O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar áreas de risco para a co-infecção HIV/TB no município de Ribeirão Preto através da distribuição espacial dos casos notificados em 2006. Trata-se de um estudo de caráter ecológico em que a unidade de observação é um conjunto de indivíduos do município de Ribeirão Preto-SP. A população do estudo foi constituída por 48 casos novos de co-infecção HIV/TB notificados e residentes em Ribeirão Preto no ano de 2006. As informações sobre os doentes de TB co-infectados foram coletadas do sistema de notificação TB-WEB. Outra fonte de informação utilizada foi a base de dados dos setores censitários do município disponibilizada pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) referentes ao censo demográfico do ano 2000. Para caracterização dos doentes foram selecionadas variáveis sócio-demográficas (sexo, data de nascimento, escolaridade e endereço do doente) e clínico-epidemiológicas (tipo de caso, forma clínica, tipo de tratamento, encerramento de caso e local de atendimento). Para caracterizar os setores censitários foram selecionadas variáveis relacionadas a: renda média dos responsáveis pelos domicílios, média de anos de instrução das pessoas responsáveis pelos domicílios, renda média das mulheres chefes de família, média de anos de instrução das mulheres chefes de família, proporção de pessoas analfabetas, proporção de mulheres analfabetas, porcentagem de domicílios com 5 ou mais moradores. Os casos novos de co-infecção selecionadas foram então georreferenciados utilizando-se o software ArcGIS 9.1, da Esri. A Unidade espacial de análise considerada foi a de setor censitário e a análise estatística realizada foi a de componentes principais. Após o cálculo dos fatores socioeconômicos, foi escolhido o responsável pela maior variação (83%) que foi chamado de fator socioeconômico. Dos setores que permaneceram para análise (633), estes foram ordenados de forma decrescente e divididos em tercis. Assim, os tercis foram classificados em 3 faixas socioeconômicas: superior (condições socioeconômicas mais favoráveis), intermediária e inferior (condições socioeconômicas desfavoráveis). Em 2006, no período da coleta, 190 casos de TB estavam notificados no TB-WEB, sendo 58 (30,5%) casos de co-infecção. Foram considerados para este estudo 48 casos novos de co-infecção. Os resultados mostraram que: 68,7% dos casos eram do sexo masculino, faixa etária de 20 a 39 anos (47,9%), 4 a 7 anos de escolaridade (58,3%), forma clínica pulmonar (75%), sob o tratamento supervisionado (48%), 48% foram curados e 31% em tratamento no HCFMRPUSP. A distribuição espacial mostrou uma concentração dos casos de co-infecção nas regiões oeste e norte do município (58,3%) e 52,1% dos casos localizam-se na faixa socioeconômica inferior, seguido da faixa intermediária. O estudo evidenciou a forte ligação entre o aparecimento da TB e aspectos sociais entre os casos de AIDS. O conhecimento de alguns determinantes sociais e mesmo a desigualdade que permeia um espaço geográfico pode favorecer um planejamento mais adequado de ações para controle dessas doenças. / This ecological study aimed to identify the risk areas for HIV/TB (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV/tuberculosis) co-infection in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, through the spatial distribution of the cases registered in 2006. The unit of observation was a set of individuals from Ribeirão Preto. The study population consisted of 48 new cases of HIV/TB co-infection, registered and of patients living in Ribeirão Preto in 2006. The information about co-infected TB patients was collected in the TB-WEB register system. Another source of information used was the database of the census sectors of the city, published by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE) regarding the demographic census of the year 2000. Sociodemographic variables (gender, birth date, educational level and address) and clinical-epidemiological variables (type of case, clinical form, type of treatment, case closing and venue of care) were selected for patients\' characterization. To characterize the census sectors, variables related to the following topics were selected: average income of the individuals responsible for the households, average years of education of the individuals responsible for the households, average income of the women head of families, average years of education of the women head of families, proportion of illiterate people, proportion of illiterate women, percentage of households with 5 or more residents. The selected new coinfection cases were then georeferentiated using the ArcGIS 9.1 software, by Esri. The census sector was considered the spatial analysis unit and the statistical analysis was carried out with the main components. After the calculation of the socioeconomic factors, the responsible for the main variation (83%) was chosen, and it was entitled socioeconomic factor. The sectors remaining for analysis (633) were ordered decreasingly and divided into tertiles. Thus, the tertiles were classified in socioeconomic bands: upper (more favorable socioeconomic conditions), intermediate and lower (unfavorable socioeconomic conditions). In 2006, during the data collection period, 190 TB cases were registered in the TB-WEB, of which 58 (30.5%) were cases of co-infection. In this study, 48 new cases of co-infection were considered. The results showed that: 68.7% of the cases were of male subjects, aged between 20 and 39 years of age (47.9%), having studied between 4 to 7 years (58.3%), pulmonary clinical form (75%), under supervised treatment (48%), 48% had been cured and 31% were under treatment at HCFMRP-USP (Hospital das Clinicas of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirao Preto Medical School). The spatial distribution showed the concentration of the cases of coinfection in the West and North regions of the city (58.3%) and 52.1% of the cases were located in the lower socioeconomic band, followed by the intermediate band. The study evidenced a strong relation between the outcome of TB and social aspects among the cases of AIDS. The knowledge of certain social determinants and even the inequality that permeates a geographic space can favor a more appropriate planning of actions for the control of these diseases.

Pouco mais de 20 anos marcam a disseminação da infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) em todo o mundo. Durante este período, avanços reais no diagnóstico, na clínica e na terapêutica podem ser observados como, por exemplo, a disponibilidade de 14 fármacos potencialmente ativos no combate direto ao vírus. Embora, nos últimos anos, os progressos no tratamento de pacientes infectados pelo HIV e/ou doentes com a síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS) tenham sido significativos, novos estudos mostram-se importantes na área de Fármacos e Medicamentos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo aplicar a tecnologia farmacêutica à produção e controle de fármacos e medicamentos anti-HIV/AIDS, em especial a zidovudina (AZT). A utilização de diversas técnicas físico-químicas e analíticas possibilitou o desenvolvimento de estudos relacionados à avaliação da estabilidade e decomposição térmica do AZT, de excipientes e de misturas físicas utilizadas para a obtenção de formas farmacêuticas sólidas; caracterização dos produtos sólidos e voláteis do processo de degradação térmica do AZT; determinação do grau de pureza, faixa de fusão e variação dos valores de entalpia de fusão de princípios ativos de AZT de diferentes procedências; síntese e caracterização de compostos de inclusão de AZT com ciclodextrinas e com sais de lantanídeos caracteristicamente luminescentes; avaliação da estabilidade acelerada e a longo prazo de cápsulas de AZT disponíveis no mercado brasileiro; determinação dos parâmetros cinéticos da decomposição térmica do conteúdo das cápsulas de AZT. O método de planejamento fatorial foi utilizado na avaliação estatística dos dados de cinética obtidos por termogravimetria (TG) não-isotérmica. Os estudos de pré-formulação indicaram que não há interação entre o AZT e a maioria dos excipientes testados. Algumas alterações nos perfis termoanalíticos foram observadas em relação aos excipientes PEG 4000, 6000 e 20000, PVP, sorbitol e polióxido de etileno (polyox30®). No processo de decomposição térmica do AZT destaca-se a formação de timina. A utilização do sistema simultâneo e acoplado TG/DTA-GC/MS viabilizou a identificação de furano e 2-furanometanol como produtos voláteis. Os ensaios de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) permitiram a determinação da temperatura de fusão (118,0 a 122,9°C), do ΔHfusão (valor médio 30 kJ.min-1) e da percentagem de pureza (97,5 a 99,8%) para seis amostras comerciais do fármaco. O complexo de inclusão com β-ciclodextrina pode ser formado pela solubilização das espécies em meio aquoso e posterior obtenção do produto sólido por liofilização ou secagem à pressão reduzida. A interação não ocorre pela simples mistura mecânica das espécies. Foram preparados complexos de tenoiltrifluoracetonatos (TTA) de terras raras (Eu3+ e Sm3+) com AZT que apresentam alta luminescência. Os dados de absorção na região do infravermelho (IV) do complexo [RE(TTA)3·(AZT)2] sugerem que o ligante está coordenado ao íon de terra rara pelo átomo de nitrogênio do grupo azido. Os dados de difração de raios X (DRX) indicaram que o complexo [Eu(TTA)3·(AZT)2] mostra-se não cristalino, diferentemente do AZT livre, do sal precursor hidratado [RE(TTA)3·2H2O] e da mistura física. O estudo da variabilidade de condições experimentais em TG, empregando o planejamento fatorial, mostrou que nenhum dos efeitos avaliados é significativo. Os valores de energia de ativação para as amostras comerciais de AZT variaram entre 120 a 142 kJ.mol-1, para o método não-isotérmico e, de 100 a 112 kJ.mol-1, para o método isotérmico. Os resultados obtidos no estudo cinético se mostraram reprodutíveis configurando-se assim como um parâmetro importante, por exemplo, para avaliação da equivalência farmacêutica juntamente com os testes farmacopêicos. / For over twenty years the dissemination of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) appeared in the world. Since then, considerable advances in the diagnosis, clinic and therapy have been observed currently three classes of drugs 14 agents are in use for HIV infection. Therefore, the long-term effectiveness of potent three-drug antiretroviral regimens for the treatment of HIV infected patients and/or patients with adquired immunodeficiency syndrome (SIDA) is limited by problems related to compliance and tolerability. The aim of this work to apply the pharmaceutical technology to the production and control of anti-HIV/SIDA drugs and medicines, especially for zidovudine (AZT). The use of different physico-chemical and analytical techniques rnade it possible to develop some related studies for the stability evaluation and thermal decomposition of AZT, excipients and physical mixtures used for obtaining solid dosage forms; characterization of the solid and volatiles products of the thermal degradation process of AZT; determination of the purity, melting point and enthalpy variation of AZT obtained from different laboratories; synthesis and characterization of AZT inclusion compounds with cyclodextrins and with lanthanides salts characteristically luminescent; evaluation of the accelerated stability and the long-time of AZT capsules available in the Brazilian Market; determination of the degradation kinetics parameters of the different AZT samples. The factorial design method was used in the statistical evaluation of the kinetic data obtained from non-isothermal thermogravimetry (TG). The pre-formulation studies by thermal analysis indicated that there were no interaction between the AZT and the majority of the tested excipients. Some changes in the thermoanalytical profiles were observed in relation to PEG 4000, 6000 and 20000, PVP, sorbitol and ethylene polyoxide (polyox 30®) excipients. In the thermal decomposition process of AZT was observed the formation of thymine. The use of simultaneous and coupled system TG/DTA-GC/MS made it possible to identify of furan and 2-furanmethanol as volatiles products. The differential scanning calorimetry experiments permitted the determination of the melting point (118,0 to 122,9°C), ΔHmelting (medium value 30 kJ.min-1) and purity percentage (97,5 a 99,8%) for six commercial samples of the drug. The inclusion complex of AZT/β-cyclodextrin was obtained by the dissolution of the species in water and the mixture was dried by lyophilization or under vacuum at room temperature. The interaction between the species do not occur in the simple physical mixture. In this work, thenoyltrifluoroacetonate complexes with trivalent europium and samarium were prepared using AZT as a ligand. The complex presented high luminescence. According to the results of IR spectroscopy of the complexes [RE(TTA)3·(AZT)2], it was suggested that the metal ion be coordinated through the nitrogen of the azide group. The powder X-ray diffractometry (DRX) indicated that the complexes [Eu(TTA)3·(AZT)2] are not crystalline while free AZT, hydrate precursor salt [RE(TTA)3·2H2O] and physical mixture are. The variability study of the influence of different experimental conditions from TG, using Factorial Design, showed that none of the effects are significative. The kinetic energy values for the commercial AZT samples varied between 120 to 142 kJ.mol-1, by non-isothermal conditions, and 100 to 112 kJ.mol-1, by dynamic method. The results obtained in the kinetic studies are reproducible. These parameters are important for the evaluation of pharmaceutical equivalence together with bioequivalence studies.

A mudança no perfil epidemiológico do HIV/aids favorece a desconstrução da ideia de morte iminente, sendo este agravo, hoje, considerado como uma doença crônica, na qual a qualidade da assistência configura-se como um importante determinante do sucesso dos programas no controle da epidemia, gerando impactos positivos nas condições de vida e de saúde dos indivíduos. Este estudo objetivou analisar a oferta das ações e serviços de saúde na assistência prestada às pessoas que vivem com Aids (PVHA) no município de Ribeirão Preto-SP. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, do tipo inquérito, com abordagem quantitativa. Participaram 301 PVHA em acompanhamento nos cinco Serviços de Assistência Especializada (SAE) em HIV/aids sob gestão municipal, considerando-se os seguintes critérios de inclusão: indivíduos maiores de 18 anos, com terapia antirretroviral instituída há mais de 6 meses, residentes no próprio município e não pertencentes ao sistema prisional. A coleta de dados foi realizada no período de julho/2011 a fevereiro/2012, por meio de entrevistas com apoio de um instrumento específico. Os dados foram analisados por meio da estatística descritiva. Quanto ao perfil dos sujeitos, identificou-se paridade entre os sexos, cor branca, envelhecimento populacional, indivíduos casados/união estável, heterossexuais, baixa escolaridade, predomínio da classe econômica C. Dentre os motivos que levaram ao diagnóstico doença, destacam-se o aparecimento de sinais e sintomas e o diagnóstico do parceiro, sendo a via sexual a principal forma de transmissão. A oferta de ações e serviços de saúde às PVHA pelos SAE do município, de modo geral, foi avaliada como regular, porém houve heterogeneidade entre os serviços. O SAE \"D\" foi o melhor avaliado pelas PVHA, e o SAE \"C\" obteve média significativamente menor do que os outros serviços. Houve predomínio de atividades clínico-biológicas, sendo os indicadores referentes ao manejo clínico da doença classificados como satisfatórios. Já a oferta de ações e serviços envolvendo outras necessidades e demandas de saúde dos usuários foram classificadas como regular e insatisfatória. O estudo apontou que a equipe especializada atende às recomendações e diretrizes clínicas para o tratamento das PVHA, contudo a dimensão do cuidar possui potencial de ampliação quando se considera os demais profissionais e recursos da rede de atenção à saúde. Apesar dos avanços científicos e tecnológicos, desafios são lançados à rede de atenção à saúde para a ampliação e sustentabilidade de um elenco de ações que se articulem na promoção do cuidado às PVHA, desde a prevenção, a assistência, inclusive a farmacêutica, a formação profissional, avançando, assim, na construção de um cuidado integral, integrado e resolutivo, compatível com as necessidades dos indivíduos, dada a complexidade da doença e sua configuração enquanto condição crônica / The changing epidemiology of HIV/AIDS allows the deconstruction of the idea of imminent death. This disease, today considered as a chronic disease, lies on the the quality of care that appears as an important determinant of the success of programs in both controll ing the epidemic and generating positive impacts on health and living conditions of individuals. This study aimed to analyze the offering of actions and availability of health services in assisting people living with AIDS (PLWHA) in Ribeirão Preto - SP. This is an exploratory study of the survey type, with a quantitative approach, with 301 PLWHA monitoring the five HIV/AIDS Specialized Assistance Services (SAS) under municipal management. We considered the following inclusion criteria: patients over 18 years on antiretroviral therapy for more than six months, residing in the county and outside the prison system. Data collection was performed in February 2011 to July 2012 through interviews by applying a specific instrument. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Regarding the profile of the subjects, we identified parity between sexes, white color, aging population, individuals who were married/ in common-law marriage, heterosexuals, with low education, predominance of economic class C. Among the reasons leading to disease diagnosis, we highlight the onset of signs and symptoms and the diagnosis of the partner, being the main transmission form the sexual one. The offering of actions and availability of health services to PLWHA by the SAS was evaluated as a regular, but there was heterogeneity among the services. SAS \"D\" was rated best by PVHA and SAS \"C\" achieved significantly lower rates than the other services. There was a predominance of clinical and biological activities, and the indicators for the clinical management of the disease were classified as satisfactory. In turn, range of services involving other health needs and demands of the users were classified as regular and unsatisfactory. The study found that the expert team meets clinical recommendations and guidelines for the treatment of PLWHA, however, the dimension of care has the potential for expansion when considering other professionals and resources of the health care network. Despite scientific and technological advances, challenges are thrown at health care for the expansion and sustainability of an articulated set of actions capable of promoting care for PLWHA, from prevention to care, -including pharmaceutical care - and perpassing professional training, thereby improving the development of a comprehensive, resolutive and integrated care, consistent with the needs of individuals, given the complexity of the disease and its configuration as a chronic condition

<p>Bakgrund: Varje dag smittas i genomsnitt cirka 14 000 personer av HIV i världen. Ny behandling har gjort att dessa patienter idag lever längre. Sjukdomsförlopp samt komplikationer går inte att förutsäga utan är individuellt. Eftersom personer med HIV/AIDS-diagnos nu lever längre kommer behovet av arbetsterapeutiska insatser att öka. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att beskriva arbetsterapeutiska insatser för personer med HIV/AIDS samt vilken roll arbetsterapeuten har i arbetet kring dessa personer. Metod: En systematisk litteraturstudie gjordes för att få svar på syftet. Resultat: Vi har kommit fram till att arbetsterapeutiska insatser för personer med HIV/AIDS kan delas in i fem teman; Handledning, Hjälpmedel och anpassning, Undervisning, Förhållningssätt samt Existentiella frågor och andlighet. Arbetsterapeuten hjälper patienten att formulera målsättningar och att uppnå ökad självständighet genom att bland annat tillhandahålla hjälpmedel och bedriva utbildning. HIV/AIDS-patienters bakgrund är viktig att tänka på då den kan visa hur mottaglig en patient är för olika arbetsterapeutiska behandlingsmetoder. Slutsats: Arbetsterapeutiska insatser som används i arbetet med HIV/AIDS-patienter skiljer sig inte mot insatser riktade till andra patientgrupper.</p>

<p>The quantitative findings indicated high levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge, self-concept and self-efficacy. Risky sexual behaviour was measured in terms of condom use and the number of sexual partners in the 12 months prior to the study with males reporting significantly more risky sexual behaviour. More males (70% vs. 43 % females) reported no condom use when engaging in sex. More males (62 % vs. 28 % females) reported having had two or more sexual partners in the 12 months prior to the study. Results also suggested that an increase in knowledge of HIV/AIDS would predict an increase in the use of condoms particularly for males. Lower self-efficacy seemed to predict an increase in the number of sexual partners for males. The focus group discussions highlighted students' views of HIV/AIDS knowledge in relation to their sexual practices, attitudes and sexual decision-making. Influences such as personal factors (self-concept and self-efficacy), social factors (e.g. peer influences, gender, and status) and environmental factors (e.g. media) were investigated. Participants also commented on the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS campaigns and the adequacy in provision of health services at college and community level. From the findings, guidelines were developed which may be used to reflect on current intervention programmes and may be considered when developing future interventions programmes, policies, or campaigns in promoting safer sexual practices amongst youth as a means of addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic.</p>

Bakgrund: Varje dag smittas i genomsnitt cirka 14 000 personer av HIV i världen. Ny behandling har gjort att dessa patienter idag lever längre. Sjukdomsförlopp samt komplikationer går inte att förutsäga utan är individuellt. Eftersom personer med HIV/AIDS-diagnos nu lever längre kommer behovet av arbetsterapeutiska insatser att öka. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att beskriva arbetsterapeutiska insatser för personer med HIV/AIDS samt vilken roll arbetsterapeuten har i arbetet kring dessa personer. Metod: En systematisk litteraturstudie gjordes för att få svar på syftet. Resultat: Vi har kommit fram till att arbetsterapeutiska insatser för personer med HIV/AIDS kan delas in i fem teman; Handledning, Hjälpmedel och anpassning, Undervisning, Förhållningssätt samt Existentiella frågor och andlighet. Arbetsterapeuten hjälper patienten att formulera målsättningar och att uppnå ökad självständighet genom att bland annat tillhandahålla hjälpmedel och bedriva utbildning. HIV/AIDS-patienters bakgrund är viktig att tänka på då den kan visa hur mottaglig en patient är för olika arbetsterapeutiska behandlingsmetoder. Slutsats: Arbetsterapeutiska insatser som används i arbetet med HIV/AIDS-patienter skiljer sig inte mot insatser riktade till andra patientgrupper.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a betaherpesvirus that infects up to 80% of the population worldwide, and establishes latency in monocytes and bone marrow cells. Reactivated HCMV can become an opportunistic pathogen in individuals who are immunocompromised, such as those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HCMV infection of AIDS patients causes a sight-threatening retinitis that leads to vision loss and blindness in up to 46% of this population without antiretroviral treatment. Because untreated HIV-infected individuals exhibit the loss of cell-mediated immunity and alterations in CD4+ T-helper (Th) cell cytokines, including elevation of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, and IL-17, we sought to test the hypothesis that these cytokines play key roles in governing the susceptibility to AIDS-related HCMV retinitis. This hypothesis was tested utilizing a clinically relevant mouse model of experimental murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) retinitis that occurs in C57BL/6 mice immunosuppressed by mouse retroviruses (MAIDS). Studies revealed that MAIDS progression was associated with increased levels of IL-4 and IL-10, cytokines whose production has been associated with diminished CD8+ T-cell-mediated immunity during HIV infection. However, MCMV–infected eyes of retinitis-susceptible IL-4-/- or IL-10-/- MAIDS mice exhibited frequency and severity of retinitis and viral titers equivalent to MCMV-infected eyes of wild-type MAIDS animals. These studies indicated that neither IL-4 nor IL-10 alone play key roles in increased susceptibility to MCMV retinitis. In comparison, IL-17, an inflammatory cytokine associated with the ocular autoimmune disease uveitis, was systemically increased during the progression of MAIDS, but MCMV-infected eyes of retinitis-susceptible MAIDS mice exhibited a significant reduction in IL-17. These findings suggested that IL-17 plays no direct role in the pathogenesis of experimental MCMV retinitis. However, these results also suggested the remarkable possibility that MCMV downregulates IL-17 production, a hypothesis supported by the observation that systemic MCMV infection of healthy and MAIDS mice resulted in the downregulation of IL-17. Mechanistic studies revealed that knockdown of IL-10 resulted in a partial recovery IL-17 levels during MCMV infection. We conclude that MCMV-induced IL-17 downregulation occurs via the stimulation of IL-10 and the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3. Taken together, our results add new information to the immunobiology of HCMV and to our basic understanding of the pathogenesis of AIDS-related HCMV retinitis.

Toxoplasmosis is an important cause of congenital disease, and it is one of the most common opportunistic infections in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The need for a reliable experimental model of this infection is crucial not only for achieving a better understanding of the patho-physiology of the disease, but also for developing better methods for evaluating new therapeutic regimens. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of CD4+CD25+ T regulatory lymphocytes in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. T regulatory (Treg) cells have been shown to play an important role in our immune system in controlling the activity of other T lymphocytes. These cells are differentiated from other T lymphocyte populations based on the co-expression of CD4 and CD25 and expression of the Foxp3 gene. The results of several recent studies have suggested that certain pathogens may be able to increase their survival in the host by exploiting T reg cell activity. T regulatory cells have been shown to control the persistence of the protozoan parasite, Leishmania major, in mice; however, this population of cells plays only a limited role during murine infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. In the present study we have investigated the role of Treg cells during murine infection with the ME49 strain of T. gondii. In vivo depletion of Treg cells was accomplished by injecting mice with a monoclonal antibody (Mab) isolated from the 7D4 rat hybridoma cell line. This Mab is specific for the interleukin-2 receptor chain (also known as CD25). Female Swiss Webster mice of approximately 6-7 weeks of age were depleted of Treg cells by intraperitoneal injection of 400µg of Mab, mice were injected once 7days prior to infection, and a second time 1 day prior to infection, with 20 tissue cysts of T. gondii. Mouse weight and tissue cyst numbers were monitored to evaluate the impact of Treg depletion on the outcome of infection. Our results suggest that depletion of Treg cells has little measurable impact during the acute stage of infection with the ME49 strain of T. gondii. Further studies will be required to determine what role, if any, these cells play in the chronic stage of murine toxoplasmosis.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 193-209).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-140).