O teste de Salmonella/microssoma é um ensaio biológico amplamente utilizado para avaliar o potencial mutagênico de substâncias que podem colocar em risco a saúde humana e a qualidade ambiental. A variável resposta é constituída pela contagem do número de colônias revertentes em cada placa, entretanto geralmente há dois efeitos confundidos, o de toxicidade e o de mutagenicidade. Alguns modelos foram propostos para a análise dos dados desses experimentos, que nem sempre apresentam bons ajustes e não consideram explicitamente interações. Há, ainda, poucas plataformas computacionais disponíveis que integram todas essas propostas e forneçam critérios para a seleção adequada de um modelo. Além disso, geralmente é difícil comparar os efeitos de diferentes substâncias sobre as várias linhagens da bactéria, então medidas com interpretação biológica direta são necessárias. Neste trabalho, foram investigadas as propriedades dos preditores dos modelos tradicionais, bem como o comportamento das distribuições amostrais dos estimadores dos parâmetros desses modelos, na presença de diversos níveis de superdispersão. Também, foram realizados experimentos com as linhagens TA98 e TA100 da bactéria, expostas aos inseticidas, metabolizados e não-metabolizados, Fipronil e Tiametoxam, dois agroquímicos bastante utilizados no Brasil. Aos dados desses experimentos foram ajustados diversos modelos, tanto aqueles tradicionalmente utilizados, quanto novos modelos, alguns baseados na regressão de Skellam e outros com interações explícitas. Para tal, foi obtida uma nova classe de modelos chamada de modelos não-lineares vetoriais generalizados e foi desenvolvido um pacote computacional em linguagem R, intitulado \"ames\", para o ajuste, diagnóstico e seleção de modelos. Por fim, foram propostas medidas de interesse biológico, baseadas nos modelos selecionados, para avaliação de risco e do comprometimento do material genético e intervalos de confiança bootstrap paramétrico foram obtidos. Dentre os modelos tradicionais, aqueles cujas distribuições amostrais dos estimadores possuem melhor aproximação normal foram os de Bernstein, Breslow e Myers. Estes resultados forneceram um critério prático para a seleção de modelos, particularmente nas situações em que as medidas de AIC e de bondade de ajuste, os testes de razão de verossimilhanças e a análise de resíduos ou são pouco informativos ou simplesmente não podem ser aplicados. A partir dos modelos selecionados, pode-se concluir que a interação do fator de metabolização é significativa para a linhagem TA98 exposta ao Fipronil, tanto com relação aos efeitos tóxicos quanto aos efeitos mutagênicos; que o mecanismo de ação do Tiametoxam sobre a linhagem TA98 é completamente diferente quando o produto está metabolizado; e que, para a linhagem TA100, não houve efeito de metabolização considerando ambos os agroquímicos. Baseando-se nas medidas propostas, pode-se concluir que o Tiametoxam oferece os maiores riscos de contaminação residual, ainda que o Fipronil apresente os maiores índices de mutagenicidade. / The Salmonella/microsome test is a widely accepted biological assay used to evaluate the mutagenic potential of substances, which can compromise human health and environment quality. The response variable in such experiments is typically the total number of reverts per plate, which, in turn, is the result of the confounded effects of mutagenicity and toxicity. Despite of some statistical models have already been established in the literature, they do not always fit well and neither explicitly consider interaction terms. Besides, there is just a number of available software able to handle these different approaches, usually lacking of global performance and model selection criteria. Also, it is often a hard task to compare the effects of different chemicals over the several available strains to perform the assay, and, thus, direct measures of biological implications are required. In this work, the properties of the predictors in each traditional model were investigated, as well as the behavior of the sampling distributions of the parameter estimators of these models, in different levels of overdispersion. Also, experiments using TA98 and TA100 strains were perfomed, by exposition to two insecticides, namely Fipronil and Thiamethoxam, currently used in Brazil, each of them prior and after to a metabolization processes. Then, the traditional models, empirical regression models based on the Skellam distribution and also compound mechanistic-empirical models with explicit interaction terms were fitted to the data. In order to use a single fitting framework, a new class of models was presented, namely the vector generalized nonlinear models, and a R language package, entitled \"ames\", was developed for fitting, diagnosing and selection of models. Finally, some measures of biological interest were approached based on the selected models for the data, in the contexts of risk evaluation and of DNA damage cautioning. Confidence intervals for such measures were provided using bootstrap percentiles. Among the traditional models, the ones from Bernstein, Breslow and Myers were those whose sampling distributions presented the best normal approximations. These results provided a practical criterion for model selection, particularly in situations where measures as AIC and goodness of fit, likelihood ratio tests, and residual analysis are non informative or simply cannot be applied. From the final selected models, it was inferred that the interactions between the metabolization factor is significative for TA98 strain exposed to Fipronil, regarding both, mutagenic and toxic effects; that the dynamics between mutagenicity and toxicity are different when Thiamethoxam is metabolized compared to when it is not; and that there was no evidence to consider metabolization factor interactions for the TA100 strain data exposed to neither of the insecticides. By appling the referred measures of biological interest, it was concluded that the use of Thiamethoxam provides greater residual contamination risks and that Fipronil causes higher mutagenicity indices.

Submitted by Cláudia Bueno (claudiamoura18@gmail.com) on 2016-05-19T21:30:50Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Carolina Ribeiro e Silva - 2015.pdf: 2710382 bytes, checksum: 03a38ab42eb321f4a7528fa33c9b8110 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-05-20T14:07:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Carolina Ribeiro e Silva - 2015.pdf: 2710382 bytes, checksum: 03a38ab42eb321f4a7528fa33c9b8110 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-20T14:07:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Carolina Ribeiro e Silva - 2015.pdf: 2710382 bytes, checksum: 03a38ab42eb321f4a7528fa33c9b8110 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Sulfonamide chalcone derivatives have shown important biological applications, including antitumor activity. In the present study, we investigated the biological effects of the sulfonamide chalcone N-{4-[3-(4-nitrophenyl)prop-2-enoyl]phenyl} benzenesulfonamide (CPN) through bioindicators of genetic damage in bacteria, animal and human. In the Ames Mutagenicity Test, CPN did not significantly increase the number of His+ revertants in Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA98 and TA100 at all doses tested (p > 0.05). However, CPN presented a moderate mutagenic and toxic profile, due to dose-response relationship observed at all doses tested for TA98 and TA100 strains. In the antimutagenic evaluation of Ames Test, CPN presented antimutagenic activity at all doses tested in TA98 strain (p < 0.05). In the TA100 strain, CPN showed antimutagenic activity in doses over 50 μg/plate. In the Micronucleus Test, the results demonstrated that CPN increased the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) at 24 h and 48 h, at all doses tested, demonstrating mutagenic effect of this compound. A decrease in polychromatic/normochromatic erythrocyte ratio (PCE/NCE) was observed at 24 h and 48 h, indicating the cytotoxic action of CPN. CPN co-administered with mitomycin C (MMC) significantly decreased the frequency of MNPCE at all doses tested in 24 h, demonstrating antimutagenic action (p < 0.05). Also, there was a decrease in the frequency of MNPCE at all tested doses in 48 h, but this decrease was not significant (p > 0.05). Additionally, CPN co-administered with MMC increased PCE/NCE ratio at all doses tested, in both times, demonstrating its anticytotoxic effect. In the Comet Assay, CPN significantly increased the percentage of DNA damages at all doses tested (p < 0.05), demonstrating genotoxic activity. In the analysis of cell cycle kinetics, CPN did not induce significant changes in the cell cycle phases G0/G1, S and G2/M of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (p > 0.05). However, doses of 256 and 512 μmol/L of the CPN presented a significant increase in the percentage of cells in sub-G1 (p < 0.05), which is indicative of apoptosis, indicating cytotoxic action. For apoptosis and necrosis detection using Annexin V/Propidium Iodide stain, CPN showed a cytotoxic effect by inducing late apoptosis and necrosis. Thus, according to tests performed CPN presented genotoxic, cytotoxic, antigenotoxic, and anticytotoxic activities. / Derivados de chalcona sulfonamida tem apresentado importantes atividades biológicas, incluindo atividade antitumoral. No presente estudo, investigou-se os efeitos biológicos da chalcona sulfonamida N-{4-[3-(4-nitrofenil)prop-2-enoil]fenil}-benzenosulfonamida (CPN) mediante a análise de bioindicadores de danos genéticos em sistemas-teste bacteriano, animal e humano. No Teste de Mutagenicidade de Ames, CPN não aumentou significativamente o número de revertentes prototróficas de Salmonella typhimurium, em nenhuma das cepas testadas, TA98 e TA100, em nenhuma das doses (p > 0,05). Entretanto, CPN apresentou um perfil moderado de um composto mutagênico e tóxico, devido à relação dose-resposta observada em todas as doses testadas, para as cepas TA98 e TA100. Na avaliação antimutagênica do Teste de Ames, CPN apresentou atividade antimutagênica para todas as doses testadas na cepa TA98 (p < 0,05). Na cepa TA100, CPN mostrou atividade antimutagênica nas doses acima de 50 μg/placa (p < 0,05). Os resultados do Teste do Micronúcleo demonstraram que CPN aumentou a frequência de eritrócitos policromáticos micronucleados (EPCMN) no tempo de 24 e 48 h, em todas as doses testadas, demonstrando efeito mutagênico deste composto. Uma diminuição na razão de eritrócitos policromáticos/normocromáticos (EPC/ENC) foi observada no tempo de 24 e 48 h, indicando ação citotóxica de CPN. CPN co-administrado com mitomicina C (MMC) diminuiu significativamente a freqüência de EPCMN em todas as doses testadas no tempo de 24 h, demonstrando ação antimutagênica (p < 0,05). Houve também uma diminuição na frequência de EPCMN em todas as doses testadas, no tempo de 48 h, mas a diminuição não foi significativa (p > 0,05). Além disso, CPN co-administrado com MMC aumentou a razão de EPC/ENC em todas as doses testadas, nos tempos de 24 e 48 h, demonstrando efeito anticitotóxico. No Ensaio Cometa, CPN aumentou significativamente a porcentagem de danos no DNA em todas as doses testadas (p < 0,05), demonstrando atividade genotóxica. Na análise da Cinética do Ciclo Celular, CPN não induziu alteração significativa nas fases G0/G1, S e G2/M do ciclo celular de células mononucleares do sangue periférico (PBMC) (p > 0,05). Entretanto, as doses de 256 e 512 μmol/L de CPN apresentaram um aumento significativo na porcentagem de células em sub-G1 (p < 0,05), o qual é um indicativo de apoptose, demonstrando ação citotóxica. Na detecção de apoptose e necrose por coloração com Anexina V/Iodeto de Propídeo, CPN mostrou um efeito citotóxico, pela indução de apoptose tardia e necrose. Assim, de acordo com os ensaios realizados CPN apresentou atividades genotóxica, citotóxica, antigenotóxica e anticitotóxica.

No description available.

NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase is the electron transfer partner for the cytochromes P450, heme oxygenase, and squalene monooxygenase, and is a component of the nitric oxide synthases and methionine synthase reductase. P450 reductase shows very high selectivity for NADPH and uses NADH only poorly. Substitution of tryptophan 677 with alanine (W677A) has been shown by others to yield a 3-fold increase in turnover with NADH, but profound inhibition by NADP+ makes the enzyme unsuitable for in vivo applications. In the present study site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids in the 2'-phosphate-binding site of the NADPH domain, coupled with the W677A substitution, was used to generate a reductase that was able to use NADH efficiently in vivo without inhibition by NADP+. Of 11 single, double, and triple mutant proteins, two (R597M/W677A and R597M/K602W/W677A) showed up to a 500-fold increase in catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) with NADH. Inhibition by NADP+ was reduced by up to four orders of magnitude relative to the W677A protein and was equal to or less than that of the wild-type reductase. Both proteins were 2- to 3-fold more active than wild-type reductase with NADH in reconstitution assays with cytochrome P450 1A2 and with squalene monooxygenase. In a recombinant cytochrome P450 2E1 Ames bacterial mutagenicity assay the R597M/W677A protein increased the sensitivity to dimethylnitrosamine by approximately 2-fold, suggesting that the ability to use NADH afforded a significant advantage in this in vivo assay. In addition to providing a valuable tool for understanding the determinants of nucleotide cofactor specificity in this and related enzymes, these mutants might also lend themselves to creation of bioremediation schemes with increased enzymatic activity and robustness in situ, as well as cost-effective reconstitution of enzyme systems in vitro that do not require the use of expensive reducing equivalents from NADPH.

Orientador: Eliana Aparecida Varanda / Banca: Eliana Aparecida Varanda / Banca: Marcelo Aparecido da Silva / Banca: Luís Vitor Silva do Sacramento / Resumo: A família Eriocaulaceae possui cerca de 1200 espécies divididas em 10 gêneros e suas espécies de plantas são conhecidas como sempre-vivas, por sua grande durabilidade e coloração paleácea. Neste trabalho foram estudadas as espécies: Eriocaulon ligulatum, Leiothrix flavescens e Leiothrix spiralis, as quais foram avaliadas quanto à mutagenicidade e estrogenicidade e algumas substâncias isoladas foram utilizadas para um estudo de relação estrutura-atividade mutagênica e estrogênica. Para avaliação da mutagenicidade, utilizou-se o teste de Ames, e o teste RYA (Recombinant Yeast Assay) foi o empregado para avaliação da estrogenicidade. Os resultados da atividade mutagênica demonstraram que apenas E. ligulatum foi considerado mutagênico e isso foi atribuído às isocumarinas e flavonóides agliconas. Os estudos de relação estrutura-atividade mutagênica mostraram que esta ação foi devida à presença de hidroxilas em posições estratégicas e à ausência de glicosilações, metoxilações, ou qualquer outro tipo de substituição. Para complementar os estudos de relação estrutura-atividade mutagênica com as isocumarinas, utilizou-se resultados já publicados de mutagenicidade de moléculas semelhantes à isocumarina eriocaulina, isolada de E. ligulatum. Verificou-se que os dímeros de isocumarinas têm a sua mutagenicidade influenciada pela conformação espacial, pela presença de grupos hidroxilas mais afastados de grupos volumosos, e pelo tipo de ligação que une os seus monômeros. Quando o potencial estrogênico foi avaliado, apenas a L. flavescens apresentou resultados positivos e que esses são devidos à presença de flavonas agliconas, como a luteolina e a metoxiluteolina. As mesmas isocumarinas, pertencentes a outras espécies da família Eriocaulaceae, avaliadas no teste de Ames, foram avaliadas no teste RYA... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Eriocaulaceae family comprises around 1200 species, divided into 10 genera, and their plant species are known as "sempre-vivas" (everlasting flowers) for its durability and color. In this work the species Eriocaulon ligulatum, Leiothrix flavescens and Leiothrix spiralis were studied. These species were evaluated for the mutagenic and the estrogenic potential and some of their isolated compounds were used for a study of structuremutagenic and estrogenic activities. To assess mutagenicity we used Ames test and the Recombinant Yeast Assay (RYA test) was used for evaluation of estrogenicity. The results of mutagenic activity showed that only E. ligulatum presented mutagenicity and that these results were due to its naphthopyranones and flavonoid aglicons. The structuremutagenic activity studies shown that this action were due to the presence of hydroxyl groups in strategic positions and no glycosylations, methoxylation or any type of substitutions. To complement the studies of structure-mutagenic activity with the naphthopyranones, we use results already published of the mutagenicity of similar compounds to the naphthopyranone eriocaulina, isolated from E. ligulatum, and compare them with the data from ericauline. It was found that the dimers of naphthopyranones have their mutagenicity influenced by its spatial conformation, for the presence of hydroxyl groups furthest away from large groups, and the type of connection that join their monomers. When the estrogenic potential was assessed, we found that only L. flavescens showed positive results and that these results are due to the presence of flavones in the form of aglycones, such as luteolin and methoxyluteolin. The same naphthopyranones belonging to other species of Eriocaulaceae family, evaluated in the Ames test, were assessed in the RYA test. Their results were crucial for the establishment of structureestrogenic activity... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Declines in some fish populations in the Upper Danube River, Germany, have been reported during the past decades despite extensive stocking efforts. Many theories exist for why such declines have occurred including habitat change, dams, invasive species, disease and pollution. One of the factors of concern in the Upper Danube River is pollution because a number of studies have shown that sediments collected from this area were acutely and/or chronically toxic to fish. Although it can be difficult to link bioassay results to direct effects on the population level, bioassays can give us insight into the potential of exposure of wildlife including fish to sediment. In combination with other researchers a large battery of sediment testing on the Upper Danube River is being performed. Testing includes sediment testing of estrogen receptor mediated processes, dioxin-like responses and genotoxic effects. In this study, four sediment extracts from the Upper Danube River in Germany were used with a novel fractionation technique to characterize the sediment extracts and fractions for their ability to disrupt steroidogenesis, for their mutagenic activities and their teratogenic effects. Fractionation of each of the four sediment samples was performed by separating compounds according to their polarity, planarity, and the size of the aromatic ring system in an on-line fractionation procedure on coupled high performance liquid chromatography columns.<p> Mutagenic activity was measured in the raw sediment extracts and all 18 fractions using the Ames fluctuation assay and the Danio rerio embryo assay was used to assess lethal endpoints. Furthermore, disruptions of steroidogenesis were assessed by first establishing methods and a proof of concept of the H295R assay by exposing H295R cells to 7 model chemicals and measuring changes from a control in estradiol, testosterone and aromatase activity. Once methods were established all sediments and their fractions were analyzed using the Assay.<p> Specifically, in the <i>Danio rerio</i> assay, two raw sediment extracts killed 100% of <i>Danio rerio</i> embryos at a concentration of 33.3 mg sediment equivalents (SEQ)/ml, but none of the 18 fractions of these samples produced any measured toxicity at a concentration of 100 mg SEQ/ml. In the Ames fluctuation assay, significant mutagenic activity was measured in raw sediment extracts and in the fractions. Fraction 10 produced a significant mutagenic response in all sediment samples measured only in S9 bio-activated samples. Furthermore, fraction 15 produced a significant mutagenic response in all sediment samples measured only in non bio-activated samples.<p> All raw extracts tested in the H295R assay caused an increase in estradiol production up to 4-fold from controls. Testosterone production increased slightly from controls in only two of the raw extract samples. Of the 18 fractions, fractions 7, 10 and 15 increased estradiol in at least three of the samples studied (Sigmaringen2006, Opfingen2006, Lauchert2006 and Lauchert2004). Furthermore, fraction 7 significantly decreased testosterone production compared to controls in three of the four sediment samples.<p> Taken as a whole, these results show the value of using multiple bioassays and fractionation to characterize sediments that covers a variety of different biological endpoints. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of the H295R assay when combined with a new fraction technique to assess endocrine disrupting chemicals in sediment samples.

Declines in some fish populations in the Upper Danube River, Germany, have been reported during the past decades despite extensive stocking efforts. Many theories exist for why such declines have occurred including habitat change, dams, invasive species, disease and pollution. One of the factors of concern in the Upper Danube River is pollution because a number of studies have shown that sediments collected from this area were acutely and/or chronically toxic to fish. Although it can be difficult to link bioassay results to direct effects on the population level, bioassays can give us insight into the potential of exposure of wildlife including fish to sediment. In combination with other researchers a large battery of sediment testing on the Upper Danube River is being performed. Testing includes sediment testing of estrogen receptor mediated processes, dioxin-like responses and genotoxic effects. In this study, four sediment extracts from the Upper Danube River in Germany were used with a novel fractionation technique to characterize the sediment extracts and fractions for their ability to disrupt steroidogenesis, for their mutagenic activities and their teratogenic effects. Fractionation of each of the four sediment samples was performed by separating compounds according to their polarity, planarity, and the size of the aromatic ring system in an on-line fractionation procedure on coupled high performance liquid chromatography columns.<p> Mutagenic activity was measured in the raw sediment extracts and all 18 fractions using the Ames fluctuation assay and the Danio rerio embryo assay was used to assess lethal endpoints. Furthermore, disruptions of steroidogenesis were assessed by first establishing methods and a proof of concept of the H295R assay by exposing H295R cells to 7 model chemicals and measuring changes from a control in estradiol, testosterone and aromatase activity. Once methods were established all sediments and their fractions were analyzed using the Assay.<p> Specifically, in the <i>Danio rerio</i> assay, two raw sediment extracts killed 100% of <i>Danio rerio</i> embryos at a concentration of 33.3 mg sediment equivalents (SEQ)/ml, but none of the 18 fractions of these samples produced any measured toxicity at a concentration of 100 mg SEQ/ml. In the Ames fluctuation assay, significant mutagenic activity was measured in raw sediment extracts and in the fractions. Fraction 10 produced a significant mutagenic response in all sediment samples measured only in S9 bio-activated samples. Furthermore, fraction 15 produced a significant mutagenic response in all sediment samples measured only in non bio-activated samples.<p> All raw extracts tested in the H295R assay caused an increase in estradiol production up to 4-fold from controls. Testosterone production increased slightly from controls in only two of the raw extract samples. Of the 18 fractions, fractions 7, 10 and 15 increased estradiol in at least three of the samples studied (Sigmaringen2006, Opfingen2006, Lauchert2006 and Lauchert2004). Furthermore, fraction 7 significantly decreased testosterone production compared to controls in three of the four sediment samples.<p> Taken as a whole, these results show the value of using multiple bioassays and fractionation to characterize sediments that covers a variety of different biological endpoints. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of the H295R assay when combined with a new fraction technique to assess endocrine disrupting chemicals in sediment samples.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2002. / Title from title page screen (viewed Sept. 4, 2002). Thesis advisor: David Buehler. Document formatted into pages (xiii, 100 p. : ill. (some col.)). Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 60-67).

Diss.-- Franeker (Heinrich Brink, respondent)

Diss.-- Franeker (J. Heersma, respondent) / 2nd part has its own t.p.: Disputationis theologicae de justificationis causa formali, pars secunda. Quam Deo opt. Max. Duce sub praesidio ... Nicolai Arnoldi ... ad piam [syzētēsin] proponit Joannes Heersma. Franekerae : Ex officinâ Johannis Wellens, 1667.