No presente estudo, a diversidade bacteriana endofítica fixadora de nitrogênio foi pesquisada utilizando métodos microbiológicos e moleculares. Isolaram-se microrganismos de raiz, caule e folha de cana-de-açúcar. Análises por seqüenciamento do 16S rDNA identificaram 150 endófitos. No total, foram identificados 18 gêneros. Destes, apenas 4 estavam presentes em cana-de-açúcar submetida aos 3 tratamentos. A maior diversidade de gêneros foi encontrada em cana sob adubação orgânica: 10 gêneros, em cana sob adubação inorgânica foram 11 gêneros e 8 em cana sem adubação. A maior parte dos gêneros pertence à família Enterobacteriaceae, como Klebsiella, Pantoea e Enterobacter. A enzima endoglicanase foi produzida por 82% dos isolados de cana sob adubação orgânica, (54%) inorgânica e (48%) sem adubação. Quanto à atividade de pectinase: 42%, 60% e 36% foram apresentadas por isolados de cana orgânica, inorgânica e sem adubação, respectivamente. A capacidade de solubilizar fosfatos inorgânicos foi detectada em 76,6% dos isolados, sendo a maior capacidade de solubilização de fosfatos encontrada em bactérias isoladas de cana-de-açúcar sob adubação orgânica (71%), de cana submetida a adubação convencional (78%) e sem adubação (88%). Foram realizados estudos de colonização em plântulas de cana-de-açúcar com 4 endofitos geneticamente modificados (EGMs) capazes de expressar os genes gfp e dsred. A avaliação da colonização na cana pela microscopia de fluorescência, mostrou que os (EGMs) gfp e dsred colonizaram as raízes e caules das plantas inoculadas, sem causar qualquer sintoma de doença. / In the present study, endophytic bacterial diversity has been searched using both microbiologic and molecular methods. Microorganisms were isolated from sugarcane root, shoot and leaf. 150 isolates were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. 18 genera were found and only 4 were present in sugarcane submitted to the three treatments. The greatest genera diversity was found in sugarcane submited to organic fertlization: 10 genera in sugarcane submitted to inorganic fertilization were found 11 genera and 8 genera in sugarcane without fertilization. Great part of the found genera belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family: Klebsiella, Pantoea and Enterobacter. Some physiological characteristics were determined in the isolates. Endoglucanase was produced by 82% of the isolates from sugarcane submitted to organic fertilization. Lower activities were found in bacteria isolated from inorganic fertilization and no fertilization, respectively 54% and 48%. As far as pectinase activity is concerned, a percentage of 42%, 60% and 36% was presented by the isolates from organic fertilization, inorganic fertilization and no fertilization, respectively. The hability of phosphate solubilization was detected in 76.6% of the isolates. In sugarcane under organic fertilization a percentage of 71% was found, in bacteria from inorganic fertilization, 78%, and without fertilization, 88%. Plant colonization was determined using sugarcane plantlets inoculated with four genetically modified bactéria (GMEs), able to express the genes gfp and dsred. The colonization was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy, which showed that the endophytic bacteria expressing gfp and dsred genes had invaded roots and shoots from inoculated plants, without causing any disease symptom.

No presente estudo, a diversidade bacteriana endofítica fixadora de nitrogênio foi pesquisada utilizando métodos microbiológicos e moleculares. Isolaram-se microrganismos de raiz, caule e folha de cana-de-açúcar. Análises por seqüenciamento do 16S rDNA identificaram 150 endófitos. No total, foram identificados 18 gêneros. Destes, apenas 4 estavam presentes em cana-de-açúcar submetida aos 3 tratamentos. A maior diversidade de gêneros foi encontrada em cana sob adubação orgânica: 10 gêneros, em cana sob adubação inorgânica foram 11 gêneros e 8 em cana sem adubação. A maior parte dos gêneros pertence à família Enterobacteriaceae, como Klebsiella, Pantoea e Enterobacter. A enzima endoglicanase foi produzida por 82% dos isolados de cana sob adubação orgânica, (54%) inorgânica e (48%) sem adubação. Quanto à atividade de pectinase: 42%, 60% e 36% foram apresentadas por isolados de cana orgânica, inorgânica e sem adubação, respectivamente. A capacidade de solubilizar fosfatos inorgânicos foi detectada em 76,6% dos isolados, sendo a maior capacidade de solubilização de fosfatos encontrada em bactérias isoladas de cana-de-açúcar sob adubação orgânica (71%), de cana submetida a adubação convencional (78%) e sem adubação (88%). Foram realizados estudos de colonização em plântulas de cana-de-açúcar com 4 endofitos geneticamente modificados (EGMs) capazes de expressar os genes gfp e dsred. A avaliação da colonização na cana pela microscopia de fluorescência, mostrou que os (EGMs) gfp e dsred colonizaram as raízes e caules das plantas inoculadas, sem causar qualquer sintoma de doença. / In the present study, endophytic bacterial diversity has been searched using both microbiologic and molecular methods. Microorganisms were isolated from sugarcane root, shoot and leaf. 150 isolates were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. 18 genera were found and only 4 were present in sugarcane submitted to the three treatments. The greatest genera diversity was found in sugarcane submited to organic fertlization: 10 genera in sugarcane submitted to inorganic fertilization were found 11 genera and 8 genera in sugarcane without fertilization. Great part of the found genera belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family: Klebsiella, Pantoea and Enterobacter. Some physiological characteristics were determined in the isolates. Endoglucanase was produced by 82% of the isolates from sugarcane submitted to organic fertilization. Lower activities were found in bacteria isolated from inorganic fertilization and no fertilization, respectively 54% and 48%. As far as pectinase activity is concerned, a percentage of 42%, 60% and 36% was presented by the isolates from organic fertilization, inorganic fertilization and no fertilization, respectively. The hability of phosphate solubilization was detected in 76.6% of the isolates. In sugarcane under organic fertilization a percentage of 71% was found, in bacteria from inorganic fertilization, 78%, and without fertilization, 88%. Plant colonization was determined using sugarcane plantlets inoculated with four genetically modified bactéria (GMEs), able to express the genes gfp and dsred. The colonization was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy, which showed that the endophytic bacteria expressing gfp and dsred genes had invaded roots and shoots from inoculated plants, without causing any disease symptom.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a lethal disease, characterized by functional or structural abnormalities involving distal pulmonary arterioles that result in increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and ultimately right heart failure. Our objective is to establish a conditional transgenic system in mice, to test the hypothesis that lung EC apoptosis at the level of distal pulmonary arterioles is necessary and sufficient to cause a PAH phenotype. In a pilot study, the Fas-Induced Apoptosis (FIA) construct was expressed under the control of endothelial-specific Tie2 promoter in transgenic mice (i.e. EFIA mice). Administration of a small molecule dimerizing agent, AP20187, resulted in lung modest dose-dependent PAH, which was associated with proliferative vascular lesions localized to distal lung arterioles in a small proportion of mice. Due to the low level of transgene expression in preliminary EFIA lines, we re-designed the transgenic vector by incorporating a more robust endothelial promoter (superTie2). The new construct was transfected into HUVEC and BAEC and analyzed by monitoring immunofluorescence (DsRed). Data from the EFIA model suggests that EC apoptosis may be sufficient to induce a PAH phenotype with the characteristic lung vascular lesions. The EFIA model will allow us to better explore the mechanism that links distal lung EC apoptosis with reactive vascular cell proliferation in the pathogenesis of this devastating disease.

Supplementary material to figures contained on DVD only available with manuscript. / Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Environmental & Life Sciences, Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2005. / Bibliography: p. 221-244. / Introduction -- Materials and methods -- Isolation of the hex1 gene from Trichoderma reesei and Ophiostoma floccosum -- Expression of DsRed under the cbh1 promoter and the hex1 promoter with random integration -- Modified expression vectors containing a fusion to a portion of hex1 gene sequence -- Expression of DsRed from the hex1 locus and the phenotypic characteristics of a hex1 deletion mutant -- Summary and concluding discussion. / For Trichoderma reesei to be developed as an effiecient producer of a large variety of proteins, the expression system requires diversification. In particular, the choice of promoters available needs to be broadened to include promoters which are active in conditions other than those conducive to induction of cellulase expression. Using proteomics, the HEX1 protein was identified as an abundant protein of the cell envelope of T. reesei when grown on a range of carbon sources, suggesting that a strong constitutive promoter drives the expression of this physiologically important protein. This thesis is an exploration into the hex1 gene promoter and the role of hex1 in the maintenance of mycelium integrity in T. reesei with consideration for the application of this gene in the further development of filamentous fungi as protein expression systems. -- The single copy hex1 gene and flanking regions were isolated from T. reesei and another biotechnologically important fungus, Ophiostoma floccosum. The fluorescent reporter protein DsRed1-E5 was expressed under the T. reesei hex1 promoter and promoter activity was monitored by fluorescence CLSM and RNA analysis. During the rapid growth phase of a culture, the hex1 promoter was active in a range of carbon sources and three transcipt types with alternative tsp and splicing sites were discovered for the hex1 gene. The distribution of fluorescence throughout the mycelium suggested spatial regulation of the hex1 promoter as well as temporal regulation. The promoter was continually active in the absence of a functional hex1 gene product suggesting that the hex1 promoter is regulated in part, by negative feedback from the endogenous gene product. Interruption of the hex1 gene produced hyphae that leaked excessive volumes of cytoplasm when physically damaged which may be advantageous for the externalisation of selected protein products. The results indicate that the regulation of the hex1 hene promoter is complex and that the hex1 gene is integral to the maintenance of the integrity of the fungal mycelium. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / xv, 244 p. ill

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a lethal disease, characterized by functional or structural abnormalities involving distal pulmonary arterioles that result in increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and ultimately right heart failure. Our objective is to establish a conditional transgenic system in mice, to test the hypothesis that lung EC apoptosis at the level of distal pulmonary arterioles is necessary and sufficient to cause a PAH phenotype. In a pilot study, the Fas-Induced Apoptosis (FIA) construct was expressed under the control of endothelial-specific Tie2 promoter in transgenic mice (i.e. EFIA mice). Administration of a small molecule dimerizing agent, AP20187, resulted in lung modest dose-dependent PAH, which was associated with proliferative vascular lesions localized to distal lung arterioles in a small proportion of mice. Due to the low level of transgene expression in preliminary EFIA lines, we re-designed the transgenic vector by incorporating a more robust endothelial promoter (superTie2). The new construct was transfected into HUVEC and BAEC and analyzed by monitoring immunofluorescence (DsRed). Data from the EFIA model suggests that EC apoptosis may be sufficient to induce a PAH phenotype with the characteristic lung vascular lesions. The EFIA model will allow us to better explore the mechanism that links distal lung EC apoptosis with reactive vascular cell proliferation in the pathogenesis of this devastating disease.