A síndrome de HIGM é uma imunodeficiência, caracterizada por níveis séricos normais ou elevados de IgM associados com baixos níveis de IgG, IgA e IgE. Neste estudo investigamos pacientes com HIGM autossômico recessivo. Selecionamos 15 pacientes com diagnóstico clínico sugestivo de AR-HIGM, 10 do sexo feminino, 05 do sexo masculino, onde onze são brasileiros, um é francês e três são turcos, com idades que variam de 2 a 40 anos. Todos os pacientes apresentam infecções recorrentes: 100% pneumonias, 80% otites médias agudas, 53% sinusites, 46% amigdalites, 40% diarréias 26% infecções urinárias, uma apresentou micobacteriose cutânea. Encontramos as seguintes mutações no gene AICDA: Pacientes EJ e GF, mutação missense na base 260 do cDNA (c.260G>C; p. Cys87Ser). Pacientes DA e RC apresentam defeito de splice, acarretando na deleção total do exon 4 do gene AICDA. Os pacientes estrangeiros foram previamente estudados para os genes AICDA, UNG e CD40, e nenhuma alteração foi encontrada. Neste caso, estudamos o gene INO80, e encontramos nos exons 04 (g.24012 G>A) e 26 (g.99976 G>T) do gene INO80, duas mutações missense em heterozigose no DNAg do paciente OD. O estudo molecular e genético é importante para a realização do diagnóstico diferencial, estratégia terapêutica e prognóstico dos casos. / HIGM syndrome is a rare immunodeficiency characterized by high or normal levels of serum IgM associated with low levels of IgG, IgA and IgE. We selected 15 patients with clinical diagnosis suggestive of AR-HIGM, 10 females, 05 males, where 11 are Brazilian, one is French and three are Turkish, with ages ranging from 2 to 40 years. All patients had recurrent infections: 100% pneumonia, 80% acute otitis media, 53% sinusitis, 46% tonsillitis, 40% recurrent diarrhea, 26% urinary tract infections, 20% stomatitis, and one patient presented a cutaneous mycobacteriosis. 20% of the patients had opportunistic infections: Mycobacterium marinum, Toxoplasma gondii, varicella-zoster virus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, fungus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. As a result, we found two types of mutations in 4 diferent patients with no consanguinity. We found in AICDA gene the following mutations: Patients EJ and GF missense mutation in base 260 in cDNA, which results in a change of aminoacid (c.260G> C; Cys87Ser p.). Patients DA and RC showed a splice defect, resulting in a complete deletion of exon 4 in AICDA gene. All other patients were sequenced for AICDA, UNG and CD40 genes, and no changes were found. In this case, we studied the INO80 gene, and we found in exons 04 (g.24012 G> A) and 26 (g.99976 G> T) INO80 gene, two heterozygous missense mutations in DNAg of patient OD. Since these molecular genetic defects result in similar clinical features, molecular and genetic studies are important for the differential diagnosis, therapeutic strategy and prognosis of the cases.

A Via Alternativa é a principal via de ativação do sistema complemento (SC), sendo o Fator H (FH) um de seus principais reguladores. No presente estudo, nós investigamos os mecanismos moleculares pelo qual o paciente com a mutação Arg127His no FH possui deficiência do SC. Para isto, utilizamos fibroblastos de paciente e individuo normal estimulados com IFN-<font face=\"Symbol\">g e verificamos que as células do paciente eram capazes de produzir FH, contudo a maior parte das proteínas estava retida no retículo endoplasmático (RE). Em paralelo, transfectamos células Cos-7 com plasmídeos contendo a mutação CG453T<font face=\"Symbol\">&#174; CA453T e observamos que a mutação foi responsável pelo retardo na secreção de FH. Apesar da mutação reduzir a secreção de FH, observamos que a capacidade de FH atuar como co-factor não foi afetada. Assim, avaliamos se o uso de chaperonas químicas poderia induzir a secreção da proteína e observamos que houve aumento na secreção de FH nos fibroblastos. Desta forma, propomos o uso desses fármacos como alternativa de tratamento para melhorar a sobrevida do paciente. / Factor H (FH) is one of the most important regulatory proteins of the alternative pathway of the complement system (CS). In this study, we investigated the consequences of FH Arg127His mutation to the secretion ratio of this protein by skin fibroblasts in vitro. We stimulated the FH synthesis from patient and normal control with IFN<font face=\"Symbol\">g when we observed that the patient cells were able to synthetize FH, however this mutant protein was mainly retained at the endoplasmic reticulum. In parallel, we transfected Cos-7 cells with plasmids containing CG453T<font face=\"Symbol\">&#174; CA453T mutation and observed that the mutation was responsible for the delay in the FH secretion. Although the mutation reduced the FH secretion, we observed that the FH function was not affected. Thus, we evaluated whether the treatment with chemical chaperones could release FH to the culture supernant. We observed that patients fibroblasts treated increased the secretion of FH. In conclusion, we suggest the use of these chemical chaperones as a potential alternative therapeutic to improve the patients survival.

The ability of natural selection to promote and preserve genetic variation at Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I loci was examined in two fish species known to have low genetic variation either as a consequence of their breeding system or population structure. The tempo and modes of molecular evolution acting on these loci has also been discussed. The marine killifish Rivulus marmoratus is the only vertebrate known to exist in nature in homozygous form. The findings of this study suggest that MHC class I genes at one locus in R. marmoratus have rapidly accumulated variation, particularly in region of the gene encoding functional important domains. This rapid accumulation of variation is likely due to the increased intensity of natural selection acting on these genes resulting from the homozygosity of the species. The contention that the variation characterized at one MHC locus is of recent origin is further supported by an analysis of the mitochondrial control region if R. marmoratus, which suggests that the individuals included in this study are recently diverged. The variation characterized here is the first evidence of genetic variation at coding loci in this species, and may be evidence of the cost of homozygosity for R. marmoratus. Variation at a single MHC class I locus was also characterized in several members of the Death Valley pupfish species complex. Two of these species, Cyprinodon diabolis and Cyprinodon salinus have undergone intense historical or ongoing population bottlenecks. Despite the action of random genetic drift acting on these species, both maintain multiple MHC class I alleles at one locus. The alleles characterized in C. diabolis and C. salinus were also recovered from other members of the Death Valley complex. This suggests that overdominant natural selection has acted to maintain ancestral genetic variation at this locus in both species. This result has important implications for the design of conservation programs for these endangered species, and may have broader implications for the design of captive breeding programs of species with highly reduced population sizes in general. / Ph. D.

The aim of this study was to design a resolution typing system for the HLA-B gene. This technique involves a one-step PCR reaction utilizing genomic DNA and sequence-specific primers to determine the specificity of each allele and to produce a larger primer data base ideal for serological analysis. The application of this technique to serological analysis can improve serology detection which is currently hindered by antibody cross-reactivity and the unavailability of useful typing reagents.

As linhagens de camundongos selecionadas para a máxima (AIRmax) ou mínima (AIRmin) reatividade inflamatória aguda, demonstram diferenças quanto a capacidade de infiltrar neutrófilos. O projeto tem como objetivo caracterizar a atividade de macrófagos residentes ou induzidos com tioglicolato no exsudato peritoneal nestas linhagens. Nas 6h do estímulo, o tioglicolato induz migração de neutrófilos sendo o máximo de migração de macrófagos após 96h. Em ambas as linhagens, macrófagos induzidos por tioglicolato fagocitavam mais partículas de zimosan em relação a macrófagos residentes. Nos resultados pudemos observar que macrófagos da linhagem AIRmax respondem mais ao LPS em relação à expressão de TNF-a, IL-6, IL-12, IL-1b, TREM1, DAP12, e síntese de H2O2 e NO, que condiz com a alta inflamação dos AIRmax. Observamos que células residentes da linhagem AIRmin sintetizavam maiores quantidades de IL-10 e TGF-b em relação à linhagem AIRmax. Após o estímulo de tioglicolato, macrófagos da linhagem AIRmax produziam maiores quantidades de citocinas anti-inflamatórias. / Lines of mice genetically selected for maximal (AIRmax) or minimal (AIRmin) acute inflammatory reaction (AIR) demonstrated differences in the capacity to infiltrate neutrophil cells. The aim of this work is the characterization of the activity of resident or thioglicollate-induced macrophages in the peritoneal exudates in these mice. After 6h, thioglicollate induces the migration of neutrophils being the maximal macrophage migration achieved at 96h. On both lines, thioglicollate-induced macrophages showed higher phagocytic activity of zymosan particles than resident macrophages. Macrophages from AIRmax mice produced higher response with LPS, than AIRmin cells, regarding the expression of TNF-a, IL-6, IL-12, IL-1b, TREM1, DAP12, and synthesis of H2O2 and NO, which is consistent with the high inflammation selected phenotype of AIRmax mice. We observed that resident cells from AIRmin mice secret higher amounts of IL-10 and TGF-b than AIRmax cells. After thioglicollate stimulus, macrophages from AIRmax mice produced higher levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines.

O fator VIII da coagulação é utilizado para o tratamento da hemofilia A e pode ser obtido a partir de concentrados do plasma humano ou na sua forma recombinante (rFVIII). Nosso laboratório tem explorado uma alternativa mais eficiente para a produção do rFVIII em células de mamíferos, utilizando um variante artificial do rFVIII humano (rFVIII-lab). O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi avaliar a imunogenicidade do rFVIII-lab utilizando camundongos modelo da hemofilia A, tendo como objetivos experimentais a purificação, caracterização de atividade funcional in vivo e caracterização de imunogenicidade do rFVIII-lab comparada a produtos de referência, um derivado de plasma e outro recombinante. Os resultados indicam que o perfil de imunogenicidade observado para o rFVIII-lab foi menos intenso e a atividade funcional observada foi similar quando comparado aos produtos de referência. A expectativa é que o presente estudo contribua para o estabelecimento de uma plataforma de produção do rFVIII no país visando o tratamento dos pacientes hemofílicos brasileiros. / Factor VIII (FVIII) replacement therapy employing either FVIII concentrates from blood plasma or recombinant FVIII is the standard of care for management of hemophilia A. Our group has been exploring a more efficient alternative for recombinant FVIII production in mammalian cells employing an engineered artificial variant of the protein (rFVIII-lab). The main objective of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of the rFVIII-lab using a murine model of hemophilia A and the specific experimental objectives were to purify, evaluate the in vivo functional activity and the immunogenicity of rFVIII-lab compared to plasma derived and recombinant reference products. Data revealed reduced immunogenicity of rFVIII-lab whereas functional activity was similar when compared to the reference products. The presented study is expected to contribute to the establishment of a locally production platform for the rFVIII aiming at the treatment of Brazilian hemophilic patients.

The broader purpose of the work is to find and interpret polymorphism in the genes of natural immunity of cattle to be used to improve disease resistance. The NGS method on the PacBio platform was applied for the resequencing of the gene for the key receptor of innate immunity TLR2 and two genes coding for the components of the downstream transcriptional factor NF-κB. In the population of 149 bulls of the Czech Simmental breed, 22 polymorphisms were found in the gene NFKB1 (5 new), while in the NFKB2 gene 13 SNP were found (10 new). 21 SNP were found in the TLR2 gene (3 new). Of the 56 found polymorphisms, 6 SNPs were nonsynonymous. One SNP leads to a change R474G in the NFKB1 product and five to changes E63D, R152Q, I211V, R563H and H665Q in the protein TLR2. Knowledge of the haplotypes facilitated the development of individual genotyping reactions. In TLR2, a high number of haplotypes was detected, both from the PacBio reads and the statistical reconstruction. In addition, two clusters of haplotypes were ditinguished inTLR2, possibly due to diversifying selection or introgression. The knowledge of genetic diversity in the population allows for the planned association studies with health data. Localization in functional domains allow to define the change with the greatest effect, in particular...

Leucocin A is a bacteriocin produced by Leucoconostoc gelidium UAL 187-22. Bacteriocin producer strains possess an immunity protein, which enables the strain to protect itself against its own bacteriocin. The immunity gene from Leucoconostoc gelidium was isolated via PCR from a recombinant clone pJF5.5. This fragment was cloned by amplifying the immunity gene from pJF5.5 and ligating it into pMALc2. The resulting recombinant plasmid pKP1 was then transformed into Escherichia coli strain JM103. The clone putative, was confirmed by DNA sequencing and southern blot hybridization using the primers EAL-2 and EAL-3. It was shown to contain an insert of 3.6 kb. Expression analysis showed the construct as an in frame malE fusion protein expressed within E. coli. The fusion construct was isolated by affinity chromatography. Leucocin A was purified to 90% purity, from the supernatant of Leucocnostoc gelidium UAL 187-22 by ion-exchange chromatography and HPLC. It was found to elute from a C18 reverse phase column at 55% actetonitrile, 0.1% TFA. Binding interaction and the stability of the immunity gene fusion protein were compared using a Biacore 2000. The supernatant and cytoplasmic extract isolated from Leucocnostoc gelidium UAL 187-22 were tested for interaction with the fusion construct. Surface Plasmon resonance studies indicated that there was no binding partner present in the supernatant which would influence the immunity process. However, a stable interaction was found between the immunity protein and an orphan ligand within the cytoplasm. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

The CD40 ligand (CD40L) molecule is central to innate and adaptive immunity. CD40L expression is very tightly regulated whereas its CD40 receptor is constitutively expressed by many different cell types. CD40L is expressed transiently on helper T cells (Th) only after activation by specific immune recognition molecules carried by professional antigen presenting cells, in particular, dendritic cells (DC). CD40L subsequently binds to CD40 on DC to enable full Th activation. CD40 ligated DC produce interleukin-12 (IL-12) and contribute both to the development of IFNγ-secreting natural killer cells, a vital component of innate immunity, and of IFNγ-secreting type 1 Th (Th1) cells. CD40 ligated DC also contribute to the development of IL-4- and IL-10-secreting Th2 cells. CD40L on Th cells also binds CD40 on macrophages to enhance their cytotoxic functions. CD40L-expressing Th cells provide the ‘help’ pivotally required to activate other components of adaptive immunity responsible both for clearing invading pathogens and generating the memory cells required to prevent re-infection. Th-supplied CD40L binds (i) B cell CD40 to switch production of antibodies to more potent effector molecules that have higher avidity for antigen, and (ii) DC CD40 to prime then expand antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Activated NK cells and CTL are required both to eradicate malignant cells and cells infected with viruses or other intracellular pathogens. Genetic CD40L deficiency causes the very rare HyperIgM Syndrome Type 1 (HIGM1), which is realistically modelled by genetically engineered CD40L-deficient mice. Neither CD40L-deficient patients nor mice make effective antibodies or mount cellular immune responses that would defend them against intracellular pathogens such as parasites. Consequently, the only potentially curative therapy is allogeneic stem cell transplantation or CD40L gene replacement. Here, we used a retroviral vector, which constitutively expressed CD40L, to genetically modify CD40L-deficient bone marrow cells, which were used to reconstitute partially the immunity of CD40L-deficient mice. The crucial importance of tight regulation of CD40L expression was revealed when these mice later developed lethal thymic T cell malignancy. Growing tumours escape immune vigilance by genetic alterations that reduce their sensitivity to IFNγ. Using murine tumour models, we incorporated transgenic CD40L expression in therapeutic tumour vaccines to show that CD40L gene transfer augmented the immunogenicity of the host’s tumour thus reducing its tumorigenicity. We translated this finding clinically to safety and immunogenicity testing of a transgenic CD40L- and IL-2- expressing leukaemia vaccine. Finally, the common viral respiratory pathogen, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) mainly infects young infants and the elderly to cause potentially lethal pneumonia. Both groups have reduced cellular and humoral immunity, which predisposes them to re-infection with RSV. Using a murine model, we showed first that simultaneous adenoviral expression of CD40L augmented primary RSV-specific Th1 responses that were associated with accelerated pulmonary viral clearance. Second, we showed that expression of CD40L in RSV-F and RSV-G subunit DNA vaccines elevated antibody and cellular immune responses to RSV challenge four and eight months after the initial immunisation. These results demonstrate the potent ability of CD40L gene transfer to solve the absolute immune deficiency caused by genetic lesions of CD40L. However, physiological regulation of the transgene is required to prevent serious adverse consequences. In contrast, no adverse effects were observed after transgenic CD40L expression was used to overcome relative immune deficiencies imposed by malignancy and RSV infection. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1298200 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Medicine, 2007

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.