Traditional bacterial disease therapies utilize compounds that ultimately kill the target bacteria but it exerts a strong selective pressure on the bacteria to develop multi-drug resistance mutants. The increasing occurrence of resistance in common pathogens has highlighted the need to identify new anti-microbials that target the control of bacterial pathogenicity in a non-extermination manner to reduce the incidence of bacteria resistance. One new strategy exploits the discrete signaling molecules that regulate the various bacterial signaling pathways, which are responsible for the expression of pathogenicity traits. Halogenated furanones (fimbrolides) from the marine red alga, Delisea pulchra have been shown to interfere with the key signaling pathway present in Gram-negative bacteria by competitively displacing the cognate signaling molecule from the transcription protein. This project focused on the design and synthesis of 1,5-dihydropyrrol-2-ones, a new class of fimbrolide derivatives capable of displaying strong antagonistic properties of the fimbrolides. Primary synthetic methodologies examined include the halolactamization of allenamides and the direct lactone-lactam transformation. No doubt, both methodologies yielded the lactam ring, the former failed to introduce the crucial C-5 bromomethylene group essential for bioactivity. A facile high yielding two-step lactone-lactam transformation method was developed and using this method, a wide range of substituted 5-bromomethyl- and 5-dibromomethylene-1,5-dihydropyrrol-2-ones were synthesized. Furthermore, a new class of tricyclic crown-ether type compounds with no literature precedent were discovered. To vary the diversity of the compounds, a related class of compounds, 5,6-dihydroindol-2-ones, were examined. A general versatile method for the synthesis of 7-substituted 5,6-dihydroindol-2-ones was developed. The synthetic strategy proceeds via the established Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of halogenated dihydroindol-2-ones with arylboronic acids/esters. The Suzuki methodology was found to be reliable in furnishing a wide range of 7-substituted products in high yields. A preliminary molecular modeling approach was used to assist in the design of new anti-microbials via the ligand-docking analyses of the TraR and LasR protein. A positive correlation was observed between the docking scores and biological activity and the methodology was further developed into an initial screening tool to filter potential active and non-active compounds. The newly synthesized compounds were analysed for their efficacy in reducing the expression of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in the presence of natural AHL signaling molecules in an AHL-monitor strain, indicative of the inhibition of bacterial phenotype expression. The dihydropyrrol-2-one class of compounds showed significant biological activity and this highlighted their potential for further development.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Biochemistry)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2005. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005. Directed by Ching-Hua Huang. / Wine, Paul, Committee Member ; Pavlostathis, Spyros, Committee Member ; Mulholland, James, Committee Member ; Yiacoumi, Sotira, Committee Member ; Huang, Ching-Hua, Committee Chair. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (MSc.(Pharmacology)--Faculty of Health Sciences)-University of Pretoria, 2002.

Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a atividade antibacteriana das soluções Tetraclean®, MTAD® e modificações desta formulação sobre uma cepa de Enterococcus faecalis pelo teste de contato direto e frente ao biofilme. Na metodologia de contato direto, uma suspensão de E. faecalis foi exposta às soluções irrigadoras, por períodos de 30 s, 1, 3 e 10 min, e um agente neutralizante foi utilizado. As colônias viáveis foram quantificadas após diluições seriadas e cultura em placas de ágar. Para determinação do número inicial de UFC, água esterilizada foi usada como controle. Para o crescimento do biofilme, amostras de biofilme dentário foram suspensas em BHI (Brain Heart Infusion), e incubadas por 14 dias em anaerobiose, tendo como substrato, discos de hidroxiapatita. Após o período de incubação, os biofilmes foram expostos às soluções irrigadoras por períodos de 30 s, 1 e 3 min. Os biofilmes corados com o Live/Dead Baclight stain (Molecular Probes, Europe BV), que diferencia células viáveis (verde) e células não-viáveis (vermelho) foram observados na microscopia confocal. As imagens do biofilme obtidas pelo software EZ-C1 for Nikon foram transferidas para análise quantitativa da proporção de células viáveis sobre o total de células do biofilme para o software Imaris 5.0. No teste de contato direto, o Tetraclean® eliminou completamente o E. faecalis em 30 s, enquanto o MTAD® e o MTAD® + CTR 0,01% eliminaram após 10 min, e o MTAD® + CTR 0,1% resultou em culturas negativas após 3 min de contato com a suspensão bacteriana. Quando removido o Tween 80 do MTAD®, e acrescida a CTR 0,01%, obteve-se culturas negativas após 1 minuto. Os resultados obtidos pelo método de exposição ao biofilme confirmaram os achados do teste de contato direto. / Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of MTAD® and Tetraclean®. The tests were performed on Enterococcus faecalis using the direct exposure test and an in vitro biofilm model. Alternative formulations to MTAD® were also included in the experiments: MTAD® + 0.01% cetrimide (CTR); MTAD® + 0.1% CTR; MTAC (the detergent Tween 80 was substituted for cetrimide) with 0.01% CTR and MTAC (0.1% CTR). In the direct exposure test, a bacterial suspension was mixed with the irrigation solutions. After 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes and 10 minutes, an inactivator agent was used. The number or viable colonies were calculated after serial 10-fold dilutions and culture in agar plates. To calculate the initial number of colonies, sterilized water was used as a control. Dental biofilm samples were suspended in BHI broth and incubated in anaerobic conditions in hidroxiapatite discs. After incubation for 14 days, the biofilms were exposed to the irrigation solutions for 30 seconds, 1 minute and 3 minutes. Live/Dead Baclight stain (Molecular Probes, Europe BV) was used to diferentiate viable cells (Green) and non viable cells (Red). The samples were observed in the Confocal Laser Microscope. The biofilm images in 3D obtained in the EZ-C1 for Nikon software were transfered to quantitative analysis in the Imaris 5.0 software. The software calculated the ratio of green cells. In the direct exposure test, Tetraclean® and MTAC (0.1% CTR) erradicated E. faecalis in 30 s. MTAD® and MTAD® + 0.01% CTR eliminated E. faecalis after 10 min. MTAD® + 0.1% CTR resulted in negative culture after 3 min. Negative cultures were obtained after 1 min when MTAC (0.01% CTR) was used. The findings from the biofilm exposure method confirmed the results from direct exposure test. The Kruskal-Wallis statistical analysis showed a significant difference in time exposure to irrigant (P<0.001). / Orientador: Mario Roberto Leonardo / Coorientador: Markus Haapasalo / Banca: Mario Tanomaru Filho / Banca: Idomeo Bonetti Filho / Banca: Izabel Yoko Ito / Banca: Antonio Carlos Pizzolitto / Doutor

Focus of this study was on the development of one of the faster, simpler, cost effective and environmentally friendly sample pre-treatment techniques which employs a supported liquid membrane, in this case a Hollow-fiber supported liquid membrane (HF-SLM) for determination of seven (7) quinolone antibiotics (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, norfloxacin, nalidixic acid and sarafloxacin) in bovine kidney samples followed by LC-MS/MS analysis. The key parameters of the method were optimized and the method was validated following the 2002/657 EC guidelines. The optimum HF-SLM conditions were therefore; NaH2PO4 as a donor phase at pH 7, 0.1% formic acid at pH 3 as acceptor phase. Triethylamine was the optimized liquid membrane and the stirring time was optimized at 1 hour. Separation of the 7 quinolones including 3 internal standards (enrofloxacin-d5, norfloxacin-d5 and difloxacin-d3) was carried out on a Phenomenex Kinetex 2.6 μm XB-C18, 100 mm x 4.6 mm, 100Å column. Validation parameters such as Correlation coefficients (r2) ranging from 0.9714-0.9975 were obtained, while limit of detection (LOD) ranged between 3-39 ug kg-1 and limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged between 10-130 ug kg-1. The obtained limits at which it can be concluded with an error probability of α = 95% that a sample is non-compliant (CCα) ranged from 28 – 422 ug kg-1 while CCβ; the smallest content of the substance that may be detected, identified or quantified in a sample with an error probability of β = 95%, ranged from 29 – 454 ug kg-1. The method was found to be reproducible with CVs ≤ 23 %. The tested samples from Botswana local abattoirs showed no presence of quinolone antibiotics when the method was applied to real bovine kidney samples. Hollow-fiber supported liquid membrane can therefore be used for extraction of biological samples since it is a “greener technique” which uses less solvent which are less harmful to the environment when disposed as compared to dispersive Solid Phase Extraction (dSPE). / Chemistry / M. Sc. (Chemistry)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-05-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:02:44Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pappen_fg_dr_arafo.pdf: 4993789 bytes, checksum: ca121f0b3da3d2618c6caa7970c772de (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a atividade antibacteriana das soluções Tetraclean®, MTAD® e modificações desta formulação sobre uma cepa de Enterococcus faecalis pelo teste de contato direto e frente ao biofilme. Na metodologia de contato direto, uma suspensão de E. faecalis foi exposta às soluções irrigadoras, por períodos de 30 s, 1, 3 e 10 min, e um agente neutralizante foi utilizado. As colônias viáveis foram quantificadas após diluições seriadas e cultura em placas de ágar. Para determinação do número inicial de UFC, água esterilizada foi usada como controle. Para o crescimento do biofilme, amostras de biofilme dentário foram suspensas em BHI (Brain Heart Infusion), e incubadas por 14 dias em anaerobiose, tendo como substrato, discos de hidroxiapatita. Após o período de incubação, os biofilmes foram expostos às soluções irrigadoras por períodos de 30 s, 1 e 3 min. Os biofilmes corados com o Live/Dead Baclight stain (Molecular Probes, Europe BV), que diferencia células viáveis (verde) e células não-viáveis (vermelho) foram observados na microscopia confocal. As imagens do biofilme obtidas pelo software EZ-C1 for Nikon foram transferidas para análise quantitativa da proporção de células viáveis sobre o total de células do biofilme para o software Imaris 5.0. No teste de contato direto, o Tetraclean® eliminou completamente o E. faecalis em 30 s, enquanto o MTAD® e o MTAD® + CTR 0,01% eliminaram após 10 min, e o MTAD® + CTR 0,1% resultou em culturas negativas após 3 min de contato com a suspensão bacteriana. Quando removido o Tween 80 do MTAD®, e acrescida a CTR 0,01%, obteve-se culturas negativas após 1 minuto. Os resultados obtidos pelo método de exposição ao biofilme confirmaram os achados do teste de contato direto. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of MTAD® and Tetraclean®. The tests were performed on Enterococcus faecalis using the direct exposure test and an in vitro biofilm model. Alternative formulations to MTAD® were also included in the experiments: MTAD® + 0.01% cetrimide (CTR); MTAD® + 0.1% CTR; MTAC (the detergent Tween 80 was substituted for cetrimide) with 0.01% CTR and MTAC (0.1% CTR). In the direct exposure test, a bacterial suspension was mixed with the irrigation solutions. After 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes and 10 minutes, an inactivator agent was used. The number or viable colonies were calculated after serial 10-fold dilutions and culture in agar plates. To calculate the initial number of colonies, sterilized water was used as a control. Dental biofilm samples were suspended in BHI broth and incubated in anaerobic conditions in hidroxiapatite discs. After incubation for 14 days, the biofilms were exposed to the irrigation solutions for 30 seconds, 1 minute and 3 minutes. Live/Dead Baclight stain (Molecular Probes, Europe BV) was used to diferentiate viable cells (Green) and non viable cells (Red). The samples were observed in the Confocal Laser Microscope. The biofilm images in 3D obtained in the EZ-C1 for Nikon software were transfered to quantitative analysis in the Imaris 5.0 software. The software calculated the ratio of green cells. In the direct exposure test, Tetraclean® and MTAC (0.1% CTR) erradicated E. faecalis in 30 s. MTAD® and MTAD® + 0.01% CTR eliminated E. faecalis after 10 min. MTAD® + 0.1% CTR resulted in negative culture after 3 min. Negative cultures were obtained after 1 min when MTAC (0.01% CTR) was used. The findings from the biofilm exposure method confirmed the results from direct exposure test. The Kruskal-Wallis statistical analysis showed a significant difference in time exposure to irrigant (P<0.001).

Orientador: Marcelo Brocchi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T01:01:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MartinsJunior_Dorival_M.pdf: 1174036 bytes, checksum: 073886b15ce1e9305f7c5b8fc5eb8f81 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Uma vez que violaceína - um composto com atividade antibiótica, aniparasitária e antitumoral - apresenta baixa solubilidade em água, nanopartículas poliméricas contendo esse composto podem aumentar a sua solubilidade em água e potencializar sua atividade biológica. Logo, o objetivo desse trabalho foi a obtenção e caracterização de nanopartículas poliméricas biocompatíveis de poli-D,L-(lactídeo-co-glicolídeo) 50:50 encapsulando violaceína para posterior avaliação de sua atividade antibacteriana in vitro e in vivo. As nanopartículas foram preparadas pelo método de nanoprecipitação e caracterizadas em termos físico-químicos (distribuição de tamanho e potencial Zeta), taxas de recuperação de polímero, eficiência de encapsulamento e cinética de liberação in vitro. Posteriormente, sua atividade antibacteriana foi testada frente a linhagens de Staphylococcus aureus (incluindo linhagens meticilina-resistentes e resistentes intermediárias a vancomicina) por ensaios de determinação de concentrações mínimas inibitórias, curvas de tempo morte e ensaios de interação com outros antibióticos. Por fim, avaliações da atividade antibacteriana in vivo foram realizadas contra uma linhagem de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina em modelo murino imunocomprometido (C3H Nude) e imunocompetente (Balb/C). A metodologia otimizada resultou em nanopartículas com diâmetro entre 116 e 139 nm, bem como carga superficial negativa. A eficiência de encapsulamento variou entre 84 e 90% e a taxa de recuperação do polímero foi de 93%. Pelos ensaios de cinética de liberação in vitro, observou-se que a violaceína encapsulada apresenta perfil de liberação sustentada até 160 h de análise nas condições experimentais analisadas. O sistema obtido apresentou atividade antibacteriana frente a cepas de Staphylococcus aureus e atividade não significativa frente à linhagens de enterobactérias Gram-negativas. O sistema apresentou atividade pelo menos duas vezes maior que a violaceína livre in vitro e in vivo. Por fim, foi observada uma interação aditiva entre o sistema e antibióticos ß-lactâmios e interação sinérgica quando combinado com inibidores de síntese proteíca. / Abstract: Since violacein - an antibiotic, antiviral and antiparasitic compound - exhibits poor solubility in water, polymeric nanoparticles containing this compound could improve its solubility in water and biological activities. Therefore, the aim of this work was the preparation and characterization of biodegradable and biocompatible poly-D,L-(lactide-co-glycolide) 50:50 nanoparticles loading violacein to further evaluation of their antibiotic activity in vitro and in vivo. The nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation method and characterized in terms of average diameter and Zeta potential, drug loading and polymer recovery, in vitro release kinetics, in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity against Staphyloccocus aureus strains. Nanoparticles with diameter between 116 and 139 nm and negative-charged outer surface were obtained. Drug loading efficiency and polymer recovery were 87% and 93%, respectively. In vitro release kinetics assays showed that violacein loaded in these nanoparticles has sustained release profile until 5 days of analysis. The system exhibited antibacterial activity in vitro and in vivo against Staphylococcus aureus methicilin-resistant (MRSA) strains and no significant activity against Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae. Nanoparticles-loaded violacein was at least two times more efficient as antibiotic compound than free violacein both in vitro and in vivo. Also, this system presented additive interactions when combined with ß-lactam antibiotics and strong synergic interactions when combined with protein synthesis inhibitors. / Mestrado / Genetica de Microorganismos / Mestre em Genética e Biologia Molecular

Orientadores: Maria Luiza Moretti, Raquel Silveira Bello Stucchi / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T06:04:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vigani_AlineGonzalez_D.pdf: 3903866 bytes, checksum: ff088b307f62ac2226ce3f88499695cf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: O enterococo é o terceiro agente mais freqüente em infecção de corrente sangüínea (ICS) hospitalar, responsável por 10% dessas infecções e está associado com alta letalidade. Durante as duas últimas décadas, o surgimento de alto nível de resistência à gentamicina (HLGR) e resistência à vancomicina adicionaram desafios ao tratamento das infecções por Enterococcus faecalis. Avaliamos as ICSs por E. faecalis no Hospital de Clínicas (HC) da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) identificadas de janeiro de 1999 a dezembro de 2003. Nosso objetivo foi determinar as características clínicas, microbiológicas e moleculares das ICSs por E. faecalis com HLGR e sem HLGR em pacientes internados no HC-Unicamp. ICS foi definida como pelo menos uma cultura de sangue positiva para E. faecalis com ou sem sinais e sintomas associados. Em casos de múltiplos episódios de ICS em um mesmo paciente, somente o primeiro episódio foi considerado. Coletamos informações de prontuários médicos utilizando formulários estruturados. A tipagem molecular de isolados de E. faecalis estocados foi realizada através da técnica de eletroforese em gel com campo pulsátil (PFGE). Identificamos 164 pacientes com ICS por E. faecalis, dos quais 145 (88,4%) foram incluídos neste estudo. Nossos achados demonstraram que pacientes com ICS por E. faecalis são graves. Dentre os 145 pacientes, 128 (88,3%) apresentavam pelo menos uma co-morbidade. Além disso, a realização de procedimento invasivo ou presença de dispositivos invasivos foram freqüentes (75,2%), assim como o uso prévio de antimicrobianos (61,4%). Das 145 ICSs, 66 (45,5%) foram por E. faecalis com HLGR e 79 (54,5%) sem HLGR. Na análise univariada, idade avançada, malignidade hematológica, cateterização urinária e uso prévio de cefalosporinas, quinolonas e carbapenêmicos foram mais freqüentes em pacientes com infecção por HLGR quando comparados com pacientes sem HLGR (p <0,05). A análise multivariada mostrou idade avançada, presença de malignidade hematológica e uso prévio de vancomicina como variáveis independentes associadas com infecção por HLGR (p <0,05). A taxa de letalidade foi de 46,2% e não apresentou diferença estatística significativa entre pacientes com infecção por HLGR (50,0%) e sem HLGR (43,0%) (p= 0,40). Ventilação mecânica e gravidade das co-morbidades foram associadas com óbito (p <0,05). Durante o período de estudo, a taxa de resistência à ampicilina foi de 2,0%; ciprofloxacina, 51,7%; penicilina, 35,1%; e estreptomicina, 27,6%. Nenhum isolado resistente à vancomicina foi identificado. A genotipagem dos 44 isolados disponíveis (32 de pacientes incluídos no estudo e 12 controles) revelou 29 isolados distribuídos em 11 perfis genotípicos e 15 isolados apresentaram perfis genotípicos únicos e distintos. Alguns isolados geneticamente relacionados eram suscetíveis à gentamicina e outros possuíam HLGR, o que pode ser resultado da transferência de gene plasmidial de resistência HLGR entre isolados. Nossos resultados permitem concluir que ICSs por E. faecalis estão associadas com alta taxa de letalidade e são freqüentemente causadas por HLGR. Medidas de controle de infecção, incluindo vigilância ativa, respeito às normas de precauções de contato e uso criterioso de antimicrobianos devem ser consideradas para reduzir o risco de transmissão de E. faecalis resistentes em ambiente hospitalar. / Abstract: Enterococus is the third most frequent agent in nosocomial blood stream infection (BSI), accounting for 10% of nosocomial BSI, and is associated with high mortality. During the last two decades, the emergence of high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) and vancomycin resistance added additional challenges in the treatment of Enterococcus faecalis infections. We evaluated E. faecalis BSI at the Hospital de Clínicas (HC) of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) in Brazil between January 1999 and December 2003. We sought to determine the clinical, microbiological, and molecular characteristics of BSI caused by HLGR and non-HLGR strains. E. faecalis BSI was defined as at least one positive blood culture for E. faecalis during the study period with or without associated symptoms. In patients with multiple BSI episodes, only the first episode was considered. We collected information from medical charts using standard forms. Banked E. faecalis isolates were typed using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). We identified 164 patients with E. faecalis BSI, 145 (88.3%) patients were included in this study. Our data showed that patients with E. faecalis BSI are severely ill. One hundred twenty-eight (88.3%) patients had some underlying chronic disease. Invasive procedure or invasive device (75.2%) and previous use of antimicrobial (61.4%) were also frequent. Of the 145 BSIs, 66 (45.5%) were due to HLGR isolates and 79 (54.5%) were non-HLGR. In the univariate analysis, patients with HLGR infection were older, had hematological malignancy, had higher rates of bladder catheterization, and more often had treatment with cephalosporin, quinolone, and carbapenem when compared with non-HLGR infection patients (p <0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that older age, hematological malignancy, and previous use of vancomycin were independent risk factors associated with HLGR (p <0.05). Mortality rate was 46.2% and was not statistically significantly different among patients with HLGR (50.0%) and non-HLGR (43.0%) infections (p= 0.40). Multivariate analysis indicated that mechanical ventilation and severity of underlying chronic diseases were associated with death (p <0.05). During the study period, the prevalence of resistance to ampicilin was 2.0%; to ciprofloxacin, 51.7%; to penicillin, 35.1%; and to streptomycin, 27.6%. We did not detect any isolate resistant to vancomycin. We genotyped 44 available isolates, 32 from study patients and 12 controls. Twenty-nine isolates were distributed in 11 PFGE patterns, the remaining 15 isolates had distinct and unique PFGE patterns. Some isolates with related PFGE pattern were HLGR and others non-HLGR, this may have result from transference of HLGR resistance plasmidial between isolates. Our results suggest that E. faecalis BSI are associated with high mortality and are frequently caused by HLGR. Hospital infection control measures, including active surveillance and judicious use of antibiotics, should be considered to reduce the spread of resistant E. faecalis infections in healthcare settings. / Doutorado / Clinica Medica / Doutor em Clínica Médica