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L. pneumophila est une bactérie ubiquitaire des environnements aquatiques, responsable de la légionellose. Elle est principalement retrouvée au sein de protozoaires, mais aussi dans les biofilms. Il est admit que le fer est l'un des éléments indispensable à la croissance de ce pathogène. En 2008, une étude a été réalisée au sein de notre équipe montrant une modulation de l'expression des gènes entre L. pneumophila à l'état planctonique, et à l'état de biofilm. Dans cette même étude, l'ajout de forte concentration en fer (1,25 g/l), dans le milieu de culture des biofilms, a révélé une inhibition de leur développement. Le fer présente donc un rôle dans l'établissement de biofilms mono espèces de L. pneumophila. Nous avons développé un modèle de biofilms naturels, formés à partir d'eau de rivière, afin de tester l'établissement de L. pneumophila, dans des conditions où l'eau de rivière est supplémentée en fer ou au contraire appauvrit, par l'ajout de chélateurs, le deferoxamine mesylate (DFX) ou le dipyridyl (DIP). Les ajouts de fer et de DFX n'ont eu aucun impact sur l'établissement de L. pneumophila contrairement au DIP, qui a induit une augmentation de l'implantation de ces bactéries.Par ailleurs, nous avons effectué une analyse transcriptomique sur L. pneumophila cultivées en milieu liquide supplémenté en DFX. L'ajout du chélateur a entrainé une induction de l'expression de 113 gènes et la répression de 246 gènes. Parmi les gènes induits, certains sont déjà connus comme étant impliqués dans le métabolisme du fer ou contrôlés par le fer. Parmi eux, un gène a été surexprimé, il n'a jamais été associé au fer et sa fonction est encore inconnue à ce jour. Il s'agit du gène lpp2867. Des investigations ont été réalisées afin de caractériser et de comprendre le rôle de la protéine pour laquelle il code. Elle est notamment impliquée dans l'infection des amibes et des macrophages. Son rôle dans le transport du fer ferreux a également été mis en avant. Cette protéine a été nommée IroT pour « iron transporter ». / L. pneumophila is a ubiquitous bacterium found in aquatic environments, and responsible for legionellosis. It is mainly found into both protozoa and biofilms. Iron is a key nutrient for an optimal growth of this pathogen. In 2008, a transcriptomic analysis was carried out within our team, revealing a differential expression of genes involved in iron metabolism between sessile and planktonic bacteria. Also, this study showed that, for high iron concentrations (1.25 g/l), biofilm formation by L. pneumophila was inhibited. It suggested that iron is important for biofilm formation by L. pneumophila. To extend these observations in more natural conditions, a model of biofilm formation, using natural river water, was developed. Water was spiked with L. pneumophila and supplemented with iron or iron chelator, deferoxamine mesylate (DFX) or dipyridyl (DIP). Addition of iron and DFX did not have any effect on L. pneumophila establishment unlike the DIP which induced an increase of L. pneumophila concentration into the biofilms.Otherwise, we performed transcriptomic analysis on L. pneumophila grown in liquid medium supplemented with DFX. The addition of this chelator led to the induction of 113 genes and 246 genes were repressed significantly. Among the induced genes, some are involved in iron metabolism or controlled by iron. There was an induced gene, lpp2867, never associated with iron metabolism and whose function was still unknown. Investigations were realized to characterize and understand the role of the protein encoded by this gene. It is involved in L. pneumophila virulence and in ferrous iron assimilation. This new protein was named IroT for iron transporter.

Les travaux de cette thèse sont consacrés principalement à l'optimisation d'une méthode de remédiation électrocinétique (EK) comme une technologie appropriée pour le traitement de sédiments de dragage de faible perméabilité hydraulique et multi-contaminés (en éléments traces (ET), hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) et polychlorobiphényles (PCB)). Cette étude porte également sur l’effet du traitement EK sur l’évolution de la toxicité des sédiments. Après une revue bibliographique, une seconde partie a été dédiée aux méthodes d’analyse des contaminants, avec un focus sur leur extraction de la matrice sédimentaire ; ainsi, une nouvelle méthode d’extraction par dispersion de la matrice solide (MSPD) a été développée, pour une extraction rapide et simultanée des HAP et de PCB et une purification de l’échantillon, qui s’est avérée plus efficace que la méthode d’extraction assistée par micro-ondes (MAE). Plusieurs études expérimentales (à différentes échelles) de remédiation électrocinétique ont été décrites dans une troisième partie ; ces études ont été menées sur un sédiment reconstitué ou des sédiments de dragage portuaire. De nombreuses combinaisons de tensioactifs et d’agents chélatants ont été testées comme agents d’amélioration pour abaisser simultanément la concentration en métaux (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) et des HAP/PCB. Le choix a été effectué en raison notamment de leur faible toxicité potentielle, en vue de pouvoir les appliquer ultérieurement pour une restauration sur site : (bio)surfactants (Rhamnolipides, Saponine et Tween 20) combinés avec des agents chélatants (acide citrique (CA) et EDDS). Les résultats obtenus montrent que les métaux (à l'exception de Cr) sont difficiles à extraire de ces sédiments de dragage portuaire à caractère réducteur, qui présentent une capacité tampon élevée, une perméabilité hydraulique très faible et une teneur en matière organique élevée. En revanche, les HAP et les PCB fournissent de meilleurs taux d'abattement (29,2% et 50,2%, respectivement). Dans une quatrième partie, l'efficacité du procédé EK a également été évaluée à travers l’évolution de la toxicité aiguë des sédiments traités sur les copépodes E. affinis exposés aux élutriats de sédiments. Les résultats ont montré que l'utilisation de CA,des biosurfactants et du Tween 20 n'a pas eu d'impact significatif sur la toxicité des sédiments traités. Cependant, les copépodes E. affinis étaient sensibles aux faibles valeurs de pH et aux conditions très oxydantes, ainsi qu’à la présence de Cu et, dans une moindre mesure, de Pb, à condition toutefois qu’ils soient rendus plus mobiles et biodisponibles. En revanche, la toxicité a été peu et même négativement corrélée aux concentrations des HAP et des PCB après le traitement EK, probablement en raison de la production de métabolites oxydés des HAP et des PCB, plus toxiques que les composés natifs. / This thesis research is mainly devoted to the optimization of an electrokinetic (EK) remediation process as a promising technology for treating multi-contaminated (trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorobiphenyles (PCBs)) dredged harbor sediments of low permeability. This study is also investigating the effect of the EK treatment on the evolution of sediment toxicity. After a bibliographic review, asecond part of this study was dedicated to the analytical methods carried out for the characterization of the sediment and its contaminants, particularly to their extraction from the sediment matrix; thus a new extraction method, through matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) was developed, for a fast and simultaneous extraction of both PAHs and PCBs, and a sample purification.MSPD appeared more efficient than the microwave assisted extraction (MAE) method. Thereafter many EK experiments (at different scales) were described in a third part. EK remediation tests were performed using a spiked model sediment or natural harbor dredged sediments. Many combinations of surfactants and chelators were tested as EK enhancing agents for decreasing simultaneously metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) and PAH/PCB levels. Their choice was done because of their possible low toxicity with a view to use them for future site restoration: (bio)surfactants (rhamnolipids, saponin and Tween 20) combined with chelators (citric acid (CA) and EDDS). The results showed that metals (except Cr) were difficult to remove from this kind of dredged sediment owing to its reductive character, to its high buffering capacity, to its very low hydraulic permeability and to its high organic matter content. However PAHs and PCBs showed better removal levels (29.2% and 50.2%, respectively). In a fourth part, the efficiency of the EK process was also assessed by measuring the evolution of the acute toxicity of the treated sediment on E. affinis copepods exposed to sediment elutriates. The results showed that using CA, biosurfactants or Tween 20 as enhancing agents did not significantly impact the toxicity of the treated sediment. However, E. affinis copepods were significantly sensitive to low pH values and oxidative conditions, to Cu, and to a lesser extent to Pb amounts, if they were transformed in more mobile and bioavailable forms. In contrast, acute toxicity was only slightly and even negatively correlated to PAH and PCB amounts after EK treatment, probably due to the production of oxidized metabolites of PAHs and PCBs, more toxic than the parent compounds.

During 20th century main concern was to have sanitary water flowing through the tap. In 21st century constant supply of safe drinking water is common at any home in USA. Hence consumers pay attention to aesthetic quality of tap water. Odorous algal metabolites in source water and metals introduced to drinking water due to corrosion of pipes in the distribution system cause taste, odor and color problems, and result in complaints and perception of tap water as unhealthy. Millions of dollars are spent each year by water industry to address and prevent these issues. This research focused on some of the taste-and-odor issues associated with drinking water. First aim was to understand when geosmin, 2-MIB, and nonadienal become detectable, employing two-resistance mass transfer theory to determine the concentration of odorants in bathroom air. Results showed that water temperature and odorant concentration in water play an important role. Next focus was to develop an international odor standard to be used for training of sensory analysis panelists. There are many sensory methods to monitor drinking water to detect the off-flavors however an odor standard has been missing. Hexanal was studied with trained flavor profile analysis panels and was proposed as an ideal odor reference standard to be used for training and sensory assessment of water samples. Main focus was to understand metallic flavor of drinking water caused by iron and copper. It was shown that metallic sensation has taste and retronasal components creating the flavor and humans are very sensitive to it. Occurrence of lipid oxidation in the oral cavity was shown when metals were ingested, that produces carbonyls which are responsible for the metallic flavor. Antioxidants and chelators were investigated to study prevention of lipid oxidation and, chelators were determined to be more effective. Oral epithelial cell cultures were developed as a model for oral cavity to further investigate lipid oxidation and effectiveness of the antioxidants and chelators. This dissertation is a result of inter-disciplinary work and possibly a good example for how problems may be solved by incorporating different methods and point of views from several disciplines. / Ph. D.

Corantes reativos têxteis podem ser degradados por basidiomicetos, por meio de enzimas oxidativas e hidrolíticas, e compostos de baixa massa molar. Foi avaliada a descoloração de CI Reactive Blue 222 por Peniophora cinerea, Pleurotus ostreatus e Trametes villosa, selecionando condições ótimas para o processo e diferentes vias metabólicas foram observadas. A degradação foi confirmada por cromatografia de camada delgada. Foi sugerido que lacases de P. ostreatus oxidam o grupo cromóforo azo, ligado ao fenol, nas primeiras 24 horas, conjuntamente hidroxilização não enzimática. Lacases de P. cinerea oxidam Mn+2 e quinona, possibilitando a via de Fenton e hidroxilizando assim a molécula do corante, paulatinamente, a partir das ligações mais vulneráveis. T. villosa faz uso prioritariamente da via de Fenton, hidroxilizando gradativamente a molécula do corante. Dessa forma, embora a maioria de estudos associem a produção enzimática à descoloração, a participação dos compostos de baixa massa molar não pode ser negligenciada. / Reactive textile dyes can be degraded by basidiomycetes, by means of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes, and low molecular weight compounds. Was evaluated the CI Reactive Blue 222 decolorization by Peniophora cinerea, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Trametes villosa, selecting optimal conditions for the process and different metabolic pathways were observed. The degradation was confirmed by thin layer chromatography. It was suggested that P. ostreatus laccases oxidize azo chromophore group attached to the phenol, within 24 hours, together nonenzymatic hydroxylizating. P. cinerea laccases oxidize Mn+2 and quinone, enabling via Fenton and so hidroxylizing the dye molecule, gradually, from the most vulnerable links. T. villosa uses primarily via Fenton, gradually hidroxylizing the dye molecule. Thus, although most studies have linked enzyme production with the decolorization, the share of low molecular weight compounds can not be neglected.

This thesis deals with the design of 18F- and 68Ga-labelled positron emission tomography (PET) tracers and the development of technologies that enable faster and simpler preparation with high specific radioactivity. Techniques like microwave heating and reducing the concentrations of the precursor were investigated with this perspective. A few applications were explored using molecular design perspectives. A nucleophilic 18F-labelling strategy using perfluoro-containing leaving groups was explored. We observed that [18F]fluoride was interacting with the perfluoro alkyl chains of the substrate, preventing the nucleophilic substitution from taking place. When a perfluoroaryl group was instead used in the leaving group, the substitution took place and purification by fluorous solid-phase extraction was possible. 18F-Labelled analogues of the monoamine oxidase-A inhibitor harmine were prepared by one-step nucleophilic fluorinations and evaluated by in vitro autoradiography, showing high specific binding. Biotin analogues labelled with 18F and 68Ga were prepared and their binding to avidin evaluated. All analogues retained their binding ability and will be further evaluated in transplantation models with avidin-coated islets of Langerhans. Peptide design perspectives were used in some examples where the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence and a single-chain version of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein functionalized with 2,2',2'',2'''-(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetrayl)tetraacetic acid (DOTA) or 2,2',2''-(1,4,7-triazonane-1,4,7-triyl)triacetic acid (NOTA) as chelators were labelled with 68Ga. The RGD motif and VEGF have high affinity for, respectively, αvβ3 integrin and VEGFR-2 receptor that are overexpressed in angiogenesis process. The 68Ga-labelled scVEGF maintained its functional activity in vitro. A polypeptide conjugate containing phosphocholine, which has affinity for the C-reactive protein released during the inflammatory process, was labelled with 68Ga for the development of an imaging agent for inflammation in vivo. Finally [18F]/19F exchange in fluorine-containing compounds was studied in order to investigate whether the exchange reaction can be of practical use for labelling.

[pt] Após instrumentação do canal radicular, uma camada de material orgânico/inorgânico é formada sobre a dentina. Não existe um consenso sobre o método ideal para a remoção deste smear layer e exposição dos túbulos dentinários, necessários à adaptação da obturação ao canal radicular. Geralmente, soluções quelantes são utilizadas com essa finalidade, mas a substância e o tempo ideais permanecem desconhecidos. Nesse estudo, foi analisado o poder quelante de EDTA, EDTAC e ácido cítrico (AC) 1%, 5% e 10% sobre dentina radicular. Através de microscopia óptica co-localizada foram capturadas imagens de vários campos de cada amostra, em 5 diferentes tempos de ataque ácido (15 a 300 s). Uma seqüência de processamento e análise de imagens foi utilizada para medir dezenas de imagens, obtendo dados relativos à fração de área ocupada e de tamanho de milhares de túbulos ao longo do tempo. Assim, foi possível acompanhar a evolução do processo e quantificar o efeito das substâncias. As soluções de AC apresentaram maior poder quelante. EDTA e AC 1% apresentaram efeitos similares após 300 s. O EDTAC teve o menor efeito. Experimentos análogos com microscopia eletrônica de varredura ambiental forneceram resultados similares, com maior informação sobre a rugosidade da superfície dentinária. AC 10% causou erosão severa após 60 s. / [en] Instrumentation methods currently used in endodontic therapy create a residual layer composed of organic and inorganic material. There is no universal consensus regarding the ideal method for removing this smear layer and exposing the dentinary tubules, necessary for the adaptation of root canal filling. In general, chelating solutions are used but the ideal solution and application time remain unknown. In the present study the chelating power of EDTA, EDTAC and 1, 5 and 10% citric acid (CA) on radicular dentine was analyzed. Co-site digital optical microscopy was used to capture images of several fields of each sample after acid etching for 5 experimental times (15-300 s). An image processing and analysis sequence measured tens of images, providing data of area fraction and size for thousands of tubules over time. Thus, it was possible to follow the phenomenon and quantitatively analyze the effect of the various substances. The CA solutions showed the greatest chelating power. EDTA and CA 1% showed similar effect after 300 s. EDTAC was the least effective. Equivalent experiments employing Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy provided similar results, complemented by a better view of dentine surface roughness. CA 10% caused severe erosion of the surface

Corantes reativos têxteis podem ser degradados por basidiomicetos, por meio de enzimas oxidativas e hidrolíticas, e compostos de baixa massa molar. Foi avaliada a descoloração de CI Reactive Blue 222 por Peniophora cinerea, Pleurotus ostreatus e Trametes villosa, selecionando condições ótimas para o processo e diferentes vias metabólicas foram observadas. A degradação foi confirmada por cromatografia de camada delgada. Foi sugerido que lacases de P. ostreatus oxidam o grupo cromóforo azo, ligado ao fenol, nas primeiras 24 horas, conjuntamente hidroxilização não enzimática. Lacases de P. cinerea oxidam Mn+2 e quinona, possibilitando a via de Fenton e hidroxilizando assim a molécula do corante, paulatinamente, a partir das ligações mais vulneráveis. T. villosa faz uso prioritariamente da via de Fenton, hidroxilizando gradativamente a molécula do corante. Dessa forma, embora a maioria de estudos associem a produção enzimática à descoloração, a participação dos compostos de baixa massa molar não pode ser negligenciada. / Reactive textile dyes can be degraded by basidiomycetes, by means of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes, and low molecular weight compounds. Was evaluated the CI Reactive Blue 222 decolorization by Peniophora cinerea, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Trametes villosa, selecting optimal conditions for the process and different metabolic pathways were observed. The degradation was confirmed by thin layer chromatography. It was suggested that P. ostreatus laccases oxidize azo chromophore group attached to the phenol, within 24 hours, together nonenzymatic hydroxylizating. P. cinerea laccases oxidize Mn+2 and quinone, enabling via Fenton and so hidroxylizing the dye molecule, gradually, from the most vulnerable links. T. villosa uses primarily via Fenton, gradually hidroxylizing the dye molecule. Thus, although most studies have linked enzyme production with the decolorization, the share of low molecular weight compounds can not be neglected.

Wilson's disease is a hereditary disorder of copper metabolism, which causes copper accumulation in organism, especially in the liver, kidneys and brain. Current treatment is based on using low-molecular weight copper chelators and high doses of zinc salts. Unfortunately, they can induce some severe side effects due to systemic action. The aim of this thesis is to improve the treatment of Wilson's disease by using of polymeric drug delivery systems. The size of polymer particles in tens of microns should provide non-resorbability of the drug after oral administration. Synthetic microparticles of poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co- ethylene dimethacrylate), natural microcrystalline cellulose and cross-linked chitosan were used as polymer matrices. N,N-di(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, triethylenetetraamine and 8-hydroxyquinoline were selected as specific copper chelators, which can complex copper cations with high efficiency. The principle of the proposed treatment is that the polymeric carrier-bound chelator complex copper directly from the food in digestive tract of the organism. Because of non-resorbability, the entire complex should be eliminated from the body together with stools. This virtually eliminates systemic side effects. The ability of adsorption of copper and the stability of polymer complex under...