HIV Tat protein downregulates surface expression of the interleukin-7 receptor alpha-chain (CD127) on CD8 T cells resulting in impaired T cell proliferation and cytolytic capacity. Once taken up by CD8 T cells, Tat binds directly to the cytoplasmic tail of CD127 inducing receptor internalization and degradation. Given the important roles of CD127 in proper immune function, the Tat/CD127 interactions were characterized and the mechanisms required to induce receptor loss from the surface of CD8 T cells were investigated. Tat deletion mutants were generated each sequentially lacking a region of the protein. CD8 T cells isolated from HIV negative volunteers were exposed to exogenous or intracellular Tat proteins before surface CD127 expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. To characterize Tat/CD127 physical interactions, wild type Tat and Tat mutants were incubated with lysates from a CD127+ Jurkat cell line followed by CD127/Tat co-immunoprecipitation. The effect of Tat on CD127 post-translational modifications was also investigated. Removal of the N-terminus of Tat (aa 1-10 or aa 17-21) prevented Tat from downregulating CD127 and prevented Tat from binding CD127 as assessed by co-immunoprecipitation. Deletion of the basic region (aa 48-59) also prevented Tat from downregulating CD127 but did not prevent Tat from interacting physically as demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation. Strikingly, endogenously expressed Basic Tat acted as a dominant negative mutant, causing an accumulation of CD127 at the cell surface. These observations suggest that Tat may bind CD127 via its N-terminus to disrupt the normal recycling of the receptor, and then recruit cellular endocytic machinery to the receptor via it’s basic region, to remove the receptor from the cell surface and target it for degradation. Furthermore, Tat encourages the ubiquitination of CD127 by recruiting the cytokine-inducible SH2 containing (CIS) protein to the receptor, possibly leading to accelerated CD127 internalization and proteasomal degradation. I propose a model whereby Tat binds CD127 via its N-terminal region then recruits CIS via its basic region. CIS in turn recruits a cellular E3 ubiquitin ligase to ubiquitin tag the receptor for internalization and proteasome degradation. This research may lead to novel treatments designed to maintain IL-7 signalling and strengthen CD8 T cell function in HIV+ persons.

Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from HIV-infected patients and MDMs infected in vitro with HIV manifest inhibition of various cytokines including IL 12. Recently, IL-27 was shown to inhibit HIV replication in macrophages. Whether HIV infection or HIV regulatory proteins such as tat, impact IL-23 or IL-27 production in macrophages remains unknown. I have demonstrated that intracellular HIV-tat expression as well as HIV-tat basic domain peptides inhibited LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 proteins and their subunits in MDMs. First I investigated the signalling pathways involved in the regulation of LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 production in MDMs infected with control pLXIN retrovirus-infected MDMs. The p38 MAPK, SHP-1 and PI3K signalling molecules positively regulated LPS-induced IL-23 expression. In contrast, Src kinases and JNK MAPK negatively regulated LPS-induced IL-23 production. On the other hand, LPS-induced IL-27 production was positively regulated by the PI3K, p38 MAPKs and SHP-1 and Src kinases. Src kinases positively regulated LPS-induced IL-27 production whereas Src kinases and JNK negatively regulated LPS-induced IL-23 production. HIV-Tat significantly inhibited p38 MAPK and PI3K which were implicated in HIV-Tat-mediated inhibition of LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 production. Even though HIV-Tat inhibited ERK and JNK MAPK activation, these kinases were not involved in HIV-Tat-mediated inhibition of LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 production. While SHP-1 regulated LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 production, HIV-Tat did not inhibit SHP-1 and therefore were not involved in HIV-Tat-mediated inhibition of LPS-induced IL-23 and IL-27 production. HIV-Tat did not inhibit Src kinases and hence were not involved in HIV-Tat-mediated inhibition of LPS-induced IL-27 production. Furthermore, HIV-Tat did not inhibit the expression of upstream TLR4-activated signaling molecules including TRAF3, TRIF, MyD88, IRAK1, IRAK3, IRAK4, TRAF-1, TRAF-2, cIAP-1, cIAP-2 and, xIAP. These results suggest association of IL-23 and IL-27 inhibition by HIV with decreased HIV-specific immune responses, and increased viral replication. These results further suggest novel strategies to improve cellular immune responses and inhibition of HIV replication.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is characterised by the formation of a fusion gene bcr-abl. The gene product BCR-ABL has deregulated tyrosine kinase activity that plays a direct role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Recently, use of siRNA in leukaemic cells has led to effective gene silencing of bcr-abl. Gene delivery systems like viral vectors, electroporation and lipid based vectors have showed varying efficiencies but are limited by their level of toxicity and immunogenicity. Developments in the field of Cell Penetrating Peptides have shown effective cellular uptake of nucleic acids and proteins by the CPPs in vitro and in vivo. Report from our lab has shown the use of CPP Tat along with membrane active peptide LK15 to improve the transfection efficiency of both Tat and LK15 peptides individually. Hence, this study will focus on the use of Tat-LK15 peptide to study the delivery of siRNA and shRNA plasmid in K562 cells and observe the BCR-ABL protein expression. Cellular uptake studies using Tat-LK15 based complexes of Cy5-labelled DNA and siRNA showed a concentration dependent uptake leading to increase in percentage transfected cells. Tat-LK15 based DNA complexes achieved 80% transfected cells (charge ratio of 2:1) while siRNA complexes resulted in a maximum of 60% (charge ratio of 3:1). However, Lipofectamine based DNA complexes did not show a concentration dependent increase in percentage transfected cells. Interestingly, Tat-LK15 based siRNA complexes showed a similar level of uptake and percentage transfected cells as that of Lipofectamine based siRNA complexes. Cellular uptake studies using confocal microscopy 4 hours post transfection, showed that when 1μg of DNA was transfected, the labelled DNA was primarily localised on the cell membrane. Interestingly, using 5μg of DNA led to increased intracellular localisation of the labelled DNA, but this observation was not made with Lipofectamine based complexes. The observation at 24 hours post transfection of Tat-LK15/labelled DNA complexes was of higher intensity when compared to that of Lipofectamine based DNA complexes. The reason for this is however not known. Interestingly, the cellular uptake profile using siRNA based complexes was different. At 4 hours post transfection, there was intracellular localisation of labelled siRNA. 24 hours post transfection, there was diffuse cytoplasmic localisation using lower concentration of siRNA whereas using higher concentration led to more high intensity punctate localisations within the cell. Similar observations were made for both Tat-LK15 and Lipofectamine based siRNA complexes.Gene silencing studies of Tat-LK15/shRNA plasmid complex resulted in 80% reduction in protein levels 96 hours post transfection for higher concentrations of shRNA plasmid treated. Similar level of reduction in BCR-ABL was observed with Lipofectamine based complex. Supporting evidence of reduction in mRNA levels was observed using qRT-PCR 48 hours post transfection. However, Tat-LK15/shRNA plasmid complexes led to around 80% of protein reduction 192 hours post transfection while Lipofectamine based complexes resulted in only 40% of protein reduction. Transfection using increasing concentrations of siRNA complexed to Tat-LK15 and Lipofectamine led to greater than 70% reduction in protein levels for most concentration ranges tested. This reduction in protein levels lasted only 48 hours post transfection. In conclusion, Tat-LK15 peptide could be used for shRNA plasmid and siRNA based delivery and could offer an efficient gene delivery model for studying RNAi.

The Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale—Global (SCORS-G) is a relatively new scoring system for the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) that provides information about an individual's functioning in a variety of domains, including intrapsychic and interpersonal. Participants in this archival study had been administered a variety of measures as part of a routine clinical assessment, including the TAT, Rorschach, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Selected TAT stories were rescored using current SCORS-G scoring criteria. This dissertation evaluated the factor structure of the SCORS-G in an outpatient sample with a principal component analysis (PCA), finding support for a two-component solution. The SCORS-G was then compared to well-established measures of personality functioning, social cognition, and object relations using correlational analyses, with mixed results. Lastly, support was found for using the SCORS-G as a tool for discriminating individuals with a history of violent or problematic relationships from those without such a history. Implications for card selection based on card pull and the impact of bland protocols were explored.

A história mostra que, em tempos antigos, as pessoas com deficiência eram sacrificadas ou entregues a entidades assistenciais e, mesmo com a criação da ideia de amor materno e da compreensão da família como a principal instituição a se responsabilizar pelos cuidados dos filhos, foi necessário muito tempo para que a criança com deficiência pudesse fazer parte da família. A psicanálise contribuiu com a concepção contemporânea sobre a importância do papel da materno. Assim, para entender o desenvolvimento do sujeito, faz-se necessário olhar para os cuidados dispensados a ele no início da vida. Ao se tornar mãe, a mulher deve elaborar seus papeis nas diversas relações interpessoais, as divergências entre o bebê real e o imaginado e mudanças em sua dinâmica psíquica de forma que possa exercer a preocupação materna primária. Este trabalho lança olhar sobre a experiência emocional da maternidade de bebês com deficiência física, busca identificar e compreender fatores envolvidos neste contexto, a fim de contribuir para a prática de profissionais que atuam com esta população. Foi realizada uma pesquisa clínico-qualitativa com três mães cujos filhos frequentam um centro de reabilitação. Foi feita entrevista semi-dirigida e aplicação do Teste de Apercepção Temática (TAT). Os dados obtidos foram agrupados em categorias de análise e discutidos a partir da Psicanálise. Os resultados trazem temas que podem ser trabalhados com essas mães durante o período de reabilitação da criança, tais como sentimentos, mecanismos de defesa e sua relação com seu bebê. Conclui-se que é de extrema importância que o centro de reabilitação possa escutar a demanda emocional das mães e oferecer formas de cuidados adequadas / History shows that, in ancient times, people with disabilities were sacrificed or delivered to care entities and, even creating the idea of maternal love and familys understanding as the main institution to take responsibility for childcare, it was necessary much time for the child with disabilities to become part of their family. Psychoanalysis contributed to the contemporary conception of the importance of the mothers role. Thus, to understand the development of the subject, it is necessary to look at the care given to him at the beginning of his life. When becoming a mother, a woman must develop her role in many interpersonal relationships, such as divergences between the actual and imagined baby and changes in her psychic dynamics so that she can exercise the primary maternal concern. This study aims for the emotional experience of maternity in mothers of babies with physical disability; it seeks to identify and understand factors involved in this context in order to contribute to the practice of professionals who work with this population. A clinical-qualitative study was carried out with three mothers whose children attended a Rehab Center. A semi-guided interview and application of the Thematic Apperception (TAT) was made and the data obtained were grouped into categories of analysis and discussed from Psychoanalysis. The results bring themes that can be used with these mothers during the rehabilitation period of their child, such as feelings, defense mechanisms and their relationship with their baby. In conclusion, it is extremely important that the rehabilitation center attends the emotional demand of the mothers and provide them appropriate forms of care

Frente ao custo social dos quadros de abuso e dependência de substâncias psicoativas, diversos modelos explicativos têm sido propostos, sejam eles baseados em preceitos morais, religiosos, experiências de grupos de autoajuda ou na pesquisa científica. As Comunidades Terapêuticas (CTs) são uma modalidade de atendimento a usuários abusivos e dependentes de substâncias psicoativas que se baseiam em vários desses modelos, que se mostram bastante diversas em sua organização e nos serviços oferecidos, mas relativamente coesas em termos dos seus princípios. Diversos estudos têm tentado explicar os aspectos relacionados a esse modelo de tratamento, sugerindo sua eficácia. Apesar disso, existem poucas pesquisas compreensivas acerca das mudanças psicológicas que ocorrem nas pessoas que passam por esse tipo de instituição. No Brasil, a escassez de trabalhos acadêmicos sobre as CTs aponta para a necessidade de estudos sobre seus componentes terapêuticos, a fim de conhecer melhor os alcances e limites desse tipo de tratamento. A presente investigação visou estudar as mudanças psicológicas de pessoas que passaram por tratamento numa CT da região de Ribeirão Preto (SP), por meio de entrevistas de avaliação no início e no final de sua internação. Os participantes do estudo foram sete homens entre 21 e 35 anos de idade, nível socioeconômico médio baixo e dependentes de crack (predominantemente), cocaína e álcool. Para a realização das avaliações, foram utilizados um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturado, o Inventário Multifásico Minnesota de Personalidade, Improved Readability Form (MMPI-IRF) e cartões selecionados do Teste de Apercepção Temática (TAT). Os dados obtidos foram categorizados e analisados a partir de dimensões e domínios do processo de mudança na CT, conforme embasamento teórico de autores da área. O conjunto de dados foi interpretado a partir de teorias psicodinâmicas de personalidade. Os resultados mostram que o tratamento promoveu melhoras no funcionamento psicológico em graus diferentes para dois subgrupos de participantes, em todas as dimensões do processo de mudança. Os resultados são discutidos em termos das diferenças entre os subgrupos em aspectos como a estrutura e o nível de funcionamento da personalidade e qualidade da introjeção das experiências durante o tratamento. Ainda, são feitas considerações acerca do método de pesquisa adotado e dos alcances e limites do tratamento em CTs e sugestões para estudos futuros no Brasil. / Considering the high social cost of substance abuse and dependence, several models have been proposed, based on moral and/or religious principles, self-help groups experiences or scientific research. The Therapeutic Community (TC) is a treatment modality for substance abusers based in many of the models above, which shows a variety in terms of its organization and services offered, as well as a relatively cohesion of principles along these institutions. Several studies have been trying to explain the aspects related to such treatment modality, suggesting its efficacy. In spite of this, there are few comprehensive studies regarding the psychological changes people treated in the CT go through. In Brazil, the lack of academic studies on the TC suggests the need of comprehending its therapeutic components, in order to point out both flaws and successful points of such treatment modality. The present study aimed to study the psychological changes of people treated in a TC in the region of Ribeirão Preto (State of São Paulo Brazil), who were interviewed both in the beginning and the end of their stay in the institution. The participants were seven men, aged between 21 and 36 years old, average-low socioeconomic level who were predominantly crack abusers, with cocaine and alcohol dependents also included. In order to perform the assessment, the instruments used were a semi-structured interview guide, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Improved Readability Form (MMPI-IRF) and selected cards of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). All data was categorized and analyses using the dimensions and domains of the change process in the TC, according to the theoretical frame of authors in this field. Still, the data set was analyzed from a psychodynamic theoretical frame. The results show that the treatment promoted improvements in psychological functioning in different degrees for two subgroups of participants, along all dimensions of the change process. These results are discussed in terms of the differences observed in terms of level of psychological functioning and structure of the personality, as well as the introjection quality of treatment-related experiences. Still, considerations are made regarding the research method adopted and both high points and flaws of the treatment on the TC and the status of directions for future research in Brazil.

Les protéines solubles sont généralement faiblement immunogènes, ce qui constitue unelimite pour le développement de vaccins sous unitaires à base de protéines. Mes travaux de thèseont eu pour objectif de décrypter certains mécanismes moléculaires et cellulaires qui contribuent àl’immunogénicité et d’en tirer partie pour développer des approches originales permettantd’améliorer la capacité des protéines à déclencher la réponse immunitaire. Pour cela, j’aiprincipalement utilisé le transactivateur transcriptionnel (Tat) du VIH-1. J’ai montré quel’oligomérisation de Tat permet à un mécanisme de collaboration B-TH-2 d’induire la réponseimmunitaire en absence d’adjuvant. J’ai identifié le déterminant minimal responsable de l’effet etmontré qu’il confère la propriété adjuvante à d’autres antigènes. J’ai ensuite montré que laprésentation aux cellules T restreinte aux CMH I et CMH II est accrue lorsque les protéines sontdotées de la capacité à lier des sucres sulfatés d’expression ubiquitaire: les héparanes sulfate. Cestravaux ont permis de définir de nouvelles approches pour améliorer l’immunogénicité de protéinessusceptibles d’être intégrées dans des préparations vaccinales. / Soluble proteins are usually poorly immunogenic, which is a limit to the development ofsubunit vaccines based on proteins. My thesis work aimed to decipher some molecular and cellularmechanisms that contribute to the immunogenicity and to exploit them to develop innovativeapproaches to improve the ability of proteins to trigger the immune response. For this purpose, Imainly used the transcriptional transactivator (Tat) of HIV-1. I showed that the oligomerization of Tatenables a B-TH-2 collaborative mechanism to induce the immune response in the absence ofadjuvant. I identified the minimum region determining the effect and showed that it confers the selfadjuvantingproperty to other antigens. In the second part of my work, I showed that the MHC I andMHC II restricted presentation to T cells is increased when the proteins are endowed with the abilityto bind ubiquitous sulfated polysaccharides: heparan sulfates. This work helped to define newapproaches to improve the immunogenicity of proteins that are likely to be included in vaccinepreparations.

A história mostra que, em tempos antigos, as pessoas com deficiência eram sacrificadas ou entregues a entidades assistenciais e, mesmo com a criação da ideia de amor materno e da compreensão da família como a principal instituição a se responsabilizar pelos cuidados dos filhos, foi necessário muito tempo para que a criança com deficiência pudesse fazer parte da família. A psicanálise contribuiu com a concepção contemporânea sobre a importância do papel da materno. Assim, para entender o desenvolvimento do sujeito, faz-se necessário olhar para os cuidados dispensados a ele no início da vida. Ao se tornar mãe, a mulher deve elaborar seus papeis nas diversas relações interpessoais, as divergências entre o bebê real e o imaginado e mudanças em sua dinâmica psíquica de forma que possa exercer a preocupação materna primária. Este trabalho lança olhar sobre a experiência emocional da maternidade de bebês com deficiência física, busca identificar e compreender fatores envolvidos neste contexto, a fim de contribuir para a prática de profissionais que atuam com esta população. Foi realizada uma pesquisa clínico-qualitativa com três mães cujos filhos frequentam um centro de reabilitação. Foi feita entrevista semi-dirigida e aplicação do Teste de Apercepção Temática (TAT). Os dados obtidos foram agrupados em categorias de análise e discutidos a partir da Psicanálise. Os resultados trazem temas que podem ser trabalhados com essas mães durante o período de reabilitação da criança, tais como sentimentos, mecanismos de defesa e sua relação com seu bebê. Conclui-se que é de extrema importância que o centro de reabilitação possa escutar a demanda emocional das mães e oferecer formas de cuidados adequadas / History shows that, in ancient times, people with disabilities were sacrificed or delivered to care entities and, even creating the idea of maternal love and familys understanding as the main institution to take responsibility for childcare, it was necessary much time for the child with disabilities to become part of their family. Psychoanalysis contributed to the contemporary conception of the importance of the mothers role. Thus, to understand the development of the subject, it is necessary to look at the care given to him at the beginning of his life. When becoming a mother, a woman must develop her role in many interpersonal relationships, such as divergences between the actual and imagined baby and changes in her psychic dynamics so that she can exercise the primary maternal concern. This study aims for the emotional experience of maternity in mothers of babies with physical disability; it seeks to identify and understand factors involved in this context in order to contribute to the practice of professionals who work with this population. A clinical-qualitative study was carried out with three mothers whose children attended a Rehab Center. A semi-guided interview and application of the Thematic Apperception (TAT) was made and the data obtained were grouped into categories of analysis and discussed from Psychoanalysis. The results bring themes that can be used with these mothers during the rehabilitation period of their child, such as feelings, defense mechanisms and their relationship with their baby. In conclusion, it is extremely important that the rehabilitation center attends the emotional demand of the mothers and provide them appropriate forms of care

Frente ao custo social dos quadros de abuso e dependência de substâncias psicoativas, diversos modelos explicativos têm sido propostos, sejam eles baseados em preceitos morais, religiosos, experiências de grupos de autoajuda ou na pesquisa científica. As Comunidades Terapêuticas (CTs) são uma modalidade de atendimento a usuários abusivos e dependentes de substâncias psicoativas que se baseiam em vários desses modelos, que se mostram bastante diversas em sua organização e nos serviços oferecidos, mas relativamente coesas em termos dos seus princípios. Diversos estudos têm tentado explicar os aspectos relacionados a esse modelo de tratamento, sugerindo sua eficácia. Apesar disso, existem poucas pesquisas compreensivas acerca das mudanças psicológicas que ocorrem nas pessoas que passam por esse tipo de instituição. No Brasil, a escassez de trabalhos acadêmicos sobre as CTs aponta para a necessidade de estudos sobre seus componentes terapêuticos, a fim de conhecer melhor os alcances e limites desse tipo de tratamento. A presente investigação visou estudar as mudanças psicológicas de pessoas que passaram por tratamento numa CT da região de Ribeirão Preto (SP), por meio de entrevistas de avaliação no início e no final de sua internação. Os participantes do estudo foram sete homens entre 21 e 35 anos de idade, nível socioeconômico médio baixo e dependentes de crack (predominantemente), cocaína e álcool. Para a realização das avaliações, foram utilizados um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturado, o Inventário Multifásico Minnesota de Personalidade, Improved Readability Form (MMPI-IRF) e cartões selecionados do Teste de Apercepção Temática (TAT). Os dados obtidos foram categorizados e analisados a partir de dimensões e domínios do processo de mudança na CT, conforme embasamento teórico de autores da área. O conjunto de dados foi interpretado a partir de teorias psicodinâmicas de personalidade. Os resultados mostram que o tratamento promoveu melhoras no funcionamento psicológico em graus diferentes para dois subgrupos de participantes, em todas as dimensões do processo de mudança. Os resultados são discutidos em termos das diferenças entre os subgrupos em aspectos como a estrutura e o nível de funcionamento da personalidade e qualidade da introjeção das experiências durante o tratamento. Ainda, são feitas considerações acerca do método de pesquisa adotado e dos alcances e limites do tratamento em CTs e sugestões para estudos futuros no Brasil. / Considering the high social cost of substance abuse and dependence, several models have been proposed, based on moral and/or religious principles, self-help groups experiences or scientific research. The Therapeutic Community (TC) is a treatment modality for substance abusers based in many of the models above, which shows a variety in terms of its organization and services offered, as well as a relatively cohesion of principles along these institutions. Several studies have been trying to explain the aspects related to such treatment modality, suggesting its efficacy. In spite of this, there are few comprehensive studies regarding the psychological changes people treated in the CT go through. In Brazil, the lack of academic studies on the TC suggests the need of comprehending its therapeutic components, in order to point out both flaws and successful points of such treatment modality. The present study aimed to study the psychological changes of people treated in a TC in the region of Ribeirão Preto (State of São Paulo Brazil), who were interviewed both in the beginning and the end of their stay in the institution. The participants were seven men, aged between 21 and 36 years old, average-low socioeconomic level who were predominantly crack abusers, with cocaine and alcohol dependents also included. In order to perform the assessment, the instruments used were a semi-structured interview guide, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Improved Readability Form (MMPI-IRF) and selected cards of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). All data was categorized and analyses using the dimensions and domains of the change process in the TC, according to the theoretical frame of authors in this field. Still, the data set was analyzed from a psychodynamic theoretical frame. The results show that the treatment promoted improvements in psychological functioning in different degrees for two subgroups of participants, along all dimensions of the change process. These results are discussed in terms of the differences observed in terms of level of psychological functioning and structure of the personality, as well as the introjection quality of treatment-related experiences. Still, considerations are made regarding the research method adopted and both high points and flaws of the treatment on the TC and the status of directions for future research in Brazil.

Cette recherche en psychanalyse et psychologie projective questionne, sous l'angle de la créativité, le système des grandes écoles en France et celui des classes préparatoires, mode de formation le plus courant pour intégrer ces écoles (établissements élitistes, principalement de commerce et d'ingénieurs). Elle s'intéresse aussi au processus adolescent activement à l'œuvre chez les élèves qui, pour la plupart, trouvent en classe prépa, manière à traiter leurs conflits. Si l'adolescence pousse à la créativité, le passage en prépa favorise la sublimation, destin pulsionnel privilégié qui peut ouvrir aux plus belles créations. A partir de ces réflexions, étayées par l'analyse métapsychologique de la créativité et de son rapprochement avec la sublimation, nous conjecturons que les étudiants en grandes écoles, issus des classes prépas, pourraient s'avérer particulièrement créatifs. Concourraient à cette disposition une pugnacité au travail, mue par le désir inextinguible d'apprendre, ainsi qu'une certaine forme de nostalgie, relative à l'enfance envolée. Notre rencontre avec vingt étudiants - qui ont accepté de se prêter aux méthodes projectives - vient vérifier cette hypothèse : la distinction entre deux groupes d'étudiants, issus des classes prépas ou bien admis par d'autres voies, confirme l'expression plus aisée du potentiel créateur chez ceux du premier groupe. La recherche s'interroge ensuite sur l'exercice de la créativité après les diplômes, notamment lorsqu'elle se déploie dans le domaine des mathématiques. / This research in psychoanalysis and projective psychology examines the French « Grandes Ecoles » and preparatory class system, from the angle of creativity. These intensive courses called « prepa classes » are the most common way to enter the « Grandes Ecoles » (French Elite Establishments, mainly Business and Engineering Schools). This research also explores how the Teen prepa students, who are going through the adolescence process at work, can find way to resolve their conflicts through the prepa way of life. If adolescence impulses creativity, the prepa class system enhances sublimation, this pulsionnal conversion leading to the most beautiful productions. These considerations, supported by a metapsychological analysis about creativity and its link with sublimation, lead us to make the assumption that the "Grandes Ecoles" students, after the prepa classes, should be particularly creative. A strong dedication to work, moved by the very utmost desire of learning, as well as a touch of nostalgia, due to the loss of childhood, could reinforce this ability. We interviewed and tested - with projective methods - twenty « Grandes Ecoles » students, belonging to two groups : the first one had joined the Engineering or Business Schools after preparatory classes, the second one had joined them by other ways. Our results confirm that students from prepa classes show more easily their creative potential than the others . The research goes on to question how creativity is expressed after graduation and in particular, among top-level mathematicians.