To estimate the presence of, and the risk factors for HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections among HIV-1 infected subjects in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a serosurvey was performed in 471 HIV-1 infected patients, including 216 intravenous drug addicts (IVDA), 229 homosexual/bisexual men, and 26 with other risk factors. Serum samples were screened for HTLV seroreactivity by ELISA; reactive samples were analyzed by Western Blot (WB), using whole HTLV-I lysate as antigen. To confirm and discriminate HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections, sera presenting any bands on WB were further analyzed by a WB containing recombinant HTLV-I and HTLV-II proteins (WB 2.3), and by enzyme immunoassays using synthetic peptides specific for envelope proteins (Synth-EIA). In 22 cases, cell samples were available for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies. On WB, 114 sera were reactive and, of these, 37 and 25 were concordantly positive on both WB 2.3 and Synth-EIA procedures for HTLV-I and HTLV-II specific antibodies, respectively; 37 specimens were negative on both assays, and 15 gave discordant or indeterminate results. PCR findings confirmed concordant results obtained in the discriminatory serological assays. The prevalence rates of HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections were 15.3% and 11.1% in IVDA, and 0.9% and 0.4% in homosexual/bisexual men, respectively. No case of HTLV-I/HTLV-II co-infection was found.

RESUMO: Foi estudada a reatividade tuberculínica e a resposta imunológica celular e humoral "in vitro", em 50 doentes de ambos os sexos, de 20 a 80 anos de idade, com tuberculose pulmonar ativa, internados no Parque Hospitalar do Mandaqui da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde, São Paulo (Brasil), no período de maio a agosto de 1980. Para o estudo da reatividade tuberculínica foi utilizado o PPD, Rt-23, 2 UT, tendo havido 14,0% de não-reatores, 12,0% de reatores fracos e 74,0% de reatores fortes. O estudo da imunidade celular e humoral "in vitro" foi realizado pela quantificação de linfócitos T e B, transformação blástica de linfócitos, liberação do fator inibidor da migração de leucócitos (LIF) e reação de hemaglutinação passiva. Os resultados mostraram a validade do cálculo do número absoluto dos linfócitos T e B. A cultura de linfócitos e a técnica do LIF, foram capazes de detectar a sensibilização dos linfócitos ao PPD, mesmo nos doentes não reatores, e a reação de hemaglutinação passiva revelou a presença de anticorpos específicos na população estudada em títulos superiores aos encontrados em pessoas normais, independentemente da reatividade tuberculínica.

The authors present a review of the immunobiological mechanism of olfaction considering current and relevant information about the odors released by vertebrate organisms, and its association with the immune system. Many theories concerning to the type and the quality of the molecular structures of odors or aromas have been proposed, but the most important are the steric theory of odor and the vibration theory of odor. Several techniques based on brain activities have been studied in association with sensorial processes, and they were particularly important to evaluate the physiologycal effects of odors. Molecules of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) have been identified in individual body odors (odortype), and volatile compounds of the MHC were easily detected in the urine of mice. The major relevant studies related to the Olfactory Receptors (ORs) and the MHC were conducted in mice models, and these studies demonstrated that the odortype has an important role in the partner choice, as well as in the relationship between mothers and their offsprings. A sensorial gas apparatus called “eletronic nose” has been used as an instrument capable of detecting molecules of the MHC in the odortypes. In conclusion, the diversity of self-aromas or odortypes seems to be generated in the context of the MHC, and consequently varies according to the genetic background of the individual. In spite of several controversies among scientists concerning to the immunobiology of the aromas, mostly in human beings, we could hypothesize that similar types of odors could influence the human choice. Future studies are necessary to clarify and confirm these findings in human beings.