The generation of recombinant antibodies (Abs) using phage display is a proven method to obtain a large variety of Abs that bind with high affinity to a given antigen. Traditionally, the generation of single-chain Abs depends on the use of recombinant proteins in several stages of the procedure. This can be a problem, especially in the case of cell-surface receptors, because Abs generated and selected against recombinant proteins may not bind the same protein expressed on a cell surface in its native form and because the expression of some receptors as recombinant proteins is problematic. To overcome these difficulties, we developed a strategy to generate single-chain Abs that does not require the use of recombinant protein at any stage of the procedure. In this strategy, stably transfected cells are used for the immunization of mice, measuring Ab responses to immunization, panning the phage library, high-throughput screening of arrayed phage clones, and characterization of recombinant single-chain variable regions. This strategy was used to generate a panel of single-chain Abs specific for the innate immunity receptor Toll-like receptor 2. Once generated, individual single-chain variable regions were subcloned into an expression vector allowing the production of recombinant Abs in insect cells, thus avoiding the contamination of recombinant Abs with microbial products. This cell-based system efficiently generates Abs that bind to native molecules on the cell surface, bypasses the requirement of recombinant protein production, and avoids risks of microbial component contamination. / Dissertation

A soja geneticamente modificada tolerante ao herbicida glifosato foi testada em ensaio nutricional. A qualidade protéica da soja foi avaliada durante 14 dias de experimento com ratos machos tipo Wistar recém desmamados. Além de um grupo controle aproteico, quatro dietas testadas continham cerca de 10% de proteínas de diferentes fontes: caseína, soja comercial, soja parental e soja GM. Resultados similares entre os grupos demonstraram o baixo aproveitamento da proteína ingerida, conforme esperado para todas as dietas com soja não suplementadas com metionina e expressos pelos valores de PDCAAS. As análises hematológicas realizadas demonstraram a síntese comprometida de células eritrócitárias e imunológicas nos mesmos grupos experimentais. Este comportamento fisiológico dos animais indica que a ingestão da variedade GM não causou diferença significativa no desenvolvimento dos animais entre as três amostras de soja ensaiadas e tampouco foram observados efeitos adversos em órgãos dos animais e nos parâmetros químicos analisados. / A glyphosate tolerant soybean obtained by genetic modification was tested on a nutritional essay. The quality of the soy protein was assessed by a 14-day long experiment with Wistar male rats, three weeks old. Besides the control free protein group, four different diet groups containing about 10 % protein were pooled out: casein, commercial, parental and GM soybeans. Similar results showed the regular low biological value of the consumed soy proteins not supplemented by methionine displayed by PDCAAS values. The hematological analysis pointed to a commitment of the synthesis of erythrocytic and immunologic cells at the experimental soy groups. The overall behavior of the animals indicate the ingestion of the GM variety of soybean did not cause significant differences for the rat development when compared to the other soybean groups, neither side effects on inner organs and chemical analyzed parameters.

L’objectif de ce projet a été de développer une approche bio-analytique permettant l’évaluation du danger inhérent à la multi-contamination de l’air intérieur en Ile-de-France. Des méthodes d’analyse chromatographique couplée à la spectrométrie de masse ont été développées et validées pour 62 composés d’intérêt présentant un potentiel perturbateur endocrinien (PE) avéré ou suspecté. Le potentiel PE a été évalué sur des bio-essais cellulaires de mesure de perturbation d’activité transcriptionnelle. Les résultats montrent que les familles de composés majoritaires dans l’air intérieur sont, par ordre décroissant : phtalates > muscs synthétiques > alkylphénols > parabènes. En outre, les composés sont prédominants en phase gazeuse, et les habitats les plus contaminés sont la crèche et la maison. L’air intérieur présente un potentiel PE de type œstrogénique, thyroïdien et anti-androgénique. En accord avec son profil de contamination, l’activité biologique de ce dernier se concentre majoritairement dans la phase gazeuse, et tend à être plus élevée dans la crèche et la maison. Une analyse dirigée par les bio-essais, ou effect-directed analysis (EDA), a été mise en œuvre pour identifier les composés cibles à l’origine des effets PE de l’air intérieur. Les composés suivants ont été identifiés comme étant potentiellement à l’origine d’effets PE observés : les phtalates, le méthyl-parabène, les alkylphénols, la cyperméthrine et les muscs synthétiques. Ce travail apporte des connaissances sur le danger inhérent à la multi-contamination de l’air intérieur ainsi que des données d’exposition utiles à une évaluation des risques sanitaires. / The objective of this project was to develop a bio-analytical approach leading to the assessment of the inherent hazard of the indoor air multi-contamination. Chromatographic methods combined with mass spectrometry were developed and validated for 62 target molecules known or suspected as endocrine-disrupting (ED) compounds. The ED potential was assessed by cellular bioassays measuring perturbations of transcriptional activity. The data showed that the predominant families of compounds in indoor air were in the following descendant order: phthalates > musks > alkylphenols > parabens. The ED contaminants were mainly present in gaseous phase, and the most contaminated locations were the day nursery and the house. An estrogenic, thyroid and anti-androgenic potential was attributed to indoor air. In agreement with its contamination profile, the biological activity of the latter was concentrated predominantly in the gaseous phase, and tended to be higher in the day nursery and the house. An effect-directed analysis (EDA) was carried out to identify the target chemicals responsible for the ED effects of indoor air. The following chemicals were identified as being potentially responsible for the observed ED effects: phthalates, methyl-paraben, alkylphenols, cypermethrin and synthetic musks. This work provides both knowledge about the inherent hazard of the indoor air multi-contamination and exposure data useful in health risk assessment.

O objetivo deste estudo foi aumentar o banco de dados em relação a resíduos (cake) e efluentes (licor) industriais e o seu nível de clastogenicidade. Este estudo contribuiu para mostrar: a) que o bioensaio com Tradescantia pallida foi sensível para a avaliação da clastogenicidade em mistura complexa de resíduos catalíticos industriais, nunca testados anteriormente. b) a tendência de uma dose resposta para ambos os resíduos catalíticos c)a pasta (cake) apresenta maior clastogenicidade que o licor nas concentrações estudadas. Provavelmente isto se deve a menor concentração de Ti e Al no licor do que no cake. / The aim of this study was to increase data concerning liquid effluent (liquor) and solid waste (cake) and their level of clastogenicity using TradMCN. This study contributed to show a) bioassay Trad-MCN with Tradescantia pallida was sensitive to evaluate the clastogenicity in a complex waste mixture, never tested before b) a tendency of a dose response for both catalytic wastes. c) higher clastogenicity of cake comparing to liquor effluent in concentrations evaluated. Probably this is due to the much lower Ti and Al concentrations in the liquor than in the cake

The teratogenic potential of commercial formulations of atrazine (40.8%) and 2,4-D was evaluated using FETAX (frog embryo teratogenic assay--Xenopus). Because these herbicides have been detected in ground and surface water, this study was designed to determine the adverse effects in buffer and natural water for both herbicides. All treatments showed a significant concentration-response effect on exposed embryos, except for the 2,4-D natural water sample. Atrazine (solubility of the commercial formula used 70 mg/L at 20 degrees C), compared to 2,4-D (solubility = 311 mg/L at pH = 1 and 25 degrees C), had a significantly greater teratogenic effect in both the buffer (atrazine EC50 = 33 mg/L, LC50 = 100 mg/L, TI = 3.03; 2,4-D EC50 = 245 mg/L, LC50 = 254 mg/L, TI = 1.04) and natural water samples (atrazine EC50 < 8 mg/L, LC50 = 126 mg/L; 2,4-D EC50 and LC50 > 270 mg/L). The 2,4-D EC50 and LC50 values for the buffer were similar at 245 mg/L and 254 mg/L. These similar values and the teratogenic index (TI) of 1.04 suggested that 2,4-D was more embryotoxic than teratogenic to frog embryos at high concentrations. Atrazine in natural water demonstrated a significantly greater EC50 (100% abnormality at 8 mg/L, the lowest test concentration) to frog embryos than the buffer experiment (EC50 = 33 mg/L). The extrapolated lowest observable adverse effect concentration (LOAEC) for the natural water experiment was 1.1 mg/L. These results suggest that atrazine toxicity is enhanced by the synergistic or additive effects of some component of the water or atrazine was already present in the sample. In contrast to atrazine, 2,4-D was less toxic in natural water than buffer. These results suggest that both atrazine and 2,4-D pose little threat, since their embryotoxicity and teratogenicity to frog embryos occur at high concentrations approaching their maximum solubility levels in water.

The "RNA world" hypothesis makes two predictions that RNA should have been able both to catalyze RNA replication and to direct protein synthesis. The evolution of RNA-catalyzed protein synthesis should be critical in the transition from the RNA world to the modem biological systems. Peptide bond formation is a fundamental step in modem protein biosynthesis. Although many evidence suggests that the ribosome is a ribozyme, peptide bond formation has not been achieved with ribosomal RNAs only. The goal of this thesis is to investigate whether RNA could catalyze peptide bond formation and how RNA catalyzes peptide bond formation. Two systems have been employed to approach these questions, the ribozyme system and the ribosome system. Ribozymes have been isolated by in vitro selection that can catalyze peptide bond formation using the aminoacyl-adenylate as the substrate. The isolation of such peptide-synthesizing ribozymes suggests that RNA of antiquity might have directed protein synthesis and bolsters the "RNA world" hypothesis. In the other approach, a novel assay has been established to probe the ribosomal peptidyltransferase reaction in the presence of intact ribosome, ribosomal subunit, or ribosomal RNA alone. Several aspects of the peptidyltransfer reaction have been examined in both systems including metal ion requirement, pH dependence and substrate specificity. The coherence between the two systems is discussed and their potential applications are explored. Although the ribozyme system might not be a reminiscence of the ribosome catalysis, it is still unique in other studies. The newly established assay for ribosomal peptidyltransferase reaction provides a good system to investigate the mechanism of ribosomal reaction and may have potential application in drug screening to search for the specific peptidyltransferase inhibitors.

O objetivo deste estudo foi aumentar o banco de dados em relação a resíduos (cake) e efluentes (licor) industriais e o seu nível de clastogenicidade. Este estudo contribuiu para mostrar: a) que o bioensaio com Tradescantia pallida foi sensível para a avaliação da clastogenicidade em mistura complexa de resíduos catalíticos industriais, nunca testados anteriormente. b) a tendência de uma dose resposta para ambos os resíduos catalíticos c)a pasta (cake) apresenta maior clastogenicidade que o licor nas concentrações estudadas. Provavelmente isto se deve a menor concentração de Ti e Al no licor do que no cake. / The aim of this study was to increase data concerning liquid effluent (liquor) and solid waste (cake) and their level of clastogenicity using TradMCN. This study contributed to show a) bioassay Trad-MCN with Tradescantia pallida was sensitive to evaluate the clastogenicity in a complex waste mixture, never tested before b) a tendency of a dose response for both catalytic wastes. c) higher clastogenicity of cake comparing to liquor effluent in concentrations evaluated. Probably this is due to the much lower Ti and Al concentrations in the liquor than in the cake

The increased use of pesticides has resulted in a corresponding increase in concern for the effect they may have on the health of humans and other non-target organisms. The two main areas of concern are the toxicological effects that mixtures of pesticides may have as well as the endocrine disrupting effects. Although the individual pesticides may be present at concentrations below the levels deemed to be detrimental to health, it has been argued that their combined effect may still result in elevated health risks. Another important aspect of pesticide risk assessment requires a consideration of the breakdown products of pesticides and their effect on human health. There has been very little research into the effects of degradation products and this issue should be addressed as these could potentially pose a higher risk than their parent compounds. One of the most important bio-markers available for use is the ubiquitous enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). This enzyme is responsible for one of the most important functions in the body; namely nerve impulse transmission, upon which all life depends. The inhibition of this enzyme indicates toxicity and as a subsequence, a threat to the organism’s well-being. Bioassays have also recently been developed to test chemicals for endocrine disrupting effects. These tests rely on a dose response equivalent to that of the most potent well known estrogen 17-β estradiol. Any chemical that has a measurable response is deemed to display endocrine disrupting effects. This first aim of this study was to investigate the toxicological and endocrine disrupting effects of three organophosphorus pesticides; aldicarb, parathion and demeton-S-methyl, in addition to two breakdown products; aminophenol and p-nitrophenol. Two carbamate pesticides; carbaryl and carbofuran were also analysed. The toxicological effects of mixtures of the parent pesticide compounds were tested to assess if any antagonistic, additive or synergistic effects were observed. This data was then used in conjunction with an artificial neural network to assess if individual pesticides could be distinguished from mixtures of pesticides. A final objective was to sample various Eastern Cape water sources, utilising the enzymatic assay to determine the presence of any of these pesticides in these samples. There were several conclusions drawn from this study. AChE was successfully used as an assay to test the toxicity of the pesticides under investigation, based on their inhibition of this enzyme. An important factor for consideration throughout the study was the need to establish basal and monitor AChE activity (i.e. the need to monitor AChE activity in the absence of any pesticide). This ensured accurate comparison of the results obtained. It was found that demeton-S-methyl was the most potent of these pesticides followed by carbaryl, parathion, aldicarb and finally carbofuran, and that carbofuran could potentiate AChE. The results indicated that pesticide mixtures generally exhibited an additive inhibitory effect on AChE, although at some concentrations of pesticides, synergistic and antagonistic effects were noted. From the data using mixtures of pesticides, a feed forward neural network was created that was successfully able to distinguish individual pesticides from mixtures within its training parameters. None of the pesticides tested displayed endocrine disrupting properties in the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES), T47D-KBluc and MDA-kb2 bio-assays. Other studies reported mixed results in this regard and thus no final conclusions could be drawn. The Blaauwkrantz River, Kariega River, Sundays River, Swartkops River and Kowie River were all tested for pesticides and although positive results were recorded, conventional methods indicated that there were no pesticides in the rivers. There were, however, trace metals present which are known to inhibit AChE, thus causing a false positive result. These results indicated that AChE can be used as a high throughput initial pre-screening tool, but that it cannot serve as a substitute for more accurate conventional testing methods.

A soja geneticamente modificada tolerante ao herbicida glifosato foi testada em ensaio nutricional. A qualidade protéica da soja foi avaliada durante 14 dias de experimento com ratos machos tipo Wistar recém desmamados. Além de um grupo controle aproteico, quatro dietas testadas continham cerca de 10% de proteínas de diferentes fontes: caseína, soja comercial, soja parental e soja GM. Resultados similares entre os grupos demonstraram o baixo aproveitamento da proteína ingerida, conforme esperado para todas as dietas com soja não suplementadas com metionina e expressos pelos valores de PDCAAS. As análises hematológicas realizadas demonstraram a síntese comprometida de células eritrócitárias e imunológicas nos mesmos grupos experimentais. Este comportamento fisiológico dos animais indica que a ingestão da variedade GM não causou diferença significativa no desenvolvimento dos animais entre as três amostras de soja ensaiadas e tampouco foram observados efeitos adversos em órgãos dos animais e nos parâmetros químicos analisados. / A glyphosate tolerant soybean obtained by genetic modification was tested on a nutritional essay. The quality of the soy protein was assessed by a 14-day long experiment with Wistar male rats, three weeks old. Besides the control free protein group, four different diet groups containing about 10 % protein were pooled out: casein, commercial, parental and GM soybeans. Similar results showed the regular low biological value of the consumed soy proteins not supplemented by methionine displayed by PDCAAS values. The hematological analysis pointed to a commitment of the synthesis of erythrocytic and immunologic cells at the experimental soy groups. The overall behavior of the animals indicate the ingestion of the GM variety of soybean did not cause significant differences for the rat development when compared to the other soybean groups, neither side effects on inner organs and chemical analyzed parameters.

Thesis (M.S.)--Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2005. / Typescript (photocopy).