The laser-induced holographic grating technique was employed to study the dynamic of the intensity grating formation in the azo-dye doped liquid crystals. The liquid crystal material in this study has several mesomorphic phases: Smectic C, Smectic A, Nematic and Isotropic. The first order of diffraction in the mesomorphic phases have been investigated by changing the polarizations of the probe beam.

O presente estudo avaliou a ocorrência de imunoparalisia e sua associação com pior prognóstico em pacientes pediátricos internados em uma UTI de hospital terciário. Para determinar a presença de imunoparalisia procedeu-se a dosagem da expressão de mHLA-DR usando o QuantiBRITE TM Anti HLA-DR/ Anti- Monocyte, um novo reagente que padroniza os valores da citometria de fluxo para o mHLA-DR. Determinamos a expressão de mHLA-DR em 30 pacientes com sepse grave ou choque sépticos admitidos na UTI Pediátrica no período do estudo, mHLA-DR foi quantificado por duas vezes: entre os dias 3 a 5 (mHLA-DR1) e 5 a 7 (mHLA-DR2) após o inicio do quadro séptico. Também foi calculado o deltamHLA-DR (mHLA-DR2 - mHLA-DR1). Dosamos, ainda, o mHLA-DR em vinte e um controles hígidos. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar se a expressão de mHLA-DR correlaciona-se com a mortalidade em pacientes sépticos pediátricos. Os resultados mostram que o mHLA-DR foi significativamente menor nos pacientes sépticos do que nos controles (p = 0.0001). A mortalidade foi de 46% nos pacientes com valores negativos ou < 1000 mAb/cell de deltaHLA-DR, e 7% em pacientes com valores positivos ou > 1000 mAb/cell de deltaHLADR. O deltamHLA-DR médio foi significativamente diferente entre sobreviventes e pacientes que foram a óbito (p = 0.023). Dessa forma, após a análise estatística dos resultados concluímos que o deltaHLA-DR correlaciona-se com a mortalidade em pacientes pediátricos com sepse grave e choque séptico / This study analysis the presence of Immunoparalysis and its association with prognosis in pediatric septic patients of a Tertiary Intensive Care Unit. To determine the presence of immunoparalysis we performed the mHLA-DR dosage using the QuantiBRITE TM Anti HLA-DR/ Anti- Monocyte, a novel reagent that standardizes flow cytometry values. We determined mHLA-DR expression in 30 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock admitted to PICU, mHLA-DR expression was quantified between days 3-5 and 5-7 after the onset of sepsis and calculated the deltamHLA-DR (mHLA-DR2 - mHLADR1). We also measured mHLA-DR levels in twenty-one healthy patients. The objective of this study was to determine if mHLA-DR values correlate with mortality in pediatric septic patients. The results showed that the mean mHLA-DR expression was significantly lower in septic patients compared with controls (p = 0.0001). Mortality was 46% in patients with negative deltaHLA-DR or < 1000 mAb/cell and 7% in patients with positive deltaHLA-DR or > 1000 mAb/cell. Mean deltamHLA-DR levels were significantly different between survivors and non-survivors (p = 0.023). After statistical analysis we concluded that deltaHLA-DR correlates with mortality in pediatric patients with septic shock or severe sepsis

O presente estudo avaliou a ocorrência de imunoparalisia e sua associação com pior prognóstico em pacientes pediátricos internados em uma UTI de hospital terciário. Para determinar a presença de imunoparalisia procedeu-se a dosagem da expressão de mHLA-DR usando o QuantiBRITE TM Anti HLA-DR/ Anti- Monocyte, um novo reagente que padroniza os valores da citometria de fluxo para o mHLA-DR. Determinamos a expressão de mHLA-DR em 30 pacientes com sepse grave ou choque sépticos admitidos na UTI Pediátrica no período do estudo, mHLA-DR foi quantificado por duas vezes: entre os dias 3 a 5 (mHLA-DR1) e 5 a 7 (mHLA-DR2) após o inicio do quadro séptico. Também foi calculado o deltamHLA-DR (mHLA-DR2 - mHLA-DR1). Dosamos, ainda, o mHLA-DR em vinte e um controles hígidos. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar se a expressão de mHLA-DR correlaciona-se com a mortalidade em pacientes sépticos pediátricos. Os resultados mostram que o mHLA-DR foi significativamente menor nos pacientes sépticos do que nos controles (p = 0.0001). A mortalidade foi de 46% nos pacientes com valores negativos ou < 1000 mAb/cell de deltaHLA-DR, e 7% em pacientes com valores positivos ou > 1000 mAb/cell de deltaHLADR. O deltamHLA-DR médio foi significativamente diferente entre sobreviventes e pacientes que foram a óbito (p = 0.023). Dessa forma, após a análise estatística dos resultados concluímos que o deltaHLA-DR correlaciona-se com a mortalidade em pacientes pediátricos com sepse grave e choque séptico / This study analysis the presence of Immunoparalysis and its association with prognosis in pediatric septic patients of a Tertiary Intensive Care Unit. To determine the presence of immunoparalysis we performed the mHLA-DR dosage using the QuantiBRITE TM Anti HLA-DR/ Anti- Monocyte, a novel reagent that standardizes flow cytometry values. We determined mHLA-DR expression in 30 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock admitted to PICU, mHLA-DR expression was quantified between days 3-5 and 5-7 after the onset of sepsis and calculated the deltamHLA-DR (mHLA-DR2 - mHLADR1). We also measured mHLA-DR levels in twenty-one healthy patients. The objective of this study was to determine if mHLA-DR values correlate with mortality in pediatric septic patients. The results showed that the mean mHLA-DR expression was significantly lower in septic patients compared with controls (p = 0.0001). Mortality was 46% in patients with negative deltaHLA-DR or < 1000 mAb/cell and 7% in patients with positive deltaHLA-DR or > 1000 mAb/cell. Mean deltamHLA-DR levels were significantly different between survivors and non-survivors (p = 0.023). After statistical analysis we concluded that deltaHLA-DR correlates with mortality in pediatric patients with septic shock or severe sepsis

Les modèles animaux jouent un rôle crucial dans les recherches précliniques, mais il existe plusieurs limites. Les états physiologiques et immunologiques chez les murins et les primates non humains sont radicalement différents à ceux de l'homme, en particulier la restriction du CMH, qui ne peut éliminer l'influence de la spécificité de l'espèce dans les expériences précliniques. Le but du travail était de générer un niveau plus élevé de souris transgéniques «HLA humanisées» qui pourraient imiter les réponses immunitaires humaines avec plus de précision et de fiabilité; à viser d’appliquer pour l'évaluation préclinique de la transplantation humaine, à l'identification de nouveaux épitopes et à l'évaluation des vaccins et des médicaments candidats. Dans la première partie. Nous rapportons d’une nouvelles souris transgéniques HLA immunodéficientes «HUMAMICE». Des souris HLA-A2+/+/DR1+/+/H-2-β2m-/-/IAβ-/-/Rag2-/-/IL-2rγ-/-/Perf-/- ont été établies, lesquelles exprimaient des molécules HLA humaines au lieu de H-2 murines et ne présentaient pas de lymphocytes murins. Ce statut immunodéficient a été inversé en transférant les cellules hPBMC HLA appariées fonctionnelles pour produisant ensuite des souris ayant un statut immuno-compétent avec un système immunitaire humain fonctionnel. L'immunisation du vaccin HBsAg a permis d'obtenir une production robuste et reproductible d'anticorpsspécifiques. En conclusion, ces résultats indiquent que le modèle hPBMC-HUMAMICE représente un modèle prometteur pour disséquer les réponses immunitaires humaines aux maladies humaines. Dans la seconde partie de cette étude, les souris HLA-A11+/+/DR1+/+/H-2-β2m-/-/IAβ-/- ont été établies. Cette nouvelle souche de souris possède une caractéristique restreinte par HLA-A11 et une capacité normale à répondre aux antigènes. L'immunisation de souris avec un vaccin recombinant HBsAg contre le VHB ou une protéine recombinante du VIH-1 a entraîné la génération de lymphocytes T cytotoxiques producteurs d'IFN-y et d'anticorps spécifiques. En outre, nous avons identifié deux épitopes restreints par HLA-A11 de la protéine GP EBOV et quatre de la protéine MERS-CoV S. En fin, ce modèle de souris HLA-A11/DR1 pourra faciliter l'identification des épitopes de lymphocytes cytotoxiques et auxiliaires restreints par le HLA-A11 dominants en Chine. Le modèle constituer un nouvel outil technique prometteur pour comprendre les mécanismes immunologiques et les nouveaux vaccins pour les populations d’Asie de l’Est. Durant cette thèse, nous avons créé deux modèles de souris humanisées novateurs et prometteurs portant une restriction HLA humaine qui pourraient servir de modèles d'infection pathogène et étudier les tumeurs, les mécanismes de transplantation et l'invention et l'évaluation des vaccins et des médicaments. / Animal models play critical roles in pre-clinical researches, while there are still several limitations. The physiological and immunological states in murine and non-human primates are radically district from those of mankind, especially the MHC restriction, which cannot eliminate the influence of species specificity in pre-clinical experiments.The aim of our work was to generate a higher level of “humanized” transgenic mice which could mimic human immune responses with more accuracy and reliability; furthermore, to apply the novel models in the evaluation of human transplantation, the identification of new epitopes, and the evaluation of candidate vaccines and drugs.In the first part of the study, novel immuno-deficient HLA transgenic mice "HUMAMICE" (HLA-A2+/+/DR1+/+/ H-2-β2m-/-/IAβ-/-/Rag2-/-/IL-2rγ-/-/Perf-/- mice) were established, which expressed human HLA molecules instead of murine H-2 and present no murine lymphocytes. This immuno-deficient status was reversed by transferring the functional HLA-matched hPBMCs and then producing mice with an immuno-competent status with a functional human immune system, led to high lymphocytes engraftment rates without GvHD. Immunization of HBsAg vaccine resulted in robust and reproducible production of specific antibodies. Inconclusion, these results indicated that the hPBMCs-HUMAMICE model represents a promising model to dissect human immune responses towards human diseases.In the second part of this study, the Chinese/East Asian HLA dominated HLA-A11/DR1(HLA-A11+/+/DR1+/+/H-2-β2m-/-/IAβ-/-) transgenic mouse strain was established. This novel mouse strain possesses HLA-restricted characteristic and a normal ability to respond to antigens. Immunization of mice with a recombinant HBV vaccine or a recombinant HIV-1 protein resulted in the generation of IFN-γ-producing cytotoxic T lymphocytes and specific antibodies. Furthermore, we identified two HLA-A11 restricted epitopes of EBOV GP protein and four of MERS-CoV S protein. Above all, HLA-A11/DR1 mice could facilitate the identification of Chinese dominant HLA-restricted CTL and Th epitopes and provide a new promising technical tool to understand immunological mechanisms and new vaccines.Taken together, we created two novel and promising humanize mouse models carrying human HLA restriction which could apply as pathogen infection models, and study tumors, transplantation mechanism, and the invention and evaluation of vaccines and drugs.

Polímeros com grupos azobenzênicos exibindo fotoisomerização reversível trans-cis-trans tem sido usado para armazenamento óptico, chaves ópticas e produção de grades de relevo. A fotoisomerização produzida por luz linearmente polarizada cria uma orientação molecular perpendicular a polarização da luz (hole-burning angular) que induz a birrefringência na amostra. Neste trabalho, medimos a birrefringência foto induzida em filmes de poliestireno dopado com corante vermelho disperso 1 (DR1) em função da temperatura. A amplitude da birrefringência aumenta com a temperatura entre 20 e 180 K, atinge um máximo e diminui a zero próximo da temperatura de transição vítrea do polímero, a qual é da ordem de 373 K. A amplitude da birrefringência é proporcional a concentração de DR1 e também depende da história térmica da amostra. Propõe-se um modelo teórico que leva em conta a mudança de volume livre do polímero com a temperatura, representando um passo além dos modelos conhecidos. Assumimos que as moléculas de DR1 ocupam cavidades do polímero e a função distribuição Gama é usada para descrever a distribuição dos volumes das cavidades, enquanto a função Gaussiana descreve as flutuações térmicas de volume em torno de seu valor médio. A isomerização das moléculas de DR1 só podem ocorrer em cavidades com volume maior que um valor crítico. A comparação entre o modelo e os dados experimentais mostra uma razoável concordância. O modelo prevê corretamente a dependência da birrefringência com o tempo, com a temperatura e com a história térmica da amostra, já que o volume livre do polímero depende dessa história. / Polymers with azobenzene groups exhibiting reversible trans-cis-trans photoisomerization characteristics have been used for optical storage, optical switching and production of surface relief gratings. The photoisomerization produced by a linearly polarized light leads to a molecular orientation perpendicular to the light polarization (angular hole burning), which induces a birefringence on the sample. In this work we report on the photoisomerization of films of polystyrene (PS) doped with disperse red 1 (DR1), performed at various temperatures. The birefringence amplitude rises with temperature from 10 to 270 K, goes through a maximum and decays to zero near the polystyrene transition temperature, which is 370 K. The birefringence amplitude, at a given temperature, is proportional to the DR1 content and also depends on the sample thermal history. We proposed a model that accounts for the change in free volume of the polymer with temperature though representing an improvement to well-known models. We assume that the azobenzene group is inside a local free volume and the Gamma distribution function is used to describe a local free volume distribution in the sample while the Gaussian distribution function gives the thermal free-volume fluctuation. Isomerization of the azobenzene group only occurs if the local free volume is larger than a critical value. Comparison with the experimental data shows that the model explains the temporal evolution, the temperature dependence of the birefringence and how the birefringence is affected by the sample thermal history, as the sample free volume of the polymer depends on such history.

HLA-DR1 transgenic (DR1 Tg) mice provide a model for evaluating the breadth and specificity of CD4 T cell responses that may develop in humans following influenza infection or vaccination. Recent studies identified a tremendously broad HLA-DR1-restricted CD4 T cell responses in DR1 Tg mice infected intranasally with influenza A/New Caledonia/20/99 (NC). In this study, our goals were to characterize B cell responses after NC infection in DR1 Tg mice and establish the correlation between B cell responses and CD4 T cell responses in this system. Influenza-specific B cell responses following virus administration were analyzed in DR1 Tg mice and in the genetically matched H-2b strain C57BL/10J (B10). Following intranasal (i.n.) NC infection, B cell responses in B10 mice featured strong IgG2b and IgG2c production and were typical of previously described B cell responses to a variety of mouse-adapted influenza strains. In contrast, B cell responses in DR1 Tg mice followed delayed kinetics and were strongly skewed to IgG1 production, suggesting the Th2 polarization of CD4 T cell responses. The different antibody isotype profile in DR1 Tg mice compared to B10 mice was evident in antibody secreting cells (ASCs) frequencies and in circulating Abs levels. Surprisingly, although DR1 Tg mice had lower influenza-specific Abs levels, they exhibited higher neutralizing Abs titers early in the response. B cell responses following intranasal infection of influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (PR8) or intramuscular vaccination of inactivated NC in DR1 Tg mice were different from the observed IgG1 bias after i.n. NC infection. After i.n. PR8 infection, B cell responses were similar in DR1 Tg mice and B10 mice, characterized by predominant IgM/IgG3 production. Additionally, following intramuscular administration of inactivated NC, B cell responses were skewed towards IgG2c production in both DR1 Tg mice and B10 mice, suggesting the Th1 polarization of CD4 T cell responses. A mechanistic understanding of IgG1/Th2 biased B cell responses and better neutralizing Abs production in DR1 Tg mice following i.n. NC infection may have implications for the optimal control of influenza infection.

HLA-DR1 transgenic (DR1 Tg) mice provide a model for evaluating the breadth and specificity of CD4 T cell responses that may develop in humans following influenza infection or vaccination. Recent studies identified a tremendously broad HLA-DR1-restricted CD4 T cell responses in DR1 Tg mice infected intranasally with influenza A/New Caledonia/20/99 (NC). In this study, our goals were to characterize B cell responses after NC infection in DR1 Tg mice and establish the correlation between B cell responses and CD4 T cell responses in this system. Influenza-specific B cell responses following virus administration were analyzed in DR1 Tg mice and in the genetically matched H-2b strain C57BL/10J (B10). Following intranasal (i.n.) NC infection, B cell responses in B10 mice featured strong IgG2b and IgG2c production and were typical of previously described B cell responses to a variety of mouse-adapted influenza strains. In contrast, B cell responses in DR1 Tg mice followed delayed kinetics and were strongly skewed to IgG1 production, suggesting the Th2 polarization of CD4 T cell responses. The different antibody isotype profile in DR1 Tg mice compared to B10 mice was evident in antibody secreting cells (ASCs) frequencies and in circulating Abs levels. Surprisingly, although DR1 Tg mice had lower influenza-specific Abs levels, they exhibited higher neutralizing Abs titers early in the response. B cell responses following intranasal infection of influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (PR8) or intramuscular vaccination of inactivated NC in DR1 Tg mice were different from the observed IgG1 bias after i.n. NC infection. After i.n. PR8 infection, B cell responses were similar in DR1 Tg mice and B10 mice, characterized by predominant IgM/IgG3 production. Additionally, following intramuscular administration of inactivated NC, B cell responses were skewed towards IgG2c production in both DR1 Tg mice and B10 mice, suggesting the Th1 polarization of CD4 T cell responses. A mechanistic understanding of IgG1/Th2 biased B cell responses and better neutralizing Abs production in DR1 Tg mice following i.n. NC infection may have implications for the optimal control of influenza infection.

Polímeros com grupos azobenzênicos exibindo fotoisomerização reversível trans-cis-trans tem sido usado para armazenamento óptico, chaves ópticas e produção de grades de relevo. A fotoisomerização produzida por luz linearmente polarizada cria uma orientação molecular perpendicular a polarização da luz (hole-burning angular) que induz a birrefringência na amostra. Neste trabalho, medimos a birrefringência foto induzida em filmes de poliestireno dopado com corante vermelho disperso 1 (DR1) em função da temperatura. A amplitude da birrefringência aumenta com a temperatura entre 20 e 180 K, atinge um máximo e diminui a zero próximo da temperatura de transição vítrea do polímero, a qual é da ordem de 373 K. A amplitude da birrefringência é proporcional a concentração de DR1 e também depende da história térmica da amostra. Propõe-se um modelo teórico que leva em conta a mudança de volume livre do polímero com a temperatura, representando um passo além dos modelos conhecidos. Assumimos que as moléculas de DR1 ocupam cavidades do polímero e a função distribuição Gama é usada para descrever a distribuição dos volumes das cavidades, enquanto a função Gaussiana descreve as flutuações térmicas de volume em torno de seu valor médio. A isomerização das moléculas de DR1 só podem ocorrer em cavidades com volume maior que um valor crítico. A comparação entre o modelo e os dados experimentais mostra uma razoável concordância. O modelo prevê corretamente a dependência da birrefringência com o tempo, com a temperatura e com a história térmica da amostra, já que o volume livre do polímero depende dessa história. / Polymers with azobenzene groups exhibiting reversible trans-cis-trans photoisomerization characteristics have been used for optical storage, optical switching and production of surface relief gratings. The photoisomerization produced by a linearly polarized light leads to a molecular orientation perpendicular to the light polarization (angular hole burning), which induces a birefringence on the sample. In this work we report on the photoisomerization of films of polystyrene (PS) doped with disperse red 1 (DR1), performed at various temperatures. The birefringence amplitude rises with temperature from 10 to 270 K, goes through a maximum and decays to zero near the polystyrene transition temperature, which is 370 K. The birefringence amplitude, at a given temperature, is proportional to the DR1 content and also depends on the sample thermal history. We proposed a model that accounts for the change in free volume of the polymer with temperature though representing an improvement to well-known models. We assume that the azobenzene group is inside a local free volume and the Gamma distribution function is used to describe a local free volume distribution in the sample while the Gaussian distribution function gives the thermal free-volume fluctuation. Isomerization of the azobenzene group only occurs if the local free volume is larger than a critical value. Comparison with the experimental data shows that the model explains the temporal evolution, the temperature dependence of the birefringence and how the birefringence is affected by the sample thermal history, as the sample free volume of the polymer depends on such history.

La détermination expérimentale des composantes du tenseur d'hyper-polarisabilité est essentielle au développement de nouvelles molécules possédant des propriétés d'optique non-linéaire. La diffusion harmonique de la lumière (DHL) correspond à un phénomène de diffusion non linéaire de la lumière pour laquelle les molécules considérées sont dans une solution isotrope. Du fait des fluctuations d'orientations et de positions des molécules, seules six observables, où invariants orientationnels, sont mesurables par DHL. Afin de déterminer expérimentalement ces six observables, nous avons mis au point un polarimètre à lame de phase tournantes fonctionnant avec une source laser impulsionnelle accordable en longueur d'onde et dédié au mesures de diffusion harmonique de la lumière. Nous avons dans un premier temps optimisé l'architecture du montage polarimétrique en nous appuyant sur la réduction du nombre de conditionnement de la matrice d'appareil, réduisant par la même les erreurs statistiques. Puis nous avons étalonné le montage au moyen d'un échantillon référence dédié à la conversion de longueur d'onde, afin de réduire les erreurs systématiques. Enfin, nous avons réalisé des mesures de diffusion harmonique de la lumière sur deux molécules connues, le DR1 et le Cristal Violet.

Les phénomènes de l'optique non linéaire permettent de réaliser des dispositifs plus efficaces et plus compacts assurant des fonctions telles que la conversion de fréquence ou le traitement du signal. Cependant, les applications dans le domaine de photonique nécessitent la synthèse des matériaux performants et spécifiques. En raison de leur facilité de mise en oeuvre et de leur possibilité d'optimisation, des composés organiques conjugués de type push-pull ont été synthétisés. Ce travail de thèse concerne, en première partie, l'étude des propriétés optiques linéaires et non linéaires des molécules photochromiques, de type azobenzène, associées à des systèmes polymériques. Ensuite, une nouvelle structure moléculaire à base de la molécule 'la quinoléine' a été étudiée. Ces systèmes à fort transfert de charge intramoléculaire représentent des matériaux mieux adaptés et des candidats intéressants pour ce domaine. Une étude expérimentale et théorique des propriétés de ces molécules a été effectuée au moyen de différentes techniques (SHG, THG, Z-scan, Effet Kerr Optique) en utilisant des sources laser impulsionnels (532nm et 1064 nm). Des bons résultats ont été obtenus, montrent l'influence des processus de transfert d'électrons ainsi que l'effet des groupements donneurs et accepteurs d'électrons sur l'amélioration des propriétés optique non linéaire du deuxième et du troisième ordre.