Cerium oxide has become an outstanding material in catalytic applications over the last decades. In this thesis, the morphology and atomic structure of thick cerium oxide films and ceria single crystals is investigated by non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). The ceria films are prepared by annealing cycles from room temperature up to 1100K in ultra high vacuum (UHV) and in an oxygen atmosphere. The films exhibit large smooth terraces separated predominantly by O-Ce-O triple layer height step edges but in contrast to the ceria single crystals some inhomogeneities are observed on the terraces. By annealing the film at 1020K to 1070K in UHV several intermediate phases can be stabilized ranging from the fully oxidized phase CeO2 to the fully reduced phase Ce2O3. These phases have a unique stoichiometry with regular arranged vacancies in the surface and subsurface as revealed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The film can be reoxidized by annealing in an oxygen atmosphere as shown by X-ray spectroscopy (XPS). The annealing in oxygen atmosphere also results in a surface with less inhomogeneities. This makes the ceria films an excellent model system for catalytic applications. Further in this thesis a measurement series exhibiting absorbed water on the film surface is presented and discussed. Also line defects observed on the film and on the single crystal are analyzed.

In this thesis, the morphology and electric potential of pristine and gold covered surfaces with the fluorite structure are investigated by non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). The pristine (111) surface of calcium difluride is prepared by cleaving. Cleavege ledges are composed of short alternating type I and type II steps having different atomic structures and polarities. With respect to the stoichiometric terrace, the surface potential is slightly reduced at ledges predominately composed of type I steps, while the potential of ledges predominantly composed of type II steps is significantly higher. Pristine (111) surfaces of ceria single crystals and ceria thick films are prepared by repeated cycles of sputtering and annealing. Annealing bulk samples at 1100 K results in small terraces with rounded ledges and steps with predominantly one O-Ce-O triple layer height while annealing at 1200 K produces well-ordered straight step edges in a hexagonal motif and step bunching. The morphology and topographic details of films are similar, however, films are destroyed upon heating above 1100 K. NC-AFM and KPFM images exhibit uniform and atomically perfect terraces on a single crystal surface while films exhibit significant inhomogeneities even for best possible preparation conditions. Applying X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS), a significant contamination of the bulk ceria sample with fluorine within the first 5 nm below the surface is found while a possible fluorine contamination of films is below the detection limits. After deposition of gold, a surprisingly strong interaction of gold adatoms to the (111) surface of bulk ceria is found. The pinning of individual adatoms to one specific surface site and the stability against sintering for annealing temperatures up to 520 K is discussed considering the fluorine contamination of bulk ceria samples. Additionally nanoscale gold clusters supported on ceria are fully characterized by employing elaborate NC-AFM and KPFM experiments gaining detailed information on their shape, crystalinity, epitaxy and binding to the substrate.

Wasser verhält sich aus physikalischer Sicht beim Kristallisationsprozess im Vergleich zu anderen molekularen Systemen anomal. So ist aus den Erfahrungen des täglichen Lebens bekannt, dass Wasser sich beim Gefrieren ausdehnt, sodass das entstehende Eis aufgrund seiner angenommenen Festkörperstruktur eine geringere Dichte aufweist und auf der festen Phase aufschwimmt. Das wachsende Volumen des Festkörpers sowie die Ausbildung scharfer Eiskristallnadeln führen immer dann zu Komplikationen, wenn der Expansionsprozess durch feste Begrenzungen limitiert ist. Dies ist z. B. in zellulären Strukturen sowie deren Untereinheiten der Fall. Aus diesem Grund sind für die Untersuchung kryogener biologischer Proben sowohl die Gefriertechnik als auch die angewendete Präparationstechnik von essentieller Bedeutung. Diese stellen bereits seit den 1950er Jahren im Bereich der Kryo-Elektronenmikroskopie eine vielgenutzte Methode dar. Um diese Techniken auch für die, nur im Ultrahochvakuum verwendete, Nicht-Kontakt-Rasterkraftmikroskopie nutzbar machen zu können, muss zunächst eine experimentelle Grundlage geschaffen werden, welche die Implementierung verschiedener Präparationstechniken kryogener Proben in ein Ultrahochvakuum-System erlaubt. Die Arbeit beschreibt neben den gebräuchlichsten Gefrier- und Kryo-Präparationstechniken den detaillierten Aufbau einer entsprechenden Anlage. Um deren Funktionalität zu zeigen, wird die Gefrierätztechnik eingesetzt. Primäre, einfache Untersuchungsobjekte hierfür bilden Eisfilme, die auf ein Goldsubsubstrat aufgebracht werden. Für das Freiätzen von unter der Eisschicht befindlichen biologischen Strukturen ist es von zentraler Bedeutung, die Ätzparameter soweit abschätzen zu können, dass die Struktur für das rasterkraftmikroskopische Messverfahren zugänglich ist. Hierzu vermittelt die Arbeit ebenfalls erste Einblicke. Als einfaches biologisches System für grundlegende Experimente dienen auf diesem Gebiet bakterielle Hüllproteine (S-Schichten), deren Proteinmonomere auf Substratoberflächen außerhalb ihrer zellulären Umgebung durch Selbstorganisation gitterartige Strukturen ausbilden.

In dieser Arbeit steht die Untersuchung der Reaktivität von Fluorid-Oberflächen mit gasförmigem Wasser mittels atomar auflösender Nichtkontakt-Rasterkraftmikroskopie (NC-AFM) im Vordergrund. Neben der Erzeugung von Wasseradsorbaten auf Erdalkalifluorid(111)-Oberflächen beschäftigt sich die folgende Arbeit mit der Kontrastbildung, dem Adsorptionsverhalten und vor allem der gezielten lateralen Manipulation, also Verschiebung von adsorbiertem Wasser, auf den Fluorid-Oberflächen. Im Rahmen der Experimente der hier vorgelegten Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass auf Erdalkalifluoriden zwei charakteristische Adsorbate entstehen, wenn die (111)-Oberflächen mit Wasser unter Ultrahochvakuumbedingungen behandelt werden. Das eine Adsorbat kann durch die Wechselwirkung mit der Spitze lateral manipuliert werden.Die in der vorliegenden Arbeit gezeigten Ergebnisse demonstrieren zum ersten Mal, dass die gezielte laterale Manipulation von Einzeladsorbaten auf Isolatoroberflächen mit der Methode der NC-AFM überhaupt möglich ist. Durch systematische Untersuchung des Manipulationsprozesses wurden Faktoren isoliert, mit denen die Manipulation gesteuert werden kann und Bedingungen identifiziert, unter denen die Kontrolle der Manipulation ganz besonders gut funktioniert. Um die experimentellen Ergebnisse zu verstehen, folgt ein Vergleich mit systematischen ab-inito Rechnungen auf Basis des VASP-Codes des Systems Wasser/Erdalkalifluorid und seiner Adsorbatmobilität.Damit konnte die These untermauert werden, dass die stationären Adsorbate Hydroxidionen sind, die anstelle von Fluorionen in die Oberfläche der Erdalkalifluoride eingebaut werden können.Die mobilen Adsorbate werden dagegen durch molekulares Wasser gebildet, welches an Punktdefekte der Oberfläche bindet. Die Arbeit schließt mit der Formulierung des wahrscheinlichen Manipulationsmechanismus ab.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(薬学) / 甲第17862号 / 薬博第793号 / 新制||薬||236(附属図書館) / 30682 / 京都大学大学院薬学研究科医療薬科学専攻 / (主査)教授 髙倉 喜信, 教授 橋田 充, 教授 佐治 英郎 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

The goal of this research was to formulate new tools for instream-flow analyses, with emphasis on protecting fish assemblages in speciose, warmer-water streams. This included habitat and fish data sets for the upper Roanoke River (URR) in southwestern Virginia, collected during the warmer, low- f low seasons of 1989-1991. Physical data were collected in small, rectangular quadrats or crosssectional transacts, whereas fish were collected by seining and electroshocking in the quadrats. Statistical analyses included uni-, bi-, and multivariate analyses. The habitat analyses showed that mesohabitat types could be effectively defined with hydraulic, channel-roughness, and geomorphologic variables, and different habitat types showed characteristically different hydraulic dynamics across flows. The analyses also showed that physical habitat could be effectively described by 4 axes (sets of similar variables) at microhabitat scales, although greater covariation occurred at intermediate spatial scales (meso- and macrohabitat level). Habitat assessment for instream-flow analyses can thus be effectively simplified by undertaking visual assessment of several mesohabitat types and/or by measuring only a few physical variables for microhabitat analyses. The differences in hydraulic dynamics among mesohabitat types can simplify determination of changes in the availability of fish habitat across flows. The fish analyses showed that habitat-use guilds of fish species could be effectively defined with aggregated data, i.e., across mesohabitat types or by calculation of fishes' habitat-use means for physical variables. In contrast, unaggregated data (each quadrat considered separately) gave cruder habitat-use segregation of fish species, particularly because fish species were independent of each other at smaller spatial resolutions and larger spatial extents. The 7 guilds included 4 rheophilic (riffle-oriented) and 3 limnophilic groups (pooloriented). Habitat-suitability models developed for these guilds showed that fish selected habitat variables independently, such that simple models can be developed to predict fish abundance in response to differences in habitat availability. In sum, the analyses provided habitat-flow and fish-habitat data that can be interfaced (in future analyses) to predict changes in fish abundance and biodiversity to be expected from permanent changes in flow levels and thus habitat availability. / Ph. D.

The vegetation characteristic of the Back Bay area is largely Austroripariam. On the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge about 330 species and varieties of 198 genera from 76 families were found. Of these plants, five are important submerged aquatic water-fowl foods and twenty-four are emergent or marsh food species. The present production of submerged waterfowl food plants is much below the potential for the area, though somewhat greater than in past years. The factor now most responsible for this limited growth is turbidity of the water. The chief cause of turbidity is wave action due to wind. The action of carp is a secondary cause. In the view of the extreme difficulties and expenses of controlling turbidity, no management practices can be recommended for increasing the growth of submerged aquatics other than continued prevention of pollution and maintenance of as low a carp population as possible. Marsh management, on the other hand, is thought to offer good possibilities for benefitting waterfowl conditions on the area. Therefore, it is believed that any management efforts to improve waterfowl food plant conditions on Back Bay can be more profitably applied to marsh and emergent species than to submerged aquatic species. / M.S.

The purpose of this study was to determine the food habits of age-O smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu Lac~p~de) in the New River and to examine spatial, temporal, and size-related differences in foraging success. Understanding factors that regulate foraging success of age-O smallmouth bass may provide further insight into factors regulating yearclass strength in smallmouth bass populations. Larval and juvenile smallmouth bass (8.5-85 mm Total Length; TL) were collected from two sites in the New River, West Virginia in the late spring and early summer of 1990. Stomach analysis revealed that the first foods of smallmouth bass (TL - 9 mm) were primarily Chironomidae and Copepoda. Aquatic insects, primarily Ephemeroptera, became more abundant in the stomachs as TL increased. A shift in the proportions and types of prey consumed occurred at approximately 15 mm TL and was attributed to increased mouth width and fin development. / Master of Science

RESUMO Cavalheiro, NP. Hepatite C: transmissão entre casais. São Paulo, 2004. 111p. Tese (Doutorado) - Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo. Introdução: A ocorrência e eficiência da transmissão sexual do VHC na ausência de outros fatores de risco ainda é muito controversa. Foram investigados e analisados 24 casais, ambos cônjuges infectados com o VHC. Destes, 22 apresentaram o mesmo subtipo viral e a análise filogenética de parte da região NS5b mostrou altos índices de homologia nas seqüências entre os vírus dos casais infectados. Objetivo: Análise da transmissão da Hepatite C entre casais heterossexuais. Método: O estudo recrutou 45 casais. Destes, 24 foram selecionados e incluídos na pesquisa, com diagnóstico clínico e laboratorial para a Hepatite C crônica. A infecção foi diagnosticada por testes imunoenzimáticos de terceira geração e pela presença da partícula viral circulante detectada pela PCR. As amostras de sangue foram coletadas entre os anos de 1999 e 2002. Foram seqüenciadas partes das regiões 5’NC e NS5b do VHC, para determinação dos subtipos virais. Os testes utilizados para as PCRs estão disponíveis para pesquisa e foram respectivamente TRUGENE 5’NC Test (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA) e Titan One Tube RT-PCR Kits (Roche Molecular, Mannheim, Germany). Para as PCRs dos seqüenciamentos foi utilizado o kit CLIP sequencing test (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). As seqüências foram analisadas com o sistema de seqüenciamento Open Gene DNA, software na Versão 3.1, biblioteca específica (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). Para o alinhamento das seqüências, referentes a região NS5b, foi utilizado o programa Clustal W (Clustal W Multiple Sequence Alignment Program, v1.7, June 1997) e a árvore filogenética foi gerada pelo método Neighbor Joining. Um questionário padrão e entrevistas foram usados para coleta de dados sobre fatores de risco para aquisição da doença e comportamento sexual. Os pacientes desta pesquisa foram recrutados no Ambulatório de Hepatite do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo e Ambulatório de Hepatite do Hospital Guilherme Álvaro, da cidade de Santos. Resultados: Entre os 24 casais selecionados, 22 apresentaram o mesmo subtipo viral e altas porcentagens de homologia (região NS5b) entre 93,0% e 99,4%. Os subtipos HCV apresentados foram dois (9,1%) casais infectados por 1a, nove (40,9%) com subtipo 1b, um (4,6%) com subtipo 2b e dez (45,5%) dos casais pelo subtipo HCV 3a. Os dois casais discordantes apresentaram índices de 70,1% e 82,2% e foram infectados pelos subtipos 2b e 1b, e 1b e 1a respectivamente. A média de tempo de convivência foi de 22,4 anos, variando de 2 a 45 anos e a renda per capta anual foi em média US$2,270/ano. Com base nos questionários e entrevistas os fatores de risco apresentados pelos casais foram: 9 (37,5%) transfusão de sangue, 17 (70,8%) U.D. endovenosa e 15 (62,5%) U.D. inalatória, 4 (16,7%) acupuntura e 5 (20,8%) tatuagem. O compartilhar de utensílios de higiene pessoal relatado pelos casais apresentou altos índices e 6 (25,0%) dos casais assumiram o uso comum de escova de dente, 16 (66,7%) lâmina de barbear, 21 (87,5%) cortador de unhas e 14 (58,3%) alicate de manicure. Os dois casais discordantes relataram fatores de risco como transfusão de sangue e U.D. Conclusão: A alta similaridade encontrada entre as cadeias genômicas do VHC pode dar suporte a hipótese de transmissão do VHC entre esses casais. O uso compartilhado de utensílios de higiene pessoal e o tempo de convivência tornam difícil a interpretação dos dados. O uso compartilhado de utensílios de higiene pessoal pode dificultar a interpretação dos dados em relação à transmissão sexual do VHC. A hipótese do sentido mais provável de transmissão do VHC, de homem para mulher, foi reforçada neste trabalho. / ABSTRACT Cavalheiro, NP. Hepatitis C: transmission between couples. São Paulo, 2004. 111p. Thesis (Doctoral) - Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo. Introduction: The occurrence and the efficiency of HCV sexual transmission in the absence of other risk factors are still very controversial. I investigated and analyzed 24 couples, both infected with HCV, of whom 22 shared the same viral subtype. A phylogenetic analysis of NS5b region showed high sequence homology among the infected couples. Objective: Analysis of the Hepatitis C transmission between heterosexuals couples. Methods: The study recruited 45 couples, 24 were included, with anti-HCV positive and clinical diagnosis of active chronic hepatitis. HCV infection was diagnosed by positivity of serum samples for anti HCV (third-version enzyme immunoassay) and by circulating HCV-RNA detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). All blood samples were collected between 1999 and 2002. Sequencing of the 5’NC region was performed utilizing the research available TRUGENE HCV 5’NC Test (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). Sequencing of the NS5B region was performed by RT-PCR amplification with Titan One Tube RT-PCR Kits (Roche Molecular, Mannheim, Germany) and CLIP sequencing using a prototype NS5B genotyping assay (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). Sequence analysis was completed using the Open Gene DNA Sequencing System, Gene Objects software package (Version 3.1), and Gene Librarian module (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). Multiple sequence alignments of the NS5B region were performed with Clustal W (Clustal W Multiple Sequence Alignment Program, v1.7, June 1997), and phylogenetic trees were generated using the Neighbor Joining Method. A standardized questionnaire and interview was used to collect data concerning risk factors and sexual behaviors. Follow up of all subjects was conducted at the hepatitis clinic of the Clinical Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo and at the Hospital Guilherme Alvaro in the city of Santos, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Results: Among the 24 couples, 22 had matching viral subtypes with homology scores (NS5b) ranging from 93.0% to 99.4%. Of the 22 couples with matching subtype, two (9.1%) where infected with subtype 1a, nine (40.9%) with subtype 1b, one (4.6%) with subtype 2b and ten (45.5%) with subtype 3a. The two couples that did not show matching viral subtypes had scores of 70.1% and 82.2%, and were infected with subtypes 2b and 1b, and 1b and 1a, respectively. The average of duration of marriage was 22.4 years (range 2-45 years) and the per capita income was an average of US$2,270/year. Based on the questionnaire and interviews, cause of infection of the 24 couples could be attributed to: blood transfusions 9 (37.5%), drug use, I.V. 17(70.8%) and inhalation 15 (62.5%), acupuncture 4 (16.7%) and tattooing 5 (20.8%). Shared hygienic utensils showed a much higher correlation of possible route of transmission, and are better explained by the sequence homology data than by the other associated risk factors. A total of 6 (25.0%) couples shared tooth brushes, 16 (66.7%) shared shaving blades, 21 (87.5%) shared nail clippers and 14 (58.3%) shared manicure cutters. The two couples that had different subtypes, both of them related transfusion blood and I.V. drug use. Conclusions: The high similarity found among the genome chains of HCV supports the hypothesis of transmission between these couples. The shared use of personal hygiene utensils and the amount of time spent living together made it difficult to interpret the data. Also, the shared use of personal hygiene utensils can make it difficult to interpret the data in relation to the sexual transmission of HCV. The hypothesis in relation to the direction of the HCV transmission, from man to woman, was reinforced in this work.

RESUMO Cavalheiro, NP. Hepatite C: transmissão entre casais. São Paulo, 2004. 111p. Tese (Doutorado) - Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo. Introdução: A ocorrência e eficiência da transmissão sexual do VHC na ausência de outros fatores de risco ainda é muito controversa. Foram investigados e analisados 24 casais, ambos cônjuges infectados com o VHC. Destes, 22 apresentaram o mesmo subtipo viral e a análise filogenética de parte da região NS5b mostrou altos índices de homologia nas seqüências entre os vírus dos casais infectados. Objetivo: Análise da transmissão da Hepatite C entre casais heterossexuais. Método: O estudo recrutou 45 casais. Destes, 24 foram selecionados e incluídos na pesquisa, com diagnóstico clínico e laboratorial para a Hepatite C crônica. A infecção foi diagnosticada por testes imunoenzimáticos de terceira geração e pela presença da partícula viral circulante detectada pela PCR. As amostras de sangue foram coletadas entre os anos de 1999 e 2002. Foram seqüenciadas partes das regiões 5’NC e NS5b do VHC, para determinação dos subtipos virais. Os testes utilizados para as PCRs estão disponíveis para pesquisa e foram respectivamente TRUGENE 5’NC Test (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA) e Titan One Tube RT-PCR Kits (Roche Molecular, Mannheim, Germany). Para as PCRs dos seqüenciamentos foi utilizado o kit CLIP sequencing test (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). As seqüências foram analisadas com o sistema de seqüenciamento Open Gene DNA, software na Versão 3.1, biblioteca específica (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). Para o alinhamento das seqüências, referentes a região NS5b, foi utilizado o programa Clustal W (Clustal W Multiple Sequence Alignment Program, v1.7, June 1997) e a árvore filogenética foi gerada pelo método Neighbor Joining. Um questionário padrão e entrevistas foram usados para coleta de dados sobre fatores de risco para aquisição da doença e comportamento sexual. Os pacientes desta pesquisa foram recrutados no Ambulatório de Hepatite do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo e Ambulatório de Hepatite do Hospital Guilherme Álvaro, da cidade de Santos. Resultados: Entre os 24 casais selecionados, 22 apresentaram o mesmo subtipo viral e altas porcentagens de homologia (região NS5b) entre 93,0% e 99,4%. Os subtipos HCV apresentados foram dois (9,1%) casais infectados por 1a, nove (40,9%) com subtipo 1b, um (4,6%) com subtipo 2b e dez (45,5%) dos casais pelo subtipo HCV 3a. Os dois casais discordantes apresentaram índices de 70,1% e 82,2% e foram infectados pelos subtipos 2b e 1b, e 1b e 1a respectivamente. A média de tempo de convivência foi de 22,4 anos, variando de 2 a 45 anos e a renda per capta anual foi em média US$2,270/ano. Com base nos questionários e entrevistas os fatores de risco apresentados pelos casais foram: 9 (37,5%) transfusão de sangue, 17 (70,8%) U.D. endovenosa e 15 (62,5%) U.D. inalatória, 4 (16,7%) acupuntura e 5 (20,8%) tatuagem. O compartilhar de utensílios de higiene pessoal relatado pelos casais apresentou altos índices e 6 (25,0%) dos casais assumiram o uso comum de escova de dente, 16 (66,7%) lâmina de barbear, 21 (87,5%) cortador de unhas e 14 (58,3%) alicate de manicure. Os dois casais discordantes relataram fatores de risco como transfusão de sangue e U.D. Conclusão: A alta similaridade encontrada entre as cadeias genômicas do VHC pode dar suporte a hipótese de transmissão do VHC entre esses casais. O uso compartilhado de utensílios de higiene pessoal e o tempo de convivência tornam difícil a interpretação dos dados. O uso compartilhado de utensílios de higiene pessoal pode dificultar a interpretação dos dados em relação à transmissão sexual do VHC. A hipótese do sentido mais provável de transmissão do VHC, de homem para mulher, foi reforçada neste trabalho. / ABSTRACT Cavalheiro, NP. Hepatitis C: transmission between couples. São Paulo, 2004. 111p. Thesis (Doctoral) - Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo. Introduction: The occurrence and the efficiency of HCV sexual transmission in the absence of other risk factors are still very controversial. I investigated and analyzed 24 couples, both infected with HCV, of whom 22 shared the same viral subtype. A phylogenetic analysis of NS5b region showed high sequence homology among the infected couples. Objective: Analysis of the Hepatitis C transmission between heterosexuals couples. Methods: The study recruited 45 couples, 24 were included, with anti-HCV positive and clinical diagnosis of active chronic hepatitis. HCV infection was diagnosed by positivity of serum samples for anti HCV (third-version enzyme immunoassay) and by circulating HCV-RNA detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). All blood samples were collected between 1999 and 2002. Sequencing of the 5’NC region was performed utilizing the research available TRUGENE HCV 5’NC Test (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). Sequencing of the NS5B region was performed by RT-PCR amplification with Titan One Tube RT-PCR Kits (Roche Molecular, Mannheim, Germany) and CLIP sequencing using a prototype NS5B genotyping assay (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). Sequence analysis was completed using the Open Gene DNA Sequencing System, Gene Objects software package (Version 3.1), and Gene Librarian module (Bayer Health Care Diagnostics, Tarrytown, NY, USA). Multiple sequence alignments of the NS5B region were performed with Clustal W (Clustal W Multiple Sequence Alignment Program, v1.7, June 1997), and phylogenetic trees were generated using the Neighbor Joining Method. A standardized questionnaire and interview was used to collect data concerning risk factors and sexual behaviors. Follow up of all subjects was conducted at the hepatitis clinic of the Clinical Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo and at the Hospital Guilherme Alvaro in the city of Santos, in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Results: Among the 24 couples, 22 had matching viral subtypes with homology scores (NS5b) ranging from 93.0% to 99.4%. Of the 22 couples with matching subtype, two (9.1%) where infected with subtype 1a, nine (40.9%) with subtype 1b, one (4.6%) with subtype 2b and ten (45.5%) with subtype 3a. The two couples that did not show matching viral subtypes had scores of 70.1% and 82.2%, and were infected with subtypes 2b and 1b, and 1b and 1a, respectively. The average of duration of marriage was 22.4 years (range 2-45 years) and the per capita income was an average of US$2,270/year. Based on the questionnaire and interviews, cause of infection of the 24 couples could be attributed to: blood transfusions 9 (37.5%), drug use, I.V. 17(70.8%) and inhalation 15 (62.5%), acupuncture 4 (16.7%) and tattooing 5 (20.8%). Shared hygienic utensils showed a much higher correlation of possible route of transmission, and are better explained by the sequence homology data than by the other associated risk factors. A total of 6 (25.0%) couples shared tooth brushes, 16 (66.7%) shared shaving blades, 21 (87.5%) shared nail clippers and 14 (58.3%) shared manicure cutters. The two couples that had different subtypes, both of them related transfusion blood and I.V. drug use. Conclusions: The high similarity found among the genome chains of HCV supports the hypothesis of transmission between these couples. The shared use of personal hygiene utensils and the amount of time spent living together made it difficult to interpret the data. Also, the shared use of personal hygiene utensils can make it difficult to interpret the data in relation to the sexual transmission of HCV. The hypothesis in relation to the direction of the HCV transmission, from man to woman, was reinforced in this work.