Infectious myonecrosis, caused by infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV), is an important disease of shrimp that has adversely affected the production of cultured Litopenaeus vannamei. The studies reported here were centered on development and/or validation of alternative diagnostic methods for detection of IMNV. Hence, two manuscripts were published in the Journal of Aquaculture and one manuscript was published in the Journal of Fish Diseases. Chapter 2 describes the development of a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) method using TaqMan probe. The results showed that this real-time RT-PCR assay can detect as little as 10 IMNV copies/μl RNA, while the nested RT-PCR can detect 1000 copies/μl RNA. These findings suggest that the TaqMan real-time RT-PCR is “the gold standard” for screening shrimp to protect aquaculture production systems from losses caused by IMNV, because it provides quantification, higher sensitivity and specificity, and because it is less time consuming and less prone to contamination compared to conventional gel-based RT-PCR. In Chapter 3 I evaluated if prolonged storage of infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) infected shrimp in Davidson’s AFA fixative can degrade its double-stranded RNA genome resulting in false negative ISH reactions. Shrimp were collected at Day 12 post-injection and fixed in Davidson’s AFA for five different preservation times (1, 2, 4, 7 and 10 days). Hence, in the present report it was found that the length of time (up to 10 days) in Davidson’s AFA did not have a deleterious effect on the ISH reaction for IMNV. The Chapter 4 describes the development of a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification and nucleic acid lateral flow (RT-LAMP-NALF) for detection of IMNV. The RT-LAMP-NALF method combines simplified nucleic acid extraction, a reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification platform, and one-step visual colorimetric confirmation of the IMNV amplified sequences using a generic NALF qualitative detection test strip. The RT-LAMP-NALF was found to be 100 and 10 times more sensitive than one-step RT-PCR and RT-LAMP (two primer pairs), respectively. These results clearly demonstrate that the RT-LAMP-NALF method is specific, sensitive, can shorten the time for analysis, and has potential application for IMNV diagnosis in resource-poor diagnostic settings.

INTRODUÇÃO: Em grandes cidades, como São Paulo, a pequena porcentagem de matas existentes é representada pelos parques municipais. Estas áreas, além de representarem ambientes de lazer para as pessoas, albergam uma enorme diversidade biológica, desde mosquitos até aves e mamíferos. A interação destas espécies favorece a circulação de Flavivirus, causadores de importantes doenças humanas, que têm nas aves um importante reservatório. Atribui-se às aves migratórias o papel de carreadoras dos vírus, já que as mesmas percorrem longas distâncias para completar seu ciclo biológico. A chegada de aves do Hemisfério Norte ocorre em alguns Parques, o que favoreceria a dispersão de alguns vírus, como o Vírus do Nilo Ocidental, já que nestas áreas estão presentes mosquitos potencialmente vetores. OBJETIVOS: identificar infecção por Flavivírus nas aves dos parques municipais de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: De Março de 2012 a Janeiro de 2013, foram coletadas amostras de swab de cloaca, orofaringe e sangue de aves capturadas em redes de neblina de duas áreas do município de São Paulo: Parque Anhanguera e Fazenda Castanheiras/APA Bororé Colônia. As aves foram anilhadas e liberadas após a coleta do material. Foi realizada técnica de RT-PCR em tempo real, utilizando iniciadores genéricos que amplificam fragmento do gene NS5 de Flavivirus. Amostras positivas foram encaminhadas para sequenciamento. RESULTADOS: Foi capturado um total de 231 aves, em sua maioria da Ordem Passeriformes. De um total de 463 amostras, nenhuma amostra apresentou presença de RNA viral. DISCUSSÃO: Em se tratando de alguns Flavivírus, os passeriformes são considerados os reservatórios mais competentes no ciclo de transmissão, pois atingem altos níveis de viremia. Cabe ressaltar que algumas espécies desta ordem, de ocorrência na cidade de São Paulo, já foram identificadas como portadoras dos vírus Rocio e Ilhéus. A ausência de positividade é esperada, pois embora altamente sensível, a técnica de PCR depende do estado de viremia das aves, que é curta. CONCLUSÃO: Os parques municipais são áreas que aproximam aves, mosquitos e humanos, pelo papel ambiental e de lazer que os mesmos representam. Este fato classifica estas áreas como locais com potencial de transmissão de Flavivirus, o que torna importante a continuação este estudo, aumentando as áreas de abrangência, para conhecer os Flavivírus circulantes e realizar vigilância para vírus que podem ocasionar problemas de Saúde Pública / INTRODUCTION: In big cities, as São Paulo, the little percentage of existing forests is represented by the municipal parks. These áreas, besides acting as entertainment environments to the users, promote a huge biodiversity, including mosquitoes, birds and mammals. These species interaction promotes Flavivirus circulation, viruses responsible for important human diseases. The avian species are important reservoirs for these viruses, specially the migrating birds that can fly for long distances, carrying these viruses to several areas. In some parks, the arrival of migrating birds from the North Hemisphere is documented, fact that can support some viruses dispersion, for example, the West Nile Vírus, considering that in these areas potencial vector for this virus can be found. OBJECTIVES: detect Flavivirus infection in birds captured in municipal parks of São Paulo city. METHODS: from March, 2012 to January, 2013, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs, and blood samples were collected from birds captured in mist-net webs located in two municipal areas: Anhanguera Park and Castanheiras Farm/APA Bororé Colônia. The birds were ringed and released after samples collection. The real time RT-PCR was performed, using generic primers which amplify NS5 gene fragment. Positive samples were forwarded to sequence analysis. RESULTS: a total of 231 birds were capture, in which the majority belongs to Passeriforms order. Of 463 samples collected, all samples were negative for the viral RNA presence. DISCUSSION: when talking about Flaviviruses, the passeriforms are considered the most competent reservoirs in the transmission cycle, because they can achieve great viremia levels. Some passeriforms species, endemic in São Paulo city, were identified as Rocio and Ilhéus viruses carriers in previous studies. The negativity is expected, once the Real Time RT-PCR, although highly sensitive, depends on the viremia duration, which is short in avian species. CONCLUSION: the public parks are areas which encloses birds, mosquitoes and the human being, for the environmental and entertainment role they play. This fact classifies these parks as areas with great potencial of Flavivirus transmission, ressalting the great importance to continue this study, increasing the number of areas, to detect the circulating Flavivirus and to perform surveillance for viruses which can cause public health problems

O gênero Hantavírus está incluído na família Bunyaviridae que são vírus emergentes associados a roedores que podem infectar o homem causando graves doenças. Nas Américas, os Hantavírus causam uma síndrome pulmonar e cardiovascular (SPCVH) com alta letalidade. Cerca de 1600 casos de SPCVH já foram notificados no Brasil causando mais de 600 óbitos. Sete espécies de Hantavírus são conhecidas no Brasil incluindo o vírus Araraquara que circula nas regiões de cerrado do país associado ao roedor Necromys lasiurus. Para o desenvolvimento de uma RT-PCR em tempo real para detecção e quantificação de Hantavírus, mostramos as etapas para o desenvolvimento de uma one-step RT-PCR em tempo real SYBR Green I para Hantavírus Araraquara que se mostrou específica para o gênero e capaz de detectar até 10 cópias por mL de RNA viral na amostra. Além disso, realizamos um estudo filogenético utilizando algoritmos bayesianos, com 190 sequências completas do gene da nucleoproteína, oriundas de 30 países durante um período de 25 anos (1985-2010) que encontravam-se disponíveis no GenBank (NCBI). Baseando-se em uma taxa média de 6.8 x 10-4 (2.5 x 10-4 - 1 x 10-3) substituições nucleotídicas por sítio/ano, foi possível inferir que os Hantavírus teriam aproximadamente 1917 anos. O processo de dispersão dos Hantavírus pelo mundo teria ocorrido há aproximadamente 500 anos, e a introdução destes vírus nas Américas teria ocorrido há 549 anos (95% HPD 1555-341 anos), via América Central ou México, originando os Hantavírus adaptados aos roedores da subfamília Neotominae, e pelo Brasil surgindo há 406 anos (95% HPD 1150-250 anos) os Hantavírus associados a roedores da subfamília Sigmodontinae, e posteriormente dispersaram para todo o continente sul-americano. O trabalho contribui de forma relevante para o diagnóstico das infecções por Hantavírus com a one-step RT-PCR em tempo real SYBR Green I e também, contribui para o entendimento da filogenia e história destes vírus, oferecendo subsídios ao entendimento sobre como teria ocorrido o espalhamento dos Hantavírus pelo mundo. / The genus Hantavirus is included in the family Bunyaviridae are viruses emerging carried by rodents, which can infect humans causing serious illness. In the Americas, the Hantavirus causing a pulmonary syndrome (HPS) with high lethality. About 1,600 cases of HPS have been reported in Brazil, cause over 1600 deaths. Seven species of Hantavirus are known in Brazil, including Araraquara virus circulating in Cerrado regions (or Savannah regions) of the related in rodents Necromys lasiurus. The development of a real-time RT-PCR for detection and quantitation of Araraquara virus, here we show the steps for developing a one-step SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR for virus Araraquara which proved to be specific for the genus and capable of detecting up to 10 copies of viral RNA per ml in the sample. Furthemore, we performed a phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian algorithms, with 190 complete sequences of the nucleoprotein gene, originating from 30 countries over a 25 year period (1985-2010) that were available in GenBank (NCBI). Based on an average rate of 6.8 x 10-4 (2.5 x 10-4 - 1 x 10-3) nucleotide substitutions per site/year, it was possible to infer that the Hantavirus would be about 1917 years old. The Hantavirus spreading in the world have occurred for nearly 500 years, and the introduction of these viruses have occurred in the Americas 549 years ago (95 years% HPD 1555-341) bye Central America or Mexico, causing the Hantavirus adapted to rodents subfamily Neotominae, and Brazil emerged 406 years ago (95% HPD 1150-250 years) the Hantavirus associated with rodents subfamily Sigmodontinae, and subsequently disseminated to South America. The work contributes significantly to the diagnosis of Hantavirus infections with one-step SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR and also contributes to an understanding of the phylogeny and evolutionary history of these viruses, offering subsidies have occurred understanding of how the Hantavirus spread of the worldwide.

The activation of 1,25D-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D) is catalysed by the enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1ƒhydroxylase (CYP27B1) in the kidney, which is the primary producer of 1,25D in the body. Although the synthesis of 1,25D by CYP27B1 and the catabolism of 1,25D by 25-hydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase (CYP24) also take place in the bone, the significance of the bone cell-specific metabolism of vitamin D remains largely unknown. This thesis investigates the regulation of the expression of CYP27B1, CYP24 and vitamin D receptor (VDR) mRNA, both in the bone and in the kidney, with the aim to determine whether the regulation of the vitamin D metabolism in the bone is independent from that in the kidney. The effects of age, dietary calcium and vitamin D status on the expression these genes in both the kidney and the bone, as well as on a number of biochemical factors known to regulate the renal metabolism of 1,25D, such as PTH, calcium and 1,25D itself, were examined. CYP27B1 mRNA expression was also studied in histological sections of rat femoral bone. Furthermore, CYP27B1, CYP24 and VDR mRNA expression were also identified in specific regions of the rat femur and in a number of bone cell lines, with the aim to identify the bone cell types that have the capacity to metabolise and/or to respond to vitamin D. The age-related decrease in the circulating levels of 1,25D detected in animals ranging in age from 3 weeks to 2 years old, was a direct result of a reduction in the expression of CYP27B1 mRNA and an increase in the expression of CYP24 and VDR mRNA in the kidney. In contrast, the expression of CYP27B1 and CYP24 mRNA in the bone is high from 3 to 15 weeks of age, which is the period of rapid growth and development. The expression of CYP27B1 mRNA in the bone was positively correlated with the circulating levels of calcium throughout aging, which suggests that the 1,25D produced in the bone may be involved in the mineralisation process. The positive correlation found between the expression of CYP27B1 and CYP24 mRNA in the bone was in contrast with the negative correlation found between the expression of these two enzymes in the kidney. This suggests that the 1,25D produced locally in the bone, rather than the 1,25D produced in the kidney, is the primary determinant of the CYP24 activity in the bone. In vitamin D-deplete animals, fed a 0.1% calcium diet (D(-)/LC), the expression of CYP27B1 mRNA was induced and the expression of CYP24 mRNA was suppressed in the kidney. In contrast, both the expression of CYP27B1 and CYP24 mRNA were low in the bones of these D(-)/LC animals. When vitamin D-deplete animals were fed a 1% calcium diet (D(-)/HC), the expression of both CYP27B1 and CYP24 mRNA was high in the bone, which was in direct contrast with the low expression of these genes detected in the kidney. Besides this, a positive correlation was found between the expression of CYP27B1 mRNA in the bone, serum calcium levels and bone mineral volume (BV/TV) in the epiphysis, which supports the findings for the age study that the locally produced 1,25D may be involved in the promotion of bone mineralisation. Although serum PTH levels was positively correlated with the expression of CYP27B1 mRNA in the kidneys of hypocalcaemic animals, there was no such relationship detected between the levels of serum PTH and the expression of CYP27B1 mRNA in the bone. This finding suggests that the regulation of the expression of CYP27B1 mRNA in the bone is different from the regulation found in the kidney. The identification of CYP27B1 mRNA in osteoblasts-like cells, taken together with the associations between serum calcium and CYP27B1 mRNA expression in the previous studies, suggests that 1,25D produced in osteoblasts may play a significant role in the bone mineralisation process. The detection of CYP27B1 mRNA expression in a number of bone marrow cells suggests that locally produced 1,25D may also play a role in the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2003.

Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumours, and their capacity to invade surrounding normal brain prevents complete removal of the tumour. Malignant glioma has still a poor prognosis. However, with the rapid development of molecular biology our understanding about glioma has increased dramatically. Among known growth factors, EGF and its receptor are frequently amplified and over expressed in malignant glioma. Therefore, it is of interest to find approaches to hamper the activity of EGF/EGFR. The aim of this thesis was to identify and characterize human analogues to a recently identified gene in Drosophilia, kekkon-1, which negatively regulates the activity of Drosophilia EGF receptor. In the first part, we set up a quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay, which showed good linearity, reproducibility and uniformity. We analyzed the expression of the most commonly used reference genes, and showed that 18S was the most reliable endogenous reference gene in this study. In the second part, we cloned, identified, and sequenced a gene family, which we named leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin–like domains family (LRIG). The LRIG gene family had three vertebrate paralogs and one homolog in ascidiacea. The proteins encoded by human LRIG genes shared an overall structure with a signal peptide, 15 tandems leucine-rich repeats with N- and C- terminal flanking regions followed by 3 immunoglobulin-like domains, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail. Northern blot showed the mRNA sizes to be 5.5 kb for LRIG1, 4.8 kb for LRIG2, and 5.1 kb for LRIG3. LRIG1-3 mRNAs were detected in all human and mouse tissues analyzed, however, at various levels. FISH and BLAST analysis showed that LRIG1 was located at 3p14, LRIG2 at 1q13, and LRIG3 at 12q13. LRIG1 was shown to be down-regulated in several cancer cell lines and proposed to be a tumour suppressor gene. In the third part, we analysed the expression of LRIG gene family in human astrocytic tumours. LRIG1-3 mRNAs were detected in all human glioma cell lines, in primary tumour tissues and control-matched normal brain tissues, at various levels. Subcellular localizations of LRIG1-GFP fusion proteins were visualized in nuclear, perinuclear, and cytoplasmic compartment. According to the predicted protein sequences, short peptides were synthesized and used to raise antibodies in rabbits. The antibodies were used for immunohistochemical analysis of LRIG1-3 in 404 human astrocytic tumours in a tissue micro array. The pattern of immunoreactivity of LRIG1-3 was heterogeneous with staining in nuclear, perinuclear and cytoplasmic compartment of positive tumour cells. Perinuclear staining of LRIG1-3 displayed a significant inverse correlation with WHO grade and especially positive LRIG3 perinuclear and cytoplasmic staining correlated with a low proliferation index. The LRIGs correlated with survival, and LRIG3 perinuclear staining was in addition to tumour grade an independent prognostic factor. The results suggest that LRIGs may play a role in normal tissue, and may be of importance in the pathogenesis and prognosis of tumours. The exact function of LRIG1-3 remains to be established.

Cleft palate is a common human birth defect caused by any process which interferes with palatogenesis. Studies in Hoxa2 mutant (Hoxa2-/-) mice which exhibit a secondary cleft palate were reported to be due to an abnormal positioning of the tongue which prevents normal palatal shelf fusion to occur. To obtain direct evidence for the importance of Hoxa2 in murine palate development, an in vitro whole organ palatal culture model was developed, eliminating any influences from the tongue. A retroviral gene delivery system was employed, containing either Hoxa2 sense or Hoxa2 antisense cDNA, to respectively enhance or knockdown the expression of Hoxa2 mRNA in the developing palate. <p>Our results show that palatal cultures infected with the lowest titer of Hoxa2 sense virus induce a fusion rate of 72.7%, which is similar to palatal cultures treated with the control virus (81.8%), although fusion rates of 41.2% to 50.0% were observed in palates infected with higher titers. With the antisense virus treated group, a more profound inhibition of the fusion rate was observed (27.7% - 46.1%), which is comparable with the frequency of palatal fusion in Hoxa2-/- mice (44.4%). Additionally, the palatal shelves in both sense and antisense virus treated groups appear to be relatively shorter in length, than those measured in the control group. Interestingly, in the antisense virus treated group, the ratio of the length of the fused portion to the length of palatal shelves appears to be relatively large compared to the control group. Verification and quantification of Hoxa2 mRNA in the developing palate between E12.5 and E15.5 was performed by real-time RT-PCR. Hoxa2 gene expression was observed at all stages studied, with expression being the highest at E12.5 and declining from E13.5. The expression level remained constant from E13.5 through E15.5. These findings demonstrate for the first time that Hoxa2 may play a direct role in murine palate development. Results suggest that both factors (the absence of Hoxa2 gene in the palate causing delayed palatal development, as well as the position of the tongue) appear to act in unison to produce cleft palate in Hoxa2 knockout mice.

Human pathogens survive anti-pathogen host immune assault by either circumventing or evading the host immune response. Bartonella henselae, an intracellular pathogen previously shown to disrupt intrinsic apoptotic messengers to enhance its survival, exploits multiple facets of the cellular apoptotic mechanisms. Cellular pathways affected by apoptotic processes were assessed using real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (rRT-PCR) to measure the effect of B. henselae on cell regulator gene expression (TRADD, FADD, caspase-8 and caspase-3), caspase activity, DNA cell cycle analysis, cell regulator protein expression and overall cell viability and morphology. The presence of B. henselae suppresses overall gene expression for TRADD and FADD and it dramatically suppresses ceramide-induced TRADD and FADD gene expression. The presence of B. henselae has a noticeable effect on ceramide-induced caspase-8 and caspase-3 gene expression. Only caspase-3 enzymatic activity was ceramide-induced and likewise supressed by the presence of B. henselae, whereas caspase-6 and caspase-8 were unaffected and equivalent to controls. The presence of B. henselae inhibits ceramide-induced DNA fragmentation, maintains overall cell morphology and enhances host cell viability. Lastly, B. henselae inhibits the time-dependant ceramide-induction of TRADD protein and suppresses ubiquitous FADD protein expression. We demonstrated that B. henselae inhibits apoptotic induction in a systematic manner following exogenous apoptotic induction. B. henselae protection of microvascular endothelial cells from apoptosis induction begins at the modulation of cell surface receptor-dependent signaling. B. henselae minimizes, but does not completely abrogate, the cytotoxic effect of the apoptogenic shingolipid ceramide on human microvascular endothelial cells (CDC.EU.HMEC-1). Broadening our understanding of the sequence of cell regulator suppression events by intracellular pathogens will provide insight into disease manifestation. Further, understanding how infected cells initiate and conclude apoptosis will open new avenues into the study of disease treatment.

Cleft palate is a common human birth defect caused by any process which interferes with palatogenesis. Studies in Hoxa2 mutant (Hoxa2-/-) mice which exhibit a secondary cleft palate were reported to be due to an abnormal positioning of the tongue which prevents normal palatal shelf fusion to occur. To obtain direct evidence for the importance of Hoxa2 in murine palate development, an in vitro whole organ palatal culture model was developed, eliminating any influences from the tongue. A retroviral gene delivery system was employed, containing either Hoxa2 sense or Hoxa2 antisense cDNA, to respectively enhance or knockdown the expression of Hoxa2 mRNA in the developing palate. <p>Our results show that palatal cultures infected with the lowest titer of Hoxa2 sense virus induce a fusion rate of 72.7%, which is similar to palatal cultures treated with the control virus (81.8%), although fusion rates of 41.2% to 50.0% were observed in palates infected with higher titers. With the antisense virus treated group, a more profound inhibition of the fusion rate was observed (27.7% - 46.1%), which is comparable with the frequency of palatal fusion in Hoxa2-/- mice (44.4%). Additionally, the palatal shelves in both sense and antisense virus treated groups appear to be relatively shorter in length, than those measured in the control group. Interestingly, in the antisense virus treated group, the ratio of the length of the fused portion to the length of palatal shelves appears to be relatively large compared to the control group. Verification and quantification of Hoxa2 mRNA in the developing palate between E12.5 and E15.5 was performed by real-time RT-PCR. Hoxa2 gene expression was observed at all stages studied, with expression being the highest at E12.5 and declining from E13.5. The expression level remained constant from E13.5 through E15.5. These findings demonstrate for the first time that Hoxa2 may play a direct role in murine palate development. Results suggest that both factors (the absence of Hoxa2 gene in the palate causing delayed palatal development, as well as the position of the tongue) appear to act in unison to produce cleft palate in Hoxa2 knockout mice.

INTRODUÇÃO: Em grandes cidades, como São Paulo, a pequena porcentagem de matas existentes é representada pelos parques municipais. Estas áreas, além de representarem ambientes de lazer para as pessoas, albergam uma enorme diversidade biológica, desde mosquitos até aves e mamíferos. A interação destas espécies favorece a circulação de Flavivirus, causadores de importantes doenças humanas, que têm nas aves um importante reservatório. Atribui-se às aves migratórias o papel de carreadoras dos vírus, já que as mesmas percorrem longas distâncias para completar seu ciclo biológico. A chegada de aves do Hemisfério Norte ocorre em alguns Parques, o que favoreceria a dispersão de alguns vírus, como o Vírus do Nilo Ocidental, já que nestas áreas estão presentes mosquitos potencialmente vetores. OBJETIVOS: identificar infecção por Flavivírus nas aves dos parques municipais de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: De Março de 2012 a Janeiro de 2013, foram coletadas amostras de swab de cloaca, orofaringe e sangue de aves capturadas em redes de neblina de duas áreas do município de São Paulo: Parque Anhanguera e Fazenda Castanheiras/APA Bororé Colônia. As aves foram anilhadas e liberadas após a coleta do material. Foi realizada técnica de RT-PCR em tempo real, utilizando iniciadores genéricos que amplificam fragmento do gene NS5 de Flavivirus. Amostras positivas foram encaminhadas para sequenciamento. RESULTADOS: Foi capturado um total de 231 aves, em sua maioria da Ordem Passeriformes. De um total de 463 amostras, nenhuma amostra apresentou presença de RNA viral. DISCUSSÃO: Em se tratando de alguns Flavivírus, os passeriformes são considerados os reservatórios mais competentes no ciclo de transmissão, pois atingem altos níveis de viremia. Cabe ressaltar que algumas espécies desta ordem, de ocorrência na cidade de São Paulo, já foram identificadas como portadoras dos vírus Rocio e Ilhéus. A ausência de positividade é esperada, pois embora altamente sensível, a técnica de PCR depende do estado de viremia das aves, que é curta. CONCLUSÃO: Os parques municipais são áreas que aproximam aves, mosquitos e humanos, pelo papel ambiental e de lazer que os mesmos representam. Este fato classifica estas áreas como locais com potencial de transmissão de Flavivirus, o que torna importante a continuação este estudo, aumentando as áreas de abrangência, para conhecer os Flavivírus circulantes e realizar vigilância para vírus que podem ocasionar problemas de Saúde Pública / INTRODUCTION: In big cities, as São Paulo, the little percentage of existing forests is represented by the municipal parks. These áreas, besides acting as entertainment environments to the users, promote a huge biodiversity, including mosquitoes, birds and mammals. These species interaction promotes Flavivirus circulation, viruses responsible for important human diseases. The avian species are important reservoirs for these viruses, specially the migrating birds that can fly for long distances, carrying these viruses to several areas. In some parks, the arrival of migrating birds from the North Hemisphere is documented, fact that can support some viruses dispersion, for example, the West Nile Vírus, considering that in these areas potencial vector for this virus can be found. OBJECTIVES: detect Flavivirus infection in birds captured in municipal parks of São Paulo city. METHODS: from March, 2012 to January, 2013, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs, and blood samples were collected from birds captured in mist-net webs located in two municipal areas: Anhanguera Park and Castanheiras Farm/APA Bororé Colônia. The birds were ringed and released after samples collection. The real time RT-PCR was performed, using generic primers which amplify NS5 gene fragment. Positive samples were forwarded to sequence analysis. RESULTS: a total of 231 birds were capture, in which the majority belongs to Passeriforms order. Of 463 samples collected, all samples were negative for the viral RNA presence. DISCUSSION: when talking about Flaviviruses, the passeriforms are considered the most competent reservoirs in the transmission cycle, because they can achieve great viremia levels. Some passeriforms species, endemic in São Paulo city, were identified as Rocio and Ilhéus viruses carriers in previous studies. The negativity is expected, once the Real Time RT-PCR, although highly sensitive, depends on the viremia duration, which is short in avian species. CONCLUSION: the public parks are areas which encloses birds, mosquitoes and the human being, for the environmental and entertainment role they play. This fact classifies these parks as areas with great potencial of Flavivirus transmission, ressalting the great importance to continue this study, increasing the number of areas, to detect the circulating Flavivirus and to perform surveillance for viruses which can cause public health problems

O gênero Hantavírus está incluído na família Bunyaviridae que são vírus emergentes associados a roedores que podem infectar o homem causando graves doenças. Nas Américas, os Hantavírus causam uma síndrome pulmonar e cardiovascular (SPCVH) com alta letalidade. Cerca de 1600 casos de SPCVH já foram notificados no Brasil causando mais de 600 óbitos. Sete espécies de Hantavírus são conhecidas no Brasil incluindo o vírus Araraquara que circula nas regiões de cerrado do país associado ao roedor Necromys lasiurus. Para o desenvolvimento de uma RT-PCR em tempo real para detecção e quantificação de Hantavírus, mostramos as etapas para o desenvolvimento de uma one-step RT-PCR em tempo real SYBR Green I para Hantavírus Araraquara que se mostrou específica para o gênero e capaz de detectar até 10 cópias por mL de RNA viral na amostra. Além disso, realizamos um estudo filogenético utilizando algoritmos bayesianos, com 190 sequências completas do gene da nucleoproteína, oriundas de 30 países durante um período de 25 anos (1985-2010) que encontravam-se disponíveis no GenBank (NCBI). Baseando-se em uma taxa média de 6.8 x 10-4 (2.5 x 10-4 - 1 x 10-3) substituições nucleotídicas por sítio/ano, foi possível inferir que os Hantavírus teriam aproximadamente 1917 anos. O processo de dispersão dos Hantavírus pelo mundo teria ocorrido há aproximadamente 500 anos, e a introdução destes vírus nas Américas teria ocorrido há 549 anos (95% HPD 1555-341 anos), via América Central ou México, originando os Hantavírus adaptados aos roedores da subfamília Neotominae, e pelo Brasil surgindo há 406 anos (95% HPD 1150-250 anos) os Hantavírus associados a roedores da subfamília Sigmodontinae, e posteriormente dispersaram para todo o continente sul-americano. O trabalho contribui de forma relevante para o diagnóstico das infecções por Hantavírus com a one-step RT-PCR em tempo real SYBR Green I e também, contribui para o entendimento da filogenia e história destes vírus, oferecendo subsídios ao entendimento sobre como teria ocorrido o espalhamento dos Hantavírus pelo mundo. / The genus Hantavirus is included in the family Bunyaviridae are viruses emerging carried by rodents, which can infect humans causing serious illness. In the Americas, the Hantavirus causing a pulmonary syndrome (HPS) with high lethality. About 1,600 cases of HPS have been reported in Brazil, cause over 1600 deaths. Seven species of Hantavirus are known in Brazil, including Araraquara virus circulating in Cerrado regions (or Savannah regions) of the related in rodents Necromys lasiurus. The development of a real-time RT-PCR for detection and quantitation of Araraquara virus, here we show the steps for developing a one-step SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR for virus Araraquara which proved to be specific for the genus and capable of detecting up to 10 copies of viral RNA per ml in the sample. Furthemore, we performed a phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian algorithms, with 190 complete sequences of the nucleoprotein gene, originating from 30 countries over a 25 year period (1985-2010) that were available in GenBank (NCBI). Based on an average rate of 6.8 x 10-4 (2.5 x 10-4 - 1 x 10-3) nucleotide substitutions per site/year, it was possible to infer that the Hantavirus would be about 1917 years old. The Hantavirus spreading in the world have occurred for nearly 500 years, and the introduction of these viruses have occurred in the Americas 549 years ago (95 years% HPD 1555-341) bye Central America or Mexico, causing the Hantavirus adapted to rodents subfamily Neotominae, and Brazil emerged 406 years ago (95% HPD 1150-250 years) the Hantavirus associated with rodents subfamily Sigmodontinae, and subsequently disseminated to South America. The work contributes significantly to the diagnosis of Hantavirus infections with one-step SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR and also contributes to an understanding of the phylogeny and evolutionary history of these viruses, offering subsidies have occurred understanding of how the Hantavirus spread of the worldwide.