Submitted by Angela Maria de Oliveira (amolivei@uepg.br) on 2017-11-24T13:23:07Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Lidiane Pescke Pereira.pdf: 897636 bytes, checksum: 92549067a59b73ac61dbce09ee1c1ee0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-24T13:23:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) Lidiane Pescke Pereira.pdf: 897636 bytes, checksum: 92549067a59b73ac61dbce09ee1c1ee0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-20 / Com o aumento da produtividade e da demanda nutricional pela fêmea suína, o uso de moduladores L-carnitina, L-arginina, cromo, somatotropina e ractopamina tem sido uma alternativa para melhorar os índices produtivos. Entretanto, a variabilidade nas informações e a complexidade dos estudos envolvendo o tema exige uma abordagem mais sistêmica. Objetivou-se por meio desta meta-análise determinar o efeito do uso de moduladores nutricionais no desempenho reprodutivo e das leitegadas de porcas em gestação e lactação. A base de dados utilizada incluiu 83 artigos publicados entre os anos de 1989 e 2017, totalizando 22.608 porcas em 534 tratamentos. Critérios foram estabelecidos para a seleção dos artigos: uso de moduladores nutricionais: L-carnitina, L-arginina, cromo, somatotropina e ractopamina; conter as variáveis corporais e reprodutivas de porcas gestantes e lactantes. A meta-análise envolveu as análises de heterogeneidade, gráfica, correlação, variância e de resíduos. Não houve correlação (P>0,05) entre o uso de moduladores nutricionais e as variáveis corporais das porcas. No estudo de correlações verificou-se que a suplementação com L-carnitina, L-arginina e cromo aumentam (>0,450; P<0,05) o peso do leitão ao nascer e número de leitões nascidos vivos e o peso dos leitões ao nascer. Já o uso de somatotropina aumenta o número de leitões desmamados (0,985; P<0,01). Não houve diferença significativa (P>0,05) entre as médias dos grupos dos tratamentos com L-carnitina, cromo, e somatotropina para o consumo de ração e condição corporal das porcas. O uso de ractopamina aumentou em 3,41 % (P<0,05) a espessura de toucinho ao parto. A suplementação com L-carnitina e cromo aumentaram em 2,30 % e 4,73 % (P<0,05) o número de leitões nascidos vivos, respectivamente. O uso da L-carnitina, arginina e somatotropina proporcionaram, em média, leitões mais pesados ao nascer em relação ao controle (1,48 vs. 1,43kg; P<0,05). A administração da somatotropina aumentou em 9,01 % (P<0,05) o número de leitões desmamados em relação ao controle. Os estudos sobre o uso de moduladores nutricionais encontrados na literatura são pouco explorados quanto a condição corporal e nutricional, o que impossibilita conclusões sobre o uso adequado destes aditivos para ajustes nutricionais em porcas gestantes e lactantes. Entretanto, os moduladores nutricionais L-carnitina, L-arginina, cromo e somatotropina podem melhorar o desempenho produtivo das porcas e de suas leitegadas. / The increase in productivity and nutritional demand by sows, the use of modulators L-carnitine, L-arginine, chromium, somatotropin and ractopamine has been an alternative to improve the productive indexes. However, the variability in information and the complexity of studies involving the subject requires a more systemic approach. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the effect of the use of nutritional modulators on the reproductive performance and litter of sows in gestation and lactation. The database used included 83 articles published between 1989 and 2017, totaling 22,608 sows in 534 treatments. Criteria were established for the selection of articles: use of nutritional modulators: L-carnitine, L-arginine, chromium, somatotropin and ractopamine; contain the body and reproductive variables of pregnant and lactating sows. The meta-analysis involved analyzes of heterogeneity, graph, correlation, variance and residuals. Don´t were significant correlations (P>0.05) between the body variables of the sows and nutritional modulators and their use. In correlation study, the L-carnitine, L-arginine and chromium supplementation increases (>0.450; P<0.05) the birth piglets weight and liveborn number. Somatotropin administration increased the weaner piglets number (0.985; P<0.01). There were no significant difference (P>0.05) between the means of groups with L-carnitine, chromium, and somatotropin for feed intake and body condition of the sows. Ractopamine use increased in 3.41% (P<0.05) the backfat thickness at farrowing. Supplementation with L-carnitine and chromium increased in 2.30 % e 4.73 % (P<0.05) the alive piglets number, respectively. The use of L-carnitine, L-arginine and somatotropin provided heavier piglets at birth in relation to control groups (1.48 vs. 1.43kg; P<0.05). Somatotropin administration increased in 9.01% (P<0.05) the of weaned piglets number in relation to control group. Studies on the use of nutritional modulators found in the literature are poorly explored in body and nutritional condition terms, which makes it impossible to reach conclusions about the proper use of these additives for nutritional adjustments in pregnant and lactating sows. However, the nutritional modulators L-carnitine, L-arginine, chromium and somatotropin can improve the productive performance of sows and their litters.

O uso de DNA plasmidial (pDNA) visando a aplicações terapêuticas tem aumentado nos últimos anos. A cromatografia aparece como a técnica de purificação mais comum para obtenção de amostras de pDNA com o elevado grau de pureza exigido. Porém, as resinas cromatográficas disponíveis apresentam ainda uma série de desafios, nomeadamente no desenvolvimento de ligantes específicos e matrizes capazes de acomodar este tipo de molécula. Relativamente à apuração de novos ligantes, alguns estudos têm mostrado o potencial do aminoácido arginina para estabelecer interações específicas e preferenciais com o pDNA. Por outro lado, resinas monolíticas surgem como suportes interessantes devido às suas excelentes propriedades de transferência de massa e altas capacidades de adsorção. Neste estudo, diferentes ligantes baseados em arginina (arginina, di-arginina e tri-arginina) foram imobilizados em resinas de agarose previamente ativadas. Um primeiro estudo de adsorção em batelada foi realizado a fim de avaliar e compreender os mecanismos envolvidos no processo de adsorção dos ácidos nucleicos pDNA e RNA em resina com o aminoácido arginina. Na sequência, apresentamos uma proposta inovadora para o uso de ligantes de arginina em resinas de agarose, em um único passo de purificação em modo negativo a seguir ao passo de concentração por isopropanol. A capacidade da resina para o pDNA foi substancialmente maior do que a obtida para o mesmo tipo de resina no modo positivo, com notória vantagem de capacidade no uso de di-arginina face a arginina com rendimentos próximos de 100% do plasmídeo carregado. Os ligantes di-arginina e tri-arginina foram também imobilizados em resinas monolíticas. Em comparação com o aminoácido arginina, a imobilização dos homopeptídeos nas resinas monolíticas levou ao aumento da capacidade de adsorção (cerca de 2,5 vezes superior) e especicificidade de interações, mostrando-se como uma estratégia promissora para processos de purificação de pDNA. / The use of plasmid DNA (pDNA) for therapeutic applications has increased in recent years. Chromatography appears as the most common purification technique to obtain samples of pDNA with the high degree of purity required. However, the available chromatographic resins still present a series of challenges, namely in the development of specific ligands and matrices capable of accommodating this type of molecule. Regarding the determination of new ligands, several studies have shown the potential of the arginine amino acid to establish specific and preferential interactions with the pDNA. On the other hand, monolithic resins appear as interesting approaches due to their excellent mass transfer properties and high adsorption capacities. In this study, different arginine based ligands (arginine and di-arginine) were firstly immobilized on activated agarose resins. The first part of the work describes the adsorption equilibrium of plasmid DNA adsorption process, as well as the interaction with its main impurity (RNA) on arginine supports in a batch format, in order to compare and gather crucial information about adsorption mechanisms involved in this type of affinity system. Then, a new use for chromatographic bead matrixes based on arginine ligands was proposed, working as an adsorption matrix pDNA purification in negative mode after isopropanol concentration of the sample. The arginine based supports capacity for pDNA under negative mode for pDNA was substantially higher than that obtained with the same type of resin in the conventional positive mode, with a notable advantage of using di-arginine with recovery yields near 100%. The homopeptides (di-arginine and tri-arginine) were also immobilized on functionalized monolithic resins (BIA Separations, Slovenia). Effectively, the immobilization of the arginine homopeptides made the monolithic resins more functional compared to the (mono)arginine based resin, exhibiting greater binding capacities (around 2,5 times higher) and interaction intensities, proving to be a promising strategy for purification processes of pDNA.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / A obesidade é um distúrbio metabólico de etiologia multifatorial e elevada prevalência no Brasil, que pode ser definida por um índice de massa corporal (peso em quilogramas dividido pela altura em metros ao quadrado) maior ou igual a 30 kg/m2, e que está associada de forma independente a um elevado risco de morbidade e mortalidade cardiovascular devido aos eventos aterotrombóticos. O óxido nítrico (NO), uma pequena molécula gasosa, é produzido através da conversão do aminoácido catiônico L-arginina em L-citrulina e NO em uma reação catalisada por uma família de enzimas denominadas NO-sintases (NOS), e funciona como um protetor cardiovascular modulando por exemplo o relaxamento do músculo liso vascular e a função plaquetária. O objetivo desta tese foi avaliar a via L-arginina-NO, bem como investigar a função plaquetária, o estresse oxidativo, e a atividade da arginase em pacientes com obesidade. O transporte de L-arginina, a produção de guanosina monofosfato cíclica (GMPc), a atividade e a expressão das isoformas da NOS (iNOS e eNOS), a atividade da arginase, o estresse oxidativo (produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio EROs; atividade da superóxido dismutase SOD; e atividade da catalase), bem como a função plaquetária foram medidos nas plaquetas dos pacientes com obesidade. Nas hemácias, foram medidos o transporte de L-arginina e a atividade da NOS e da arginase. Os níveis de aminoácidos e de marcadores inflamatórios (fibrinogênio e proteína C reativa) também foram medidos sistemicamente. Os resultados demonstram que o influxo de L-arginina via sistema y+L, a atividade da NOS e a produção de GMPc estão diminuídos nas plaquetas dos pacientes obesos em relação aos controles saudáveis, enquanto que não houve diferença na atividade da arginase. Além disso, a expressão das isoformas da NOS bem como a agregação plaquetária em plaquetas de pacientes com obesidade mostrou-se aumentada em relação aos controles. Nas hemácias destes pacientes, observou-se elevado influxo de L-arginina via sistema y+ e y+L e atividade da NOS, e nenhuma diferença na função da arginase. A concentração plasmática de L-arginina não foi afetada pela obesidade, mas já os marcadores inflamatórios estavam significativamente aumentados. A produção de EROs e a atividade da catalase nas plaquetas não estava alterada em pacientes com obesidade, enquanto que a atividade da SOD mostrou-se diminuida. Assim, apesar do aumento da produção de NO pelas hemácias, é possível que a baixa produção plaquetária de NO, além do estado inflamatório e um possível estresse oxidativo, estejam contribuindo para a elevada atividade plaquetária observada na obesidade. As descobertas aqui apresentadas contribuem para uma melhor compreensão dos eventos cardiovasculares presentes na obesidade. / Obesity is a metabolic disorder of multifactorial etiology and high prevalence in Brazil, which can be defined as a body mass index (weight in kilograms divided by height in square meters) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2, and that is independently associated with a high risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality due to atherothrombotic events. Nitric oxide (NO), a small gaseous molecule, is produced through the conversion of the cationic amino acid L-arginine to L-citrulline and NO in a reaction catalyzed by a family of enzymes called NO synthases (NOS) and it acts as a cardiovascular protector modulating, for example, the relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and the platelet function. The aim of this thesis was to assess the L-arginine-NO pathway, as well as to investigate platelet function, oxidative stress, and the arginase activity in patients with obesity. The L-arginine transport, the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), the activity and expression of NOS isoforms (eNOS and iNOS), the arginase activity, oxidative stress (production of reactive oxygen species - ROS; superoxide dismutase activity - SOD, and catalase activity), and platelet function were evaluated in platelets from patients with obesity. In erythrocytes, the L-arginine transport and the activity of NOS and arginase were investigated. Systemic levels of amino acids and inflammatory markers (fibrinogen and C-reactive protein) were also investigated. The results demonstrated that L-arginine influx via y+L system, NOS activity, and cGMP levels were decreased in platelets from obese subjects compared to healthy controls, whereas no difference was observed in arginase activity. In addition, the expression of NOS isoforms and platelet aggregation in platelets from patients with obesity was increased in relation to controls. In erythrocytes from these patients, there were a higher influx of L-arginine via y+ and y+L system, and NOS activity, and no difference in arginase function. The plasma concentration of L-arginine was not affected by obesity, whereas the concentration of inflammatory markers was significantly increased. The production of ROS and catalase activity in platelets were not altered in patients with obesity, whereas SOD activity was reduced. Thus, despite the increased NO production by erythrocytes, it is possible that the low platelet production of NO, in addition to a possible inflammatory state and oxidative stress, are contributing to the elevated platelet activity observed in obesity. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the cardiovascular events seen in obesity

A capacitação é um pré-requisito fisiológico importante para que a célula espermática fertilize o oócito. O óxido nítrico (NO) é sintetizado in vivo durante a conversão da L-arginina em L-citrulina por reações oxidativas catalisadas pela enzima óxido nítrico sintase (NOS) desempenhando um papel importante na regulação da motilidade e na capacitação dos espermatozoides. Estudos indicam que o NO é capaz de regular a concentração da AMP cíclico e, por conseguinte, através da atividade da adenil ciclase, estimular a capacitação espermática em várias espécies. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a função do NO na capacitação de espermatozoides equinos criopreservados. Três ejaculados foram colhidos de três garanhões (n=9). O sêmen foi diluído em meio Botu-Crio&reg; na concentração final de 200×106 células/mL, envasado em palhetas de 0,5 mL e criopreservado usando um sistema automatizado. Para cada análise, foram descongeladas quatro palhetas da mesma partida e do mesmo garanhão em banho-maria a 37oC/30 s. e em seguida, o sêmen foi submetido à centrifugação em meio FIV. Posteriormente, o sêmen foi incubado neste mesmo meio na presença de L-arginina, com ou sem inibidor da enzima óxido nítrico sintase o (L-NAME), e com ou sem o removedor de NO (azul de metileno) nos tratamentos: 1) C= (FIV); 2) A= L-arginina (10 mM); 3) L = L-NAME (1 mM); 4) M = azul de metileno (100 mM); 5) AL = L-arginina (10 mM) + L-NAME (1 mM); 6) AM = L-arginina (10 mM) + azul de metileno (100 mM). As amostras foram incubadas a 38oC e 5 % de CO2. Após a incubação realizou-se a análise computadorizada da motilidade do espermatozoide e as análises por citometria de fluxo. Para a análise computadorizada da motilidade espermática foram avaliados os tempos de incubação de 0, 60, 120 e 300 min. e para as análises por citometria de fluxo os tempos de 60, 120 e 300 min. Para avaliar a integridade das membranas plasmática e acrossomal usou-se a associação FITC-PSA e IP. Para a detecção da fosforilação do aminoácido tirosina, usou-se o anticorpo antifosfotirosina conjugado a uma fluoresceína (DAF-2). A fim de dosar a quantidade de NO produzido pelo espermatozoide equino criopreservado foi utilizada a sonda DAF e para avaliar a peroxidação lipídica da membrana espermática utilizou a sonda C11-BODIPY. A sonda H33342 foi usada com a finalidade de evitar que partículas do mesmo tamanho e granulosidade da célula espermática fossem incluídas na contagem das análises por citometria de fluxo. Os dados foram analisados por meio da ANOVA e a comparação das médias, dentro de cada tempo, pelo teste de Tukey, com o nível de significância de 5 %, usando o software SAS. A remoção do NO do meio de cultura inibiu a motilidade das células espermáticas em todos os tempos de incubação. A motilidade total e motilidade progressiva foram reduzidas nos grupos M e AM. Os espermatozoides incubados com o removedor do NO apresentaram maior porcentagem de células com membrana plasmática e acrossomal íntegras nos 60 e 120 minutos de incubação (p<0,05). A reação acrossomal foi induzida nos tratamentos que receberam L-arginina (A; AL). Dentro de cada tratamento, a quantidade de NO produzido pelo espermatozoide, a fosforilação do aminoácido tirosina e a peroxidação lipídica não apresentaram diferenças entre os tempos (p>0,05). Foi verificada uma redução destas variáveis nos grupos M e AM (p<0,05). Contudo, a dose de 1 mM de L-NAME, não foi suficiente para inibir a NOS em espermatozoides criopreservados de equinos. A remoção do NO mantém a integridade das membranas plasmática e acrossomal, entretanto inibe totalmente a motilidade espermática, sugerindo um papel benéfico do NO endógeno na manutenção da motilidade dos espermatozoides equinos criopreservados. / Capacitation is an essential physiological prerequisite in order to sperm cell fertilize the oocyte. Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized in vivo during the conversion of L-arginine in L-citruline by oxidative reactions catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase enzyme (NOS) and plays an important role in regulation of motility and in sperm capacitation. Studies indicated that NO is capable of regulating cAMP concentration and, therefore, by adenylyl cyclase, stimulate sperm capacitation in several species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of nitric oxide in cryopreserved equine sperm capacitation.Three ejaculates from three stallions were collected (n=9). Semen samples were diluted with Botu-Crio&reg; extender to a final concentration of 200×106 sperms/mL, and then packaged in 0.5mL straws and cryopreserved using an automated freezing system. For each analysis, four straws from the same batch and the same stallion were thawed in a water bath at 37oC/30 s. washed by centrifugation in FIV medium. Thereafter, samples were incubated in FIV medium in the presence of L-arginine, with or without the inhibitor of nitric oxide sinthase (L-NAME), and with or without the scavenger of NO (Methylene blue) in the following treatments: 1) C = Control (FIV); 2) A = L-arginine 10 mM; 3) L = L-NAME 1mM; 4) M = Methylene blue 100 mM; 5) AL = L-arginine (10 mM) + L-NAME (1 mM); 6) AM = L-argine (10 mM) + Methylene blue (100 mM). The treatments were incubated at 38oC and CO2 at 5 %. After incubation, the computer-assisted sperm motility (CASA) and flow cytometry analyses were performed. For CASA analysis, the incubation times of 0, 60, 120 e 300 min. were evaluated and for flow cytometry analyses times 60, 120 e 300 min. were evaluated. Plasma and acrosomal membranes integrity were evaluated by FITC-PSA and PI association. In order to detect amino acid tyrosine phosphorylation, we used the anti-phosphotyrosine antibody conjugated to a fluorescein (DAF-2). In order to quantify the amount of nitric oxide produced by cryopreserved equine sperm, the fluorescent probe DAF was used, and to evaluate the lipid peroxidation of sperm membrane we used the probe BODIPY-C11. The probe H33342 was used in order to prevent that particles of the same size and granularity of sperm cell were included in the counting of flow cytometry analyses. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and comparison of means within each time by the Tukey test, at a significance level of 5%, using SAS software. Removing NO from the culture medium inhibited the motility of sperm cells at all incubation times. Total and progressive motilities were reduced in both groups, M and AM. Sperms incubated with the scavenger of NO had the highest percentage of cells with intact plasma and acrosomal membranes at 60 and 120 minutes of incubation (p <0.05). Acrosomal reaction was induced in treatments with L-arginine (A, AL). Within each treatment, the amount of NO produced by sperms, the level of amino acid tyrosine phosphorylation and lipid peroxidation had no differences between the times used (p> 0.05). A reduction of these variables in groups M and AM (p <0.05) was observed. However, a dose of 1 mM L-NAME was not sufficient to inhibit NOS in cryopreserved equine sperm. Removal of NO maintains plasma and acrosomal membranes integrity, however completely inhibits sperm motility, suggesting a beneficial role of endogenous NO in the maintenance of motility of cryopreserved equine spermatozoa.

Leishmaniose visceral (LV) é uma doença causada pelo protozoário Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum nas Américas que acomete células do sistema fagocítico mononuclear. Na doença ativa, ocorre redução nos níveis de lipoproteínas de alta densidade (HDL) e aumento nos níveis de colesterol total e triglicérides, sendo que a progressão da doença pode estar relacionada com essas alterações no nível de lipoproteínas. Desta forma, neste trabalho avaliamos: o efeito das lipoproteínas de muita baixa densidade (VLDL) e HDL no parasitismo de células de linhagem monocítica humana (THP-1) por L. (L.) infantum, a atividade da arginase e a expressão do mRNA do fator de crescimento insulina símile-I (\"insulin-like growth factor-I\" = IGF-I) e seu receptor (\"insulin-like growth factor-I receptor\" = IGF-IR). Células THP-1 foram infectadas por 6 h com promastigotas de L. (L.) infantum, na presença de 0,5% de soro com baixa concentração lipídica (infranadante) e na presença ou ausência das frações lipoprotéicas em diferentes concentrações. As células foram lavadas e mantidas depois em meio de cultura acrescido com infranadante por 24, 48 e 72 h. Quando as frações de VLDL e HDL foram adicionadas separadamente durante a incubação inicial o parasitismo aumentou em relação ao controle. Quando as frações de VLDL e HDL foram adicionadas concomitantemente houve diminuição do parasitismo em relação ao controle, mas aumento inesperado da atividade da arginase, nos períodos de 24 e 48 h. A expressão do mRNA de IGF-I e IGF-IR mostrou uma diminuição nas células infectadas na presença e ausência das frações em relação às células não infectadas. Os resultados obtidos sugerem um papel importante de VLDL e HDL na infecção de células THP-1 por L. (L.) infantum. / Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in Americas that affects cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system. During active disease reduction in high density lipoprotein (HDL) and increase in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels are observed. Thus in this study we evaluated the effect of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and HDL on the parasitism of cells of human monocytic line (THP-1) by L. (L.) infantum, the arginase activity and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) mRNA expressions. THP-1 cells were infected for 6 h with L. (L.) infantum promastigotes in the presence of 0.5% low lipid concentration serum (infranatant) in the presence or absence of lipoprotein fractions at different concentrations. The cells were washed and then maintained in medium with infranatant for 24, 48 and 72 h. When VLDL and HDL were added separately the parasitism increased when compared with the control. When VLDL and HDL were added concomitantly the parasitism decreased in relation to the control but with unexpected increase in arginase activity. The evaluation of IGF-I and IGF-IR mRNA expression showed a decrease in the cells infected in the presence and absence of the fractions comparing with the uninfected cells. The results suggest an important effect of VLDL and HDL in the infection of THP-1 cells by L. (L.) infantum.

Abstract not available

Chapter: 1 Introduction Genus Salmonella is a Gram-negative rod shaped facultative anaerobic bacteria that can survive inside the host macrophages and cause persistent infection. Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Enteritidis are the serovars, which belong to the Salmonella enterica species. S. Typhi causes typhoid fever in humans. S. Typhimurium is one of the important causes for food poisoning in humans. It causes typhoid like fever in mice and serves as a good model system to study Salmonella pathogenesis. Salmonella infection occurs via the orofecal route following which it invades the intestinal mucosa through several ways, namely by antigen sampling M cells, CD18+ macrophages present in the intestinal lumen or via a forced entry in the non phagocytic enterocytes. Upon entry Salmonella resides in an intracellular phagosomal compartment called the Salmonella containing vacuole (SCV). The SCV only transiently acquires endocytic markers like TfnR, EEA1, Rab4, Rab5, Rab11 and Rab7. It eventually uncouples from the endocytic pathway to avoid lysosomal fusion and ultimately reaches the golgi apparatus achieving a perinuclear position. The mechanisms by which phagocytes kill the virulent Salmonella are not completely understood, however the role of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) phagocytic oxidase system has been strongly implicated. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) occurs via a membrane-bound flavocytochrome b558, consisting of two phagocytic oxidase components (gp91phox and p22phox) and four cytosolic components, p40phox, p47phox, p67phox, and a GTP-binding Rac protein. Further, professional phagocytes like macrophages generate nitric oxide (NO) that acts as a potent agent to limit the growth of many intracellular pathogens including Salmonella. Chapter:2 Resistance to host Nitrosative stress in Salmonella by quenching L-arginine. Arginine is a common substrate for both inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase. The competition between iNOS and arginase for arginine contributes to the outcome of several parasitic and bacterial infections. Salmonella infection in macrophage cell line RAW264.7 induces iNOS. Because the availability of L-arginine is a major determinant for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, we hypothesize that in the Salmonella infected macrophages NO production may be regulated by arginase. Here we report for the first time that Salmonella up-regulates arginase II but not arginase I isoform in RAW264.7 macrophages. Blocking arginase increases the substrate L-arginine availability to iNOS for production of more nitric oxide and perhaps peroxynitrite molecules in the infected cells allowing better killing of virulent Salmonella in a NO dependent manner. RAW264.7 macrophages treated with iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine reverts the attenuation in arginase blocked condition. Further, the NO block created by Salmonella was removed by increasing concentration of L-arginine. In the whole-mice system arginase I, although constitutive, is much more abundant than the inducible arginase II isoform. Inhibition of arginase activity in mice during the course of Salmonella infection reduces the bacterial burden and delays the disease outcome in a NO dependent manner. Chapter:3 Hrg (hydrogen peroxide resistant gene), a LysR type transcriptional regulator confers resistance to oxidative stress in Salmonella LysR type transcriptional regulators are one of the key players that help bacteria adapt to different environments. We have christened STM0952, a putative LysR type transcriptional regulator in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium as the hydrogen peroxide resistance gene (hrg). By generating a knock out of the hrg gene, we demonstrate that the hrg mutant serovar Typhimurium is sensitive to oxidative products of the respiratory burst, specifically to hydrogen peroxide. The hrg mutant is profoundly attenuated in the murine model of infection and shows decreased intracellular proliferation in macrophages. It was also found to induce increased amount of reactive oxygen species and co-localization with gp91phox in the macrophage cell line, when compared to the wild type. An overproducing strain of this gene showed a survival advantage over the wild type Salmonella under hydrogen peroxide induced stress condition. Microarray analysis suggested the presence of a Hrg regulon, which is required for resistance to the toxic oxidative products of the reticulo-endothelial system. Chapter:4 Importance of the host oxidative stress in antigen presentation and its modulation by Salmonella: Role of TLR Synthetic CpG containing oligodeoxynucleotide TLR-9 agonist (CpG ODN) activates innate immunity and can stimulate antigen presentation against numerous intracellular pathogens. We report that Salmonella Typhimurium growth can be inhibited by the CpG ODN treatment in the murine dendritic cells. This inhibitory effect was shown to be mediated by an increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. We further show that the CpG ODN treatment of the dendritic cells during Salmonella infection leads to a ROS dependent increased antigen presentation. In addition, TLR-9 signaling inhibitor was able to inhibit the CpG ODN mediated increased antigen presentation, ROS production and pathogen killing. These data indicate that CpG ODN can improve the ability of the murine dendritic cells to contain the growth of the virulent Salmonella through ROS dependent killing and could as well be used as an effective adjuvant in vaccines against Salmonella infection.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuronal degenerative disease caused by the mutation or loss of the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) gene. The cause for the specific motor neuron susceptibility in SMA has not been identified. The high axonal transport/localization demand on motor neurons may be one potentially disrupted function, more specific to these cells. We therefore used a large-scale immunoprecipitation (IP) experiment, to identify potential interactors of SMN involved in neuronal transport and localization of mRNA targets. We identified KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KSRP), a multifunctional RNA-binding protein that has been implicated in transcriptional regulation, neuro-specific alternative splicing, and mRNA decay. KSRP is closely related to chick zipcode-binding protein 2 and rat MARTA1, proteins involved in neuronal transport/localization of beta-actin and microtubule-associated protein 2 mRNAs, respectively. We demonstrated that KSRP is arginine methylated, a novel SMN interactor (specifically with the SMN Tudor domain; and not with SMA causing mutants). We also found this protein to be misregulated in the absence of SMN, resulting in increased mRNA stability of KSRP mRNA target, p21cip/waf1. A role for SMN as an axonal chaperone of methylated RBPs could thus be key in SMA pathophysiology.

In comparison to other Pseudomonas, P. aeruginosa grows poorly in L-lysine as a sole source of nutrient while fast growth mutants can be obtained. The proposed catabolic pathway involves lysine decarboxylation to cadaverine and its subsequent degradation through g-glutamylation pathway to d-aminovalerate and glutarate. The lysine decarboxylase A (ldcA) gene, previously identified as a member of the ArgR regulon of L-arginine metabolism, was found essential for L-lysine catabolism. The ldcA gene encodes a decarboxylase which takes L-lysine but not L-arginine as substrate. Contrarily, the ldcA expression was inducible by L-arginine but not by L-lysine. This peculiar arginine control on lysine utilization was also noted from uptake experiments. The lack of lysine-responsive control on lysine catabolism and its tight connection to arginine regulatory network provided an explanation of lysine as poor nutrient for P. aeruginosa. Catabolism of cadaverine, a product from lysine decarboxylation, was investigated and compared to that of putrescine, another diamine of similar biochemical properties that is derived from arginine and ornithine. While the g-glutamylation pathway was first reported in E. coli for putrescine utilization, an expanded version of this pathway was found in P. aeruginosa with redundant enzymes for polyamine degradation. The PauR protein was identified as a transcriptional repressor of genes for the catabolism of putrescine and cadaverine, as well as their corresponding downstream metabolites, g-aminobutyrate (GABA) and d-aminovalerate (AMV). PauR shows distinct dimer configuration after glutaraldehyde crosslinkage, and possible conformational changes could be triggered by the presence of putrescine and cadaverine, but not GABA. A newly identified ABC transport system, encoded by the agtABCD operon, was found important for the uptake of GABA and AMV; and expression of which is controlled by the AgtSR two-component system. The CbrAB two-component system was proposed to regulate the catabolite repression control protein Crc through a small RNA CrcZ. A consensus CbrB recognition sequence was proposed based on the conserved palindromic nucleotide sequence in the upstream activating sequence of the crcZ promoter. Genetic studies indicated utilization of arginine, lysine and diamines (but not histidine, GABA and AMV) might be under CbrAB regulation through the CbrAB/CrcZ/Crc system in P. aeruginosa.

When proteins and DNA interact, arginine and lysine are the two amino acids most often in close contact with the DNA. In order to understand the radiation damage to DNA in vivo, which is always associated with protein, it is important to learn the radiation chemistry of arginine and lysine independently, and when complexed to DNA. This work studied X-irradiated single crystals of L-lysine monohydrochloride dihydrate (L-lysine·HCl·2H2O) and L-arginine monohydrochloride monohydrate (L-arginine·HCl·H2O) with EPR, ENDOR, EIE techniques and DFT calculations. In both crystal types irradiated at 66K, the carboxyl anion radical and the decarboxylation radical were detected. DFT calculations supported these assignments. Specifically, the calculations performed on the cluster models for the carboxyl anion radicals reproduced the proton transfers to the carboxyl group from the neighboring molecules through the hydrogen bonds. Moreover, computations supported the identification of one radical type as the guanidyl radical anion with an electron trapped by the guanidyl group. In addition, the radical formed by dehydrogenation of C5 was identified in the L-arginine·HCl·H2O crystals irradiated at 66K. For both crystal types, the deamination radicals and the dehydrogenation radicals were identified following irradiation at 298K. Different conformations of main-chain deamination radicals were detected at 66K and at 298K. In L-lysine·HCl·2H2O, these conformations are the result of the different rotation angles of the side chain. In L-arginine·HCl·H2O, one conformation at 66K has no O-H dipolar protons while the others have two O-H dipolar protons. In L-lysine·HCl·2H2O, two radicals with very similar sets of hyperfine couplings were identified as the result of dehydrogenation from C3 and C5. Two other radicals in low concentration detected only at 66K, were tentatively assigned as the radical dehydrogenated from C3 and the side-chain deamination radical. In L-argnine·HCl·H2O, the radicals from dehydrogenation at C5 and C2 also were identified. DFT calculations supported these assignments and reproduced conformations of these radicals.Finally, based on the radicals detected in the crystal irradated at 66K and at 298K, the annealing experiments from the irradiation at 66K, and the previous studies on the irradiated amino acids, the mechanisms of the irradiation damage on lysinie and arginine were proposed.