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Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan.

O rotavírus é a principal causa de diarréia em crianças em todo o mundo. Infecta também adultos, mas não há dados completos sobre a sua incidência nesse grupo nem sobre o papel de anticorpos preexistentes na proteção contra o vírus. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a presença de anticorpos IgA e IgG anti-rotavírus SA-11, por ELISA, em amostras de soro de adultos saudáveis e sua ação neutralizante frente ao vírus, em ensaios de neutralização. Por Immunoblotting foi avaliado o reconhecimento de proteínas virais pelos anticorpos séricos. Observou-se que os títulos das amostras foram muito variáveis, sendo os de IgG superiores aos de IgA. Todas as amostras mostraram-se capazes de neutralizar o vírus em diferentes níveis, porém não foi possível estabelecer uma correlação com os títulos de anticorpos. Foi observado que anticorpos da classe IgG reconhecem mais proteínas virais que os da classe IgA. Este trabalho pode ser considerado mais um passo na elucidação do papel dos anticorpos séricos IgA e IgG anti-rotavírus na infecção em adultos. / Rotavirus has been considered the leading cause of diarrhea in children worldwide. The virus also infects adults but there is no conclusive data neither on the incidence of infection on this group nor on the role of pre-existing antibodies. The aim of the work was to evaluate the presence of anti-rotavirus SA-11 IgA and IgG by ELISA in serum samples of healthy adults and the serum neutralizing ability against the virus by neutralization assays. Immunoblotting was used to evaluate viral proteins recognition by serum antibodies. The antibody titers were extremely variable where IgG titers are greater than IgA ones. All samples were able to neutralize the virus in different levels but it was not possible to establish a correlation between antibody titers and neutralization ones. Immunoblotting assays revealed that IgG antibodies recognize more viral proteins than IgA did. This work can be considered a valuable step for elucidating the role of serum anti-rotavirus IgG and IgA antibodies in adults infection.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Thesis (M.Sc (Clinical Pathology))--Mahidol University, 1982.

Can we consider Plutarch's Parallel Lives a historical work? Can we read them as a unitary series? These are the initial questions that this thesis poses and that are investigated in the Introduction, five main Chapters, and the Conclusion. In the Introduction, a preliminary status quaestionis about ancient biography is presented before clarifying the methodology adopted for reading the Parallel Lives as a unitary historical work and the reasons for choosing the Lives of Lycurgus, Lysander, and Agesilaus as the case studies to examine in detail. Chapter 1 discusses the historiographical principles that emerge from the De sera numinis vindicta: for Plutarch history is primarily the history of individuals and cities, based on the interpretation of historical events. Chapter 2 tries to verify the hypothesis that the Parallel Lives correspond to the historical project delineated in the De sera numinis vindicta. This Chapter, moreover, reassesses the literary form of the Parallel Lives by employing the concepts of 'open macrotext' and 'cross-complementarity' between the Lives. Chapter 3 analyses the Life of Lycurgus, focusing on the formation of the cultural identity and the political model of Sparta. In the Life of Lycurgus, Plutarch indicates already the intrinsic weaknesses of Sparta and the probable causes of Spartan decline in the fourth century BC. Chapter 4 is devoted to the Life of Lysander, where Plutarch narrates how after the Peloponnesian War Sparta established its hegemony over the Greeks and, simultaneously, began its rapid moral and political decline into decadence. Plutarch also seems to suggest that in this historical period of extraordinary changes not only Sparta and Lysander but all the Greeks were guilty of distorting moral values. Chapter 5 concentrates on Agesilaus, who could have led Sparta and the Greeks to great success against the Persians, but, instead, had to save Sparta from complete destruction after the Battle of Leuctra. The Conclusion recapitulates the main points of the thesis and proposes possible arguments for future research on Plutarch’s Parallel Lives.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio (fiscina@bahia.fiocruz.br) on 2013-10-18T19:05:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Andréia Carvalho dos Santos. Diagnostico sorologico...2011.pdf: 1884519 bytes, checksum: 6aff70f55415c00ce177ca938c909c5e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-18T19:05:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Andréia Carvalho dos Santos. Diagnostico sorologico...2011.pdf: 1884519 bytes, checksum: 6aff70f55415c00ce177ca938c909c5e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / A confirmação da leptospirose utilizando o Teste de Aglutinação Microscópica (MAT) requer amostras da fase aguda e convalescente para identificar soroconversão ou aumento de quatro vezes nos títulos. A Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) recomenda que a coleta da amostra convalescente seja realizada ≥14 dias após a coleta da amostra aguda. No entanto, a dificuldade na coleta de amostras convalescentes impede a confirmação dos casos e é uma das principais causas para sub-notificação da leptospirose. Este estudo investigou a viabilidade da coleta de uma amostra de soro aguda tardia de casos internados com leptospirose e avaliou se a análise sorológica desta amostra pode melhorar a eficiência do protocolo de confirmação diagnóstica de leptospirose. De 2003 a 2009, uma vigilância hospitalar ativa em Salvador-Brasil, identificou prospectivamente pacientes hospitalizados com suspeita clínica da leptospirose. Três amostras de sangue foram coletadas para cada caso: uma amostra aguda precoce, uma amostra aguda tardia e uma amostra convalescente, coletadas respectivamente nas primeiras 24 horas após hospitalização, e 4 e ≥14 dias depois da coleta da primeira amostra. Os pacientes identificados tiveram o diagnóstico de leptospirose confirmado por soroconversão, aumento de quatro vezes de títulos, ou título único ≥1:800 no MAT. O desempenho diagnóstico do MAT e do ELISA IgM na avaliação combinada das amostras aguda precoce e aguda tardia foi comparado ao desempenho da avaliação das amostras aguda precoce e convalescente que segue a recomendação de testagem da OMS. Nós confirmamos 643 (68%) dos 938 casos suspeitos. A coleta de amostra convalescente foi possível para 63% dos pacientes confirmados, e 55% dos pacientes suspeitos. Em contraste, a amostra da fase aguda tardia foi coletada para 77% e 66% dos pacientes confirmados e suspeitos, respectivamente. Para os 302 casos confirmados que tiveram as três amostras de soro coletadas, a sensibilidade do MAT e do IgM-ELISA na análise das amostras aguda precoce e tardia foi de 97% (IC95%, 94-99%) e 96% (93-98%), respectivamente, em comparação aos resultados da análise das amostras aguda precoce e convalescente. Em contraste, considerando apenas as amostras agudas destes 302 pacientes, a sensibilidade do MAT e do IgM-ELISA foi de 44% (38-50%) e 75% (69-79%), respectivamente. Amostra aguda tardia e convalescente foi obtida dos casos suspeitos de leptospirose que evoluíram para óbito de 32% e 6%, respectivamente. Os resultados indicam que a coleta e o teste sorológico da amostra aguda tardia de pacientes hospitalizados por leptospirose é viável e melhora a eficiência dos atuais protocolos de confirmação laboratorial de casos de leptospirose. / Confirmation of leptospirosis with MAT requires evaluating acute and convalescent-phase sera samples to identify seroconversion or fourfold rise in titers. Current World Health Organization (WHO) protocols recommend that convalescent samples are collected with ≥14days after the acute sample collection. However, the difficulty in collecting convalescent samples hampers case confirmation and is a major cause for leptospirosis under-reporting. This study evaluated feasibility of collecting a late acute-sera sample from hospitalized cases of leptospirosis and determined to serological analysis of this sample can improve the efficiency of the protocol to confirm the diagnosis of leptospirosis. From 2003 to 2009, active hospital-based surveillance in Salvador-Brazil prospectively identified hospitalized cases of patients with clinical suspicion of leptospirosis. Three blood samples were collected for each case: an early acute sample, a sample of late acute and convalescent sample collected during the first 24 hours after hospitalization 4 and ≥ 14 days after the first sampling, respectively. The identified patients were diagnosed with leptospirosis by seroconversion, fourfold rise in titers, or a titer ≥1:800 in the MAT. The diagnostic performance of the MAT and IgM ELISA in the combined sample of early acute and late acute sample performance was compared to the early assessment of acute and convalescent samples following a WHO recommendation for testing. We confirmed the leptospirosis diagnosis in 643 (68%) of 938 suspected cases. Convalescent-phase samples were collected from 63% of the confirmed patients, but in only 55% of the suspected cases. In contrast, the late acute phase sample was collected for 77% and 66% of confirmed and suspected patients, respectively. Among the 302 confirmed cases which all three samples were obtained, the sensitivity of MAT and IgM-ELISA was 97% (IC95%, 94-99%) and 96% (93-98%), respectively, when results of early and late acute-phase samples were evaluated in comparison to the results of the early acute and convalescent samples. In contrast, the sensitivity of MAT and IgM-ELISA was 44% (38-50%) and 75% (69-79%), respectively, when only a single early acute-phase sample was evaluated. Late acute-phase and convalescent-phase samples were obtained from 32% and 6% of the suspected leptospirosis and deaths, respectively. These findings indicate that collection and serologic testing of a late-acute-phase sample among hospitalized patients with suspected leptospirosis may significantly increase the efficiency of protocols for laboratory case confirmation.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Chapter I - Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which infects a range of hosts, including about one-third of the world\'s human population. One of the most severe manifestations of this infection in humans corresponds to congenital toxoplasmosis, which occurs when there is placental transmission of the parasite to the fetus in cases of primary maternal infection during pregnancy. Congenital infection may cause abortions or fetal losses, as well as severe ocular and/or cerebral sequelae in newborns. The serological screening of pregnant women and newborns is mainly based on the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii and constitutes an important measure to be adopted in programs to control this infection, despite the limitations in the antibody detection and interpretation of results. Chapter II - A total of 173 pairs of serum samples from mothers with suspected primary toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and their newborns, obtained from the Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology of Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândia (HC-UFU) from 2006 to June 2014, was analyzed by ELISA for the detection of IgG, IgM and IgA anti-T. gondii, and the results were correlated with clinical data obtained from research in the clinical records of each patient. It was concluded that (i) prenatal serological screening is very important for the identification of pregnant women exposed to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy; (ii) maternal treatment reduces congenital transmission of T. gondii; (iii) neonatal serologic screening, associated with analysis of clinical parameters, allows the identification of vertically infected newborns, mainly through simultaneous detection of IgM and IgA antibodies; and (iv) serological follow-up of newborns is important in clarifying doubtful situations, especially in cases of asymptomatic newborns that present suggestive serology of congenital infection. Chapter III - Different antigenic fractions derived from soluble antigen of tachyzoites of T. gondii (STAg) were obtained from sequential precipitation with increasing concentrations of ammonium sulfate and used in immunoblotting technique to detect IgG antibodies and its subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4) present in paired serum samples from mothers with presumptive serology of recent toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and their newborns. It was concluded that the use of antigenic fractions obtained from STAg precipitation in the diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis proved to be interesting to detect IgG and its subclasses, allowing differentiation between positive and negative samples, but it was not a good alternative for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis, presenting results considered inferior to the STAg, due to the lower frequency of recognized antigenic bands and the absence of differential recognition of antigens by sera of newborns. Chapter IV - The amino acid sequences of sixteen immunodominant antigens of T. gondii were used to perform B cell linear epitope prediction using a software-based approach. A total of 22 epitopes of antigens from surface (SRS), rhoptries (ROP), micronemes (MIC) and dense granules (GRA) of T. gondii were identified, and 15 residues from their amino acid sequences were used to synthesize peptides chemically linked to bovine serum albumin backbone, and the diagnostic performance of these synthetic peptides was evaluated in ELISA to detect specific IgG antibodies in sera of patients with suspected acute toxoplasmosis (G1) or chronic (G2). It was concluded that synthetic peptides designed from B cell linear epitope prediction constitute promising antigens in serological assays to diagnose toxoplasmosis and differentiate acute from chronic phases of toxoplasmosis, representing an alternative to the use of native or recombinant antigens. / Capítulo I - Toxoplasmose é uma zoonose causada pelo parasita intracelular Toxoplasma gondii, que infecta diferentes hospedeiros, incluindo cerca de um terço da população humana mundial. Uma das manifestações mais graves da infecção por este parasita em humanos corresponde à toxoplasmose congênita, quando há transmissão placentária do parasita para o feto durante infecção materna primária na gestação. A infecção congênita pode causar abortos ou perdas fetais, além de sequelas graves em recém-nascidos (RNs), principalmente oculares e/ou cerebrais. A triagem sorológica de gestantes e RNs, baseada principalmente na detecção de anticorpos IgG e IgM anti-T. gondii constitui-se em importante medida a ser adotada em programas de controle desta infecção, apesar das limitações na detecção dos anticorpos e na interpretação dos resultados. Capítulo II - Um total de 173 pares de amostras de soros de mães com suspeita de toxoplasmose primária na gestação e seus respectivos RNs, provenientes do Setor de Pediatria e Neonatologia do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (HC-UFU) no período de 2006 a junho de 2014, foi analisado por ELISA para a detecção de anticorpos IgG, IgM e IgA anti-T. gondii, e os resultados obtidos foram correlacionados com dados clínicos obtidos a partir de pesquisa nos prontuários clínicos de cada paciente. Concluiu-se que (i) a triagem sorológica pré-natal é de grande relevância na identificação de gestantes expostas à toxoplasmose durante a gestação; (ii) o tratamento materno reduz a transmissão congênita de T. gondii; (iii) a triagem sorológica neonatal, aliada à análise de parâmetros clínicos permite identificar RNs verticalmente infectados, principalmente por meio da detecção conjunta de anticorpos IgM e IgA; e (iv) o acompanhamento sorológico de RNs é importante no esclarecimento de situações duvidosas, principalmente em casos de RNs assintomáticos, mas com sorologia sugestiva de infecção congênita. Capítulo III - Diferentes frações antigênicas derivadas do antígeno solúvel de taquizoítas de T. gondii (STAg) foram obtidas a partir de precipitação sequencial em concentrações crescentes de sulfato de amônio e utilizadas na técnica de immunoblotting para a detecção de anticorpos IgG total e suas subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 e IgG4) presentes em amostras pareadas de soros de mães com sorologia presuntiva de toxoplasmose recente na gestação e seus respectivos RNs. Concluiu-se que a utilização destas frações antigênicas de STAg no diagnóstico da toxoplasmose humana se mostrou interessante na detecção de anticorpos IgG e suas subclasses, permitindo diferenciação entre amostras positivas e negativas, mas não se mostrou uma boa alternativa no diagnóstico da toxoplasmose congênita, com resultados inferiores aos do STAg, em função da menor frequência de bandas antigênicas reconhecidas e da ausência de reconhecimento diferencial de antígenos pelos soros dos RNs, em relação aos soros maternos. Capítulo IV - As sequências de aminoácidos de 16 antígenos imunodominantes de T. gondii foram usadas para a predição de epítopos lineares de células B usando ferramentas de bioinformática. Um total de 22 epítopos de antígenos de superfície (SRS), roptrias (ROP), micronemas (MIC) e grânulos densos (GRA) de T. gondii foram identificados e utilizados para a síntese de peptídeos com 15 resíduos de aminoácidos, os quais foram quimicamente conjugados ao esqueleto proteico da albumina sérica bovina (BSA), e o desempenho diagnóstico destes peptídeos sintéticos foi avaliado por ELISA para a detecção de anticorpos IgG em soros de pacientes com suspeita de toxoplasmose aguda (G1) ou crônica (G2). Concluiu-se que peptídeos sintéticos obtidos a partir da predição de epítopos lineares de células B constituem antígenos promissores em ensaios sorológicos para o diagnóstico da toxoplasmose e para a diferenciação das fases aguda e crônica da infecção, representando uma alternativa ao uso de antígenos nativos ou recombinantes. / Doutor em Imunologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas

Utafiti huu unachunguza maenezi ya lugha ya Kiswahili katika taifa la Sudan Kusini kwa kuangazia njia zilizotumika kuisambaza hii lugha ya Kiswahili nchini humo. Unachunguza pia changamoto za lugha ya Kiswahili nchini Sudan Kusini na mustakabali wake. Data ya utafiti huu imekusanywa nyanjani kupitia kifaa cha mahojiano ambapo tuliwahoji wenyeji wa Sudan Kusini na wafanyakazi wa mashirika mbalimbali nchini Sudan Kusini. Utafiti huu umebaini kuwa Kiswahili kimeingia Sudan Kusini kwa msaada wa nyenzo mbalimbali kama vile vita, biashara, elimu, maingiliano ya mipakani, dini na ndoa. Utafiti huu pia unajadili baadhi ya vizuizi vinavyoweza kutatiza ukuaji na ueneaji wa Kiswahili katika taifa la Sudan Kusini kama vile tishio kubwa la ushindani na upinzani wa makundi ya lugha za Sudan Kusini na lugha ya Kiarabu ambayo ndiyo lugha ya maenezi mapana, na hali kadhalika lugha ya Kiingereza ambayo ni moja katika lugha zinazoenziwa katika taifa la Sudan Kusini hasa kwa kuwa lugha ya kimataifa. Imebainika pia kuwa sababu kubwa za kujifundisha Kiswahili kwa wenyeji wengi wa Sudan Kusini kumechangiwa na haja ya kutaka kujitambulisha na kujinasibisha na makundi mbalimbali ya Afrika Mashariki. Utafiti huu unahoji pia kuwa mustakabali wa lugha ya Kiswahili utategemea sera ya lugha nchini Sudan Kusini na utekelezaji wa matakwa ya Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki ya kufanya Kiswahili kuwa lugha ya maenezi mapana katika eneo la Afrika Mashariki nakopatikana nchi ya Sudan Kusini. / This paper examines the spread of Swahili to South Sudan. It explores the challenges of the language in South Sudan and its potential future status and use. Data from this study were collected through interviews with South Sudanese residents and employees of various organizations. The study reveals that Swahili has gained ground in South Sudan due to war, trade, education, cross-border interaction, religion and marriage practices. This study also discusses some of the impeding barriers to the growth and spread of the language, e.g., with reference to the status and use Arabic and English. It is also observed that among the main reasons for learning Swahili for many South Sudanese people is the need to identify with other East Africans. The study also argues that the future of the language will depend on the language policies in South Sudan and the implementation of the East African Community's aspirations to make Swahili a widespread language beyond its core regions.