFPuv atestou sua potencialidade como indicador biológico fluorescente da garantia da eficácia de tratamento de soluções e materiais expostos ao calor. / The recombinant Green Fluorescent Protein, GFPuv is an attractive system marker due to its ability to emit fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light, without use of substrates or complex environment. Being a stable molecule even in the presence of organic substances, temperatures above 70°C and wide range of pH, it is a potential Biological Indicator, BI, for many applications, including thermal processes. GFPuv thermal stability was evaluated by the loss of fluorescence intensity expressed in decimal reduction time (D-value, min), the exposure time required to reduce 90% of the GFPuv initial fluorescence intensity. GFPuv (3.5-9.0 µg/mL), expressed by E. coli and isolated by Three Phases Partitioning, TPP extraction with Hidrophobic Interaction Chromatography, HIC, was diluted in buffered solutions (each 10 mM: Tris-EDTA, pH 8; phosphate, pH 6 and 7, and acetate, pH 5) and in water for injection, WFI; pH = 6.70 (± 0.40), and exposed to temperatures of 25°C and between 80°C and 95°C. At 95°C, the D-value for GFPuv in 1.5%-50% glucose, ranged from: (i) 1.63 ± 0.23 min in acetate pH 5; (ii) 2.64 ± 0.26 min in WFI; (iii) 2.50 ± 0.18 min in phosphate, pH 6; (iv) 3.24 ± 0.28 min in phosphate, pH 7, (v) 2.89 ± 0.44 min in Tris-EDTA, pH 8. Sodium cloride provided a positive influence over GFPuv stability. In Tris-EDTA solutions, the addition of 15% and 20% of NaCl doubled the thermal stability of GFPuv (D = 65.79 min and D = 18.12 min at 80°C, and 85°C, respectively, in relation to the solutions without NaCl. For ethylene oxide sterilization processes (45°C-60°C), GFPuv can be used as biological indicator to monitor gas distribution into the chamber. After processing, the protein concentration varied by 80%, showing distinct areas into the chamber. In autoclave, GFPuv in solution showed thermal resistance in phosphate pH 7.0 solution (F-value = 2.53 (± 0.12) min. When expressed by Bacillus subtilis spores, the fluorescence intensity was kept constant after thermal processing. The thermal stability of GFPuv provides the basis for its potential utility as a fluorescent biological indicator to assess the efficacy of the treatment of liquids and materials exposed to steam.

A Proteína Verde Fluorescente recombinante, GFPuv, é um sistema marcador atrativo pois, sua presença pode ser visualizada através da intensidade de fluorescência emitida, sem o uso de substratos ou meios complexos. Sendo uma molécula estável à presença de substâncias orgânicas, temperaturas acima de 70°C e ampla faixa de pH, é um potencial Indicador Biológico (IH) para diversas aplicações. A estabilidade térmica da GFPuv, foi avaliada pela medida da perda de intensidade de fluorescência, expressa em valores D (min), tempo de exposição necessário para redução de 90% da intensidade de fluorescência inicial da GFPuv. GFPuv (3,5-9,0 µg/mL), expressa por E. coli e isolada por extração de Partição em Três Fases (TPP) e purificação por Cromatografia de Interação Hidrofóbica (IDC), foi diluída nas soluções parenterais preparadas em tampão (10 mM cada: Tris-EDTA, pH 8; Fosfato, pH 6 e 7, e Acetato, pH 5) e em água para injeção, WFI; pH = 6,70±0,40), e expostas a temperaturas de 25°C e ao intervalo entre 80°C e 100°C. A 95°C, os valores D para a GFPuv em soluções de 1,5% a 50% de glicose variaram de: (i) 1,63 (±0,23) min em acetato pH 5; (ii) 2,64 ± 0,26 min em WFI; (iii) 2,50 ± 0,18 min em fosfato pH 6; (iv) 3,24 ± 0,28 min em fosfato pH 7 e, (v) 2,89 ± 0,44 min em Tris-EDTA pH 8. Cloreto de sódio associado aos tampões proporcionou influência positiva na estabilidade da GFPuv, sendo que em soluções de Tris-EDTA, a adição de 15-20% de NaCl dobrou a estabilidade térmica da GFPuv (valores D de 65,79 min e 18,12 min a 80 °C e 85°C) em relação à solução sem cloreto de sódio. Nos processos de esterilização por óxido de etileno (45°C-60°C), a GFPuv pode ser utilizada como IB para monitorar a distribuição de gás dentro da câmara, pois, apresentou variação na concentração remanescente de até 80%, após processamento, estabelecendo áreas distintas dentro da câmara. No tratamento em autoclave, a GFPuv em solução apresentou resistência térmica em solução de fosfato pH 7,0 (valor F = 2,53 min (± 0,12)). Quando expressa por esporos de Bacillus subtilis, a intensidade de fluorescência emitida por esporos sobreviventes se manteve. A estabilidade térmica da GFPuv atestou sua potencialidade como indicador biológico fluorescente da garantia da eficácia de tratamento de soluções e materiais expostos ao calor. / The recombinant Green Fluorescent Protein, GFPuv is an attractive system marker due to its ability to emit fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light, without use of substrates or complex environment. Being a stable molecule even in the presence of organic substances, temperatures above 70°C and wide range of pH, it is a potential Biological Indicator, BI, for many applications, including thermal processes. GFPuv thermal stability was evaluated by the loss of fluorescence intensity expressed in decimal reduction time (D-value, min), the exposure time required to reduce 90% of the GFPuv initial fluorescence intensity. GFPuv (3.5-9.0 µg/mL), expressed by E. coli and isolated by Three Phases Partitioning, TPP extraction with Hidrophobic Interaction Chromatography, HIC, was diluted in buffered solutions (each 10 mM: Tris-EDTA, pH 8; phosphate, pH 6 and 7, and acetate, pH 5) and in water for injection, WFI; pH = 6.70 (± 0.40), and exposed to temperatures of 25°C and between 80°C and 95°C. At 95°C, the D-value for GFPuv in 1.5%-50% glucose, ranged from: (i) 1.63 ± 0.23 min in acetate pH 5; (ii) 2.64 ± 0.26 min in WFI; (iii) 2.50 ± 0.18 min in phosphate, pH 6; (iv) 3.24 ± 0.28 min in phosphate, pH 7, (v) 2.89 ± 0.44 min in Tris-EDTA, pH 8. Sodium cloride provided a positive influence over GFPuv stability. In Tris-EDTA solutions, the addition of 15% and 20% of NaCl doubled the thermal stability of GFPuv (D = 65.79 min and D = 18.12 min at 80°C, and 85°C, respectively, in relation to the solutions without NaCl. For ethylene oxide sterilization processes (45°C-60°C), GFPuv can be used as biological indicator to monitor gas distribution into the chamber. After processing, the protein concentration varied by 80%, showing distinct areas into the chamber. In autoclave, GFPuv in solution showed thermal resistance in phosphate pH 7.0 solution (F-value = 2.53 (± 0.12) min. When expressed by Bacillus subtilis spores, the fluorescence intensity was kept constant after thermal processing. The thermal stability of GFPuv provides the basis for its potential utility as a fluorescent biological indicator to assess the efficacy of the treatment of liquids and materials exposed to steam.

No description available.

Recently, we have described the synthesis of chiral metal–organic frameworks iPr-ChirUMCM-1 and Bn-ChirUMCM-1 and their use in enantioselective separation. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the use of a chiral solvating agent (1-phenyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, TFPE) for chiral recognition in iPr-ChirUMCM-1 and Bn-ChirUMCM-1 by means of solid-state13C NMR spectroscopy. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of South Florida, 2008. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 133 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by Priscila Nascimento (pnascimento@icict.fiocruz.br) on 2012-11-09T13:57:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 antonio-gomes-pinto-ferreira.pdf: 3200920 bytes, checksum: 45691c2f346703ac5db93dd4465b77f3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-11-09T13:57:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 antonio-gomes-pinto-ferreira.pdf: 3200920 bytes, checksum: 45691c2f346703ac5db93dd4465b77f3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-03 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. / Nesta dissertação apresentamos o modelo utilizado pelo Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos, Bio-Manguinhos, Fiocruz, para absorver uma nova tecnologia de produção de reativos para diagnóstico, de alta complexidade (imunocromatografia e fluxo lateral) e estratégico para a área de saúde de nosso país. Inicialmente, porque permitirá a produção de um Kitde diagnóstico (“Teste Rápido HIV-1/2 – Bio-Manguinhos”), de alto impacto social, indispensável para ampliar as ações de saúde pública em DST/Aids e, emseguida porque será capaz de democratizar o diagnóstico da infecção pelo HIV no Brasil. A absorção desta nova tecnologia redundará em uma economia de divisas para o Brasil com a conseqüente interrupção de grandes compras de Kits importados, além de gerar um potencial a ser futuramente usado no desenvolvimento e produçãode Kits para o diagnóstico de outras importantes enfermidades que acometem a população brasileira, com baixo custo. Finalmente, devido às repercussões positivasem outros setores relacionados à produção, melhorando e fortalecendo a área de Reativos para Diagnóstico de Bio-Manguinhos. Estes são argumentos significativos para a implementação deste projeto baseado em transferência de tecnologia. Bio-Manguinhos estabeleceu as articulações necessárias junto ao Ministério da Saúde, especialmente junto ao PNDST/Aids, utilizando a “demanda do setor público brasileiro”, por um período de três anos, como contrapartida nas negociações com a empresa cedente da tecnologia, evitando, desta forma, qualquer gasto adicional de recursos públicos para absorver as referidas tecnologias. A Aids, ou SIDA, ainda é um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública no mundo, apresentando números absolutamente alarmantes – cerca de 40 milhões de pessoas infectadas pelo HIV, 5 milhões de novos casos por ano e 3,5 milhões de óbitos em 2004. No Brasil, apesar de ser adotada uma boa política de assistência e tratamento, que vem sendo citada como exemplo no mundo inteiro, ainda convivemos com uma epidemia que continua a se alastrar em ritmo preocupante, com estimativa de 600.000 brasileiros infectados. Atualmente, estamos presenciando uma revolução científica e tecnológica impar e, neste contexto, Bio-Manguinhos vem tendo como missão “contribuir para a melhoria dos padrões de saúde pública brasileira, através da pesquisa tecnológica e da produção de imunobiológicos necessários para atender à demanda gerada pelo quadro epidemiológico do país”. Assim, esta Instituição vem investindo, intensamente, em projetos de pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D), bem como na aquisição e incorporação de novas tecnologias para a produção, em escala industrial, de produtos capazes de suprir as demandas dos programas nacionais de saúde pública do Ministério da Saúde. Neste contexto, vem seguindo as tendências na área de Reativos para Diagnóstico laboratorial que estão voltadas, principalmente, para uma melhor orientação da conduta terapêutica com diagnósticos mais precisos, diferenciais e mais precoces na detecção das doenças, maior rapidez nos resultados e realização dos testes afins nos próprios locais de atendimento de pacientes. / This dissertation describes the model adopted by Bio-Manguinhos in the incorporation of a brand-new technology (immunochromatography and lateral flow) for the production of reagents for diagnosis. This technology is strategic and extremely valuable for the country, as it allows for the production of a low-cost diagnostic kit (Rapid Test HIV-1/2 – Bio-Manguinhos) that will, in turn, promote the dissemination of more extensive public health measures in the prevention and control of STD/Aids, including the socialization of HIV diagnosis in Brazil. Also, the substitution of large bulks of imported tests by their nationally produced equivalent will result in great, monetary savings by the Brazilian Ministry of Health and that the technological platform applied in such tests can also be used in the development of rapid tests designed for the diagnosis of other endemic diseases that afflict the Brazilian population. Finally, due to the positive repercussions it may have on other production sectors, this initiative will ameliorateand strengthen the area of Reagents for Diagnosis in Bio-Manguinhos. All of these arguments, represented strong incentives for the establishment of the partnership, being essential for the implementation of the technology transfer process. Bio-Manguinhos undertook the necessary negotiationswith MoH, especially with the National Program for STD/Aids, offering a share of the Brazilian public market for a period of three years in exchange for the technology to be transferred by the American company that detains it, thus avoidingany extra use of public funds by the Brazilian government. Aids is still one of the biggest public health problems in the world today, presenting impacting figures: approximately 40 million people are infected with HIV worldwide, with 5 million new cases diagnosed per year and 3.5 million deaths being reported in 2004. Despite Brazil´s policy for universal Aids treatment and assistance coverage – which is considered an example for the rest of the world – the country, with its estimated 600,000 HIV positive citizens, still deals with an epidemic that continues to spread at alarming rates. Certainly, much is yet expected to result from today´s scientific and technological revolution. Within this context, Bio-Manguinhos, whose mission is to “contribute to the improvement of the Brazilian public health standards through technological research and development and the production of immunobiologicals necessary for the fulfillment of the demands generated by the country´s epidemiological status”, has been investing heavily in R&D projects as well as in the acquisition and incorporation of new technologies for the large scale manufacture of products that will feed MoH´s national public health programs. One of the new tendencies in the field of reagents for laboratorial diagnosis is geared toward guiding a better therapeutic approach and calls for a more precise, differential and early disease diagnosis. The time required to obtain results also tends to be shorter and the tests, designed in much simpler formats, can beperformed faster, without need for extensive professional expertise or fully – equipped facilities.