Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease caused by the strict human pathogen Bordetella pertussis, a gram-negative coccobacillus. The worldwide mass-vaccination was started in 1940s and to date, a number of whole-cell (Pw) and acellular pertussis vaccine (Pa) formulations were developed. Yet the current vaccines are incapable of providing sustained, lifelong immunity and eliminating subclinical infections, which pose a threat especially for unimmunized infants as well as adolescents and adults. Thus, finding new protein candidates with high immune protective capacities is necessary to enhance the clinical efficacy of current acellular pertussis (Pa) vaccines. In this study, iron-superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) protein was investigated for its capacity of conferring protectivity as well as stimulating humoral and cellular responses against B. pertussis infection in a mouse model. For this purpose, sodB gene, which encodes iron-superoxide dismutase FeSOD protein, was amplified from the genomic DNA of the universal B. pertussis strain &lsquo / Tohama I&rsquo / and sequentially cloned to pGEM&reg / -T subcloning and pET-28a(+) expression vectors. Afterwards sodb/pET28a(+) construct was introduced to E. coli BL21(DE3) cells and the gene was overexpressed therein via IPTG induction. The expressed FeSOD protein was then purified by affinity chromatography and its previously reported immunogenicity was confirmed by Western blot. After filter-sterilization, the protein was adsorbed to alum [Al(OH)3] adjuvant and introduced to BALB/c twice at three weeks intervals intraperitoneally at a concentration of 20 &mu / g purified FeSOD protein/mouse. Another group of mice were immunized in tandem with heat-inactivated whole-cell suspension of B. pertussis. Ten days after the second immunization, mice were intranasally challenged with the local &lsquo / Saadet&rsquo / strain of B. pertussis. Next the lungs of groups of mice were excised, homogenized and plated as serial dilutions on days 5, 8 and 14 post-challenge, and viable lung CFU counts were carried out. Whole cell immunization conferred complete bacterial clearance following B. pertussis intranasal infection while FeSOD immunization failed to attain such protection. In addition to the protectivity assay, ELISA was performed to assess the humoral (i.e. IgG) immune response triggered upon FeSOD- and whole-cell immunizations and a statistically significant increase in anti-FeSOD IgG production was observed in FeSOD-immunized group. Finally, cellular immune response was tested via cytokine (IFN-&gamma / ) assay, in which spleens of mice were excised, splenocytes were cultured and the level of IFN-&gamma / production upon FeSOD addition to the cultures was measured via ELISA. This test showed that whole-cell immunization triggered IFN-&gamma / production at significant levels while FeSOD-immunization did not / indicating the failure of alum-adsorbed FeSOD immunization in inducing cell-mediated immune response.

abstract: The Committee on Rare and Endangered Wildlife Species (CREWS) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) made important and lasting contributions to one of the most significant pieces of environmental legislation in U.S. history: the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). CREWS was a prominent science-advisory body within the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) in the 1960s and 1970s, responsible for advising on the development of federal endangered-wildlife policy. The Committee took full advantage of its scientific and political authority by identifying a particular object of conservation--used in the development of the first U.S. list of endangered species--and establishing captive breeding as a primary conservation practice, both of which were written into the ESA and are employed in endangered-species listing and recovery to this day. Despite these important contributions to federal endangered-species practice and policy, CREWS has received little attention from historians of science or policy scholars. This dissertation is an empirical history of CREWS that draws on primary sources from the Smithsonian Institution (SI) Archives and a detailed analysis of the U.S. congressional record. The SI sources (including the records of the Bird and Mammal Laboratory, an FWS staffed research group stationed at the Smithsonian Institution) reveal the technical and political details of CREWS's advisory work. The congressional record provides evidence showing significant contributions of CREWS and its advisors and supervisors to the legislative process that resulted in the inclusion of key CREWS-inspired concepts and practices in the ESA. The foundational concepts and practices of the CREWS's research program drew from a number of areas currently of interest to several sub-disciplines that investigate the complex relationship between science and society. Among them are migratory bird conservation, systematics inspired by the Evolutionary Synthesis, species-focused ecology, captive breeding, reintroduction, and species transplantation. The following pages describe the role played by CREWS in drawing these various threads together and codifying them as endangered-species policy in the ESA. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Biology 2011

Bordetella pertussis est l’agent responsable de la coqueluche. Pour coloniser le tractus respiratoire humain, cette bactérie à Gram négatif, aérobie stricte, produit de nombreux facteurs de virulence dont l’expression est sous la dépendance du système à deux composants BvgAS. BvgS est un senseur-kinase dimérique. Chaque monomère est constitué de trois domaines putatifs de perception - deux domaines Venus flytrap périplasmiques et un domaine PAS cytoplasmique -, suivis du domaine enzymatique et deux autres domaines, de phospho-transfert et receveur, impliqués dans la cascade de phosphorylation. L’expression du régulon de virulence est activée suite à la phosphorylation par BvgS du régulateur de réponse BvgA. BvgS est en mode kinase à l’état basal, et la perception de basses températures ou de signaux chimiques comme les ions sulfate ou nicotinate cause son passage en mode phosphatase. L’étude présentée dans ce manuscrit vise à caractériser le senseur-kinase BvgS en analysant les domaines putatifs de perception ainsi que la transduction de signal qui s’effectue au sein de la molécule. L’étude de la portion périplasmique a permis de mettre en évidence, à l’état basal, un gradient de dynamique décroissant. En se fixant au domaine VFT2 proximal à la membrane, le nicotinate induirait une diminution de la dynamique du second lobe du VFT1, causée par la formation d’un bloc compact entre le domaine VFT2 et le deuxième lobe du domaine VFT1. Cette rigidification exercerait une tension sur les hélices α qui précèdent les segments transmembranaires, provoquant une transition de la portion cytoplasmique vers l’état phosphatase. La perception de modulateurs par le domaine VFT2 - ou possiblement la fixation d’un ligand dans la cavité du VFT1- modifierait cette dynamique et causerait le changement d’activité de BvgS. Ainsi, nous proposons un modèle dans lequel le VFT1 est considéré comme le moteur du système, lui impulsant une dynamique qui serait relayée ou atténuée par le domaine VFT2. Une recherche de ligands antagonistes pour le domaine VFT1 a été entreprise, selon l’idée que la fixation d’un ligand réduirait la dynamique de ce dernier. Au sein du dimère, des connecteurs prédits pour former des enroulements d’hélices α (‘coiled coil’) relient entre eux les domaines VFT et PAS, et les domaines PAS et kinase de BvgS. La transduction d’information entre les domaines périplasmiques et le site enzymatique de BvgS a été analysée par mutagénèse dirigée et ‘cysteine scanning’. Des contacts proches sont observés entre les hélices constituant le segment transmembranaire, qui ne semblent pas être modifiés après perception de modulateur. Nous suggérons donc un modèle de piston symétrique pour la transmission d’information au travers de la membrane. Le coiled coil putatif précédant le domaine PAS présente une certaine dynamique rotationnelle à l’état basal. La perception de modulateurs semble induire l’écartement de ces hélices, ce qui pourrait permettre un changement de l’interface des domaines PAS. L’étude de la topologie du domaine PAS confirme une modification de cette interface entre les modes kinase et phosphatase de BvgS. Enfin, le coiled coil reliant les domaines PAS et kinase est sujet à une forte dynamique rotationnelle à l’état basal, en accord avec un modèle de régulation de l’activité kinase proposé dans d’autres systèmes. Suite à la perception de modulateur, une rigidification marquée de ce coiled coil est observée, permettant le passage en mode phosphatase. L’existence de deux états dynamiques différents de ce coiled coil a également été mise en évidence en absence du domaine PAS.Ces études ont permis d’avancer dans la compréhension de BvgS et de proposer un modèle de la signalisation au sein de ce senseur-kinase, qui pourrait s’appliquer aux autres membres de la famille de BvgS. / Bordetella pertussis is the agent of an acute and highly contagious respiratory disease, whooping cough. In order to colonize the human respiratory tract, this strictly aerobic Gram negative bacterium produces many virulence factors, the expression of which is regulated by the BvgAS two-component system. BvgS is a sensor-kinase composed of three putative domains of perception –two periplasmic Venus flytrap domains and a cytoplasmic PAS domain -, followed by the enzymatic domain and two other domains called phosphotransfert and receiver involved in the phophorelay. The expression of the virulence regulon is activated after the phosphorylation by BvgS of the response regulator BvgA. BvgS is in a kinase mode at the basal state, and the perception of low temperatures or chemical signals like sulfate ions or nicotinate causes a shift to the phosphatase state. The study presented in this manuscript has focused on the characterization of the BvgS sensor-kinase. We have analyzed its putative domains of perception and the mechanisms of signal transduction.Investigations into the dynamics of the periplasmic moiety has provided evidence for a decreasing gradient of dynamics from N to C-terminus at the basal state. Nicotinate binding to the membrane-proximal VFT2 domains decreases the dynamics of the second lobe of VFT1. Tighter interactions between the latter and the VFT2 domain cause a tension on the α helices that precede the transmembrane segments, triggering the transition to the phosphatase state of the enzymatic portion. Perception of modulator by the VFT2 domains –or possibly binding of a ligand in the VFT1 cavity- thus appears to modify periplasmic dynamics, which shifts BvgS activity. We propose that the VFT1 domains are the motor for BvgS activity, and their dynamics are relayed or attenuated by the VFT2 domains. A search for antagonistic VFT1 ligands has been undertaken, along the idea that ligand binding may reduce their dynamics.The VFT and PAS domains, and the PAS and kinase domains are joined to each other by long α helices predicted to form coiled coils. We performed directed mutagenesis and cysteine scanning analyses to decipher signal transduction between the periplasmic domains and the enzymatic moiety of BvgS. The close contacts between the helices of the transmembrane segment are not modified after perception of the modulator, suggesting that signal transduction across the membrane is mediated by symmetrical piston motions. The putative coiled coil before the PAS domain shows rotational dynamics at the basal state. Modulator perception causes the helices to splay, and this motion may modify the PAS domains interface. Our topology analyses of the PAS domain confirm that changes occur at this interface between the kinase and phosphatase states of BvgS. Finally, the coiled coil between the PAS and kinase domains presents a strong rotational dynamics at the basal state, which is consistent with the model of regulation of kinase activity proposed for other sensor-kinases. After perception of a modulator, this coiled coil becomes more rigid, allowing the shift to the phosphatase state. The occurrence of two states of dynamics for this coiled coil has also been demonstrated in the absence of the PAS domain.These studies have advanced our understanding of BvgS and allow us to propose a model of signaling by this sensor-kinase, which may apply more broadly to other family members.

The thesis deals with the problem of the occurrence of whooping cough in the South Bohemian Region in the period of 2003-2012. Despite the high level of vaccination the incidence of this illness after a significant fall in the 1980s has been growing constantly since 1993. This trend evidently also applies in other developed countries with a high rate of vaccination. The main aim is to draw up an overview of the occurrence of whooping cough in the South Bohemian Region in the monitored period of the last 10 years, compare this occurrence with other regions in the Czech Republic and map out the changes which have occurred in whooping cough vaccination. Quantitative and qualitative research was chosen to process the empirical part. Data for quantitative research was acquired from the database of infectious diseases (EPIDAT), and consisted of reported cases of whooping cough. Another essential group of data were demographic figures about the number and age structure of the population. The second qualitative part was drawn up on the basis of a literary search. I acquired additional information by communicating with individual territorial workplaces of the Regional Hygiene Station of the South Bohemian Region based in České Budějovice. Using the processed data I discovered that the incidence of whooping cough in the South Bohemian Region does not have an ascending trend in 2003-2012 unlike the trend in the whole of the Czech Republic. The highest occurrence of whooping cough in the Czech Republic in the monitored period was reported in the 10-14 age group. The research also showed that in the period of 2003-2012 individual regions differed greatly in the occurrence and can be divided into two groups ? regions with the highest reached incidence below 10 cases/100,000 people and regions with incidence with the highest reached incidence above 10 cases/100,000 people which includes the South Bohemian Region. There have been many changes in the vaccination of whooping cough and the most important was the transition from whole cell vaccine to acellular in 2007 and adding a 6th booster dose between the 10th and 11th year in 2009. The greatest attention should be paid above all to increase information or test the knowledge of the lay public, especially women preparing for pregnancy and people taking care of newborn babies and infants about the occurrence, potential risks and possibilities of vaccination against this infection even at an adult age. In my opinion a further necessity is the consolidation of diagnostics, definition of a case and procedures of surveillance throughout the Czech Republic, education of paediatricians and general practitioners about the illness and topicality of the problem, an appeal to report the occurrence of this infection to epidemiologists, observing the isolation of the patient, monitoring possible epidemiological connections between cases and making use of the offer of the NRL (National Reference Laboratory) services against whooping cough and diphtheria. This thesis can be used in practice as a summary of information material for the lay and professional public about the occurrence of whooping cough in the South Bohemian Region and throughout the Czech Republic and overview of vaccination against whooping cough. It can be an incentive for further anti-epidemic measures and the need for further research into this problem.

La voie de sécrétion bactérienne de type V permet l’exportation à la surface cellulaire de protéines dont certaines ont été identifiées comme d’importants facteurs de la pathogénicité bactérienne. Le type V regroupe la sécrétion des autotransporteurs et la sécrétion à deux partenaires (TPS). Les autotransporteurs sont constitués d’un domaine en tonneau β; et d’un domaine passager. L’interaction de l’autotransporteur avec le complexe protéique Bam, dont la pièce centrale est le transporteur BamA, permet l’insertion dans la membrane externe du tonneau β; et la sécrétion du passager. En revanche, la sécrétion à deux partenaires fait intervenir deux protéines, l’une appelée TpsA correspondant à la protéine exportée et l’autre, TpsB, formant un tonneau β qui contrôle le transport à travers la membrane externe. Les protéines TpsB sont spécifiques à leur(s) TpsA associée(s), et font partie de la superfamille des transporteurs Omp85 qui effectuent l’insertion de protéines dans la membrane externe bactérienne comme BamA, et dans celles des organites eucaryotes dont les chloroplastes et les mitochondries. Au cours de mon doctorat, je me suis intéressé à la sécrétion de l’hémagglutinine filamenteuse (FHA), qui est l’adhésine majoritaire de Bordetella pertussis, l’agent étiologique de la coqueluche. Cette adhésine qui permet à la bactérie de coloniser le tractus respiratoire de l’hôte est une protéine TpsA de 220 kD. Elle est très efficacement sécrétée par la voie de sécrétion à deux partenaires grâce à son transporteur spécifique TpsB nommé FhaC. L’étude cristallographique de FhaC a révélé un tonneau β; à 16 brins qui forme un canal dans la membrane externe obstrué par l’hélice-α; amino-terminale, H1, partagée par la majorité des TpsB, et par une boucle de surface, L6, conservée dans la superfamille Omp85. Cette conformation suggère un état au repos dans lequel le canal bouché ne pourrait pas transporter son partenaire. Afin de comprendre comment la FHA transite à l’intérieur du pore, il est donc nécessaire de connaître les changements de conformations que subit FhaC. Durant mon travail de thèse, nous avons apporté une vision plus dynamique de la sécrétion à deux partenaires en utilisant le couple FHA/FhaC comme modèle d’étude. Pour cela nous avons utilisé principalement la Résonance Paramagnétique Electronique (RPE). Cette technique de biophysique permet d’étudier FhaC en solution ou réincorporée dans une bicouche lipidique et de rendre compte de la mobilité à un site donné par l’utilisation de sondes paramagnétiques. Ainsi nous avons pu montrer que FhaC est en équilibre entre plusieurs conformations, avec H1 dans le pore ou du côté périplasmique de FhaC. La présence de la FHA déplace cet équilibre, favorisant ainsi la sortie de l’hélice hors du pore. Nous avons, par ailleurs, pu démontrer expérimentalement que la FHA transitait bien à l’intérieur du pore formé par FhaC et que l’hélice H1 se trouvait alors dans le périplasme. L’étude de la boucle L6 nous a permis de montrer que la mobilité de cette boucle était fortement contrainte à l’intérieur du pore même lors de la reconnaissance avec la FHA. Ce ralentissement de mobilité est lié, en autre, à une interaction avec un résidu d’un motif conservé présent sur le brin β13 qui influence la taille du pore. De manière plus générale, cette étude de la dynamique de FhaC contribue à la compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires de la voie TPS et des transporteurs de la superfamille Omp85. / Type V secretion in bacteria mediates the export to the cell surface of proteins, some of which have been identified as important factors of pathogenicity. Type V includes the secretion of autotransporters and the ‘Two-partner Secretion’ (TPS) pathway. Autotransporters consist of a β barrel domain and a passenger domain. The interaction of autotransporters with the Bam complex, of which the BamA transporter is the central component, allows the insertion of the β; barrel in the outer membrane and the secretion of passenger domain. In contrast, the two-partner secretion involves two proteins, the exported ‘TpsA’ protein and its TpsB partner that controls its transport across the outer membrane. TpsB proteins are specific to their associated TpsA(s) and belong to the superfamily of the Omp85 transporters, which carry out the insertion of proteins into the bacterial outer membrane, like BamA, or in the outer membranes of eukaryotic organelles including chloroplasts and mitochondria. For my PhD work, I have been interested in the secretion of filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), which is the major adhesin of Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough. This adhesin allows the colonization by this bacterium of its host’s respiratory tract. This protein corresponds to a 220kD TpsA protein efficiently secreted by its specific transporter TpsB named FhaC. Crystallographic studies have revealed that FhaC harbours a 16-stranded β;-barrel occluded by both the N-terminal α;-helix, H1, shared by the majority of TpsB proteins, and by a surface loop, L6, that carries a conserved, hallmark motif of the Omp85 superfamilly. This conformation suggests that FhaC is in a resting state in which the channel does not transport its partner. To understand how the FHA passes through the FhaC pore, it is necessary to address the conformational changes undergone by FhaC. During my thesis work, we provided a more dynamic view of the TPS pathway using the FHA/FhaC couple as study model. For this we used Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). This biophysical technique allows to study of FhaC in solution or reincorporated into a lipid bilayer and it reports the mobility at specific sites of the protein by using paramagnetic probes. Thus we have shown that FhaC is in equilibrium between multiple conformations, with H1 in the pore or at the periplasmic side of FhaC. The presence of FHA displaces the conformational equilibrium, promoting the exit of the helix going from the pore. We have also experimentally demonstrated that FHA does transit through the pore formed by FhaC while helix H1 is then in the periplasm. The study of the L6 loop enabled us to show that the mobility of this loop is highly constrained in the pore and remains so upon the recognition of FHA. Its slow mobility is linked to an interaction between an invariant L6 residue and a conserved motif present on the β; strand 13 of the barrel. This interaction affects the size of the FhaC pore.More generally, the study of the dynamics of FhaC contributes to the understanding the molecular mechanisms of the TPS pathway and of transporters of the Omp85 superfamily.

A coqueluche é uma doença contagiosa, causada por Bordetella pertussis e B. parapertussis e as vacinas de células inteiras (WCPs) contra pertussis, embora eficazes, foram associadas a efeitos indesejáveis. Já as vacinas pertussis acelulares são menos reatogênicas, mas caras, o que as torna inviáveis para países em desenvolvimento. Nesse estudo, avaliamos a resposta imune induzida por uma vacina pertussis celular com menor teor de LOS (Plow), desenvolvida pelo Instituto Butantan. Para isso, camundongos C57BL-6 foram imunizados com WCP tradicional ou Plow, formulada com MPL-A de B. pertussis ou com Hidróxido de Alumínio e vacinas tríplice bacterianas com componente pertussis acelular, Pertacel ou Adacel. Após o esquema de imunização, foi avaliada a resposta imune humoral e celular contra a B. pertussis, e B. parapertussis, além de resposta inata a um antígeno não relacionado, BCG. Ensaio de transmissão também foi realizado, após desafio com B. pertussis ou B. parapertussis. Nossos resultados consolidam a avaliação da resposta imune humoral e celular induzida pela Plow, além de apresentar resultados bastante interessantes relativos à atividade da Plow na diminuição da transmissão bacteriana, tanto de pertussis quanto de parapertussis. / Bordetella pertussis and B. parapertussis are the causative agents of whooping cough. Whole cell pertussis (wPs) vaccines, although effective, were associated with undesirable effects. On the other hand, aP vaccines are less reactogenic, but expensive, which made their use unable for developing countries. In this study, we assessed the immunological response, induced by a whole cell pertussis vaccine with low LOS content (Plow), developed by Instituto Butantan. To this, C57BL-6 mice were immunized with traditional whole cell pertussis vaccine or Plow, administrated with Monophosporil lipid A from B.pertussis or Aluminum hydroxide, and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccines, Pertacel or Adacel. After the immunization scheme, were evaluated humoral and cellular immune responses against B. pertussis and B. parapertussis, in addition to innate response to an unrelated antigen, BCG. Transmission assay was also performed, after B. pertussis or B. parapertussis challenge. Our results consolidated the immune humoral and cellular responses induced by Plow, besides interesting results with regards the efficacy of the vaccine in decreasing the transmission of B. pertussis and B. parapertussis in mice.

Introdução: A vacina tríplice acelular de adultos (dTpa) foi introduzida no Programa Nacional de Imunizações (PNI) em novembro de 2014, sendo recomendada para gestantes e profissionais de saúde (PS) que têm contato com gestantes e recém-nascidos. De abril a dezembro de 2015, foram implementadas várias estratégias para aumentar a cobertura vacinal entre os profissionais do Instituto Central do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Objetivos: Avaliar a cobertura vacinal entre os PS após implementação de cada estratégia e ao término de um ano; avaliar as variáveis associadas à vacinação; e avaliar os principais motivos de não vacinação entre os PS com indicação para tal. Métodos: Estratégias implementadas: divulgação, no boletim do hospital, de texto relembrando da necessidade de vacinação de coqueluche; reforço da necessidade da vacinação, via correio eletrônico, para as chefias de enfermagem das Divisões de Clínica Obstétrica, Neonatologia e Anestesia; aulas sobre a vacina dTpa nas reuniões científicas das Divisões de Clínica Obstétrica e Neonatologia; e vacinação ativa dos profissionais na Divisão de Clínica Obstétrica, Neonatologia e Anestesia. A cobertura vacinal foi avaliada ao fim de cada mês até abril de 2016, por meio do sistema informatizado de vacinação usado no CRIE-HC. Foi usado o modelo de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta para avaliação das variáveis associadas com a vacinação com dTpa. As razões de prevalência foram calculadas e seus intervalos de confiança de 95% estimados. Para avaliar os motivos de não vacinação, foram realizadas ligações telefônicas para os profissionais que não receberam a vacina e aplicado questionário padronizado. Resultados: Entre os 515 PS elegíveis para vacinação, 59 não possuíam registro no sistema informatizado de vacinação e foram excluídos. Assim, este estudo incluiu 456 PS. Após as intervenções, a cobertura vacinal com dTpa aumentou de 2,9% para 41,2%. As coberturas vacinais após a implementação de cada estratégia foram: 3,7% após publicação no Boletim do hospital; 10,5% após mensagem de correio eletrônico para as chefias de enfermagem; 16,2% após aula sobre a vacina em reuniões científicas das Divisões de Clínica Obstétrica e Neonatologia; 27,9% após vacinação ativa na Divisão de Clínica Obstétrica; 40,6% após vacinação ativa na Divisão de Neonatologia e 41,2% após vacinação ativa na Divisão de Anestesia. Na análise multivariada, ser médico (a), trabalhar nas Divisões de Clínica Obstétrica ou Anestesia e ter recebido a vacina de influenza de 2015 foram associados à vacinação com dTpa. Foi feito contato telefônico com 39 profissionais que não receberam a vacina em nosso serviço; apenas 9 (23%) referiram ter recebido a vacina em outros serviços; e dos 30 não vacinados, 27 (90%) alegaram desconhecimento da recomendação. Conclusões: Conhecimento sobre a doença e a recomendação de vacinação são importantes para aumentar a cobertura vacinal entre PS. Porém, mesmo sabendo do efeito cumulativo na cobertura vacinal a cada estratégia realizada, a vacinação ativa dos PS em seus locais de trabalho parece ter sido a estratégia que mais contribuiu para o aumento da cobertura. A cobertura vacinal final de dTpa permanece baixa e maiores esforços são necessários para aumentá-la / Introduction: The acellular pertussis vaccine for adults (Tdap) was introduced in the Brazilian National Immunization Program (PNI) in November 2014, being recommended for pregnant women and healthcare workers (HCWs) who have contact with pregnant women and newborns. From April to December 2015, interventions to raise Tdap coverage among HCWs of the Instituto Central do Hospital das Clínicas were implemented. Objective: To evaluate the cumulative vaccine coverage after each intervention; identify factors associated to Tdap vaccination among HCWs; and evaluate the main reasons for HCWs not receiving Tdap. Methods: Interventions implemented: a note on the hospital\'s internal newsletter, reminding HCWs of the importance of pertussis vaccination; email to the nurse´s teams leaders strengthening vaccine recommendations; lectures on pertussis and Tdap for physicians at the clinical meetings of the Obstetrics and Neonatology Clinics; on-site vaccination by mobile teams at the Obstetrics, Neonatology, and Anesthesiology Clinics. The vaccine coverage was evaluated at the end of each month until April-2016. A multivariate Poisson regression model with robust error variance was used to evaluate variables associated with Tdap vaccination. Prevalence ratios (PR) and their 95%CI were estimated. To evaluate the reasons for HCWs not to be vaccinated, those who have not received Tdap were called by phone and a standard questionnaire was applied. Results: Among 515 HCWs eligible for immunization, 59 professionals were not registered in the vaccination data system and were excluded because information about Tdap vaccine could not be achieved. The study included 456 HCWs. After the interventions, Tdap coverage raised from 2.9% to 41.2%. The vaccine coverage after each intervention was: 3.7% after a note on the hospital\'s internal newsletter; 10.5% after email to the nurse´s teams leaders strengthening vaccine recommendations; 16.2% after lectures on pertussis and Tdap for physicians at the clinical meetings of the Obstetrics and Neonatology Clinics; 27.9% after on-site vaccination by mobile teams at the Obstetrics Clinic; 40.6% after on-site vaccination at the Neonatology Clinic and 41.2% after on-site vaccination at the Anesthesiology Clinic. In the multiple analysis, occupation, working place and having received influenza vaccination in 2015 were independently associated to Tdap vaccination. Thirty-nine HCWs that have not received Tdap were contacted by phone: 90% of them claimed they did not know the vaccine recommendation. Conclusions: Knowledge about pertussis and the recommendation of vaccination are important to raise vaccine coverage between HCWs. Even knowing the cumulative effect of each strategy on vaccine coverage, HCWs vaccination in their workplaces seems to be the most effective strategy in raising coverage. The final Tdap coverage remains low and greater efforts are needed to increase it

A proteína Cpn60 faz parte de um grupo de proteínas altamente conservadas que estão envolvidas em funções celulares essenciais. camundongos BALB\\c foram imunizados com 5 ou 10 µg da proteína recombinante (Cpn60r) sozinha ou adicionada à vacina DTP sem hidróxido de alumínio (NADTP). A vacina DTP do Instituto Butantan (DTP) foi usada como controle. Foi avaliada a produção de citocinas por células esplênicas após reestímulo in vitro com a Cpn60r. Os animais foram desafiados após o protocolo de imunização. A Cpn60r sozinha ou misturada à vacina NADTP foi capaz de induzir níveis de anticorpos contra pertussis mais altos do que os induzidos pela DTP. Os níveis de IgG1 e IgG2a foram similares para todos os grupos. Pôde-se observar a produção de de IL-6 e IFN-&#947 nos grupos imunizados com Cpn60r. Os grupos imunizados com Cpn60r+NADTP apresentaram um índice de proteção entre 60 e 80% contra o desafio pela bactéria virulenta, semelhante ao grupo imunizado com DTP. A proteína Cpn60r é bastante promissora não somente como imunógeno, mas também como adjuvante. / The Cpn60 protein is a member of a group of higly conserved proteins linked to essencial cell functions. The Cpn60 was cloned, expressed and its immune response has been evaluated. BALB\\c mice were immunized with 5 or 10 µg of the recombinant protein (Cpn60r) alone or mixed with DPT vaccine without aluminum hidroxyde (NADPT). The DPT vaccine from Instituto Butantan was used as control. We evaluated the cytokines production by spleen cells after they have been reestimulated in vitro with Cpn60r. The animals were challenged after the immunization protocol. The Cpn60r alone or mixed with NADPT vaccine was able to induce higher antibodies levels than DPT. IgG1 and IgG2a levels were similar in all groups. We could detect levels of IL-6 and IFN-&#947 on groups immunized with Cpn60r. The groups immunized with Cpn60r+NADTP showed a 60 and 80% protection rate against the challenge with the live bacteria, similar to the group immunized with DPT. These results show the immune response of the recombinant protein that could be included in immunization protocols for pertussis.

A coqueluche vem reemergindo enquanto importante problema de saúde pública em vários países do mundo, apesar das altas coberturas vacinais na infância. O objetivo geral deste estudo foi avaliar a morbimortalidade da coqueluche no Brasil e os objetivos específicos foram: estimar as taxas de mortalidade, incidência e letalidade anuais, geral e por faixa etária, por unidade da federação e regiões do país; caracterizar a sazonalidade da doença; estimar as taxas de hospitalização anuais por faixa etária e verificar as características clínicas, histórico de contato e vacinação prévia dos casos notificados da doença. Métodos: estudo descritivo, baseado nos casos de coqueluche notificados ao Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN), de 2006 a 2013. Os resultados mostraram aumento nas taxas de incidência de coqueluche no Brasil, a partir de 2011. Em 2013, foram confirmados 6.523 casos de coqueluche no país, três vezes o número de casos confirmados em 2011, com incidência geral de 3,24 /100.000 habitantes e incidência em menores de um ano de 125,82/100.000 habitantes, as maiores durante o período estudado. As crianças menores de um ano foram as mais acometidas pela doença em todas as macrorregiões. Em 2013, todas as regiões, exceto a região sul, apresentaram suas maiores taxas de incidência geral, com destaque para as regiões sudeste e centro-oeste com 4,0 e 3,1 por 100.000 habitantes, respectivamente. As maiores taxas de letalidade foram observadas na faixa etária menor de dois meses de idade, variando de 4,0% (2008) a 9,5% (2010). As taxas de letalidade foram maiores em crianças menores de seis meses em todas as regiões, sendo as regiões nordeste e sudeste as que apresentaram maiores taxas ao longo dos anos, exceto em 2013, quando o centro-oeste superou o nordeste. Houve predomínio dos casos nos meses mais quentes, entre novembro e março. A maioria das hospitalizações ocorreu na faixa etária de menores de um ano, principalmente em menores de quatro meses, cuja frequência de hospitalização ficou em torno de 75%. A tosse e o paroxismo foram os sintomas mais frequentes, independente da faixa etária, e a cianose foi importante sintoma nos menores de dois meses, com uma frequência de 80% nos casos confirmados desta faixa etária. A complicação mais comum foi pneumonia (13,93%), principalmente na faixa etária menor de dois meses, com frequência de 27,5%. O critério mais utilizado para diagnóstico de coqueluche foi o clínico, seguido pelo laboratorial que aumentou a partir de 2011, ano em que foi responsável por 49,9% dos diagnósticos. A maioria dos casos confirmados (51%) não relatou contato prévio com casos suspeitos ou confirmados de coqueluche, no entanto quando presente, a maioria dos contatos ocorreu no domicílio (70,6%). Os resultados mostraram aumento dos casos de coqueluche no Brasil, a partir de 2011, com as maiores taxas de incidência, hospitalizações, complicações e letalidade na faixa etária de menores de um ano / Pertussis has reemerged as important public health problem in many countries, despite the high childhood vaccination coverage. The general aim of this study was to evaluate the morbimortality of pertussis in Brazil, and the specific objectives were: estimate the annual mortality, incidence and case-fatality rates, general and by age group, by federative units and country\'s regions; evaluate the disease seasonality; estimate the annual hospitalization rates by age group and verify the clinical characteristics, contact history and the previous vaccination status of the reported pertussis cases. Methods: Descriptive study, based on the pertussis cases reported to the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), from 2006 to 2013. In 2013, there were 6.523 confirmed pertussis cases in the country, three times the number of confirmed cases in 2011, with general incidence of 3.24/100,000 inhabitants, and incidence in children under one year of age of 125.82/100,000 inhabitants, the highest during the study period. Pertussis incidence rates were higher in children under one year old in all macroregions during the study. In 2013, higher general incidence rates were observed in all regions, except the south, particularly the southwest and Midwest with 4.0 and 3.1 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. The highest case-fatality rates were observed in infants under two months of age, varying from 4.0% (2008) to 9.5% (2010). Case-fatality rates were higher in children under six months in all regions; the northeast and southeast had the highest rates throughout the studied years, except in 2013, when the Midwest surpassed the northeast. More cases were reported in the warmer months, between November and March. Most hospitalizations occurred in the age group of children under one year old, mainly those under four months, for whom hospitalization rates were close to 75%. Cough and paroxysm were the most frequently symptoms, regardless of age, and cyanosis was important in children under two months, occurring in 80% of confirmed cases in this age group. The most common complication was pneumonia (13.93%), mainly in children under two months of age (27.5%). Clinical criteria were most frequent used for diagnosis, followed by laboratory, which increased since 2011, when 49.9% of cases had laboratory-confirmed diagnosis. Most confirmed cases (51%) had no recognized previous contact with pertussis cases. Among those with recognized previous contact, it mostly occurred at residence (70.6%).The results showed an increase in pertussis cases in Brazil, since 2011, with the highest incidence and lethality rates in children under one year of age

INTRODUÇÃO: Uma epidemia de coqueluche ocorreu no Brasil, de 2011 a 2014. Isto levou à introdução da vacina tríplice acelular de adultos (dTpa) no calendário público de vacinação da gestante. Existem outras estratégias de vacinação envolvendo a dTpa, que poderiam complementar o controle da doença. Os objetivos deste estudo são descrever a epidemiologia da doença e avaliar custo-efetividade da vacinação de adultos com dTpa. MÉTODOS: 1) Uma revisão de literatura foi realizada nas bases MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica, CRD e Lilacs a partir de 2000. 2) Foi desenvolvido estudo observacional incluindo dados de vacinação e os casos notificados para o sistema de vigilância no Estado de São Paulo (ESP), de 2001 a 2015. 3) Foi realizado estudo descritivo dos pacientes com idade de 20 a <40 anos atendidos em um hospital do ESP entre 2010 e 2014, destacando-se a utilização de serviços de saúde. 4) Foi desenvolvido modelo dinâmico, para comparar a estratégia de vacinação com dTpa aos 20 anos de idade com o programa atual (vacinação com dT). Dados epidemiológicos e de custos foram retirados de sistemas de informação de saúde e da literatura nacional e internacional. Foram considerados como desfecho número de casos e mortes por coqueluche e anos de vida ganho (AVG). Considerouse a perspectiva do sistema de saúde, horizonte temporal de vinte anos e custos em Reais (R$) de 2015. Os resultados foram sumarizados em razão de custo-efetividade incremental (RCEI). Análises de sensibilidade uni e multivariadas foram realizadas. RESULTADOS: 1) Foram revisadas 28 avaliações econômicas de estratégias com dTpa. A vacinação de adolescentes e de adultos foram as mais avaliadas. A correção da subnotificação, uso de modelos dinâmicos, proteção de rebanho e altas coberturas vacinas influenciaram para o bom desempenho das estratégias. 2) Houve aumento de incidência da coqueluche entre 2011 e 2014 e queda da mesma em 2015, em todas as faixas etárias no ESP. Os lactentes foram os principais acometidos, mas a proporção de casos nessa faixa etária apresentou tendência de queda ao longo dos anos. A proporção de casos com idade de 1 a < 4, 5 a = 20 anos aumentou significativamente. Houve queda não significativa na proporção dos casos com idade < 2 meses de idade. 3) Entre 36 casos estudados no hospital, 33,3% passou por consulta prévia, 25,3% por consulta de retorno e 8,33% foram hospitalizados. Hemograma e radiografia de tórax foram os exames mais realizados. Não houve complicações ou óbito. 4) A vacinação de adultos com dTpa, com cobertura vacinal de 40% e efetividade de 75%, incluindo proteção de rebanho para os menores de um ano, evitaria 19.300 casos sintomáticos e 221 óbitos em 10 anos. A RCEI seria R$28.054,38/AVG. Na análise de sensibilidade, os resultados foram mais sensíveis a variações da incidência e à retirada da proteção de rebanho. CONCLUSÃO: O comportamento cíclico da doença é a principal causa da epidemia de coqueluche entre 2011 e 2014 e queda da incidência em 2015. A vacinação de adultos com dTpa não se mostrou custo-efetiva na realidade brasileira de 2015 / INTRODUCTION: A pertussis outbreak occurred in Brazil from 2011 to 2014. This led to the introduction of the maternal vaccination with tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) in the public immunization schedule. There are other vaccination strategies involving Tdap, which could complement the strategies of disease control. The objectives of this study are to describe the epidemiology of the disease and to evaluate cost-effectiveness of vaccination of adults with Tdap. METHODS: 1) A review was performed in the MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica, CRD and Lilacs databases from 2000. 2) Observational study was performed including vaccination data and the cases reported data from health surveillance datasets in the State of São Paulo from 2001 to 2015. 3) A descriptive study of patients aged 20 to < 40 years attended at a State of São Paulo hospital between 2010 and 2014 was performed, highlighting the use of health services.4) A dynamic model was developed to compare the vaccination strategy with Tdap at the age of 20 years with the current program (dT vaccination). Epidemiological and cost data were collected from health information systems and national and international studies. Number of cases and deaths by pertussis and life years saved (LYS) were considered as outcome. It was considered the health system perspective, a time horizon of 20 years and costs in 2015 Real (R$). The results were summarized by incremental costeffectiveness ration (ICER). Univariate and multivariate sensitivity analyzes were performed. RESULTS: 1) 28 economic evaluations of strategies with Tdap were reviewed. Vaccination of adolescents and adults were the most evaluated strategies. Underreporting correction, use of dynamic models, herd protection and high vaccination coverage influenced positively the performance of strategies. 2) The incidence of pertussis increased between 2011 and 2014, and its fall in 2015, among all age groups. Infants were the main affected, but the proportion of cases in this age group showed a downward trend over the years. The proportion of cases aged 1 to < 4, 5 to = 20 years increased significantly. There was a non-significant decrease in the proportion of cases aged < 2 months of age. 3) Among 36 cases studied in the hospital, 33.3% had a prior medical visit, 25.3% a return visit, and 8.33% were hospitalized. Blood count and chest X-ray were the most performed exams. There were no complications or death. 4) Vaccination of adults with Tdap, with 40% vaccine coverage and 75% effectiveness, including herd protection for children less than one year, would prevent 19,300 symptomatic cases and 221 deaths in 10 years. The ICER would be R$ 28,054.38/AVG. In the sensitivity analysis, the results were more sensitive to variations in incidence and withdrawal of herd protection. CONCLUSION: The cyclical pattern of the disease is the main cause of the pertussis epidemic between 2011 and 2014, and decreasing incidence in 2015. Adult vaccination with Tdap was not cost-effective in the 2015 Brazilian scenario