T cell Maturation and Regulatory T Cell Differentiation:From the Thymus to the Periphery

Immunological tolerance, that is, the failure to mount an immune response to an otherwise immunogenic molecule, is one of the fundamental questions in immunology. The fact that lymphocytes express antigen receptors that are generated randomly and have the potential to recognize any conceivable antigen, adds another puzzle to the physiology of immunological tolerance. The other side of the coin, the general absence of immune responses to self antigens, is ensured by a tight regulation and several selection steps during T and B cell differentiation. One of these processes is the differentiation of regulatory T cells (Treg). While developing in the thymus, T cell clones bearing receptors with high affinity/avidity to antigens present at the time of differentiation may be eliminated by apoptosis or, alternatively, express Foxp3 and become Treg. Treg are key players in the regulation of immunological tolerance since humans and mice with complete loss of function variants of this gene develop fatal autoimmune conditions early in life.(...)

Migration and differentiation of neuronal precursors in the postnatal brain: insights from the subventricular zone and cerebellum

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - SFRH/BD/42848/2008, através do Programa MIT_Portugal em Sistemas de Bioengenharia; projectos PTDC/SAUNEU/104415/2008 e Projecto ref. 96542 da Fundação Caloust Gulbenkian

The Role of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Transducer Ire1 during Photoreceptor Differentiation in Drosophila

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology.

Role of Notch signaling on the differentiation of early lymphoid progenitors cells: a view throughout the development of the embryonic chicken thymus and spleen

Dissertação para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Genética Molecular e Biomedicina

Spore differentiation in relation to the infectious cycle of the enteric pathogen Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile is a gram positive, spore former, anaerobic bacterium that is able to cause infection and disease, with symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon, sepsis and death. In the last decade new strains have emerged that caused outbreaks of increased disease severity and higher recurrence, morbidity and mortality rates, and C. difficile is now considered both a main nosocomial pathogen associated with antibiotic therapy as well as a major concern in the community.(...)

José Mourinho, The special one: A pedagogical case

The purpose of this work is to create a case to reflect about the leadership role of José Mourinho in Real Madrid CF, considering his successful background experiences in FC Porto, Chelsea FC and FC Inter. The case is based on the failure of the Special One in Real Madrid CF. This paper is mainly focused in the leadership process, charismatic leadership and contingency theory of leadership. Moreover it is intended to introduce concepts about the influence of leaders in the organizational culture, the management of human resources, and the role of a leader adapting to a different context.