Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-101). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2010. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-104).

Le genre Pneumocystis regroupe des microchampignons atypiques qui colonisent par voie respiratoire les alvéoles pulmonaires de nombreux mammifères. C’est un pathogène opportuniste qui s’avère particulièrement dangereux lorsque le système immunitaire de l’hôte est déficient (VIH, greffés) et dans ce cas il provoque une pneumonie, la pneumocytsose, fatale en absence de traitement. Du fait que les Pneumocystis spp restent des microchampignons non cultivables, il est alors impossible de manipuler directement ses gènes et la seule solution pour étudier leurs fonctions et leurs localisations, demeure leur expression en système hétérologue. Situé dans l'espace alvéolaire, Pneumocystis spp. sont exposés au stress oxydatif générés par les macrophages alvéolaires, les granulocytes neutrophiles ainsi que par les espèces réactives de l'oxygène (EROs) produits par le métabolisme respiratoire. Pour se protéger, ces micro-organismes ont développé un système spécifique de détoxification des EROs incluant les SuperOxyde Dismutases (SOD). Dans notre étude, la carence en MnSOD d'une souche de Saccharomyces cerevisiae (EG110) dépourvue du gène Scsod2 a été complétée par l'introduction d'un plasmide portant une version inductible du gène Sod2 de P. carinii (Pcsod2). Une fois exprimée la PcMnSOD était capable de complémenter le défaut de croissance de la souche EG110 qui a été exposés à la ménadione. En bref, notre étude a montré une bonne complémentation du gène Sod2 de P. carinii chez une levure déficiente en MnSOD à savoir (i) la reprise de la culture en conditions de stress oxydant, (ii) la mise en évidence de la protéine traduite (Western Blot) et (iii) l’adressage mitochondriale de la protéine hétérologue. Selon le degré d’altération du système immunitaire, les infections à P. jirovecii peuvent présenter des tableaux cliniques variés allant de la colonisation à la pneumocystose. Ces infections semblent être en grande partie liées à des déficits majeurs de l’immunité cellulaire se traduisant plus précisément par une diminution du nombre des lymphocytes TCD4 (LTCD4). Notre deuxième objectif était de parvenir à une appréciation quantitative du risque de contamination par P. carinii en fonction du degré d’immunodépression (ID) des rats exposés. Nous avons ainsi développé un modèle animal de transmission naturelle de P. carinii où des rats nude développant une pneumocystose (« rats donneurs ») sont mis en contact direct avec des rats Sprague Dawley Pneumocystis-free (« rats receveurs ») présentant différents niveaux d’ID (dexamethasone). Après 2 semaines de contact, le niveau de colonisation des rats graduellement ID est déterminé soit par comptage après coloration au Bleu de Toluidine O, soit par qPCR. Cette étude a permis tout d’abord de valider notre modèle d’ID graduelle chez le rat ; mais surtout, et pour la première fois dans un modèle expérimentale chez le rat, nous avons montré une relation inverse entre le niveau de colonisation par P. carinii et le taux de LTCD4 ou LTCD8 circulants. Enfin, nous avons réalisé la première étude épidémiologique portant sur Pneumocystis au Liban. Ce projet franco-libanais a été mis en place au vue de l’importance majeure de la colonisation par Pneumocystis chez les patients immunocompétents, en particulier chez les patients atteints de pathologies pulmonaires chroniques obstructives tels que la BPCO où la colonisation par Pneumocystis est considérée comme un facteur aggravant de la maladie. Nos résultats montrent une faible prévalence de colonisation (5.2%) et une prédominance du génotype mtLSU2 chez les patients atteints de pathologies respiratoires au Liban. De plus, dans notre cohorte de patient présentant des pathologies respiratoires variées, la BPCO semble être la seule maladie respiratoire associée à un facteur de risque de colonisation par P. jirovecii. / Pneumocystis is an opportunistic pulmonary fungal pathogen that causes Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) in immunocompromised individuals such as patients with HIV infection as well as those without HIV infection who are undergoing immunosuppression as a consequence of chemotherapy or organ transplantation. Pneumocystis colonization in immunocompetent individuals has recently been described by the detection of fungal DNA without signs or symptoms of pneumonia, and accumulating evidences underline its clinical importance. Pneumocystis organisms are airborne transmitted and represent a large group of species of atypical fungi that cannot be continuously grown in culture. Consequently, it is impossible to directly manipulate genes in Pneumocystis species. Located in the alveolar space, Pneumocystis organisms are exposed to oxidative burst from phagocytic alveolar macrophages and neutrophils as well as to reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the mitochondrial oxygen metabolism. To counteract this, microorganisms have developed a ROS detoxifying system. This includes superoxide dismutases (SOD). In the present study, the MnSOD deficiency of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strain was complemented by introducing a plasmid carrying an inducible version of the P. carinii Sod2 gene (Pcsod2). Expression of Pcsod2 revealed that the corresponding MnSOD recombinant protein could complement the growth defect in the mutant yeast strain when cells were exposed to menadione. The mitochondrial localization was confirmed by immuno-colocalization of the P. carinii recombinant MnSOD with the yeast mitochondrial Cox4 protein. These results suggest that Pcsod2 encodes an active MnSOD that is targeted to the mitochondrion. This work increases our understanding of the antioxidant defense mechanisms deployed by the Pneumocystis organisms.The adaptive host response to Pneumocystis infection involves humoral and cellular immune responses working in concert to promote the clearance of infection. Depending on the degree of alteration of the immune system, Pneumocystis infections may have various clinical presentations going from colonization to the most severe form (PcP).These infections appear to be largely related to major deficits in cellular immunity and are more closely reflecting a decrease in the number of CD4 T lymphocytes (LTCD4). Our objective was to achieve a quantitative assessment of the risk of contamination by Pneumocystis depending on the degree of immunosuppression (ID) of the exposed host. Thus, we developed an animal model of natural transmission of P. carinii where rats undergoing gradual ID (dexamethasone) named receivers, are cohoused with nude rats developing PcP, named donors. Following contact between receiver and donor rats, the level of colonization by Pneumocystis of receiver rats is determined by toluidine blue O staining or by qPCR. This study allowed us to validate our gradual ID rat model, in the sense that we were able to maintain the level of circulating LTCD4 and LTCD8 stable. Finally, and for the first time in an experimental rat model, we observed an inverse relationship between the level of colonization by P. carinii and the level of circulating LTCD4 and LTCD8.Finally, we aimed to acquire the first data concerning the prevalence of P. jirovecii in the Lebanese population. This Franco-Lebanese project was set up because the colonization by Pneumocystis is probably of major importance in the public health, especially in susceptible patients such as patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) where Pneumocystis is considered as a worsening prognosis factor. Our results show a low prevalence of P. jirovecii colonization (5.2%) and the predominance of mtLSU genotype 2 in patients with respiratory diseases in Lebanon. Moreover, in our cohort of patients with various respiratory diseases, COPD was the only respiratory disease associated with a significant increased risk of P. jirovecii colonization.

Catecol e catecolaminas foram ensaiados sobre as atividades NADPH e NADH oxidásica dos microssomos. Quantidades catalíticas de adrenalina aumentam de duas a três vezes a velocidade de oxidação do NADPH, após um pequeno período de indução. O efeito da adrenalina é suprimido pela superóxido dismutase, se a enzima é adicionada antes de iniciada a reação. O efeito catalítico é atribuído a dois produtos de oxidação da adrenalina pelo íon superóxido; à quinona, produto de oxidação de dois elétrons e ao adrenocromo, produto de oxidação de quatro elétrons. Provavelmente, o adrenocromo reoxida a NADPH citocromo c redutase, e a quinona formada reage com oxigênio, regenerando adrenocromo. A adrenalina não mostrou qualquer efeito sobre a atividade NADH oxidásica, nem sobre a atividade NADPH oxidásica, estimulada por menadiona. Provavelmente, durante estes processos, dois elétrons são transferidos simultaneamente ao oxigênio. Catecol e catecolaminas duplicam a velocidade de oxidação do NADH em presença de quantidades catalíticas de NADH-citocromo b5 redutase e citocromo b5. Este resultado sugere a formação do íon superóxido, durante a autoxidação do citocromo b5. Catecol e p-hidroquinona promovem, cataliticamente, a oxidação da oxihemoglobina e oximioglobina à forma ferri. A velocidade de oxidação da oxihemoglobina mostra dependência de primeira ordem em relação à concentração de hemeproteína e de meia ordem em relação ao difenol ; contudo a altas concentrações dos catalisadores observa-se saturação, com valores de Vmáx similares para ambos os difenóis. É proposto que uma quinona , inicialmente formada, oxida a oxihemeproteína com liberação de oxigênio; por sua vez, a semiquinona oxida uma segunda molécula de oxihemeproteína, sendo que o oxigênio ligado recebe dois elétrons. Exceto para o caso da oximioglobina, que é mais reativa, a forma reduzida do catalisador deve estar presente para se opor ao desaparecimento da semiquinona por dismutação. Desde que se observa a liberação de oxigênio, esperada para a formação de água, o sistema pode ser considerado modelo de oxidase terminal. Infere-se tentativamente, que a oxihemoglobina tem estrutura HbFe2+ ...O2, e que a velocidade da oxidação catalisada é limitada pela velocidade de produção da verdadeira forma reativa, a estrutura ferri-superóxido, HbFe3+...O-2. / Catechol and catecholamines have been assayed upon the microsomal NADPH and NADH oxidase activities. Adrenaline shows a catalytic effect on the NADPH oxidation characterized by a small lag. The two-to three fold increase in rate can be supressed by dismutase if the enzyme is added before superoxide the reaction begins. The catalytic effect is ascribed to two products of adrenaline oxidation by the superoxide ion; to the quinone, the two electron oxidation product, and to the adrenochrome, the four electron oxidation product. Presumably, the adrenochrome reoxidizes the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, and the formed quinone reacts with oxygen and regenerates the adrenochrome. Adrenaline neither changed, the NADH oxidase activity nor the menadione-stimulated NADPH oxidase activity. Presumably in these processes, two electrons are simultaneously transferred to the oxygen. Catechol and catecholamines doubled the rate of autoxidation of NADH in the presence of catalytic amounts of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 This result suggests superoxide ion formation in the autoxidation of the cytochrome. Catechol and p-hydroquinone catalytically promote the oxidation of oxyhemoglobin and oxymyoglobin to the ferri-form. Kinetic data for oxyhemoglobin oxidation indicates a first-order dependence upon the hemoprotein concentration and half-order dependence upon diphenol; however at high catalyst concentration, saturation is observed with similar Vmax values for both diphenols despite the difference in reactivity. It is proposed that initially formed quinone oxidizes the hemoprotein with oxygen release; in turn the semiquinone oxidizes a second molecule of hemoprotein and regenerates the quinone, with the bound oxygen acquiring two electrons. Except for the more reactive oxymyoglobin, the reduced form of the catalyst must be present to oppose semiquinone disappearance by dismutation, Since the expected release of 02 for water formation is observed, the system may be considered a model for terminal oxidase. It is tentatively inferred that oxyhemoglobin has the structure HbFe2+...02 and that the rate of the catalyzed oxidation is limited by the rate of generation of the true reacting form, the superoxide ferri structure, HbFe3+...0-2.

Catecol e catecolaminas foram ensaiados sobre as atividades NADPH e NADH oxidásica dos microssomos. Quantidades catalíticas de adrenalina aumentam de duas a três vezes a velocidade de oxidação do NADPH, após um pequeno período de indução. O efeito da adrenalina é suprimido pela superóxido dismutase, se a enzima é adicionada antes de iniciada a reação. O efeito catalítico é atribuído a dois produtos de oxidação da adrenalina pelo íon superóxido; à quinona, produto de oxidação de dois elétrons e ao adrenocromo, produto de oxidação de quatro elétrons. Provavelmente, o adrenocromo reoxida a NADPH citocromo c redutase, e a quinona formada reage com oxigênio, regenerando adrenocromo. A adrenalina não mostrou qualquer efeito sobre a atividade NADH oxidásica, nem sobre a atividade NADPH oxidásica, estimulada por menadiona. Provavelmente, durante estes processos, dois elétrons são transferidos simultaneamente ao oxigênio. Catecol e catecolaminas duplicam a velocidade de oxidação do NADH em presença de quantidades catalíticas de NADH-citocromo b5 redutase e citocromo b5. Este resultado sugere a formação do íon superóxido, durante a autoxidação do citocromo b5. Catecol e p-hidroquinona promovem, cataliticamente, a oxidação da oxihemoglobina e oximioglobina à forma ferri. A velocidade de oxidação da oxihemoglobina mostra dependência de primeira ordem em relação à concentração de hemeproteína e de meia ordem em relação ao difenol ; contudo a altas concentrações dos catalisadores observa-se saturação, com valores de Vmáx similares para ambos os difenóis. É proposto que uma quinona , inicialmente formada, oxida a oxihemeproteína com liberação de oxigênio; por sua vez, a semiquinona oxida uma segunda molécula de oxihemeproteína, sendo que o oxigênio ligado recebe dois elétrons. Exceto para o caso da oximioglobina, que é mais reativa, a forma reduzida do catalisador deve estar presente para se opor ao desaparecimento da semiquinona por dismutação. Desde que se observa a liberação de oxigênio, esperada para a formação de água, o sistema pode ser considerado modelo de oxidase terminal. Infere-se tentativamente, que a oxihemoglobina tem estrutura HbFe2+ ...O2, e que a velocidade da oxidação catalisada é limitada pela velocidade de produção da verdadeira forma reativa, a estrutura ferri-superóxido, HbFe3+...O-2. / Catechol and catecholamines have been assayed upon the microsomal NADPH and NADH oxidase activities. Adrenaline shows a catalytic effect on the NADPH oxidation characterized by a small lag. The two-to three fold increase in rate can be supressed by dismutase if the enzyme is added before superoxide the reaction begins. The catalytic effect is ascribed to two products of adrenaline oxidation by the superoxide ion; to the quinone, the two electron oxidation product, and to the adrenochrome, the four electron oxidation product. Presumably, the adrenochrome reoxidizes the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, and the formed quinone reacts with oxygen and regenerates the adrenochrome. Adrenaline neither changed, the NADH oxidase activity nor the menadione-stimulated NADPH oxidase activity. Presumably in these processes, two electrons are simultaneously transferred to the oxygen. Catechol and catecholamines doubled the rate of autoxidation of NADH in the presence of catalytic amounts of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5 This result suggests superoxide ion formation in the autoxidation of the cytochrome. Catechol and p-hydroquinone catalytically promote the oxidation of oxyhemoglobin and oxymyoglobin to the ferri-form. Kinetic data for oxyhemoglobin oxidation indicates a first-order dependence upon the hemoprotein concentration and half-order dependence upon diphenol; however at high catalyst concentration, saturation is observed with similar Vmax values for both diphenols despite the difference in reactivity. It is proposed that initially formed quinone oxidizes the hemoprotein with oxygen release; in turn the semiquinone oxidizes a second molecule of hemoprotein and regenerates the quinone, with the bound oxygen acquiring two electrons. Except for the more reactive oxymyoglobin, the reduced form of the catalyst must be present to oppose semiquinone disappearance by dismutation, Since the expected release of 02 for water formation is observed, the system may be considered a model for terminal oxidase. It is tentatively inferred that oxyhemoglobin has the structure HbFe2+...02 and that the rate of the catalyzed oxidation is limited by the rate of generation of the true reacting form, the superoxide ferri structure, HbFe3+...0-2.