En la presente tesis se elaboró un proceso creativo, mediante la observación de la expresión corporal durante el trance en la fiesta pública del Xirê en dos terreiros de Candomblé de la nación Ketu, en Salvador-Bahía-Brasil. En el Xirê se evidenció la gestualidad del cuerpo que se observó durante el trance, expresada a través de la danza, la cual manifiesta una secuencia de significados relacionados con la mitología de divinidades denominadas Orixás. El objetivo general fue, interpretar la expresividad del cuerpo en trance durante la fiesta del Xirê en el Candomblé. En referencia a la teoría sobre la creatividad vinculada con la manifestación del trance en esta religión, se consideró que es uno de los caminos tendencialmente nuevos y singulares, teniendo en cuenta de una base teórica multirreferencial. En relación a las características del objeto de estudio, establecemos que el abordaje es cualitativo y utilizamos la observación participante, teniendo como fuente la fotografía que traduce las acciones vinculadas a una realidad perteneciente a los acontecimientos investigados, las entrevistas y el cuaderno de campo. A partir de las imágenes recolectadas, tratamos de comprender el trance a través de la observación y la contribución de algunos teóricos, realizando así un proceso creativo. Eso permitió detectar los arquetipos pertenecientes a las expresiones corporales durante la manifestación del trance de tres Orixás (Obaluaiê, Ogum y Yemanja), con la finalidad de interpretar una realidad mediante la creación de imágenes y difundir el conocimiento. Se elaboraron informaciones que permitieron interactuar con los sujetos envueltos en la pesquisa, pudiendo así desarrollar una poética creativa. Como resultado se enfatizó la creatividad en el Xirê, que se evidenció durante las danzas en la gestualidad del cuerpo en estado de trance. Existe un proceso educativo para poder gestionar el trance, que suele ser provocado durante la ceremonia, a través de la estimulación de los sentidos. Finalmente se resalta la creatividad del investigador que viene incentivada en los momentos de la observación del trance y se evidencia por medio de la producción de imágenes, donde se enfatiza la performance, la potencia y la teatralidad del cuerpo. / In the present thesis, a creative process was elaborated by observing the corporal expression in trance during the public celebration of the Xirê in two terreiros of Candomblé of the nation Ketu, in Salvador-Bahia-Brazil. In Xirê, the dance in trance manifests a sequence of meanings related to the mythology of divinities called Orixás. The general objective was to interpret the expressiveness of the body in trance during the Xirê party in Candomblé. Taking into account a multi-referential theoretical basics, the creativity that is displayed during the dance in trance was considered to be one of the paths, tendentially new and unique. In relation to the characteristics of the object of study, we establish that the approach is qualitative. We use participant observation, talking into account as a source also photographs and interviews. From the collected images and research at hand, we try to understand the trance through observation. This allowed us to detect the archetypes belonging to the body expressions during the manifestation of the trance of three Orixás (Obaluaiê, Ogum and Yemanja), in order to interpret a reality by creating images and spreading knowledge. Information was elaborated that allowed to interact with the subjects involved in the research. In this thesis, the creativity of the dancing in trance state during the dances of Xirê was emphasized as well as the educational process to manage the trance, which is usually triggered during the ceremony. Finally, this thesis highlights the researcher's creativity, which was stimulated through the observation of the trance and evidenced by the production of images. These photos underline the performance, power and theatricality of this rare and peculiar manifestation of religion, creativity and culture. / Aquesta tesi elabora un procés creatiu mitjanzant l'observació de l'expressió corporal durant l'estat de trànsit, en la festa pública del Xirê en dos terreiros de Candomblé de la nació Ketu, en Salvador-Bahia-Brasil. En el Xirê es va evidenciar la gestualitat del cos que s'observà durant el trànsit, expressada a través de la dansa, la qual manifesta una seqüència de significats relacionats amb la mitologia de divinitats anomenades Orixás. L'objectiu general fou interpretar l'expressivitat del cos en trànsit durant la festa del Xirê en el Candomblé. En referència a la teoria sobre la creativitat vinculada amb la manifestació del trànsit en aquesta religió, es considera que és un dels camins tendencialment nous i singulars, tenint en compte una base teòrica multireferencial. Quant a les característiques de l'objecte d'estudi, establim que l'abordatge és qualitatiu i emprem l'observació participant. S'utilitza com a font la fotografia, que tradueix les accions vinculades a una realitat que pertany als esdeveniments investigats, les entrevistes i el quadern de camp. A partir de les imatges recollides, es tracta de comprendre el trànsit a través de l'observació i la contribució d'alguns teòrics que es van abordar fent servir un procés creatiu. Això va permetre detectar els arquetips pertanyents a les expressions corporals durant la manifestació del trànsit de tres Orixás (Obaluaiê, Ogum i Yemanja), amb la finalitat d'interpretar una realitat mitjançant la creació d'imatges i difondre el coneixement. Es van elaborar informes que van permetre interactuar amb els subjectes relacionats amb la investigació, la qual cosa va permetre desenvolupar una poètica creativa. Com a resultat es va emfatitzar la creativitat del Xirê, que es va evidenciar durant les danses en la gestualitat del cos en estat de trànsit. Existeix un procés educatiu per a poder gestionar el trànsit, que acostuma a ser provocat durant la cerimònia, a través de l'estimulació dels sentits. Finalment, es ressalta la creativitat de l'investigador que ve incentivada en els moments de l'observació del trànsit i s'evidencia per mitjà de la producció d'imatges, on s'emfatitza l'acció artística (performance), la potència i la teatralitat del cos. / Malpasso, A. (2017). El trance en el Xirê: expresividades del cuerpo mediante un proceso creativo [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/93623

This research analyzes the social interactions between participants of trance festivals around contemporary environmental issues: man-nature-society-culture relationship. The life-styles and modes of expression related to the trance experiences are studied, highlighting human relations with nature and with society in an anthropological perspective of the present time. The theoretical, conceptual and methodological basis of the research is postmodern ethnography. The main instruments and research techniques used were field diary, active participant observation and novel-training. The results of the research make explicit: (a) the relevance of critical (postmodern) ethnography to research in environmental sciences due to the interfaces of dialogue between literature, invention and anthropological science and the reflection on authority in the production of scientific knowledge; (b) configuration of lifestyles of situational, irruptive, deferred and individuated characteristics among participants of trance festivals; (c) materiality of modes of expression as hybrid, experiential and deformed aesthetic. Lastly that trance festivals are important cultural territories of conjunction, affirmation and unification with nature in a dynamic of depth, saturation, negatricity and reinvention of social actors with the existential finitude and the expansion of consciousness towards nature, planetary life and Ecological problems. / Esta pesquisa analisa as interações sociais entre os participantes de festivais trance e as questões ambientais contemporâneas: a relação homem-natureza-sociedade-cultura. Estuda-se os estilos de vida e os modos de expressão ligados às vivências trance, destacando-se as relações humanas com a natureza e com a sociedade numa perspectiva antropológica do tempo presente. A base teórica, conceitual e metodológica da pesquisa é a etnografia pós-moderna. Os principais instrumentos e técnicas de pesquisa utilizados foram o diário de campo, observação participante ativa e o romance-formação. Os resultados da pesquisa explicitam: (a) pertinência da etnográfia crítica (pós-moderna) para a pesquisa em ciências ambientais devido às interfaces de diálogo entre literatura, invenção e ciência antropológica e a reflexão sobre a autoridade na produção do conhecimento científico; (b) configuração de estilos de vida de características situacionais, irruptivos, diferidos e individuados entre os participantes de festivais trance; (c) materialidade de modos de expressão como estética híbrida, experiencial e disforme. Conclui-se que os festivais trance são importantes territórios culturais de conjunção, afirmação e unificação com a natureza numa dinâmica de profundidade, saturação, negatricidade e reinvenção de atores sociais com a finitude existencial e a expansão de consciência frente à natureza, a vida planetária e os problemas ecológicos. / São Cristóvão, SE

This PhD “Film by Practice” sets out to question and explore the nature of film poetry. The poetry of the cinematic image is described by the filmmaker Jean Epstein as the “unveiling of the magic inherent in the visual object beyond the capacity of words to define” (Epstein, cited in Sitney, 1978: xxiii). This is a daunting task that the study interprets through the moving image with particular reference to the magical temporal art of trance possession, which is processed within the genre of experimental ethnographic documentary and intercultural film. This thesis is an experiment in form, taking the filmmaker Maya Deren’s notion of film as comprising of “narrative horizontals” and “poetic verticals” (Deren and Sitney, 1971: 178) explored through a practical investigation of movement and time in space both beyond and within the film frame, studied through the art installations Divine Horsemen (2005) and People Inbetween (2007). It is focused through a reading of Gilles Deleuze’s Bergsonian philosophies of cinema as “movement-images” and “time-images” (Deleuze, 1989: xvi, xvii), exhibited as multi-screened video art installations that evolve within the space and hence exist in a perpetual state of “becoming”. Whether this is the sounds and images that change depending on where they are viewed, or the narrative theme of the works as “becoming other”. The themes of “in-betweenness” and the “mix” are investigated through these two video documentary artworks; first, by a third party restaging/remixing of the experimental ethnographic footage of Haitian Voodoo trance possession shot by Maya Deren, unfinished and posthumously released as Divine Horsemen the Voodoo Gods of Haiti (1985); and second, diaspora and the intercultural are explored through the first person personal. Intercultural documentary and experimental ethnography filtered through me with specific reference to my own triangular ethnicity, being British, Sri Lankan, though classified as Dutch Burgher, a “lost white tribe” (Orizio, 2000: 2): a journey into racial “becoming” as an “in-between” belonging to a diasporic community.

Esta dissertação se limita a registros de experiências e relatos documentais para evidenciar como as novas tecnologias alteram a prática religiosa, e refletir sobre a ressignificação de imagens sagradas do candomblé quando transitam entre meios audiovisuais e seus processos. A pesquisa objetiva seguir por trajetórias de registros do corpo humano em transe por diferentes dispositivos em diversos meios eletrônicos, para reuni-los em uma exposição de fotografias, vídeo e documentário expandido em múltiplas telas e diversos espaços dentro de uma série de instalações. O estudo amplia fronteiras entre o registro documental do evento religioso e sua reconstrução dentro do espaço expositivo, criando teias de relações entre as linguagens do cinema, fotografia, artes visuais e antropologia em espaços arquitetônicos complexos para potencializar uma experiência imersiva e sensorial. / This dissertation focuses on documentary records of experiences and interviews to examine how new technologies are changing religious practices, and how sacred images in the African-Brazilian religion of candomblé are being re-signified in transit between different eletronic and digital media. The research aims to chart the visual documentation of the human body in trance, generated by a wide variety of different devices, as it journeys through different media. The result of this study will generate an exhibition in which photography, video and documentary film will roam freely over multiple screens and various spaces within a particular venue. The study wishes to expand the boundaries between the documentation of a religious event and its reconstruction within the exhibition space, exploring multi-tiered relationships between cinema, photography, visual arts and anthropology in complex environments, in order to maximize the potential of an immersive, sensory experience.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-27T13:46:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WELTHON RODRIGUES CUNHA.pdf: 8617285 bytes, checksum: 597e9e9a788c2e3a1cf4865ce24020a7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-18 / This paper makes an analysis of psychic phenomena within the Spiritualist religion Kardecist. Mediumship is addressed as a symbolic system, which is articulated in a religious field itself, the psychic field and on which transit other forms of religiosity, such as Umbanda and Candomblé. Mediumship is regarded as a symbolic system complex and multifaceted, from four dimensions, namely the social level, the social group or micro, the individual and the paranormal. The paper focuses its analysis on the paranormal dimension, establishing a process of legitimation of science by spiritualism, mediated by science or parascience of parapsychology, which is appropriate and re-signified by intellectuals and researchers Brazilian spiritists, to the point of forming a field paranormal Brazilian where it is possible to establish a dialogue between science and religion spiritualist. The author of five chapters trace the entire route of the historical and ideological religiosity Spiritualist Kardecist and parapsychology, as well as what he calls the Brazilian paranormal field. Indicates the existence of a Brazilian spiritism, with religious connotations and different from the original French, which has a more scientific connotation. In the last chapter conducts a description and analysis of how the speech supposedly scientific parapsychology and science spiritualist and psychic interprets the phenomenon which the social function that interpretation plays for unification and institutionalization of spiritualism as a religion systematized. / O presente trabalho realiza uma análise do fenômeno mediúnico, dentro da religiosidade espírita kardecista. A mediunidade é abordada enquanto um sistema simbólico, que se articula dentro de um campo religioso próprio, o campo mediúnico e sobre o qual transitam outras formas de religiosidade, como a umbanda e o candomblé. A mediunidade é considerada como um sistema simbólico complexo e multifacetado, a partir de quatro dimensões, a saber, a dimensão social ampla, a social grupal ou micro, a individual e a paranormal. O trabalho centra a sua análise na dimensão paranormal, que estabelece um processo de legitimação do espiritismo pela ciência, mediatizada pela ciência ou paraciência da parapsicologia, que é apropriada e ressignificada por intelectuais e pesquisadores espíritas brasileiros, ao ponto de formar um campo paranormal brasileiro, onde é possível o estabelecimento de um diálogo entre ciência e religião espírita. O autor em cinco capítulos traça todo o itinerário histórico e ideológico da religiosidade espírita kardecista e da parapsicologia, bem como do que ele denomina de campo paranormal brasileiro. Aponta a existência de um espiritismo brasileiro, com conotação religiosa e diferente do original francês, que tem uma conotação mais científica. No último capítulo realiza uma descrição e análise de como o discurso pretensamente científico da parapsicologia e da ciência espírita interpreta o fenômeno mediúnico e qual a função social que esta interpretação desempenha para a institucionalização e unificação do espiritismo enquanto religião sistematizada.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2016-10-28T08:57:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Thales Barbosa Ramalho.pdf: 827307 bytes, checksum: 477da781d53d76afaa9ba540038f5464 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-28T08:57:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Thales Barbosa Ramalho.pdf: 827307 bytes, checksum: 477da781d53d76afaa9ba540038f5464 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The current research aimed to develop a critical analysis and bibliographic survey of the knowledge produced in the scientific literature of the Brazilian Psychology between 2000 and 2015, in what regards religious trance, trance and altered states of consciousness. The analysis purpose was to present when, where, who and how the studies in Psychology regarding religious trance have been conducted. To do so, a search in Brazilian journals of Psychology Qualis A1, A2, B1 and B2 was made from online articles published between 2000 and 2015, indexed on basis of virtual data BVS-Psi, with at least one psychologist author or coauthor. Taking into consideration these standards, the bibliographic review resulted in 17 articles, which were analyzed based on the following analysis categories: (1) Identification Category, (2) Theoretic-Methodologic Category, (3) Content Category. It was possible to observe a majority of psychologist authors (82,60%), with concluded or attending postgraduate education, linked with postgraduate institutions. There was a visible growing movement of publications between the years 2002 and 2010, which stabilized in 2011, but start decreasing in 2012 and 2013, and there were no more publications on the following years of 2014 and 2015. Some themes where recurrent, prevailing articles about religious trance (trance experiences characterization and differential diagnosis between positive religious trance experiences and psychopathological experiences), followed by articles related with the use of trance as a therapeutic tool through hypnosis, altered conscious experiences induced by psychoactive substances, and trance as an innate human potentiality related with aspects of spirituality. It was possible to raise some contributions of these studies for the Clinic Psychology and the psychotherapist work. It was possible to raise some contributions of these studies for the Clinic Psychology and the psychotherapist work, like: 1) the apparent therapeutic effects brought by religious trance experiences (search for health/ cure, insight/ self-knowledge); 2) differences between positive religious trance experiences from disruptive psychopathological experiences; 3) some articulations with theoretical-methodologic thoughts of Psychology, for understanding the meanings behind religious trance experiences; 4) Possible applications of techniques related to trance and conscious alteration in psychotherapy. But the low number of publications, considering the importance of the theme and its possible contributions for the Clinical Psychology, indicate that more studies in Brazil are necessary. (Support by CAPES) / A presente pesquisa teve por objetivo realizar uma análise crítica e mapeamento bibliográfico do conhecimento produzido na literatura científica da Psicologia no Brasil entre 2000 e 2015, no que se refere a transe religioso, transe e estados alterados de consciência. A análise buscou apresentar um levantamento sobre quando, onde, quem e como vem sendo desenvolvidos os estudos na Psicologia em relação à temática. Para tanto foi realizada uma busca em periódicos brasileiros de Psicologia com conceito Qualis/ CAPES A1, A2, B1 e B2 indexados na base de dados virtual BVS-Psi, por artigos online publicados de 2000 a 2015, contando com ao menos um psicólogo entre os autores de publicação. Levando em conta esses critérios, a revisão bibliográfica resultou em 17 artigos que foram analisados a partir das seguintes categorias de análise: (1) Características de Identificação, (2) Características Teórico-Metodológicas, (3) Características de Conteúdo. Foi possível observar uma prevalência por autores da Psicologia (82,60%), pós-graduados ou cursando pós-graduação. Houve crescimento na quantidade de publicações de 2002 a 2011, havendo uma redução em 2012 e 2013, notando-se uma inexistência de publicações nos anos seguintes a partir de 2014. Algumas temáticas foram recorrentes, prevalecendo artigos sobre transe religioso (caracterização de experiências de transe e diagnóstico diferencial entre experiências positivas de transe religioso e experiências psicopatológicas), seguidos por artigos relacionados ao uso do transe por meio da hipnose como técnica terapêutica, experiências de alteração de consciência induzidas pelo uso de substâncias psicoativas, e o transe como uma potencialidade inata do ser humano, relacionada a aspectos da espiritualidade. Foi possível levantar algumas contribuições desses estudos para a Psicologia Clínica e atuação do psicoterapeuta, como: 1) os efeitos terapêuticos que as experiências de transe religioso parecem trazer (busca de saúde/ cura, reflexão/ autoconhecimento); 2) a diferenciação das experiências positivas de transe religioso de experiências psicopatológicas de ruptura; 3) algumas articulações com reflexões teórico-metodológicas da psicologia para o entendimento dos significados das vivências de transe religioso; 4) aplicações possíveis de técnicas envolvendo a alteração de consciência e transe na psicoterapia. Mas o baixo número de publicações, levando em conta a importância desta temática e as contribuições possíveis para a Psicologia Clínica, aponta para uma reflexão maior sobre pesquisas a serem desenvolvidas no Brasil. (Apoio CAPES)

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-08-24T12:53:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Gislene Alves Marian.pdf: 3810122 bytes, checksum: 68c71e6434784ca2fb109aa83c8a4b7f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-24T12:53:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gislene Alves Marian.pdf: 3810122 bytes, checksum: 68c71e6434784ca2fb109aa83c8a4b7f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-18 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The present work had as methodological clipping to demonstrate how the experience inside the religion Umbanda, most specifically the trance process, assists on the psychic development of their adepts. We aim to comprehend how the participation in this religion can promote potentials and complexes’ integration and, in addition, contributes to a communication between psychology and the Umbanda’s cosmovision. Particularly, a study was conducted regarding the symbolic representation of the entities Exu and Pomba Gira and its relation with Anima and Animus, both concepts inherent to analytical psychology, evaluating the scenario under the same theoretical perspective (from junguian matrix), and from the bias of post-colonial theory. Conducting a field research with six umbandists mediuns, we were able to corroborate the hypothesis saying that through the religious experience of trance the entities provide intimal contact with the unconscious during a psychic experience capable of establish a relation between ego and self. We also believe that by highlighting the psychosocial and religious dimension of Exu and Pombagira on mediun’s personal development and by presenting it as a religion that is intimately related with diversity and plurality of the Brasilian society, we could cooperate to overcome the persistent prejudice that rounds the religions from african’s matrixes and its practitioners, decreasing at least a little the incomprehension that is inherent to them / A presente dissertação teve como recorte metodológico demonstrar como a experiência religiosa umbandista, especificamente o transe, auxilia no desenvolvimento psíquico de seus adeptos. Nosso objetivo foi compreender como a participação na Umbanda pode auxiliar na realização de potenciais e na integração de complexos, além de contribuir para um diálogo entre a psicologia e a cosmovisão umbandista. Em particular, desenvolvemos um estudo sobre a representação simbólica das entidades Exu e Pomba Gira e sua relação com Anima e Animus (conceitos presentes na Psicologia Analítica), avaliando o panorama sob esta mesma linha teórica, a partir da matriz junguiana, e sob o viés da Teoria Pós-Colonial. Através da pesquisa de campo com seis médiuns umbandistas, pudemos corroborar a hipótese de que, mediante a experiência religiosa do transe, as entidades proporcionam contato com o inconsciente durante uma experiência psíquica capaz de estabelecer a relação entre Ego e Self. Acreditamos também que, ao explicitar a dimensão psicossocial e religiosa das entidades Exu e Pomba Gira no desenvolvimento pessoal dos médiuns e ao apresentar a Umbanda como uma religião intimamente relacionada com a diversidade e a pluralidade da sociedade brasileira, conseguimos colaborar para a superação de preconceitos ainda persistentes em relação a ela e seus praticantes, diminuindo a incompreensão hoje inerente às religiões de matrizes africanas

<p>In this paper I discuss the theory of altered states of consciousness. Some of the rock art of the san-people in southern Africa and the lakota people in South Dakota, USA have been inspired by experiences during trance. The question is if some of the rock art in southern Scandinavia also have been inspired by trance experiences, and if archaeological scientists by investigating this theoretical view might find a better understanding as far as the Bronze Age in Southern Scandinavia is concerned.</p>

<p>Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG), or attenuated Mycobacterium bovis, is the gold standard of immunotherapy in the clinic to treat superficial bladder cancer. However, setbacks remain due to a high recurrence rate, side effects, and BCG-refractory disease. In this thesis, we explored the use of novel immunotherapeutic agents such as CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) or synthetic ODNs containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides. Since unmethylated CpG motifs are predominant in bacterial but not vertebrate DNA, they function as a “danger signal” leading to a potent immune response.</p><p>To be able to test various immunotherapeutic agents, we optimized subcutaneous (s.c.), metastatic, and orthotopic models using the murine bladder-49 (MB49) cancer cell line. In the orthotopic model, we show that poly-L-lysine promotes MB49 attachment to the bladder leading to 100% tumor take. In addition, Clorpactin (sodium oxychlorosene) potently enhances adenoviral transduction in the bladder.</p><p>Utilizing the MB49 model, we compare CpG ODNs with BCG and demonstrate the increased efficacy of CpG ODNs which could cure both s.c. and aggressive orthotopic bladder cancer. In our model, type B ODNs were most optimal and the antitumor response required T cells in order to induce regression and tumor-specific immunity. We also combined CpG ODNs with adenoviral vectors (Ad) expressing the immunostimulatory molecules CD40L, TRANCE, lymphotactin, IL2 or IL15. However, we show that CpG ODNs are effective as a monotherapy and adenoviral vectors did not enhance the effect.</p><p>AdCD40L was also used to genetically modify human dendritic cells (DCs). AdCD40L-transduced DCs not only had a higher and prolonged expression of the Th1 cytokine IL12 compared to TNFα-matured DCs, but CD40L-activated DCs could also resist the suppressive effects of IL10 and TGFβ. Since TNFα is commonly used in clinical DC vaccination protocols and because tumors often secrete immunosuppressive cytokines, these data have important implications for optimizing cancer immunotherapy.</p>

Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG), or attenuated Mycobacterium bovis, is the gold standard of immunotherapy in the clinic to treat superficial bladder cancer. However, setbacks remain due to a high recurrence rate, side effects, and BCG-refractory disease. In this thesis, we explored the use of novel immunotherapeutic agents such as CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) or synthetic ODNs containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides. Since unmethylated CpG motifs are predominant in bacterial but not vertebrate DNA, they function as a “danger signal” leading to a potent immune response. To be able to test various immunotherapeutic agents, we optimized subcutaneous (s.c.), metastatic, and orthotopic models using the murine bladder-49 (MB49) cancer cell line. In the orthotopic model, we show that poly-L-lysine promotes MB49 attachment to the bladder leading to 100% tumor take. In addition, Clorpactin (sodium oxychlorosene) potently enhances adenoviral transduction in the bladder. Utilizing the MB49 model, we compare CpG ODNs with BCG and demonstrate the increased efficacy of CpG ODNs which could cure both s.c. and aggressive orthotopic bladder cancer. In our model, type B ODNs were most optimal and the antitumor response required T cells in order to induce regression and tumor-specific immunity. We also combined CpG ODNs with adenoviral vectors (Ad) expressing the immunostimulatory molecules CD40L, TRANCE, lymphotactin, IL2 or IL15. However, we show that CpG ODNs are effective as a monotherapy and adenoviral vectors did not enhance the effect. AdCD40L was also used to genetically modify human dendritic cells (DCs). AdCD40L-transduced DCs not only had a higher and prolonged expression of the Th1 cytokine IL12 compared to TNFα-matured DCs, but CD40L-activated DCs could also resist the suppressive effects of IL10 and TGFβ. Since TNFα is commonly used in clinical DC vaccination protocols and because tumors often secrete immunosuppressive cytokines, these data have important implications for optimizing cancer immunotherapy.