Dans la perspective de la réalisation de luminophores pour écrans cathodiques, une étude de la luminescence de l'europium dans des réseaux-hôtes soufres caracterisés par une large bande interdite a été réalisée. La première partie porte sur l'élaboration des sulfures MS et la détermination des facteurs influençant leurs rendements de photoluminescence et de cathodoluminescence. La seconde est consacrée a l'étude des systèmes MS-Al2S3 et MS-SiS2. De nouveaux thioaluminates ont ete isoles; les donnees cristallographiques sur les thiosilicates ont été complétées. La dernière partie rassemble les résultats d' une étude comparative de la luminescence de Eu2+ dans les thioaluminates, thiogallates et thiosilicates alcalino-terreux: distribution spectrale, rendements, extinction thermique...

Daktaro disertacija parengta tėvų atsakomybės vaikams tematika. Jurisdikcijos taisyklės, bendrosios nuostatos ir jų taikymas bylose dėl tėvų pareigų vaikams pagal Reglamentą Briuselis IIa yra pagrindinės problemos, patenkančios į empirinio tyrimo sritį. Disertacijoje pateikiama Europos Sąjungos Teisingumo Teismo praktikos analizė, o taip pat Lietuvos Respublikos bei kai kurių kitų Europos Sąjungos valstybių narių teismų praktikos analizė. Disertacinio tyrimo objektas apima jurisdikcijos taisykles ir bendrąsias procesines nuostatas reglamentuojančią tarptautinės teisės ir Europos Sąjungos teisės aktų sistemą bylų dėl tėvų pareigų vaikams vykdymo, kurios turi Europos Sąjungos elementą, nagrinėjimui. Tyrimo tikslas – išanalizuoti Reglamento nuostatas, reglamentuojančias jurisdikcijos taisykles ginčams, kylantiems dėl tėvų pareigų vaikams vykdymo, spręsti, atskleisti jų autentiško aiškinimo problematiką, taip pat atlikti išsamią bendrųjų procesinių nuostatų tokiose kategorijose bylų analizę bei empiriškai nustatyti, ar Reglamento nuostatos yra pakankamos ir veikia efektyviai, o taip pat, ar Lietuvos Respublikos teisinis reguliavimas bei tiesioginio Europos Sąjungos teisės taikymo praktika, nagrinėjant šeimos bylas dėl tėvų pareigų vaikams vykdymo, atitinka Europos Sąjungos Teisingumo Teismo formuojamą praktiką. Pabaigoje pateikiami Reglamento bei nacionalinio teisinio reguliavimo tobulinimo pasiūlymai. / Doctoral dissertation is devoted to the theme of parental responsibility. Rules of jurisdiction, common provisions and the application of them in parental responsibility cases under the Regulation Brussels IIa are main issues that fall within the scope of empirical research. The thesis produces a comprehensive analysis of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union as well as the judicial practice of the national courts of the Republic of Lithuania and some other European countries. The object of the research encompasses the system of international and European instruments that regulate the rules of jurisdiction and common provisions for hearing parental responsibility cases that have European element. The goal of the research is to analyse the provisions of the Regulation, regulating the rules of jurisdiction for disputes arising in parental responsibility matters, also to reveal the problems of interpretation of these provisions and to fulfil a comprehensive analysis of common provisions that are applied in the above mentioned cases. Then to identify empirically if the provisions of the Regulation are sufficient and work effectively, and the national legislation, implementing the Regulation, and direct application of the Regulation is compatible with the aims of the European Union and the practice of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Finally, the proposals for the refinement of the Regulation text and national legislation are given.

L’érythropoïèse est le processus de formation des globules rouges. L’anémie demeure à l’heure actuelle un problème de santé publique majeur. Par conséquent, une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes impliqués dans le contrôle de ce processus dans des conditions physiologiques et pathologiques, ainsi que l’établissement de stratégies thérapeutiques ciblées constituent un enjeu de recherche majeur. Le récepteur de la transferrine 1 (CD71/RTf1) est un élément essentiel de l'érythropoïèse, la majorité des travaux de recherche étant focalisés sur son rôle indéniable dans le métabolisme du fer. Cependant, de nouveaux ligands du RTf1 ont été découverts ouvrant de nouvelles perspectives relatives aux fonctionnalités de ce récepteur. Ayant démontré que le RTf1 fixait les immunoglobulines A1 (IgA1), nous nous sommes intéressés au rôle des IgA1 dans l’érythropoïèse. Nous montrons que le RTf1 lié aux polymères d'IgA1 (pIgA1) induit la croissance et une augmentation de la prolifération des érythroblastes en concentration sous-optimale d'érythropoïétine (Epo). De même, l'expression transgénique d’IgA1 humaine (souris alpha1-KI), ou le traitement de souris de type sauvage avec les pIgA1 permettent une récupération accélérée de l’anémie aiguë. L’engagement du RTf1 module la sensibilité à l'Epo, en diminuant le seuil d'activation cellulaire, et en induisant les voies de signalisation MAPK/ERK et phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K/AKT). Ces données mettent en évidence un nouveau rôle du RTf1 en tant que régulateur positif de l'érythropoïèse. Parallèlement au RTf1, nous avons identifié un autre récepteur pouvant constituer une cible thérapeutique pour corriger une érythropoïèse inefficace : le récepteur de l’activine de type IIA (ActRIIA). Dans un modèle murin de Beta-thalassémie intermédiaire (Hbbth1/th1), résultant d'une déficience génétique de la chaîne Beta de la globine, nous montrons que l'administration d'une protéine de fusion constituée du domaine extracellulaire de l’ActRIIA lié à un fragment Fc d’IgG de souris (RAP-011), corrige l'anémie, augmente le taux d'hémoglobine et diminue la splénomégalie. Ce traitement favorise l’érythropoïèse splénique et diminue la saturation de la transferrine et l’hémolyse. Fait intéressant, des niveaux élevés de GDF11 (Growth Differentiation Factor 11) sont observés sur des coupes spléniques de souris thalassémiques ainsi que dans le sérum de patients thalassémiques. In vivo, l’inhibition de l’interaction GDF11/ActRIIa par le RAP-011 favorise l’apoptose des érythroblastes précoces par la voie Fas/FasLigand. Ces résultats suggèrent que l’activation constitutive des signaux GDF11/ActRIIA contribue à l’établissement d’une érythropoïèse inefficace caractéristique de la Beta-thalassémie. La neutralisation de cette signalisation inverse ce processus. En conclusion, nos travaux ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives dans la compréhension de l'hématopoïèse normale et pathologique, et pourraient conduire à envisager des traitements innovants pour l'anémie. / Anemia produced by a variety of underlying causes is the most common disorder of the blood, and remains a major global public health problem associated with a poor quality of life for many patients. Thus, better understanding the erythroid process in physiological and pathological conditions, and developing new strategies to boost erythropoiesis appear of great interest. Transferrin receptor 1 (CD71/TfR1) plays an essential role in erythropoiesis, and investigations of TfR1 functions have been focused on their undeniable role in iron metabolism. However, recent data demonstrate that TfR1 is a multi-ligand receptor that participates in a wide array of cellular functions. We have identified TfR1 as a receptor for A1 isotype immunoglobulins (IgA1). In this work, we show that pIgA1s are able through their interaction with the TfR1, to stimulate erythropoiesis by sensitizing erythroblasts to Epo. Likewise, transgenic expression of human IgA1 (Alpha1-KI mice) or treatment of wild-type mice with pIgA1 accelerated recovery from acute anemia. TfR1 engagement by pIgA1 increased cell sensitivity to Epo by inducing activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways. These findings unveiled a new role of TfR1 as a signaling competent molecule positively regulating erythropoiesis. In addition to TfR1, our work identifies another receptor as a putative target for correcting ineffective erythropoiesis: the activin receptor IIA (ActRIIA). Indeed, using a mouse model of Beta-thalassemia intermedia (Hbbth1/th1) resulting from a genetic deficiency of Beta-globin chain, we show that administration of a ligand trap (named RAP-011), consisting in a fusion protein between the extracellular domain of ActRIIA and the Fc fragment of a mouse IgG, improves anemia, increases total hemoglobin levels and decreases splenomegaly. In addition, targeting ActRIIa signaling corrects ineffective erythropoiesis in the spleen, reduces hemolysis and transferrin saturation. Interestingly, high levels of Growth Differentiation Factor 11 (GDF11) are detected in spleen sections from Beta-thalassemic mice, as well as in sera from thalassemic patients. In addition, the inactivation of GDF11 promotes terminal erythroblast differentiation. Finally, blockade of the GDF11/ActRIIa signaling, promotes premature apoptosis of early erythroblasts through induction of Fas/FasLigand pathway. Therefore, these results first suggest that constitutive GDF11/ActRIIa signaling pathway may promote ineffective erythropoiesis in Beta-thalassemia intermedia, and secondly, support the use of ActRIIa traps for the treatment of chronic anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis. Altogether, these results open new perspectives in the understanding of normal and pathological hematopoiesis and lead to propose innovative treatments for anemia.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is one of the most variable regions in the vertebrate genome. Many genes within the MHC play important roles in the development of an immune response, including the response to pathogens, by presenting pathogen fragments to T cells. Pathogen-mediated balancing selection is thought to be important in maintaining the high levels of allelic variation at these loci, though the precise mechanism remains unclear. The number of studies of MHC diversity in non-model organisms has increased dramatically in recent years as genotype data have become cheaper and easier to generate; however, key limitations in many such studies remain a lack of high quality MHC genotypes and associated phenotype data. Many studies focus on a single MHC locus, assuming that one locus will represent the full range of variation within each MHC haplotype. Alternatively, the products of different loci may co-amplify, preventing locus-specific genotypes and hence heterozygosity being accurately determined. Non-model systems are also often limited by small sample sizes and limited recording of associated host and pathogen measures, which, combined with high levels of allelic variation at MHC loci, can limit statistical power. Finally, few MHC studies control for the general effect of relatedness in explaining host traits before testing for MHC effects. With so many methodological impediments, it is challenging to identify robust associations between MHC variation and host phenotypes, such as parasite burden or fitness, and to draw conclusions about the mechanisms underpinning the maintenance of diversity at MHC loci. In this thesis, I address these problems by developing a SNP-based haplotyping system for a population of unmanaged Soay sheep (Ovis aries) on Hirta, St. Kilda, for which data is available on pedigree, phenotypic traits and fitness and its components over a 30- year study period. The ovine MHC consists of four classes of loci, within which loci are tightly clustered and show reduced recombination rates compared to the genome average. Although the mammalian MHC is usually highly variable, one would expect that the number of haplotypes within an MHC class in an island population of sheep with no immigration to be limited. The class IIa region of the ovine MHC includes the classical class II loci which are typically thought to be involved in the presentation of peptides derived from extracellular pathogens, including gastrointestinal helminths, in sheep and other mammals. In chapters 2 to 4, I describe the characterisation of class IIa haplotypic diversity in the Soay sheep using direct Sanger sequencing of PCR amplified fragments, which, in combination with cloning, revealed eight distinct haplotypes. With this knowledge of haplotypic diversity, and genotypes for a sample of Soay sheep typed on the Ovine Infinium HD chip (approximately 600K SNPs), I developed a panel of 13 SNPs which could be used to impute the class IIa haplotypes. This panel was genotyped by KASP (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR) in 6034 samples and used to impute the class IIa haplotypes. After quality control measures, class IIa haplotypes were successfully imputed for 5349 individuals. Evidence of balancing selection was identified using the Ewens-Watterson test at different life history stages and within the standing population each year between 1985 and 2012, showing that allele frequencies were more even than would be expected under neutrality. However, there was no evidence of deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium identified at different life stages or in the standing population in any year. In chapter 5, I investigate associations between the MHC class IIa haplotypes and individual-level data on host phenotypes - body weight, plasma immunoglobulin levels (measured as anti-Teladorsagia circumcincta third larval stage IgA, IgE and IgG) and strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC). Associations were tested within mixed effects models which were used to account for repeated measures and control for fixed effects known to affect the response variables, as well as within an animal model framework to account for relatedness between individuals. Haplotype heterozygosity was unrelated to any of the traits investigated, suggesting a general heterozygote advantage is unlikely to be operating within the Soay sheep. Six of the eight class IIa haplotypes were associated with multiple traits in different age-sex classes, although many of these associations were removed after inclusion within animal models. The evidence of balancing selection and associations between class IIa haplotypes and phenotypes related to health offers a promising glimpse into the evolutionary mechanisms which may be operating to maintain diversity within this region.

Esta tese compreende estudos sobre diagnóstico, caracterização antigênica e molecular de amostras do vírus da raiva e sobre o desenvolvimento de testes sorológicos para detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus rábico. O primeiro capítulo descreve dois casos de raiva no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). O primeiro trabalho do primeiro capítulo descreve a ocorrência de raiva em um canino no município de Tapes, leste do RS. Após a confirmação do diagnóstico, a amostra de vírus isolada foi submetida à caracterização antigênica e molecular. Tal amostra apresentava características compatíveis com amostras de vírus rábico isoladas de morcegos insetívoros Tadarida brasiliensis. Portanto, o primeiro caso de raiva canina no RS após 19 anos, ocorreu devido a um contato incidental entre um morcego não hematófago e o canino infectado. Assim, o status de região livre de raiva urbana pode ser mantido no Estado. O segundo trabalho do primeiro capítulo descreve a primeira ocorrência no RS de raiva em morcegos frugívoros da espécie Artibeus lituratus. Neste caso, a amostra isolada apresentou características de amostras isoladas de morcegos hematófagos Desmodus rotundus. A identificação de vírus rábico em um morcego frugívoro, com tal perfil, não representa fato novo na história recente da raiva, mas a descrição deste caso ilustra que a raiva em morcegos frugívoros no RS apresenta características semelhantes à raiva em morcegos frugívoros de outras regiões do Brasil e sugere que o mesmo foi contaminado devido ao contato com morcegos hematófagos. Com o objetivo de permitir o monitoramento sorológico da raiva em morcegos e a identificar novos potenciais reservatórios do vírus, no segundo capítulo desta tese é reportado o desenvolvimento de dois testes sorológicos para a detecção de anticorpos contra raiva. O primeiro teste desenvolvido é a inibição da imunoperoxidase (“immunoperoxidase inhibition assay”; IIA), que foi testada frente a 422 amostras de soros humanos. A IIA foi muito eficiente, tendo demonstrado uma acurácia de 97.63%. Esta técnica provavelmente poderá ser utilizada para detecção de anticorpos contra raiva em outras espécies, embora no presente estudo tenha sido avaliada apenas com soros humanos. Com o objetivo de pesquisar anticorpos contra raiva em diferentes espécies animais utilizando pequenos volumes de soro foi desenvolvido um ensaio imunoenzimático do tipo “sandwich” (“sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay”; S-ELISA). O S-ELISA foi inicialmente comparado com um teste padrão FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Vírus Neutralization test) e a seguir empregado na pesquisa de anticorpos em soros de diferentes espécies, incluindo morcegos, sagüis, raposas, felinos silvestres, guaxinis, quatis, bovinos, camundongos e humanos. Os resultados mostraram que o S-ELISA foi eficiente na detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus da raiva em diferentes espécies, com uma acurácia de 87,5%. A caracterização de amostras de vírus rábico em situações epidemiológicas específicas, assim como o desenvolvimento de testes sorológicos a fim de identificar anticorpos em distintas espécies e identificar novos possíveis reservatórios para raiva, contribuirão para o maior conhecimento da biologia da raiva na natureza, particularmente em nosso Estado, possibilitando assim a tomada de medidas de controle mais adequadas. / This thesis describes studies about diagnosis, antigenic and molecular characterization of rabies vírus strains and about serological assays development for antibodies against rabies virus detection. The first chapter describes two cases of rabies in State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). This first work of the first chapter on this thesis, describes the canine rabies in Municipality of Tapes, east of RS. After the diagnosis confirmation, the rabies virus strain was submitted to antigenic and molecular characterization. The sample shown similar characteritics with rabies vírus isolates from insectivorous bats Tadarida brasiliensis. Thus, the first canine rabies in RS after 19 years occurred by an incidental contact between the contamined canine and a non-haematophagous bat. In view of that, the status of urban rabies free of the area should not be compromised. The second work of first chapter describes the first occurrence in RS of rabies in frugivorous bats Artibeus lituratus. In this case, the isolated sample shown characteristics similar to characteristics from haematophagous bats Desmodus rotundus. The rabies virus identification in a frugivorous bat with this profile, does not represent a new fact in the recent history of rabies, but the description of this case illustrates that the rabies in frugivorous bats in RS has similar characteristics to rabies in frugivorous bats in other regions of Brazil and suggests that it was contamined due to contact with haematophagous bats. With the purpose to allow the serological monitoring of rabies in bats and identify new potential reservoirs of the virus, in the second chapter of this thesis is reported the development of two serological tests for detection of antibodies against rabies. The first developed assay is the immunoperoxidase inhibition assay (IIA), that was tested with 422 sera from humans. The IIA was very efficient, with 97.63% of accuracy. This assay probably can be used to antibodies detection against rabies in other species, in despite of the present study, it was tested only with sera from humans. With the aim to research rabies antibodies in different animal species with small volume of serum, was developed the sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (S-ELISA). The S-ELISA was initially compared with the gold standard test Fluorescent Antibody Vírus Neutralization test and after used to search antibodies in sera from different species including bats, marmosets, foxes, wild felines, raccoons, coatis, bovines, mices and humans. The S-ELISA was efficient to detect antibodies in different species with 87.5% of accuracy. The characterization of rabies virus strains in specific epidemiological situations as well as the serological assays development to identify antibodies in distinct species and identify new potential rabies reservoirs for rabies, contribute to greater understanding of the biology of rabies in nature, particularly in our State, allowing the taking of appropriate control measures.

Esta tese compreende estudos sobre diagnóstico, caracterização antigênica e molecular de amostras do vírus da raiva e sobre o desenvolvimento de testes sorológicos para detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus rábico. O primeiro capítulo descreve dois casos de raiva no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). O primeiro trabalho do primeiro capítulo descreve a ocorrência de raiva em um canino no município de Tapes, leste do RS. Após a confirmação do diagnóstico, a amostra de vírus isolada foi submetida à caracterização antigênica e molecular. Tal amostra apresentava características compatíveis com amostras de vírus rábico isoladas de morcegos insetívoros Tadarida brasiliensis. Portanto, o primeiro caso de raiva canina no RS após 19 anos, ocorreu devido a um contato incidental entre um morcego não hematófago e o canino infectado. Assim, o status de região livre de raiva urbana pode ser mantido no Estado. O segundo trabalho do primeiro capítulo descreve a primeira ocorrência no RS de raiva em morcegos frugívoros da espécie Artibeus lituratus. Neste caso, a amostra isolada apresentou características de amostras isoladas de morcegos hematófagos Desmodus rotundus. A identificação de vírus rábico em um morcego frugívoro, com tal perfil, não representa fato novo na história recente da raiva, mas a descrição deste caso ilustra que a raiva em morcegos frugívoros no RS apresenta características semelhantes à raiva em morcegos frugívoros de outras regiões do Brasil e sugere que o mesmo foi contaminado devido ao contato com morcegos hematófagos. Com o objetivo de permitir o monitoramento sorológico da raiva em morcegos e a identificar novos potenciais reservatórios do vírus, no segundo capítulo desta tese é reportado o desenvolvimento de dois testes sorológicos para a detecção de anticorpos contra raiva. O primeiro teste desenvolvido é a inibição da imunoperoxidase (“immunoperoxidase inhibition assay”; IIA), que foi testada frente a 422 amostras de soros humanos. A IIA foi muito eficiente, tendo demonstrado uma acurácia de 97.63%. Esta técnica provavelmente poderá ser utilizada para detecção de anticorpos contra raiva em outras espécies, embora no presente estudo tenha sido avaliada apenas com soros humanos. Com o objetivo de pesquisar anticorpos contra raiva em diferentes espécies animais utilizando pequenos volumes de soro foi desenvolvido um ensaio imunoenzimático do tipo “sandwich” (“sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay”; S-ELISA). O S-ELISA foi inicialmente comparado com um teste padrão FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Vírus Neutralization test) e a seguir empregado na pesquisa de anticorpos em soros de diferentes espécies, incluindo morcegos, sagüis, raposas, felinos silvestres, guaxinis, quatis, bovinos, camundongos e humanos. Os resultados mostraram que o S-ELISA foi eficiente na detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus da raiva em diferentes espécies, com uma acurácia de 87,5%. A caracterização de amostras de vírus rábico em situações epidemiológicas específicas, assim como o desenvolvimento de testes sorológicos a fim de identificar anticorpos em distintas espécies e identificar novos possíveis reservatórios para raiva, contribuirão para o maior conhecimento da biologia da raiva na natureza, particularmente em nosso Estado, possibilitando assim a tomada de medidas de controle mais adequadas. / This thesis describes studies about diagnosis, antigenic and molecular characterization of rabies vírus strains and about serological assays development for antibodies against rabies virus detection. The first chapter describes two cases of rabies in State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). This first work of the first chapter on this thesis, describes the canine rabies in Municipality of Tapes, east of RS. After the diagnosis confirmation, the rabies virus strain was submitted to antigenic and molecular characterization. The sample shown similar characteritics with rabies vírus isolates from insectivorous bats Tadarida brasiliensis. Thus, the first canine rabies in RS after 19 years occurred by an incidental contact between the contamined canine and a non-haematophagous bat. In view of that, the status of urban rabies free of the area should not be compromised. The second work of first chapter describes the first occurrence in RS of rabies in frugivorous bats Artibeus lituratus. In this case, the isolated sample shown characteristics similar to characteristics from haematophagous bats Desmodus rotundus. The rabies virus identification in a frugivorous bat with this profile, does not represent a new fact in the recent history of rabies, but the description of this case illustrates that the rabies in frugivorous bats in RS has similar characteristics to rabies in frugivorous bats in other regions of Brazil and suggests that it was contamined due to contact with haematophagous bats. With the purpose to allow the serological monitoring of rabies in bats and identify new potential reservoirs of the virus, in the second chapter of this thesis is reported the development of two serological tests for detection of antibodies against rabies. The first developed assay is the immunoperoxidase inhibition assay (IIA), that was tested with 422 sera from humans. The IIA was very efficient, with 97.63% of accuracy. This assay probably can be used to antibodies detection against rabies in other species, in despite of the present study, it was tested only with sera from humans. With the aim to research rabies antibodies in different animal species with small volume of serum, was developed the sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (S-ELISA). The S-ELISA was initially compared with the gold standard test Fluorescent Antibody Vírus Neutralization test and after used to search antibodies in sera from different species including bats, marmosets, foxes, wild felines, raccoons, coatis, bovines, mices and humans. The S-ELISA was efficient to detect antibodies in different species with 87.5% of accuracy. The characterization of rabies virus strains in specific epidemiological situations as well as the serological assays development to identify antibodies in distinct species and identify new potential rabies reservoirs for rabies, contribute to greater understanding of the biology of rabies in nature, particularly in our State, allowing the taking of appropriate control measures.

Esta tese compreende estudos sobre diagnóstico, caracterização antigênica e molecular de amostras do vírus da raiva e sobre o desenvolvimento de testes sorológicos para detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus rábico. O primeiro capítulo descreve dois casos de raiva no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). O primeiro trabalho do primeiro capítulo descreve a ocorrência de raiva em um canino no município de Tapes, leste do RS. Após a confirmação do diagnóstico, a amostra de vírus isolada foi submetida à caracterização antigênica e molecular. Tal amostra apresentava características compatíveis com amostras de vírus rábico isoladas de morcegos insetívoros Tadarida brasiliensis. Portanto, o primeiro caso de raiva canina no RS após 19 anos, ocorreu devido a um contato incidental entre um morcego não hematófago e o canino infectado. Assim, o status de região livre de raiva urbana pode ser mantido no Estado. O segundo trabalho do primeiro capítulo descreve a primeira ocorrência no RS de raiva em morcegos frugívoros da espécie Artibeus lituratus. Neste caso, a amostra isolada apresentou características de amostras isoladas de morcegos hematófagos Desmodus rotundus. A identificação de vírus rábico em um morcego frugívoro, com tal perfil, não representa fato novo na história recente da raiva, mas a descrição deste caso ilustra que a raiva em morcegos frugívoros no RS apresenta características semelhantes à raiva em morcegos frugívoros de outras regiões do Brasil e sugere que o mesmo foi contaminado devido ao contato com morcegos hematófagos. Com o objetivo de permitir o monitoramento sorológico da raiva em morcegos e a identificar novos potenciais reservatórios do vírus, no segundo capítulo desta tese é reportado o desenvolvimento de dois testes sorológicos para a detecção de anticorpos contra raiva. O primeiro teste desenvolvido é a inibição da imunoperoxidase (“immunoperoxidase inhibition assay”; IIA), que foi testada frente a 422 amostras de soros humanos. A IIA foi muito eficiente, tendo demonstrado uma acurácia de 97.63%. Esta técnica provavelmente poderá ser utilizada para detecção de anticorpos contra raiva em outras espécies, embora no presente estudo tenha sido avaliada apenas com soros humanos. Com o objetivo de pesquisar anticorpos contra raiva em diferentes espécies animais utilizando pequenos volumes de soro foi desenvolvido um ensaio imunoenzimático do tipo “sandwich” (“sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay”; S-ELISA). O S-ELISA foi inicialmente comparado com um teste padrão FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Vírus Neutralization test) e a seguir empregado na pesquisa de anticorpos em soros de diferentes espécies, incluindo morcegos, sagüis, raposas, felinos silvestres, guaxinis, quatis, bovinos, camundongos e humanos. Os resultados mostraram que o S-ELISA foi eficiente na detecção de anticorpos contra o vírus da raiva em diferentes espécies, com uma acurácia de 87,5%. A caracterização de amostras de vírus rábico em situações epidemiológicas específicas, assim como o desenvolvimento de testes sorológicos a fim de identificar anticorpos em distintas espécies e identificar novos possíveis reservatórios para raiva, contribuirão para o maior conhecimento da biologia da raiva na natureza, particularmente em nosso Estado, possibilitando assim a tomada de medidas de controle mais adequadas. / This thesis describes studies about diagnosis, antigenic and molecular characterization of rabies vírus strains and about serological assays development for antibodies against rabies virus detection. The first chapter describes two cases of rabies in State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). This first work of the first chapter on this thesis, describes the canine rabies in Municipality of Tapes, east of RS. After the diagnosis confirmation, the rabies virus strain was submitted to antigenic and molecular characterization. The sample shown similar characteritics with rabies vírus isolates from insectivorous bats Tadarida brasiliensis. Thus, the first canine rabies in RS after 19 years occurred by an incidental contact between the contamined canine and a non-haematophagous bat. In view of that, the status of urban rabies free of the area should not be compromised. The second work of first chapter describes the first occurrence in RS of rabies in frugivorous bats Artibeus lituratus. In this case, the isolated sample shown characteristics similar to characteristics from haematophagous bats Desmodus rotundus. The rabies virus identification in a frugivorous bat with this profile, does not represent a new fact in the recent history of rabies, but the description of this case illustrates that the rabies in frugivorous bats in RS has similar characteristics to rabies in frugivorous bats in other regions of Brazil and suggests that it was contamined due to contact with haematophagous bats. With the purpose to allow the serological monitoring of rabies in bats and identify new potential reservoirs of the virus, in the second chapter of this thesis is reported the development of two serological tests for detection of antibodies against rabies. The first developed assay is the immunoperoxidase inhibition assay (IIA), that was tested with 422 sera from humans. The IIA was very efficient, with 97.63% of accuracy. This assay probably can be used to antibodies detection against rabies in other species, in despite of the present study, it was tested only with sera from humans. With the aim to research rabies antibodies in different animal species with small volume of serum, was developed the sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (S-ELISA). The S-ELISA was initially compared with the gold standard test Fluorescent Antibody Vírus Neutralization test and after used to search antibodies in sera from different species including bats, marmosets, foxes, wild felines, raccoons, coatis, bovines, mices and humans. The S-ELISA was efficient to detect antibodies in different species with 87.5% of accuracy. The characterization of rabies virus strains in specific epidemiological situations as well as the serological assays development to identify antibodies in distinct species and identify new potential rabies reservoirs for rabies, contribute to greater understanding of the biology of rabies in nature, particularly in our State, allowing the taking of appropriate control measures.

Submitted by Haroudo Xavier Filho (haroudo.xavierfo@ufpe.br) on 2016-04-05T17:59:08Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE_SINARA MONICA VITALINO DE ALMEIDA_FINAL UNIFICADO BIBLIOTECA.pdf: 9803056 bytes, checksum: 68bd08234fdac2b45bf400b3ebd62957 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-05T17:59:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) TESE_SINARA MONICA VITALINO DE ALMEIDA_FINAL UNIFICADO BIBLIOTECA.pdf: 9803056 bytes, checksum: 68bd08234fdac2b45bf400b3ebd62957 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-23 / CAPES, CNPq / O câncer é, sem sombra de dúvidas, a doença mais temida pela população, em razão da sua alta incidência e elevadas taxas de mortalidade para determinados tipos da doença. Nas últimas décadas, os pesquisadores têm obtido avanços significativos no entendimento da patogênese, nas características e nas terapias do câncer. A quimioterapia é frequentemente o tratamento escolhido para muitos tipos de câncer e por este motivo a pesquisa por novos agentes quimioterápicos constitui um dos alicerces na luta contra o câncer. Os intercaladores orgânicos são compostos poliaromáticos que podem se inserir entre pares de bases adjacentes da dupla fita de DNA e inibir a síntese de ácido nucléico in vivo, essa propriedade é comumente observada em drogas anticâncer usadas na terapia clínica. Por isto, a descoberta de novos intercaladores do DNA tem sido considerada uma abordagem prática e um número expressivo de moléculas tem sido avaliado quanto às suas propriedades intercaladoras. Neste trabalho foram sintetizados novos agentes anticâncer tendo como molécula de partida o anel acridina. Foram sintetizados e caracterizados oito novos derivados da série 2-acridin-9-il-metileno-N-fenil-hidrazina-carbotioamida (3a-3h) com diferentes substituintes na porção fenil (não substituídos ou com substituintes elétrondoadores ou elétron-retiradores) e dois novos derivados da série 3-(acridin-9-il)-n-benzilideno-2- cianoacrilohidrazidas (AMTAC-01 e AMTAC-02). Os compostos foram avaliados quanto às suas propriedades intercaladoras ao ctDNA in vitro e atividades antiproliferativas contra linhagens de células tumorais de mama (MCF-7), ovário resistente a múltiplas drogas (NCI-ADR/RES), pulmão (NCI-H460), próstata (PC-3), cólon (HT29), ovário (OVCAR-03), rim (786-0), leucemia (K562) e glioma (U251). Foram investigadas alterações morfológicas induzidas por tratamento de células MCF-7 com o composto mais ativo da série 2-acridin-9-il-metileno-N-fenil-hidrazinacarbotioamida (3a) através de microscopias eletrônicas de transmissão, varredura e da análise de exposição de fosfatidilserina e fragmentação de DNA. Além disso, a atividade de inibição da topoisomerase IIa dos derivados 3-(acridin-9-il)-n-benzilideno-2-cianoacrilohidrazidas foi verificada e a ligação com ctDNA foi estudada por meio de espectroscopia de absorção em fluorescência. Todos os derivados produzidos das duas séries apresentaram interação com o DNA. Após o contato com DNA foram verificados efeitos hipercrômicos e hipocrômicos, bem como mudanças para o vermelho ou azul nos espectros de absorbância. Essas modificações são preditivas de formação de complexo entre DNA e derivado. As constantes de ligação calculadas estão entre 1.74 x 104 e 1.0 x 106 M-1 para os derivados 3a-3h e entre 2.3-2.5 x 106 M-1 para os AMTAC’s. Estes valores indicam alta afinidade pelos pares de base do DNA. Da série 2-acridin- 9-il-metileno-N-fenil-hidrazina-carbotioamida o composto mais eficiente para ligação in vitro com o DNA foi o derivado cloro-substituído (3f), enquanto o composto mais ativo no teste antiproliferativo foi o derivado não substituído na porção tiossemicarbazona (3a). Os valores de concentração letal para 50 % do número inicial de células para o derivado 3a contra as linhagens NCI-H460, MCF-7, U251, NCI-ADR/RES, HT-29 e PC-3 foram 43.41, 60.26, 68.93, 70.2, 70.24 e 72.95 μM, respectivamente. As análises por microscopias eletrônicas de varredura e transmissão de células MCF-7 tratadas com 60 μM do derivado 3a demonstraram alterações ultramorfológicas indicativas de autofagia: vacúolos com dupla membrana. Além disso, os derivados AMTAC-01 e AMTAC-02 foram mais ativos contra as linhagens tumorais de próstata e melanoma, respectivamente. Ambos os derivados apresentaram atividade inibidora topoisomerase IIa na concentração de 50 μM. Os resultados indicam que uma ligação eficiente ao DNA é uma condição necessária para atividade antitumoral e que os novos derivados híbridos de acridina apresentaram promissoras atividades antiproliferativa, ligadora do DNA e inibição da topoisomerase. / People fear cancer more than any other serious illness which can be explained by the high incidence and mortality rates for some types of cancer. In the last decades, significant advances were obtained regarding cancer pathogenesis, features and therapies. Chemotherapy is often the treatment of choice for many types of cancer and the search for new chemotherapeutic agents still plays a major role in the fight against cancer. Organic intercalators are poliaromatic compounds that are able to insert into DNA double strands and inhibit in vivo acid nucleic synthesis. This characteristic is, in general, observed in anticancer drugs, hence the discovery and development of new DNA intercalators has been considered a practical approach and a number of intercalators have been recently reported. In this work, new anticancer agents were synthetized based on acridine nucleus for structural modification using substituted thiosemicarbazide moieties. It were synthetized eight new (Z)-2-(acridin-9- ylmethylene)-N-phenylhydrazinecarbothioamide derivatives (3a-3h) presenting different substituents on phenyl ring (non-substituted and electron-donating or -withdrawing) and two new 3-(acridin-9-yl)-N-benzylidene-2-cyanoacrilohydrazide derivatives (AMTAC-01 and AMTAC-02). In vitro ctDNA interaction was assayed and antiproliferative activity was evaluated against cancer cell lines of glioma (U251), breast (MCF-7), ovary expressing phenotype multiple drugs resistance (NCI-ADR/RES), kidney (786–0), lung (NCI-H460), prostate, (PC-3), ovary (OVCAR-03), colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and chronic myeloid leukemia (K-562). It was investigated ultramorphological changes induced by 3a treatment on MCF-7 cells by transmission and scanning electron microscopies, besides the evaluation of phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation. Topoisomerase IIa inhibitory activity of AMTAC’s was evaluated. ctDNA binding properties were performed with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) by electronic absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. Both hyperchromic and hypochromic effects, as well as red or blue shifts were demonstrated by addition of ctDNA to the derivatives. These spectroscopic alterations indicated formation of derivative-DNA complex. The calculated binding constants ranged from 1.74 x 104 to 1.0 x 106 M-1 for 3a-3h derivatives and 2.3-2.5 x 106 M-1 for AMTAC’s compounds. These values mean that the new acridine derivatives have high affinity to ctDNA. From (Z)-2-(acridin-9- ylmethylene)-N-phenylhydrazinecarbothioamide serie, the most efficient compound in in vitro binding to ctDNA was 3f, while the most active compound in antiproliferative assay was 3a. Regarding lethal concentration (LC50), compound 3a was lethal to NCI-H460, MCF-7, U251, NCI-ADR/RES, HT-29 and PC-3 cells on the respective concentrations: 43.41, 60.26, 68.93, 70.2, 70.24 and 72.95 μM. Scanning and transmission electron microscopies revealed that treatment with 60 μM of 3a induces morphological changes in MCF-7 cells indicating autophagy, such as vacuole with double membrane. On the other hand, antiproliferative assay demonstrated that AMTAC-01 and AMTAC-02 were most active against prostate and melanoma tumor cell lines, respectively. Both derivatives displayed potent topoisomerase IIα inhibitory activity at 50 μM. Taking together, these results indicates that an efficient binding is a necessary condition for antiproliferative activity. The new acridine hybrid derivatives showed promising DNA binding, antiproliferative against cancer cells and inhibitory topoisomerase activity.

In this thesis I study children's right to be heard in custody cases. The main purpose is to study the legal situation in Sweden from a European and international perspective. The emphasis given to the child’s right to be heard in cross-border custody cases in EU regulations is studied, in particular with regard to the Brussels II bis Regulation and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, from the perspective that the child is habitually resident in Sweden. Furthermore, I study the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the European Convention on Human Rights, both which are important rights documents in Europe. The CRC is also studied from the perspective that Sweden has incorporated the CRC as a directly applicable Swedish law as of January 1, 2020. I analyze whether Swedish law in practice is in compliance with these regulations. The conclusion is that Swedish law to some extent is, but that certain inconsistencies exist in relation to the requirements set forth in Article 12 of the CRC. In light of the study there appears to be a risk that the primacy of EU law and the principle of mutual trust can put children's rights aside. The legal situation in England, Finland and Norway regarding children's right to be heard in custody cases is studied in order to create a context in which Swedish law can be compared. The aim is to study how well children's right to be heard in custody cases is ensured in Sweden in a European comparison. It appears that the legal situation in Sweden is relatively good but that children’s right to self-determi-nation appears to be more developed in the legislation of Norway and Finland. The thesis shows some areas of improvement in Swedish law. One is the child's right to be heard in cases when the parents are able to agree on custody issues. Another is the child’s right to be heard, contrary to the parents’ wishes and without their consent. Studies show that children's actual right to express their opinion and have it regarded by the court in a custody dispute is not always ensured in practice. The conclusion is that legislative changes, or a more comprehensive consideration of Article 12 of the CRC, could lead to a better implementation in practice of the right of children to express their views and have them regarded in custody disputes.

La cytokine TRAIL est un candidat anticancéreux qui induit la mort spécifique de cellules tumorales. La liaison de TRAIL à ses récepteurs (DR) permet de former le complexe DISC qui induit la mort cellulaire. La raison de la mort sélective des cellules tumorales induite par TRAIL est inconnue. Nous avons découvert des partenaires de DR: chaînes lourdes de myosine IIa, IIb (NMHCIIa, NMHCIIb), chaîne légère régulatrice de myosine (MLC2) et ß-actine. Dans les cellules tumorales, la liaison de TRAIL abroge l'interaction NMHCII/DR, et DISC est activé. Au contraire, dans les cellules normales, l'interaction NMHCII/DR persiste et l'activation de DISC est incomplète. Affaiblir l'interaction NMHCII/DR par des inhibiteurs chimiques ou diminuer NMHCIIa permet d'augmenter l'apoptose liée à TRAIL. L'interaction réduite NMHCII/DR induit des niveaux altérés de phospho-MLC2 et de kinases régulant MLC2. Nous proposons que la résistance de cellules normales à TRAIL soit basée sur l'interaction DR/cytosquelette, déficiente dans des tumeurs. NMHCII étant aussi impliqué dans l'adhésion/migration cellulaire, il serait intéressant d'étudier les fonctions de NMHCII/DISC dans le détachement cellulaire, afin de mieux comprendre la résistance à TRAIL de certains cancers. / The cytokine TRAIL is a promising cancer therapeutic candidate as it induces apoptosis selectively in transformed cells. TRAIL-induced clustering of its receptors (DR) is essential for the DISC complex formation, which induces cell death. The mechanism for TRAIL’s tumour selective effect is largely unknown. We identified the cytoskeleton proteins non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIa, IIb (NMHCIIa, NMHCIIb), myosin regulatory light chain (MLC2) and ß-actin as novel DR-interactors. An initially weak and TRAIL-induced abrogation of NMHCII/DR interaction correlated with efficient DISC formation in tumour cells. In contrast, a robust NMHCII/DR interaction that was sustained upon TRAIL stimulus was accompanied by incomplete DISC arrangement. Weakening the NMHCII/DR interaction in normal cells using chemical inhibitors enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Intriguingly, siRNA-mediated NMHCIIa- but not NMHCIIb depletion potently released TRAIL resistance in normal cells and influenced DISC composition. Reduced NMHCII/DR interaction in transformed cells was characterised by diminished MLC2 phosphorylation and altered protein expression of upstream regulatory kinases. Our results suggest that normal cell resistance to TRAIL-apoptosis is based on the interaction of cytoskeleton components with DR that is impaired upon transformation. Since NMHCII function in cell adhesion and migration, it will be interesting to study possible roles of the interaction in cell detachment and altered TRAIL sensitivity; moreover this link may provide clues as to the cause of TRAIL resistance in some cancers.