A surface plasmon resonance- (SPR-) based recognition method applying H-2 Ld:Ig/peptides complexes for ex vivo monitoring cellular immune responses during murine infection with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis is described. Lymphocytes from lesion-draining popliteal lymph nodes were captured on a carboxylated sensor chip surface previously functionalized with H-2 Ld:Ig (DimerX) protein bound to synthetic peptides derived from the COOH-terminal region of cysteine proteinase B of L. (L.) amazonensis. In computational analysis, these peptides presented values of kinetic constants favorable to form complexes with H-2 Ld at neutral pH, with a Gibbs free energy ΔG° < 0. The assayed DimerX:peptide complexes presented the property of attaching to distinct T lymphocytes subsets, obtained from experimentally infected BALB/c mice, in each week of infection, thus indicating a temporal variation in specific T lymphocytes populations, each directed to a different COOH-terminal region-derived peptide. The experimental design proposed herein is an innovative approach for cellular immunology studies of a neglected disease, providing a useful tool for the analysis of specific T lymphocytes subsets.

Estudo epidemiológico e de concordância diagnóstica entre a citologia, colposcopia e histopatologia, em pacientes com diagnóstico de Papilomavírus Humano.Epidemiological study and diagnostic compatibility among cytology, colposcopy and histopathology in patients with Human Papillomavirus diagnosis. ABSTRACTThe diagnosis of intraepithelial lesions and carcinoma of the cervix is performed by combining three methods, namely cytology, colposcopy, and histology. The present study represents a retrospective and descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study of patients' charts with cytological and colposcopic findings compatible with HPV infection, at the Potengi Clinic, in the year 2012 (Natal/RN). We analyzed 111 medical records of patients diagnosed with HPV and the data collected were age, menarche, the onset of sexual life, marital status, sexual partners, contraceptive methods used and results of cytological, colposcopic and histopathological exams. Patients had a mean age of 30 years, most of whom were married (71.2%), menarche at 12-year-old, and sexual debut at approximately 17 years, with a mean of 9.4 partners. About 38% of them use oral contraceptives, 37% do not use any method and only 10% use condoms. The concordance between cytology and colposcopy and between cytology and histology was very significant (rs=0,953; p<0,05). From the analysis of the present study, it can be concluded that the association of cytological, colposcopic and histological methods is more efficient in the diagnosis of lesions caused by viruses such as HPV and carcinoma and should, therefore, be used together. RESUMOO diagnóstico das lesões intraepiteliais e do carcinoma do colo uterino é realizado mediante a associação de três métodos, que são a citologia, colposcopia e histologia. O presente estudo representa uma pesquisa epidemiológica transversal retrospectiva e descritiva de prontuários de pacientes com achados citológicos e colposcópicos, compatíveis com a infecção por HPV, atendidas na clínica Potengi, no ano de 2012 (Natal, RN). Foram analisados 111 prontuários de pacientes diagnosticadas com HPV e os dados coletados foram idade, menarca, início da vida sexual, estado civil, parceiros sexuais, métodos contraceptivos utilizados e resultados de exames citológicos, colposcópicos e histopatológicos. As pacientes tinham média de idade 30 anos, sendo a maioria casada (71,2%), com menarca aos 12