Orientador: Carlos Eduardo Vergani / Resumo: Há diversas possibilidades para o controle microbiano, dentre elas, o uso de microcristais associados à prata (Ag), e a inativação fotodinâmica antimicrobiana (do inglês, aPDI). Devido à capacidade de fotoexcitação no comprimento de onda de luz azul, fosfato de prata (Ag3PO4) foi submetido à exposição a luz em 455nm. Este trabalho teve como objetivo sintetizar, caracterizar e verificar a capacidade fotocatalítica e antimicrobiana dos microcristais de Ag3PO4, utilizando culturas de C. albicans em suspensão e biofilme, na presença e ausência de luz. Os microcristais foram sintetizados pelo método da co-precipitação, e foram determinados o "gap" de energia e o espectro de absorção do material através de análise de espectro de UVVIS. Para caracterizar Ag3PO4, realizou-se a difração de raios-X (DRX), microscopia eletrônica de varredura por emissão de campo (MEV-EC) e atividade fotocatalítica (degradação de rodamina) após 4 exposições à luz. Para os ensaios microbiológicos (UFC/mL), determinou-se a concentração fungicida mínima (CFM) em suspensão e biofilme, na ausência e presença de luz (55,8 J/cm²). Para análise dos resultados, aplicou-se o teste de análise de variância de dois fatores, com teste posterior de Tukey. Os resultados demonstraram que o espectro de absorção abrange a faixa azul do comprimento de onda, apesar do maior sinal estar localizado na região de luz UV. Nos espectros de DRX observou-se a produção de prata cúbica e hexagonal no decorrer das exposições, juntament... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: There are several possibilities for microbial control, among them the use of microcrystals associated with silver (Ag), and antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI). Due to the ability of photoexcitation in the blue light wavelength, silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) was subjected to light exposure at 455nm. Thus, the aim was to synthesize, characterize and verify the photocatalytic and antimicrobial capacity of Ag3PO4 microcrystals using cultures of C. albicans in planktonic and biofilm form, in the presence and absence of light. Microcrystals were synthesized by the coprecipitation method, the energy band gap and the absorption spectrum of the material were determined by UV-VIS spectrum analysis. To characterize Ag3PO4, Xray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and photocatalytic activity (rhodamine degradation) were performed after 4 exposures to light. For the microbiological tests (CFU/mL), the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) in planktonic and biofilm was determined, in the absence and presence of light (55.8 J/cm²). To analyze the results, a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied, followed by Tukey post-test. The results showed the absorption spectrum covers the blue wavelength range, although the largest peak is located in the UV light region. The XRD spectra produced cubic and hexagonal silver during the exposures, with an increase of amorphous material. The microcrystal size was observed (0.12 μm) by FE-SEM images, wi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Molecular genetic and enzymological techniques have been employed to study secondary metabolite biosynthesis. These investigations have focused on two projects: the cloning and heterologous expression of biosynthetic gene clusters from unculturable marine organisms and the characterization of individual enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the antifungal agent blasticidin S. The marine environment is proving to be a valuable source of biologically active compounds, but problems associated with sustainable harvest, laboratory culture, and organic synthesis make obtaining sufficient quantities of compounds for drug development both difficult and expensive. A method has been developed for the isolation of biosynthetic gene clusters from complex marine microbe/invertebrate associations. Using this method a mixed polyketide synthase (PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster has been cloned from the marine sponge Jaspis splendens. The cloned gene cluster was found to code for a PKS with three extension modules and an NRPS with three extension modules. In addition, several open reading frames (ORFs) were identified that may be involved in the biosynthesis of the PKS starter molecule. Partial characterization of catalytic domains from the NRPS was also completed. The second project centers on the characterization of enzymes involved in blasticidin S (BS) biosynthesis. Two ORFs were identified in the BS gene cluster encoding gene products predicted to be involved in the early steps of BS biosynthesis. The blsG gene product has sequence similarity to lysine 2,3-aminomutase and is believed to be involved in the formation of the β-arginine moiety of BS. A series of heterologous expression studies were undertaken to determine the function of B1sG. The product of blsM exhibits sequence homology with several nucleosidetransferases. blsM was cloned from the BS gene cluster, heterologously expressed in E. coli, and shown to catalyze the formation of cytosine using cytidine 5'- monophosphate as the preferred substrate. Point mutations were introduced in blsM to generate three B1sM mutant enzymes: S92D, E98A, and E98D. All three mutants lost cytidine 5'-monophosphate hydrolysis activity. Surprisingly, the B1sM S92D mutant exhibits cytidine deaminase activity when incubated with cytidine or deoxycytidine, resulting in the formation of uridine and deoxyuridine, respectively. / Graduation date: 2005

Thesis (M.Sc.)(Botany)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Ag. Sc.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-96).

Thesis (M.S.)--Georgia State University, 2008. / Title from file title page. Keith Pascoe, committee chair; Alfons Baumstark, Jerry Smith, Davon Kennedy, committee members. Electronic text (46 p. : ill. (some col.)) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed July 8, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 45-46).

Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry))--Mahidol Uninversity, 1978.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 2008. / Title from title page screen (viewed on July 31, 2008). Research advisor: P. David Rogers, Pharm.D., Ph.D. Document formatted into pages (xii, 172 p. : ill.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-115).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 2008. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Septeber 9, 2008). Research advisor: P. David Rogers, Pharm.D., Ph.D. Document formatted into pages (xiii,172 p. : ill.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-115).

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2005. / Thesis documentation sheet inserted. Appendix reprints four papers and manuscripts co-authored with others. Includes bibliographical references. Also partially issued electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format; online version lacks appendix.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2003. / Advisor: Gerard Wright. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via World Wide Web.