L’aflatoxine B1 (AFB1) et l’ochratoxine A (OTA) sont des mycotoxines pouvant contaminer une large variété de denrées alimentaires. L’ingestion d’aliments contaminés par des animaux d’élevage peut entraîner l’altération de leur santé et de leurs performances zootechniques ainsi qu’un problème de sécurité alimentaire lié à la présence de résidus de mycotoxines dans les produits animaux, notamment le lait. Des traitements de détoxication basés sur l’addition d’adsorbants organiques ont été développés pour fixer les mycotoxines dans le tube digestif et ainsi réduire l’exposition des animaux. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse était d’évaluer l’efficacité d’un adsorbant à base d’extraits de parois modifiées de levures (Mycosorb®) sur deux modèles animaux, le rat et la brebis. L’efficacité a été déterminée en réalisant un suivi des mycotoxines et/ou de leurs métabolites dans 3 matrices : l’excrétion urinaire et fécale et la cinétique sanguine. Sur les 2 modèles animaux, nous avons ainsi étudié les effets de l’apport en Mycosorb sur l’excrétion urinaire et fécale et la cinétique sanguine des 2 mycotoxines (AFB1 et OTA). Chez le rat, le suivi de la radioactivité a montré que les fèces d’animaux supplémentés en parois de levures contiennent significativement plus de mycotoxines. Cette augmentation de la radioactivité dans les fèces s’est accompagnée d’une diminution marquée de la radioactivité dans le sang et dans les urines. Chez la brebis laitière, en plus de ces paramètres, nous avons évalué l’effet de l’adsorbant sur les paramètres de production de l’animal et l’excrétion des mycotoxines dans le lait. L’addition de la paroi de levure a entraîné une augmentation significative de l’excrétion de l’AFB1 et de son métabolite, l’aflatoxine M1(AFM1) dans les fèces du ruminant. Cette augmentation de l’excrétion fécale s’accompagne de la réduction du taux d’AFM1 excrété dans l’urine mais pas dans le lait. Les effets observés chez les deux modèles expérimentaux semblent être liés à la séquestration des mycotoxines dans le tractus digestif des animaux et permettent de conclure à la capacité de l’adsorbant organique à réduire la biodisponibilité des mycotoxines testées. L’ajout de la paroi de levure pourrait, par conséquent, réduire les risques sanitaires chez les animaux d’élevage exposés à une alimentation contaminée par les mycotoxines. Cependant, nous n’avons pas observé d’effet sur la santé et les paramètres zootechniques des animaux dans les conditions expérimentales utilisées. / Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and Ochratoxin A (OTA) are mycotoxins that can be found in a large variety of feedstuffs. Consumption of contaminated feeds can affect the health and performances of farm animals and if transferred into animal products can be a problem for the safety of food. Different treatments of detoxication based on organic adsorbants addition have been developed to bind these mycotoxins in the digestive tract and thus to reduce exposure of animals. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of an adsorbent containing yeast cell wall extracts (Mycosorb®) in two animal models, the rat and the dairy ewe. The efficacy was determined by performing a monitoring of mycotoxins and/or theirs metabolites in 3 matrices : urinary and faecal excretion and blood kinetic. In both animal models, thus we have studied the effects of yeast cell walls on urinary and faecal excretion and blood kinetic of the 2 mycotoxins (AFB1 and OTA). Radioactivity analysis showed that faeces of animals supplemented with the adsorbent contained significantly more mycotoxins in rats. This increase of radioactivity in feces was associated with a marked decrease of radioactivity in blood and urine. In dairy ewes, in addition to these parameters, we have evaluated the effects of the adsorbent on the production parameters of animals and the excretion of mycotoxins in milk. The addition of yeast cell walls significantly increased the excretion of AFB1 and its metabolite, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in the faeces. This increase in fecal excretion was associated with a reduction of the excretion of AFM1 in urine but not in milk. The reduced absorption of AFB1 and OTA in both animal models could be associated with the capacity of the adsorbent to bind mycotoxins in the digestive tract. Addition of yeast cell wall extract could be a strategy to reduce sanitary risks in ruminants exposed to mycotoxins-contaminated feeds. However, we have not observed an effect on the health and the performances of animals in the experimental conditions used.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium which causes Lyme disease, is maintained in nature through a cycle involving two distinct hosts: a tick vector and a mammalian host. To adapt to these two diverse environments, B. burgdorferi undergoes dramatic alterations in its surface lipoprotein. Two essential lipoproteins, outer surface protein A (OspA) and outer surface protein C (OspC), are reciprocally regulated throughout the B. burgdorferi lifecycle. Very little is known about the regulation of OspA. These studies elucidate the regulatory mechanisms controlling the expression of OspA. Various truncations of the ospA promoter were created and then studied in our novel in vitro model of ospA repression or grown within the host-adapted model. A T-Rich region of the ospA promoter was determined to be a cis-element essential for both the full expression and full repression of ospA.

Die bakterielle Meningitis (BM) ist trotz antibiotischer Therapie eine Erkrankung mit einer hohen Mortalität und Morbidität. Kopfschmerzen und Meningismus sind Hauptsymtome und ein klinischer Hinweis für die Aktivierung trigeminaler Fasern. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es zu prüfen ob die freigesetzten Neuropeptide einen proinflammatorischen Effekt auf zerebrale Endothelzellen, einen wesentlichem Bestandteil der Blut-Hirn-Schranke haben. Wir verwendeten primär kultivierte zerebrale Kapillarendothelzellen (BMEC) der Ratte und als Stimulus Neuropeptide und/oder Pneumokokkenzellwände (PCW). Beide Neuropeptide, CGRP mehr als SP, verstärken den Effekt von PCW auf die mRNA Expression und Freisetzung von TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10 und MIP-2 aus den BMEC. CGRP und SP haben nur eine geringe Wirkung. PCW regulieren die Dichte der CRLR (CGRP1-R) bzw. NK-1 Rezeptoren und erklären damit die kostimulatorische Wirkung. Zudem untersuchten wir den Effekt von PCW und/oder CGRP auf die Adrenomedullin (AM)- Synthese. AM ist ein vasodilatorisch wirkendes Peptid, dass vorwiegend in Endothelzellen konstitutiv gebildet wird und am CRLR Rezeptor wirkt. PCW und CGRP verstärken die Synthese von AM. Mit dieser Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass PCW zur Hochregulation von Neuropeptidrezeptoren führt und CGRP und SP über diese Rezeptoren einen modulatorischen Effekt auf die Zytokinproduktion in BMEC haben. Ein genaues Verständnis dieser Interaktionen könnte die Entwicklung immunmodulatorischer Interventionen und damit eine Verbesserung der Prognose der bakteriellen Meningitis bewirken. / Despite antibiotic treatment bacterial meningitis is still associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Headache and meningismus as key symptoms, provide clear evidence for the activation of trigeminal nerve fibers. Aim of the study was to test whether the released neuropeptides have a proinflammatory effect in cerebral endothelial cells the major compartment of the blood brain barrier. We used primary brain microvascular endothelial cells of the rat (BMEC) which were stimulated with CGRP, SP and/or pneumococcal cell walls (PCW). Both neuropeptides CGRP more than SP enhanced PCW-induced mRNA expression and the release of TNF-alpha, IL-1-beta, IL-6, IL-10 and MIP-2. Neuropeptides alone were not able to induce these cytokines. PCW upregulate the density of CRLR receptor and regulate the NK-1 receptor and therefore may explain the costimulatory effect. Furthermore the effect of PCW and/or CGRP on adrenomedullin synthesis in BMEC was investigated. Adrenomedullin is a vasodilatatory peptide, which is constitutivly produced by endothelial cells and act on the CRLR receptor. PCW as well as CGRP enhance the synthesis of AM. Our data suggest that PCW upregulate neuropeptide receptors and modulate via these specific receptors the cytokine production. A detailed understanding of these interactions may open new immunmodulatory interventions and therefore may contribute to a better prognosis of bacterial meningitis.

The Mycobacterium genus contains major human pathogens, like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, which are the causative agents of Tuberculosis and Leprosy, respectively. They have evolved as successful human pathogens by adapting to the adverse conditions prevailing inside the host, which include host immune activation, nutrient depletion, hypoxia, and so on. During such adaptation for the survival and establishment of persistent infection inside the host, the pathogen, like M. tuberculosis, regulates its cell division. It is known that M. tuberculosis enters a state of non-replicating persistence (NRP) inside the host, to establish latent infection, which helps the survival of the pathogen under adverse host conditions such as hypoxia and nutrient depletion. The pathogen can reactivate itself, to come out of the NRP state, and establish active infection at a later stage, when conditions are suitable for its proliferation. The altered physiological state of the latent bacterium makes it tolerant to drugs, which are only effective against proliferating tubercle bacilli. In view of this unique behavioural physiology of tubercle bacilli, it is important to study the process of cell division and how it is regulated in the NRP and actively growing states. The work reported in the thesis is an attempt to understand these aspects of mycobacterial cell division. iii Chapter 1. Introduction: This chapter gives a detailed introduction to bacterial cell division and its regulation in various organisms, like Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Caulobacter crescentus, and others. In the background of this information, the major studies on mycobacterial cell division and its regulation are presented. Chapter 2. Materials and Methods: This chapter describes in detail all the materials and methods used in the experiments, which are presented in the four data chapters, 3-6. Chapter 3. Ultrastructural Study of the Formation of Septal Partition and Constriction in Mycobacteria and Delineation of its Unique Features: Mycobacteria have triple-layered complex cell wall, playing an important role in its survival under adverse conditions in the host. It is not known how these layers in the mother cell participate during cell division. Therefore, the ultrastructural changes in the different envelope layers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Mycobacterium xenopi, during the process of septation and septal constriction, were studied, using Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The unique aspects of mycobacterial septation and constriction were identified and were compared with those of E. coli and Bacillus subtilis septation. Further, based on all these observations, models were proposed for septation in M. tuberculosis and M. smegmatis. Chapter 4. Identification of Asymmetric Septation and Division in Mycobacteria and Its Role in Generating Cell Size Heterogeneity: Bacterial populations are known to harbour phenotypic heterogeneity that helps survival under stress conditions, as this heterogeneity comprises subpopulations that have differential susceptibility to stress conditions. The iv heterogeneity has been known to lead to the requirement for prolonged drug treatment for the elimination of the tolerant subpopulation. Hence, it is important to study the different mechanisms, which operate to generate population heterogeneity. Therefore, in this chapter, studies were carried out to find out whether asymmetric septation and division occur in mycobacteria to generate cell size heterogeneity. Subpopulations of mycobacterial mid-log phase cells of M. tuberculosis, M. smegmatis, and M. xenopi were found to undergo asymmetric division to generate cell size heterogeneity. The asymmetric division and the ultrastructure and growth features of the products of the division were studied. Chapter 5. Study of Mycobacterial Cell Division Using Growth-Synchronised Cells: In this chapter, different stages of cell septation and constriction were studied using growth-synchronised M. smegmatis cells. Phenethyl alcohol (PEA), which has been found to reversibly arrest mycobacterial cells, was used for growth synchronisation. The growth-synchronised mycobacterial cells, which were released from PEA block, were studied at different stages of septation and septal constriction, at the ultrastructural and molecular levels. Chapter 6. Identification of the Stage of Cell Division Arrest in NRP Mycobacteria: The exact stage at which the NRP tubercle bacilli are arrested in cell division is currently unknown. In Wayne’s in vitro model for hypoxia-responsive tubercle bacilli, gradual depletion of oxygen leads to hypoxic stress, inducing the bacilli to enter non-replicating persistence (NRP) state. Using this model, the stage of cell division arrest in M. tuberculosis was characterised at the ultrastructural and molecular levels. Hypoxia-stressed M. smegmatis was used as an experimental system for contrast. The thesis concludes with salient findings, a bibliography, and the list of publications.