Submitted by Angela Maria de Oliveira (amolivei@uepg.br) on 2018-12-11T17:35:15Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Andre Assmann.pdf: 4986341 bytes, checksum: 7a618a74a9cd9fd887a2ad317c21334b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:35:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Andre Assmann.pdf: 4986341 bytes, checksum: 7a618a74a9cd9fd887a2ad317c21334b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-10-30 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Medidas de tensão residual por microscopia de fluorescência é uma técnica bem estabelecida, que utiliza os picos de fluorescência R1 e/ou R2 dos íons Cr+3 em Al2O3. Esses picos são sensíveis à distorção da rede e sua frequência muda se o cristal estiver sob tensão. Amostras sinterizadas de vidro borossilicato e de soda-cal com a adição de 10 vol.% Al2O3 foram produzidas por mistura dos pós de vidro e alumina, prensagem uniaxial e sinterização em alta temperatura. A morfologia e microestrutura da superfície foram caracterizadas por microscopias ótica e eletrônica de varredura. A porosidade obtida foi inferior a 2%. Foram realizados indentações com carga de 10 N Vickers e as tensões ao redor das indentações foram medidas por microscopia de fluorescência. As medidas de tensões residuais devido à diferença de expansão térmica entre a matriz de vidro e as partículas de Al2O3 foram de 163 MPa e -35 MPa para amostras sinterizadas de borossilicato e soda-cal, respectivamente, em concordância com o modelo de Hseuh & Becher. A função de convolução do feixe de luz incidente (PRF) foi ajustada aos dados de fluorescência levando em conta a interação do feixe de laser dentro da amostra e os efeitos de absorção, refração e espalhamento do feixe de luz incidente por partículas de alumina e por poros e também por gradientes de tensões ao redor de indentações. O deslocamento experimental de fluorescência em função da distância da borda da indentação foi comparado com o modelo de Yoffe e com a função PRF. Verificou-se que a intensidade experimental do campo de indentação é 10 vezes menor que o previsto pelo modelo de Yoffe mesmo levando em consideração a densificação do vidro embaixo do penetrador. As tensões residuais de indentações também foram medidas para o vidro soda-cal usando o modelo modificado de Zeng e Rowcliffe. Os perfis de tensão foram medidos em torno de indentações Vickers realizadas com cargas de 50 N e 100 N em temperaturas entre -196 °C e 400 °C. A intensidade do campo aumentou com a temperatura e isso pode ser explicado pela variação da razão / com a temperatura. Este trabalho contribui para a compreensão dos mecanismos responsáveis pelas tensões residuais causadas por indentação em vidros. / Residual stress measurements by fluorescence microscopy is a well-established technique which uses the R1 and/or R2 fluorescence peaks of Cr+3 ions in Al2O3. These peaks are sensitive to the distortion of the lattice and their position changes if the crystal is stressed. Borosilicate (BS) and soda-lime (SL) sintered samples with 10 vol. % Al2O3 were produced mixing the glass and alumina powders, uniaxial compressed and sintered at high temperature. Surface morphology and microstructure were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopies. The porosity obtained was less than 2%. 10 N Vickers indentations were performed and the stresses around the indentations were measured by fluorescence microscopy. Measurements of residual stresses due to thermal expansion mismatch between the glass matrix and the Al2O3 were 163 MPa and -35 MPa for BS and SL composites samples, respectively, in agreement with Hseuh & Becher’s model. The probe response function was fitted to the fluorescence data taking into account the iteraction of the laser beam within the sample and effects of light absorption, refraction and scattering by alumina particles and pores and stresses gradients. The experimental fluorescence shift as a function of the distance from the indentations was compared with Yoffe’s model and the PRF function. It was found that the experimental blister field strength is a factor of 10 smaller than that predicted by Yoffe´s model, taking into account the densification of the glass underneath the indenter. Indentation residual stresses were also measured for SL glass using the Zeng and Rowcliffe’s model. Stress profiles were measured around 50 N and 100 N Vickers indentations performed between -196 °C to 400 °C. The blister field strength increased with temperature and it could be explained by the variation of the / ratio with temperature. This work contributes for the understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the indentation residual stresses in glasses.

La synthèse des protéines est un mécanisme central de la vie cellulaire dont la compréhension est un enjeu du domaine biomédical. Les études en molécule unique permettent d’observer chaque système réactionnel individuellement et donnent accès à des évènements asynchrones difficilement observables en mesure d’ensemble, tels la traduction de protéines.Cette thèse présente les premiers résultats en molécule unique sur la traduction par un ribosome eucaryote (mammifère). Nous observons les systèmes traductionnels grâce à des marqueurs fluorescents liés à des oligonucléotides pouvant s’hybrider sur les séquences d’ARN traduites. L’observation de ces marqueurs est faite par microscopie de fluorescence en onde évanescente (TIRF), les ARN étant fixés sur une lamelle de microscope. En lisant l’ARN, le ribosome détache les marqueurs, et leurs instants de départs donnent des informations sur le passage du ribosome à différentes positions sur l’ARN. Cette méthode permet d’obtenir des données cinétiques sur un grand nombre de systèmes traductionnels en parallèle pouvant alors être interpolées par des lois de probabilité. Nous obtenons par cette méthode des mesures de la cinétique in vitro de l’élongation eucaryote et nous observons un délai dû à une initiation non-canonique. En effet, nous complexons le ribosome sur l’ARN grâce à une structure de type IRES. Dans nos conditions d’expérience, l’incorporation d’un acide aminé prend environ une seconde tandis que cette structure induit un retard à la traduction de plusieurs dizaines de secondes. Ces résultats ouvrent des perspectives d’étude cinétique dans des cas plus complexes tels le franchissement de structures secondaires de l’ARN. / Protein synthesis is a central mechanism of cellular life and understanding it is a challenge in biomedical research. Single molecule studies permit each reactive system to be observed individually and provide access to asynchronous events difficult to observe in ensemble experiments, such as protein translation.This thesis presents the first results on single molecule eukaryotic (mammalian) translation. We observe the translational systems using fluorophores linked to oligonucleotides annealed to the RNA translated sequences. The observation of these fluorophores is done by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, the RNA being attached to a microscope slide. When reading the RNA, the ribosome unzips the fluorescent oligonucleotides and their departure times provide information about the position of the ribosome at different locations on the RNA strand. This method provides kinetic data on a large number of parallel translational systems that can be fitted using probability laws.With this method, we measure the in vitro kinetics of eukaryotic elongation and we reveal a delay due to a non-canonical initiation of the ribosome. Indeed, in our experiments, the ribosome is initially complexed on an RNA structure called Internal Ribosome Entry Site. In our experimental conditions, each incorporation of an amino acid in the nascent protein takes about one second while the IRES structure induces a delay of several tens of seconds on the first incorporation. These results open new perspectives for kinetic studies in more complex configurations such as the passage of the ribosome through RNA secondary structures.

L’objectif de cette thèse est de définir la chorégraphie de ségrégation des deux chromosomes circulaires de Vibrio cholerae, c’est à dire le positionnement de l’information génétique au cours de la croissance de la cellule, ainsi que les mécanismes dirigeant ces ségrégations. Il a longtemps été supposé que les bactéries étaient trop petites pour avoir une organisation intra-cellulaire, et le manque de techniques appropriées ne permettait pas d’infirmer cette hypothèse. Or la taille des chromosomes comparée à celle de la bactérie impose une compaction et aujourd’hui, de nouvelles techniques de microscopie et d’analyse génétique permettent d’affirmer que les chromosomes bactériens étudiés jusqu’à maintenant ont tous une organisation et une chorégraphie de ségrégation précises et différentes selon les espèces. Toutes les espèces étudiées à ce jour ont un chromosome circulaire unique : la réplication du chromosome commence à une origine unique bidirectionnelle, les deux fourches de réplication se déplacent le long des deux bras de réplication (ou réplichores) et finissent la réplication au terminus, diamétralement à l’opposée de l’origine de réplication sur la carte du chromosome. Peu d’espèces ont été étudiées, et Vibrio cholerae émerge progressivement comme un nouveau modèle : son génome est réparti sur deux chromosomes, et la chorégraphie de plusieurs chromosomes dans une cellule n’a jamais été décrite. De plus, cette espèce semble être au croisement évolutif entre Caulobacter crescentus et Escherichia coli : Vibrio cholerae a d’une part une morphologie en croissant, des systèmes de partition aux origines et un positionnement de l’origine du chromosome I, semblables à C. crescentus, et d’autre part un système de compaction du terminus et un set de gènes impliqués dans la maintenance du chromosome ayant co-évolué, qu’on ne retrouve que dans peu d’espèces proches d’E. coli. Une autre caractéristique intéressante de V. cholerae est que le chromosome II semble avoir été acquis récemment et n’est donc peut être pas gouverné par les mêmes mécanismes que le chromosome I, comme en témoignent le positionnement de son origine et son terminus, inédits pour des chromosomes bactériens. Parmi les Vibrios (environ 60 espèces principalement retrouvées dans les environnements aquatiques), certaines espèces sont des pathogènes dévastateurs pour les poissons, le corail, les crustacés ou les fruits de mer. Mais la plus documentée est Vibrio cholerae, car elle provoque chez l’Humain une maladie provoquée par l’ingestion d’eau contaminée qui peut être mortelle si le patient n’est pas réhydraté à temps. Bien que facilement traitable, le choléra fait encore de nombreuses victimes dans les pays en développement où les structures de santé et les règles d’hygiène font parfois défaut. Ainsi l’étude de Vibrio cholerae présente un intérêt médical, mais également par extension aux autres Vibrios, un intérêt environnemental non négligeable. / The aim of this thesis is to define the segregation choreography of the two circular chromosomes of Vibrio cholerae, which is the positionning of the genetic information during cell growth, as well as the mecanisms directing those segregations. It was supposed for a long time that bacteria were too small to have a intra-cellular organization and the lack of appropriate tools could not prove this hypothesis wrong. The size of the chromosomes compared to the size of the cell means there has to be a compaction and today, new tools for microscopy and genetic analysis allow us to affirm that all bacterial chromosomes studied so far have an organization and a segregation choreography which are precise and different between specie. Most bacterial specie studied to this day have a unique circular chromosome : the replication of the chromosome starts at a unique and bidirectionnal origin, both replication forks move along the two replication arms (or replichores) and end the replication at the terminus which is diametrically to the opposite of the origin on the chromosome map. A few specie have been studied, and Vibrio cholerae progressively emerges as a new model : its genome is divided between two chromosomes, and the choreography of several chromosomes in a cell has never been described. Moreover, this species seems to be at the crossover between Caulobacter crescentus and Escherichia coli : Vibrio cholerae as on one hand, a crescent shape, partition systems positionned at both origins and a positionning of the chromosome I origin similar to C. crescentus, and on the other hand a compaction system of the terminus and a set of genes involved on the maintenance of chromosomes that one only finds in very few specie closely related to E. coli. An other interesting characteristic of V. cholerae is that the chromosome II seems to have been acquired recently and thus might not be governed by the same mecanisms as the chromosome I, as shown by the positionning of its origin and terminus which are completely new to bacterial chromosomes. Among Vibrios (about 60 species mostly found in aquatic environments), some species are devastating pathogens for fish, coral, crustacean and shellfish. But the most documented one is Vibrio cholerae, because it induces a disease in humans caused by the ingestion of contaminated water, which can be deadly if the patient is not rehydrated on time. Although easily treatable, cholera still makes a lot of victims in developing countries where health structures and basic hygiene sometimes lack dramatically. The study of Vibrio cholerae has a medical interest, but also by extention to other Vibrios, a non-negligible environmental interest.

In the past decade, single molecule imaging has advanced our understanding of processes at the molecular scale. Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy is one implementation in particular that has been extensively applied in the study of protein adsorption to surfaces. The spatial and temporal resolution provided by TIRF has enabled dynamic measurements of individual proteins in solution, where previously only bulk measurements or static electron microscopy observations were possible. The ability to study individual proteins has revealed and sometimes clarified the complex interactions at their interfaces. Here, the utility of TIRF is expanded to introduce a new model of protein adsorption to the suface and to study the protein interface in contact with solution. Protein adsorption to surfaces has implications in surface biocompatibility, protein separation, and pharmaceutical nanoparticle development. For this reason, the phenomenon has been quantitatively by a variety of techniques, including single molecule imaging. The key data are the protein lifetimes on the surface, which have been shown to be broadly distributed and well-approximated by the sum of several exponential functions. The determined desorption rate constants are thought to reflect different interaction types between surface and protein, but the rates are not typically linked to a specific physical interaction. In the first part of this thesis, we establish appropriate imaging conditions and analysis methods for TIRF. A robust survival analysis technique is applied to capture the range of protein adsorption kinetics. In the second part, we utilize single molecule lifetime data from the adsorption of fibrinogen and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to glass surfaces and discover a heavy-tailed distribution: a very small fraction of proteins adsorbs effectively permanently, while the majority of proteins adsorb for a very short time. We then demonstrate that this characteristic power law behavior is well described by a model with a novel interpretation of the complex protein adsorption process. The second half of the thesis extends TIRF to study the solution-facing interface of the protein as opposed to the surface facing interface by establishing the parameters for a super-resolution imaging technique. Point accumulation for imaging nanoscale topography (PAINT) generates high-resolution images of the sample of interest through the positional tracking of many temporally-distinct instances of a fluorescent probe binding to the sample. Previously, this technique has been applied in the mapping of DNA nanostructures. Here, in the third part, we apply PAINT to the study of proteins. First, a workstream is established for a model system of Nile red and BSA. The kinetic parameters for the system are established to allow rational design of PAINT experiments with this system. The on-rate and off-rate for Nile red are determined. Additionally, the binding model between the two components is tested by studying how the presence of an inhibitor effects the parameters. In the final part, TIRF is used to study the protein-solution interface to examine the glycosylation of immunoglobulin A 1 (IgA1). Over 50% of eukaryotic proteins are glycosylated, and the glycan sequence is simultaneously difficult to study and crucial in the many functional roles proteins play. The glycosylation of IgA1, for example, plays a key role in the pathophysiology of IgA1 nephropathy. Lectins are proteins that bind to specifc glycan sequences and are often used to isolate glycosylated proteins. In this study, the appropriate surface conditions are established to allow specific binding between lectins and IgA1 glycans. The association and dissociation rate between lectins specific for the glycans on IgA1 are measured and affinity constants calculated. These efforts will help to rationally design experiments in the future to elucidate unknown glycan sequences on proteins.

Over the past few decades, fluorescence microscopy has proven to become the most widely used imaging technique in the field of life sciences. Unfortunately, all classical optical microscopy techniques have one thing in common: their resolution is limited by the diffraction. Thankfully, due to the very strong interest, development of fluorescent microscopy techniques is very intense, with novel solutions surfacing repeatedly. The major breakthrough came with the appearance of super-resolution microscopy techniques, enabling imaging well below the diffraction barrier and opening the new era of nanoscopy. Among the fluorescent super-resolution techniques, Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy has been particularly interesting, as it is a purely optical technique which does not require post image processing. STED microscopy has proven to resolve structures down to the molecular resolution. However, super-resolution microscopy is not a cure to all the problems and it also has its limits. What has shown to be particularly challenging, was the super-resolution imaging of thick samples. With increased thickness of biological structures, the aberrations increase and signal-to-noise (SNR) decreases. This becomes even more evident in the super-resolution imaging, as the nanoscopic techniques are especially sensitive to aberrations and low SNR. The aim of this work is to propose and develop a 3D STED microscope that can successfully image thick biological samples with nanoscopic resolution. In order to achieve that, adaptive optics (AO) has been employed for correcting the aberrations, using the indirect wavefront sensing approach. This thesis presents a custom built 3D STED microscope with the AO correction and the resulting images of thick samples with resolution beyond diffraction barrier. The developed STED microscope achieved the resolution of 60nm in lateral and 160nm in axial direction. What is more, it enabled super-resolution imaging of thick, aberrating samples. HeLa, RPE-1 cells and dopaminergic neuron differentiated from human IPS cells were imaged using the microscope. The results shown in this thesis present 3D STED imaging of thick biological samples and, what is particularly worth to highlight, 3D STED imaging at the 80μm depth, where the excitation and depletion beams have to propagate through the thick layer of tissue. 3D STED images at such depth has not been reported up to date.

85% des patients atteints de cancer du pancréas présentent au diagnostic des formes avancées de la maladie qui empêchent leur prise en charge thérapeutique efficace. Il est donc urgent de mettre en évidence des marqueurs diagnostics permettant de détecter plus tôt ces cancers, mais également leur rechute, afin d'améliorer leur prise en charge. Les miARNs (micro acides ribonucléiques) sont des biomarqueurs du cancer du pancréas, présentant une valeur clinique démontrée pour la détection précoce des tumeurs et le suivi de la réponse au traitement. Cependant, les méthodes actuelles d'extraction et de détection de ces molécules ne sont pas adaptées à une utilisation clinique. Les nouvelles technologies issues des méthodes de micro et nanofabrication ont le potentiel de permettre la mise en place de tests diagnostiques, offrant un haut degré de portabilité et de robustesse, une lecture en temps réel, et à bas coût. Nous proposons ici une plateforme nanofluidique couplée à une détection en fluorescence permettant la mesure en temps réel d'interactions moléculaires en milieu hyper-confiné. Nous décrivons dans un premier temps la plateforme de détection via un modèle théorique à une dimension basé sur la dynamique moléculaire permettant de prédire la capture spécifique des miARNs dans un nanocanal fonctionnalisé. L'originalité du système réside dans une accroche non homogène des miARNs sur la surface du capteur. Ainsi, nous démontrons que l'étude du profil spatial d'hybridation engendré permet de déterminer l'affinité du miARN capturé avec la séquence sonde en une seule étape, sans lavage. Nous démontrons également l'excellente spécificité du biocapteur qui permet la discrimination rapide (moins de 10 minutes) de SND (single nucleotide difference). Les performances du dispositif pour des applications au plus près des problématiques biologiques dans le cadre de la détection du cancer du pancréas sont enfin discutées : les effets de la préparation d'échantillon types biofluides complexes sur l'extraction de miARNs sont étudiés, puis deux approches permettant la détection de miARNs endogènes sont décrites et comparées, conduisant à la détection de miARNs extraits de cultures cellulaires modèles du cancer du pancréas. / 85% of patients affected by pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDA) are diagnosed at an advanced stage, preventing effective care and curative treatments. Therefore, it is urgent to identify reliable biomarkers for the early detection of disease status, including relapse. MiRNAs (micro ribonucleic acids) are biomarkers of PDA, with demonstrated clinical value for early detection of tumors and monitoring of response to treatment. However, current methods of extraction and detection of miRNA are not compatible with clinical use. New technologies derived from micro and nanofabrication methods have the potential to facilitate the implementation of diagnostic tests, by offering a high degree of portability and robustness, short time to results at low cost. Here, we propose a nanofluidic platform coupled to fluorescence detection for the real time measurement of molecular interactions in a confined environment. We first describe the detection platform via a one-dimension theoretical model based on molecular dynamics to predict the capture of miRNAs into biofunctionalized nanochannels. The originality of the system lies in the non-homogeneous hybridization of miRNA targets onto the sensor. We demonstrate that the analysis of the spatial hybridization profile enables the determination of the affinity of the captured miRNA with the probe sequence in a wash-free single step. We then show the rapid discrimination (less than 10 minutes) of single nucleotide difference (SND) using this strategy. The performance of the device in the context of pancreatic cancer detection is discussed: the effect of sample preparation of complex biofluids is studied and two labeling approaches compatible with the detection of endogenous miRNAs are described and compared, leading to the detection of miRNAs extracted from model cell cultures of pancreatic cancer.

Im Fokus dieser Arbeit stand der Aufbau einer auf DNA basierenden Nanostruktur. Der universelle Vier-Buchstaben-Code der DNA ermöglicht es, Bindungen auf molekularer Ebene zu adressieren. Die chemischen und physikalischen Eigenschaften der DNA prädestinieren dieses Makromolekül für den Einsatz und die Verwendung als Konstruktionselement zum Aufbau von Nanostrukturen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit war das Aufspannen eines DNA-Stranges zwischen zwei Fixpunkten. Hierfür war es notwendig, eine Methode zu entwickeln, welche es ermöglicht, Funktionsmoleküle als Ankerelemente ortsaufgelöst auf eine Oberfläche zu deponieren. Das Deponieren dieser Moleküle sollte dabei im unteren Mikrometermaßstab erfolgen, um den Abmaßen der DNA und der angestrebten Nanostruktur gerecht zu werden. Das eigens für diese Aufgabe entwickelte Verfahren zum ortsaufgelösten Deponieren von Funktionsmolekülen nutzt das Bindungspaar Biotin-Neutravidin. Mit Hilfe eines Rasterkraftmikroskops (AFM) wurde eine zu einem „Stift“ umfunktionierte Rasterkraftmikroskopspitze so mit der zu deponierenden „Tinte“ beladen, dass das Absetzen von Neutravidin im unteren Mikrometermaßstab möglich war. Dieses Neutravidinmolekül übernahm die Funktion als Bindeglied zwischen der biotinylierten Glasoberfläche und dem eigentlichen Adressmolekül. Das somit generierte Neutravidin-Feld konnte dann mit einem biotinylierten Adressmolekül durch Inkubation funktionalisiert werden. Namensgebend für dieses Verfahren war die Möglichkeit, Neutravidin mehrmals zu deponieren und zu adressieren. Somit ließ sich sequenziell ein Mehrkomponenten-Feld aufbauen. Die Einschränkung, mit einem AFM nur eine Substanz deponieren zu können, wurde so umgangen. Ferner mußten Ankerelemente geschaffen werden, um die DNA an definierten Punkten immobilisieren zu können. Die Bearbeitung der DNA erfolgte mit molekularbiologischen Methoden und zielte darauf ab, einen DNA-Strang zu generieren, welcher an seinen beiden Enden komplementäre Adressequenzen enthält, um gezielt mit den oberflächenständigen Ankerelementen binden zu können. Entsprechend der Geometrie der mit dem AFM erzeugten Fixpunkte und den oligonukleotidvermittelten Adressen kommt es zur Ausbildung einer definierten DNA-Struktur. Mit Hilfe von fluoreszenzmikroskopischen Methoden wurde die aufgebaute DNA-Nanostruktur nachgewiesen. Der Nachweis der nanoskaligen Interaktion von DNA-bindenden Molekülen mit der generierten DNA-Struktur wurde durch die Bindung von PNA (peptide nucleic acid) an den DNA-Doppelstrang erbracht. Diese PNA-Bindung stellt ihrerseits ein funktionales Strukturelement im Nanometermaßstab dar und wird als Nanostrukturbaustein verstanden. / The main aim of this work was the development of a DNA-based nanostructure. The universal four-letter code of DNA allows addressing bonds at the molecular level. The chemical and physical property of DNA makes this macromolecule an ideal candidate as a construction element for nanostructures. The aim of this work was to span a DNA strand between two fixed points. For this purpose it was necessary to develop a method which makes it possible to deposit functional molecules as anchoring elements with highly spatial resolution on a surface. These molecules should be immobilized on the lower micrometer scale to meet the requirements of the desired nanostructure. The method that has been developed for this task, which enables to deposit functional molecules, uses the binding pair biotin-neutravidin. Using the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM), which can be uses like a pen, it was possible to deposit neutravidin on the lower micrometer scale. This neutravidin molecule is the linking element between the biotinylated glass surface and the actual address molecule. The thus generated neutravidin field could then be functionalized with a biotinylated molecule by incubation. The method has been published as sequential spotting method because it enables a sequential functionalization of neutravidin after it has been deposited. It was so possible to build up a multi-component array. The limitation of being able to deposit only one single substance with an AFM has been circumvented. It also was necessary to create anchor elements in order to immobilize the DNA at defined positions. The processing of the DNA was carried out using molecular biological methods and aimed at generating a DNA strand, which at both ends has a complementary sequence for binding to the surface bound anchor elements. The defined structure is a result of the geometry of the fixed points, generated by the AFM. Using fluorescence microscopy, the constructed DNA nanostructure was detected. The proof of the interaction of DNA-binding molecules with the DNA structure was carried out by the binding of PNA (peptide nucleic acid), which is capable of binding to double stranded DNA. The PNA and its DNA-interaction is a functional building block in the nanometer scale and can be regarded as a promising nanostructure.

Radiotherapy plays a significant role in cancer treatment, and is thought to be curative by mainly killing tumor cells through damage to their genetic material. However, recent findings indicate that the tumor’s vascular blood supply is also a major determinant of radiation response. The goals of this thesis are to: (1) develop an experimental platform for small animals to deliver ionizing radiation and perform high-resolution optical imaging to treatment targets, and (2) use this toolkit to longitudinally monitor the response of tumors and the associated vasculature. The thesis has achieved: (1) customization of a novel micro-irradiator for mice, (2) technical development of an improved optical coherence tomography imaging system, (3) comprehensive experimental protocol and imaging optimization for optical microscopy in a specialized animal model, and (4) completion of a feasibility study to demonstrate the capabilities of the experimental platform in monitoring the response of tumor and vasculature to radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy plays a significant role in cancer treatment, and is thought to be curative by mainly killing tumor cells through damage to their genetic material. However, recent findings indicate that the tumor’s vascular blood supply is also a major determinant of radiation response. The goals of this thesis are to: (1) develop an experimental platform for small animals to deliver ionizing radiation and perform high-resolution optical imaging to treatment targets, and (2) use this toolkit to longitudinally monitor the response of tumors and the associated vasculature. The thesis has achieved: (1) customization of a novel micro-irradiator for mice, (2) technical development of an improved optical coherence tomography imaging system, (3) comprehensive experimental protocol and imaging optimization for optical microscopy in a specialized animal model, and (4) completion of a feasibility study to demonstrate the capabilities of the experimental platform in monitoring the response of tumor and vasculature to radiotherapy.

AbstractFive bacteria, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis,, Bacillus cereus, and Sarcina flava, were tested for establishment in the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, using a fluorescent screening technique. Through literature research some of the above bacteria were known to establish in the mealworm.The various test bacteria were dyed with Calcofluor white, a fluorescent dye, and introduced to the mealworm by several techniques. Oral injection, anal injection, drop on head, and petri dish methods were attempted. The best method of bacterial entry into the insect was found to be the drop on head. Since few bacteria were ingested by the insect, a quantitative analysis was impossible.It was found that as the dyed bacteria grew, fluorescence decreased. This was substantiated by allowing dyed Sarcina flava to grow at 37 degrees C. in nutrient broth and examining every hour for ten hours.Although this study did not show a definite screening technique for bacterial establishment in Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, the results from this project could aid researchers in developing such a technique.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306