ABSTRACT
This study aimed to identify programmatic vulnerability to STDs/HIV/AIDS in primary health centers (PHCs). This is a descrip - tive and quantitative study carried out in the city of São Paulo. An online survey was applied (FormSUS platform), involving administrators from 442 PHCs in the city, with responses received from 328 of them (74.2%), of which 53.6% were nurses. At - tention was raised in relation to program - matic vulnerability in the PHCs regarding certain items of infrastructure, prevention, treatment, prenatal care and integration among services on STDs/HIV/AIDS care. It was concluded that in order to reach comprehensiveness of actions for HIV/ AIDS in primary health care, it is necessary to consider programmatic vulnerability, in addition to more investment and reor - ganization of services in a dialogue with the stakeholders (users, multidisciplinary teams, and managers, among others). .
Objetivo Fue identificar la vulnerabilidad programática de las Unidades Básicas de Salud con la atención a las ETS/VIH/SIDA. Método Es un estudio descriptivo con un abordaje cuantitativo llevado a cabo en el Municipio de San Pablo. Fue utilizado un formulario online (el FormSUS) con los gerentes de las 442 Unidades Básicas de Salud del Municipio de San Pablo. Participaran en el estudio 74.2% de los gerentes, estos 53.6% eran enfermeros. Resultados Se destaca la vulnerabilidad programática de las Unidades Básicas de Salud en relación a algunos elementos de la infraestructura, acciones de prevención, tratamiento, prenatal y la integración entre los servicios en la atención a las ETS/VIH/SIDA. Conclusión La construcción de tales marcadores constituye un instrumento, presentado en otro artículo, el cual puede ayudar a apoyar la captura de vulnerabilidades de las mujeres en relación a las ETS/VIH en el contexto de los servicios de Atención Primaria de Salud. Los marcadores constituyen importante herramienta para operacionalizar el concepto de vulnerabilidad en la Atención Primaria. Además, promueven procesos de trabajo inter e multidisciplinar e inter e multisectorial. La propuesta de un instrumento basado en dichos marcadores puede apoyar la captura de la vulnerabilidad de las mujeres en relación a las ETS/VIH. .
Objetivo Identificar a vulnerabilidade programática às DST/HIV/aids na Atenção Básica para o enfrentamento do HIV/Aids. Método Estudo descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado no Município de São Paulo (MSP). Utilizou-se formulário online (FormSUS), com gerentes das 442 Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) do MSP. Participaram do estudo 74,2% gerentes, dos quais 53,6% eram enfermeiros. Resultados Destaca-se a vulnerabilidade programática nas UBS com relação a alguns itens de infraestrutura, ações de prevenção, de tratamento, no pré-natal e de integração entre os serviços na atenção às DST/HIV/aids. Conclusão Para a efetivação da integralidade no enfrentamento do HIV/aids na Atenção Básica é necessário atentar para a vulnerabilidade programática, além de mais investimentos e reorganização dos serviços, num diálogo com os atores sociais envolvidos (usuários, equipe multiprofissional, gerentes, gestores, entre outros). .
Subject(s)
Humans , Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Antibodies, Neoplasm/genetics , Immunoglobulin Variable Region/genetics , Antibody Specificity , Antigens, Neoplasm , Colorectal Neoplasms/immunology , Fixatives , Peptide Library , Stomach Neoplasms/immunology , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a malignant tumor derived from the intrahepatic bile duct epithelium, has a poor prognosis and is refractory to conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new effective therapeutic strategies for this disease. We previously found that L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) plays an important role in tumor progression of ICC, and we generated a murine mAb, A10-A3 (IgG1), that binds to the Ig1 domain of L1CAM. In the present study, we further characterized A10-A3, constructed a chimeric A10-A3 antibody (cA10-A3) containing the constant regions of human IgG1, and evaluated the therapeutic potential in a human ICC xenograft nude mice model. The affinities (K D) of A10-A3 and cA10-A3 for soluble L1CAM were 1.8 nM and 1.9 nM, respectively, as determined by competition ELISA. A10-A3 inhibited L1CAM homophilic binding and was slowly internalized into the tumor cells, but it did not significantly inhibit proliferation of ICC cells in vitro. cA10-A3 mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro and displayed anti-tumor activity in the ICC animal model. These results suggest that the humanized A10-A3 antibody may have potential as an anticancer agent for the treatment of ICC.
Subject(s)
Animals , Cricetinae , Humans , Mice , Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity , Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic/drug effects , CHO Cells , Cell Adhesion/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cholangiocarcinoma/drug therapy , Disease Models, Animal , Endocytosis/drug effects , Immunoglobulin G/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy , Mice, Nude , Neoplasm Transplantation , Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1/genetics , Protein Binding , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunologyABSTRACT
Biologicals are defined as agents that are either uniquely or partially tumor-specific. Great expectations were raised by the success in agents that target a specific genetic translocation: all-trans retinoic acid, targeting the chronic myeloid leukemia retinoic acid receptor in acute promyelocytic leukemia and imatinib, a small molecule targeting the BCR-ABL translocation in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Thus far, the search for similar "druggable" genetic targets in pediatric cancers has not yet resulted in such dramatic results. The rarity of pediatric cancer as well as ethical considerations necessitate that the agents for testing be carefully and rigorously selected. Biologicals present an additional challenge, as they often do not lend themselves to in vitro testing. Early approaches to specific targeting of solid tumors utilized monoclonal antibodies. The microenvironment provides an interesting new biological approach to treating tumors and alteration of the host immune response provides another avenue. Biological agents are a step forward in supportive care to reduce the hematological toxicity of high-dose chemotherapy and to manage the frequent infectious complications.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Biological Therapy , Child , Clinical Trials as Topic , Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/therapeutic use , Humans , Immunologic Factors/genetics , Neoplasms/genetics , Neutropenia/drug therapy , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/therapeutic use , Translocation, Genetic/geneticsABSTRACT
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common childhood malignancy. AML has therapeutically been difficult to treat. In 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO), in conjunction with the Society for Hematopathology and the European Association of Hematopathology, published a new classification for myeloid neoplasms. A number of chromosomal abnormalities are used to predict outcome and stratify therapeutic risk groups in children with AML. Recently, alterations in receptor tyrosine kinases, tyrosine phosphatases and in oncogenes such as RAS have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AML. This article aims to review the recent development in diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of AML. Better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of AML has led to the development of target-specific therapies. Some of the new classes of drugs include monoclonal antibody directed against the CD33 antigen, farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTI), and FMSlike tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitors. The role of allogenic SCT, particularly whether it should be done during first CR or reserved for second remission, remains the most controversial issue in pediatric AML. There is a need of collaboration with international pediatric cooperative oncology groups and definitive clinical trials in order to establish use of these newer molecules in pediatric populations.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Antigens, CD/blood , Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/blood , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Immunologic Factors/genetics , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis , Neoplasm, Residual/drug therapy , Prognosis , Remission Induction , fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/antagonists & inhibitorsABSTRACT
Random peptide libraries displayed by bacteriophage T7 and M13 were employed to identify mimotopes from 4 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to Burkholderia pseudomallei. Insert DNA sequences of bound phages selected from four rounds of panning with each MAb revealed peptide sequences corresponding to B. pseudomallei K96243 hypothetical protein BPSL2046, hypothetical protein BpseP_02000035, B. pseudomallei K96243 hypothetical protein BPSS0784, B. pseudomallei 1710b hypothetical protein BURPS1710b_1104, and B. cenocepacia H12424 TonB-dependent siderophore receptor, all located at the outer membrane. The immune responses from all selected phagotopes were significantly higher than that of lipopolysaccharide. The study demonstrates the feasibility of identifying mimotopes through screening of phage-displayed random peptide libraries with B. pseudomallei MAbs.
Subject(s)
Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antibodies, Bacterial/immunology , Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Antibody Specificity , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Bacterial Vaccines/immunology , Bacteriophage M13/genetics , Bacteriophage T3/genetics , Base Sequence , Burkholderia pseudomallei/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Epitopes/genetics , Melioidosis/immunology , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , Peptide Library , Peptides/geneticsABSTRACT
Current anti-influenza drugs target the viral neuraminidase or inhibit the function of the ion channel M2 protein. Not only is the supply of these drugs unlikely to meet the demand during a large influenza epidemic/ pandemic, but also has an emergence of drug resistant influenza virus variants been documented. Thus a new effective drug or antiviral alternative is required. The influenza virus RNA polymerase complex consists of nucleoproteins (NP) that bind to three polymerase subunits: two basic polymerases, PB1 and PB2, and an acidic polymerase (PA). These proteins play a pivotal role in the virus life cycle; thus they are potential targets for the development of new anti-influenza agents. In this study, we produced human monoclonal antibodies that bound to the influenza A polymerase proteins by using a human antibody phage display library. Complementary DNA was prepared from the total RNA of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus: A/duck/Thailand/144/2005(H5N1). The cDNA synthesized from the total virus RNA was used as template for the amplification of the gene segments encoding the N-terminal halves of the PB1, PB2 and PA polymerase proteins which encompassed the biologically active portions of the respective proteins. The cDNA amplicons were individually cloned into appropriate vectors and the recombinant vectors were introduced into Escherichia coli bacteria. Transformed E. coli clones were selected, and induced to express the recombinant proteins. Individually purified proteins were used as antigens in bio-panning to select the phage clones displaying specific human monoclonal single chain variable fragments (HuScFv) from a human antibody phage display library constructed from Thai blood donors in our laboratory. The purified HuScFv that bound specifically to the recombinant polymerase proteins were prepared. The inhibitory effects on the biological functions of the respective polymerase proteins should be tested. We envisage the use of the HuScFv in their cell penetrating version (transbodies) as an alternative influenza therapeutic to current anti-virus drugs.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Antibody Specificity , Cloning, Molecular , Genetic Vectors , Humans , Immunoglobulin Variable Region/genetics , Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/enzymology , Peptide Library , RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/immunology , Viral Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
O HTLV-1 é o vírus causador da leucemia/linfoma de célula T no adulto e de uma desordem neurológica conhecida por mielopatia associada ao HTLV ou paraparesia espástica tropical. Um dos modos de transmissão é pelo sangue contaminado e seus subprodutos e, devido ao risco de infecções associadas ao HTLV sua pesquisa na triagem de doadores de sangue foi introduzida no Brasil a partir de 1993. Os kits diagnósticos utilizados nos bancos de sangue nacionais são na sua maioria comprados de empresas estrangeiras. O Brasil não detém a tecnologia para produção deste material e há a necessidade de produção de sistemas de diagnóstico com tecnologia nacional. Neste trabalho, mostramos a expressão da gp21/HTLV-1 em Escherichia coli e sua reatividade frente a anticorpos monoclonais e de pacientes infectados. Expressar tais proteínas é o primeiro passo para obtenção de conjuntos diagnósticos com tecnologia brasileira.
HTLV-1 is the virus that causes T cell lymphoma/leukemia in adults and a neurological disorder known as HTLV-associated myelopathy or tropical spastic paraparesis. One of the transmission means is through contaminated blood and its byproducts. Because of the risk of HTLV-associated infections, screening for HTLV was introduced for Brazilian blood donors in 1993. Most of the diagnostic kits used in the national blood banks are bought from foreign companies. Brazil does not have the technology to produce this material and there is a need to produce diagnostic systems with national technology. In this study, we show the expression of gp21/HTLV-1 in Escherichia coli and its reactivity towards monoclonal antibodies and the antibodies of infected patients. Expressing these proteins is the first step towards obtaining diagnostic kits with Brazilian biotechnology.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cloning, Molecular , Gene Products, env/chemistry , Human T-lymphotropic virus 1/chemistry , Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic/genetics , Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Escherichia coli/genetics , Escherichia coli/metabolism , Gene Expression , Genetic Vectors , Gene Products, env/genetics , Gene Products, env/immunology , HTLV-I Antibodies/genetics , HTLV-I Antibodies/immunology , Human T-lymphotropic virus 1/genetics , Human T-lymphotropic virus 1/immunology , Immunoblotting , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
The variability of the G glycoprotein from human respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSV) (groups A and B) isolated during 17 consecutive epidemics in Montevideo, Uruguay have been analyzed. Several annual epidemics were studied, where strains from groups A and B circulated together throughout the epidemics with predominance of one of them. Usually, group A predominates, but in some epidemics group B is more frequently detected. To analyse the antigenic diversity of the strains, extracts of cells infected with different viruses of group A were tested with a panel of anti-G monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The genetic variability of both groups was analyzed by sequencing the C-terminal third of the G protein gene. The sequences obtained together with previously published sequences were used to perform phylogenetic analyses. The data from Uruguayan isolates, together with those from the rest of the world provide information regarding worldwide strain circulation. Phylogenetic analyses of HRSV from groups A and B show a model of evolution analogous to the one proposed for influenza B viruses providing information that would be beneficial for future immunization programs and to design safe vaccines.
Subject(s)
Humans , Genetic Variation , Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiology , Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human/genetics , Amino Acid Sequence , Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Antigenic Variation/genetics , GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/virology , Uruguay/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Twelve similar recombinant Per a 1 clones were produced from an American cockroach (CR) cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of a representative cline, i.e. clone A6, contained 579 base pairs (bp) and a 372 bp open reading frame (2-373) encoding 124 amino acids. A stop codon was found at position 374-376 followed by a 3' end untranslated region with an AATAAA polyadenylation signal and a poly (A) tail. The estimated molecular mass of the 24 amino acid residue protein was 13.8 kDa, with a predicted isoelectric point value of 4.74. Cysteine or N-linked glycosylation was not found. The deduced amino acid sequence of the A6 revealed 84.68-95.97% identity to other previously reported Per a 1 clones and 65.87-69.60% homology to the previously reported Bla g 1 clones. However, while previously reported Per a 1 clones showed homology to ANG12, a precursor protein in the midgut of the female Anopheles gambiae secreted after the blood meal, the A6 DNA sequence was found to have homology (37.1%) to DNA of G2, a putative protein in the midgut of Aedes aegypti (AY 050565). The deduced amino acid sequence of A6 contained a mitochondrial energy transfer protein signature, phosphorylation sites for the cAMP-and cGMP-dependent protein kinase C and casein kinase II. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics of the A6 deduced peptide indicated that it was a transmembrane protein. This is the first report that Per a 1 is a transmembrane protein. The deduced amino acid sequence of the A6, which contained the sequence LIRSLFGLP, differed in one amino acid from two previously reported epitopes, i.e. LIRALFGL and IRSWFGLP, of Per a 1.0104 which bound 80% and 100%, respectively, to IgE of the allergic patients tested. The A6 DNA sequence was deposited in the GenBank (Accession number AY 259514) and has been designated Per a 1.0105. The A6 expressed protein bound to monoclonal antibodies (MAb 3C2) specific to American cockroach and also bound to IgE of all (100%) of the 20 allergic Thai patients.