Phagocytosis of Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was studied using a modified fluorochrome assay. Bacteria were grown overnight, washed and opsonized in normal, human, pooled serum. Preopsonized bacteria, either in suspension or preadhered onto a glass cover slip, were then incubated with PMNL. Afer appropriate incubation, the mixtures were centrifuged onto the cover glasses. The cover glasses were stained with acridine orange, while duplicate cover glasses were also stained with Giemsa solution. The total number and distribution of bacteria and PMNL, as well as morphological changes in PMNL, were observed with the Giemsa stain. The acridine orange stained only ingested bacteria which provided an accurate indication of phagocytosis. Bacteroides cells adhered to a glass surface were phagocytized significantly more efficiently than Bacteroides in suspension.

Nanoparticles are promising platforms for biomedical applications ranging from diagnostic tools to therapeutic delivery agents. During the course of these applications, nanoparticles are exposed to a complex mixture of extracellular serum proteins that nonspecifically adsorb onto the surface. The resulting protein layer, or protein "corona," creates an interface between nanoparticles and the biological environment. Protecting the nanoparticle surface can reduce protein adsorption, but complete inhibition remains a challenge. As a result, the corona, rather than the nanoparticle itself, mediates the cellular response to the nanoparticle. The following dissertation describes the fundamental characterization of the cellular binding of charged nanoparticles, interactions of protein-nanoparticle complexes with cellular receptors, and the structural and thermodynamic properties of adsorbed corona proteins.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by production of a wide range of autoantibodies, multiple organ involvement and by local formation or tissue deposition of immune complexes (ICs) in the inflamed organs. In contrast to most systemic inflammatory conditions, and despite raised levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, SLE flares are rarely reflected by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), an important acute-phase reactant in man with homologs in vertebrates and several invertebrates. As a part of the innate immune system, CRP binds certain molecules exposed on the surface of dying cells/apoptotic bodies and on the surface of pathogens and mediates their elimination by uptake in the reticuloendothelial system. CRP also interacts with IgG-containing immune complexes, binds Fc receptors and activates the complement system via C1q. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the complement activation properties of CRP; to elucidate if anti-CRP antibodies occur in SLE and, if so, whether anti-CRP antibody levels correlate with disease activity in SLE; to test the hypothesis that autoantibodies to pro-inflammatory cytokines prevent rise of CRP; and to survey if autoantibodies to certain nuclear antigens or to CRP correlate with cytokine-inducing properties of ICs from SLE sera. We have demonstrated that CRP bound to phosphorylcholine is a powerful activator of the classical complement pathway already in the CRP concentration range 4 to 10 mg/L, but with a marked inhibition at CRP levels above 150 mg/L. Autoantibodies to the monomeric form of CRP were found in approximately 40 percent of SLE patients and in a few sera from patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome, but not in rheumatoid arthritis or in inflammatory bowel disease. The anti-CRP antibody levels showed significant correlations to several laboratory and clinical measurements, and anti-CRP positivity was associated with renal involvement in SLE. Native CRP levels were not correlated with anti-CRP or anti-cytokine antibody levels. Hence, the presence of antibodies to monomeric CRP or to CRP-inducing cytokines is an unlikely explanation to the relative failure of CRP response in patients with active lupus. However, antibodies to TNFα were found in subnormal levels at disease flares, whereas antibodies to TGFβ were found in supranormal levels as compared to healthy subjects. In contrast to antibodies against CRP and DNA, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies may regulate the inflammatory process in SLE by enhancing IC formation and subsequent production of cytokines such as IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12p40. Hypothetically, anti-CRP autoantibodies may be of pathogenic importance, for instance by binding to monomeric CRP on cell and tissue surfaces and thereby increasing the risk of extrahepatic deposition of apoptotic material and in situ formation of ICs. / On the day of the defence data the status of article I was Submitted and the tile was "C-reactive protein activates or inhibits the classical complement pathway in a concentration dependent manner" and the status of article V was: Submitted.

No description available.

Diversas proteínas pneumocócicas têm sido estudadas como candidatos vacinais. Entre elas, PspA e Ply induzem anticorpos essenciais para a proteção contra sepse, enquanto, SP 0148 e SP 2108 induzem IL-17 e protegem camundongos contra a colonização. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo principal desenvolver vacinas pneumocócicas baseadas em proteínas. Primeiramente, foi selecionada uma molécula de PspA com ampla reatividade cruzada. Em seguida, esta PspA foi fusionada com PdT, um pneumolisóide derivado da Ply. Essa proteína de fusão mostrou-se capaz de induzir resposta imunológica humoral e celular e protegeu camundongos contra desafio letal. Vacinas baseadas em BCG, que possui diversas propriedades adjuvantes, foram desenvolvidas expressando as proteínas pneumocócicas rPspA-PdT, SP 0148 e SP 2108. A imunização com o rBCG 0148/rSP 0148 induziu IL-17 e levou a proteção contra colonização. A combinação das três vacinas de rBCG mostrou-se mais eficiente na proteção contra desafio de colonização. Esses resultados sugerem um uso promissor do rBCG como vacina pneumocócica. / Several pneumococcal proteins have been proposed as vaccine candidates. PspA and Ply induce protective antibodies against sepse, while SP 0148 and SP 2108, induce IL-17 and protect mice against pneumococcal colonization. The major aim of this study was to produce pneumococcal vaccines based on proteins. First, we selected one PspA molecule able to induce broad-ranging cross-reactivity. Second, we constructed a hybrid protein containing a PspA fused to PdT, a detoxified form of Ply. The hybrid protein was able to induce humoral and cellular responses and protected mice against lethal challenge. Finally, due the adjuvant properties of BCG, we constructed recombinant BCG strains expressing PspA-PdT, SP 0148 and SP 2108. The immunization with rBCG-0148/rSP 0148 induced IL-17 and IFN-, and pneumococcal colonization in mice. Interestingly, the combination of all rBCG vaccines was more efficient in protecting mice against pneumococcal colonization. These results suggesting a promising use of rBCG as pneumococcal vaccine.

Diversas proteínas pneumocócicas têm sido estudadas como candidatos vacinais. Entre elas, PspA e Ply induzem anticorpos essenciais para a proteção contra sepse, enquanto, SP 0148 e SP 2108 induzem IL-17 e protegem camundongos contra a colonização. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo principal desenvolver vacinas pneumocócicas baseadas em proteínas. Primeiramente, foi selecionada uma molécula de PspA com ampla reatividade cruzada. Em seguida, esta PspA foi fusionada com PdT, um pneumolisóide derivado da Ply. Essa proteína de fusão mostrou-se capaz de induzir resposta imunológica humoral e celular e protegeu camundongos contra desafio letal. Vacinas baseadas em BCG, que possui diversas propriedades adjuvantes, foram desenvolvidas expressando as proteínas pneumocócicas rPspA-PdT, SP 0148 e SP 2108. A imunização com o rBCG 0148/rSP 0148 induziu IL-17 e levou a proteção contra colonização. A combinação das três vacinas de rBCG mostrou-se mais eficiente na proteção contra desafio de colonização. Esses resultados sugerem um uso promissor do rBCG como vacina pneumocócica. / Several pneumococcal proteins have been proposed as vaccine candidates. PspA and Ply induce protective antibodies against sepse, while SP 0148 and SP 2108, induce IL-17 and protect mice against pneumococcal colonization. The major aim of this study was to produce pneumococcal vaccines based on proteins. First, we selected one PspA molecule able to induce broad-ranging cross-reactivity. Second, we constructed a hybrid protein containing a PspA fused to PdT, a detoxified form of Ply. The hybrid protein was able to induce humoral and cellular responses and protected mice against lethal challenge. Finally, due the adjuvant properties of BCG, we constructed recombinant BCG strains expressing PspA-PdT, SP 0148 and SP 2108. The immunization with rBCG-0148/rSP 0148 induced IL-17 and IFN-, and pneumococcal colonization in mice. Interestingly, the combination of all rBCG vaccines was more efficient in protecting mice against pneumococcal colonization. These results suggesting a promising use of rBCG as pneumococcal vaccine.