A physiologically-based toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic (PBTK/TD) model was developed, from the open literature, to predict the toxicokinetic disposition and toxicodynamic response (acetylcholinesterase inhibition) of a ternary organophosphorus (OP) insecticide mixture: chlorpyrifos (CP), methyl parathion (MP) and parathion (P). In vivo studies were conducted in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, orally administered one of two CP/MP/P mixtures (2.5, 0.5, 0.5 mg/kg or 5, 1, 1 mg/kg) with selected tissues (blood, brain, diaphragm, liver, lung and skeletal muscle) collected at 30min, 4, 12 and 24hr postdosing. Low dosages were studied so the mixture did not result in significant disruption of cardiovascular function nor invalidate the model’s underlying general physiological assumptions. The data were used to validate the model. CP and its metabolites (CP-oxon, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP)), as well as MP, P and 4-nitrophenol, were quantified in the tissues of interest. Peak concentrations of CP were attained by 4hr in all tissues with the exception of the liver, whose peak occurred at 30min; MP, 30min in all tissues; P, 12hr in all tissues with the exception of the liver, 30min. This was supported by the model simulations. MP, P, and their respective oxons were below limits of quantitation for the lower dosage. No toxicokinetic interactions were observed in the present study. Cholinesterase inhibition in the tissues ranged from 11- 37% for the lower dosage, and 29-93% for the higher dosage group; with few exceptions, inhibition was generally additive and was also supported by the model simulations. This study demonstrates the utility of using previously developed individual PBTK/TD models and in vitro/in vivo data from the open literature to construct reliable mixture PBTK/TD models.

No description available.

Os praguicidas organofosforados (OPs) são amplamente utilizados na indústria química e na agricultura em todo o mundo. Muitos deles são potenciais causadores da \"Neuropatia Retardada Induzida por Organofosforados\" (NRIOP), caracterizada pela degeneração distal de axônios do sistema nervoso central e periférico (degeneração do tipo Walleriana). O praguicida triclorfom (dimetil 2,2,2-tricloro-1-hidroxietil fosfonato) tem sido utilizado em larga escala na produção agrícola e também no controle de vetores transmissores de várias doenças. Há relatos de efeitos neuropáticos em seres humanos expostos ao triclorfom, mas apesar disso, o seu potencial neuropático e seus mecanismos de neurotoxicidade ainda não foram elucidados. Assim, no presente estudo foram avaliados os mecanismos de toxicidade do praguicida OP triclorfom utilizando linhagem SH-SY5Y de neuroblastoma humano como modelo, e também foram avaliados possíveis agentes neuroprotetores em células tratadas com o bem estabelecido indutor da neuropatia mipafox. Foram utilizados como possíveis neuroprotetores: a amilorida e nimodipino (bloqueadores de canais de cálcio tipo T e L respectivamente), MDL 28170 (inibidor (III) de calpaína) e liraglutida (um agonista do \"glucagon like peptide\" -GLP-1). Foram usados o mipafox, como modelo de indução da NRIOP e o paraoxon, como modelo não indutor da NRIOP. Os ensaios de inibição e reativação da esterase susceptível à neuropatia (ESNp) e de citotoxicidade mostraram que somente o mipafox e o triclorfom apresentaram inibição e envelhecimento da ESNp superiores a 70% em concentrações com baixa toxicidade, condição compatível com a indução da NRIOP. A ativação das calpaínas foi observada apenas no tratamento com mipafox, efeito este inibido pela nimodipina, amilorida e pelo MDL 28170. Triclorfom e o mipafox causaram elevação significativa nos níveis de cálcio intracelular e da caspase-3, além de inibir significativamente o crescimento de neuritos. Os três OPs avaliados foram capazes de diminuir a captação da glicose, que foi aumentada nos grupos tratados com mipafox associado com neuroprotetores. As quatro substâncias utilizadas como possíveis neuroprotetoras reduziram significativamente o dano causado pelo mipafox sobre os neuritos. O modelo usado no estudo mostrou-se apropriado para a caracterização dos OP neuropáticos, pois permitiu a diferenciação dos efeitos do mipafox (neuropático) e do paraoxon (não-neuropático). Os dados obtidos indicam que o triclorfom tem potencial indutor de NRIOP, e a amilorida, nimodipino liraglutida e MDL apresentaram potencial neuroprotetor / Organophosphorus (OP) pesticides are widely used in the chemical industry and agriculture around the world. \"Organophosphate Induced Delayed Neuropathy\" (OPIDN) is characterized by distal degeneration of axons of the central and peripheral nervous system (Wallerian-type degeneration). The OP trichlorfom (dimethyl 2,2,2-trichloro-1-hydroxyethyl phosphonate) has been used in large scale in agricultural production and also for the control of vectors that are transmitter of diseases. There are reports of neuropathic effects in humans exposed to trichlorfon, but despite this, its neuropathic potential and mechanisms of neurotoxicity have not yet been elucidated. Thus, in the present study we evaluated the mechanisms of toxicity of trichlorfom and possible neuroprotective agents in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells treated with the well-established neuropathy inducer mipafox. The following neuroprotective agents were used: amyloride and nimodipine (T and L-type calcium channel blockers, respectively), MDL 28170 (calpain inhibitor (III) and liraglutide (a \"glucagon-like peptide\" - GLP-1 agonist). Mipafox was used as neuropathic OP and paraoxon was used as a non-neuropathic OP. Inhibition and reactivation assays of neurpathy target esterase (NTE) and cytotoxicity showed that only mipafox and trichlorfon showed inhibition and aging of 70% of the NTE in concentrations that presented low toxicity, consistent with development of OPIDN. Activation of calpain was observed only in the treatment with mipafox, an effect inhibited by nimodipine, amyloride and MDL 28170. Triclorfom and mipafox caused significant increase in the levels of intracellular calcium, caspase-3 and significantly inhibiting neurite growth. All three OPs assessed in this work caused a decrease in glucose uptake, which was increased in groups treated whith mipafox plus neuroprotectors. Substances used as possible neuroprotective agents significantly reduced the inhibitory effect of mipafox on neurite outgrowth. The model used in the study proved to be appropriate for characterizing neuropathic OPs, because it allowed a differentiation of the effects of mipafox (neuropathic) and paraoxon (non-neuropathic). The data obtained indicate that trichlorfonm has potential in cause OPIDN. Amiloride, nimodipine, MDL and liraglutide have presented potential neuroprotective effects

<p>This thesis describes the design and synthesis of molecules with potential roles in biomedicine, with an emphasis on molecular recognition in complex biological environments. The first chapter describes the synthesis and evaluation of compounds for use in nuclide therapy. Carboranes are frequently used in the development of drugs for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. New routes for monohydroxylation at the B and C atoms of <i>p</i>-carborane have been developed. The Suzuki-Miyaura reaction has been applied to the cross-coupling of <i>bis</i>(neopentyl glycolato)diboron or <i>bis</i>(pinacolato)diboron and 2-I-<i>p</i>-carborane. The synthesized derivatives are important intermediates in the synthesis of a number of potentially biologically active carborane-containing molecules.</p><p>The DNA intercalator doxorubicin has been functionalized to enable ¹²⁵I labelling. The aim of combining the DNA intercalator with ¹²⁵I was to achieve high delivery of cytotoxic radiation to the nucleus. The DNA-binding ability and cellular uptake of the synthesized compounds have been evaluated. One of the compounds bound strongly to DNA and had similar cellular uptake as daunorubicin, which makes the compound very interesting for further biological evaluation.</p><p>The second chapter describes the use of polypeptide conjugates to broaden our knowledge of molecular recognition. The polypeptides consist of 42 amino acids each and are designed to fold into helix-loop-helix motifs that dimerize due to their amphiphilic character. The polypeptides are combined with a variety of small organic molecules. The incorporation of small aromatic molecules to influence the structure and dynamics of a polypeptide has been investigated. By attaching a dansyl group to the side chain of a lysine residue, the dynamics of the protein’s hydrophobic core where affected to such a degree that a native-like fold was formed. The polypeptide conjugates have also been used to study the binding and recognition of native proteins. High-affinity binders for chitinases and acetylcholine esterase have been developed and evaluated.</p>

This thesis describes the design and synthesis of molecules with potential roles in biomedicine, with an emphasis on molecular recognition in complex biological environments. The first chapter describes the synthesis and evaluation of compounds for use in nuclide therapy. Carboranes are frequently used in the development of drugs for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. New routes for monohydroxylation at the B and C atoms of p-carborane have been developed. The Suzuki-Miyaura reaction has been applied to the cross-coupling of bis(neopentyl glycolato)diboron or bis(pinacolato)diboron and 2-I-p-carborane. The synthesized derivatives are important intermediates in the synthesis of a number of potentially biologically active carborane-containing molecules. The DNA intercalator doxorubicin has been functionalized to enable 125I labelling. The aim of combining the DNA intercalator with 125I was to achieve high delivery of cytotoxic radiation to the nucleus. The DNA-binding ability and cellular uptake of the synthesized compounds have been evaluated. One of the compounds bound strongly to DNA and had similar cellular uptake as daunorubicin, which makes the compound very interesting for further biological evaluation. The second chapter describes the use of polypeptide conjugates to broaden our knowledge of molecular recognition. The polypeptides consist of 42 amino acids each and are designed to fold into helix-loop-helix motifs that dimerize due to their amphiphilic character. The polypeptides are combined with a variety of small organic molecules. The incorporation of small aromatic molecules to influence the structure and dynamics of a polypeptide has been investigated. By attaching a dansyl group to the side chain of a lysine residue, the dynamics of the protein’s hydrophobic core where affected to such a degree that a native-like fold was formed. The polypeptide conjugates have also been used to study the binding and recognition of native proteins. High-affinity binders for chitinases and acetylcholine esterase have been developed and evaluated.

A novel concept for protein recognition has been developed. The recognition unit is a hybrid molecule obtained by conjugation of a small organic molecule to a synthetic polypeptide selected from a 16-membered set of 42 amino acid residue sequences. The sequences are unordered and have no prior relation to the target proteins. The concept is based on the hypothesis that a small set of sequences capable of hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions can yield a binder for any selected protein, provided that the small molecule shows medium affinity or better and is reasonably selective. The concept has been illustrated by the design, synthesis and evaluation of binders for three different proteins, the C-reactive protein, CRP, human Carbonic anhydrase II, HCAII, and Acetylcholine esterase, AChE. Highly efficient binders for CRP have been developed by conjugation of a derivative of the natural ligand, phosphocholine, to the side chain of one of the amino acids in each polypeptide. The binders in the set show a wide range of affinities for CRP and the tightest binder, 4-C10L17-PC6, binds almost irreversibly. Selected binders have been evaluated in human serum, where they capture CRP with high selectivity.High-affinity binders have been developed for HCAII, and the selectivity evaluated by extraction of the protein from blood. The binder 4-C37L34-B, a polypeptide conjugated to a spacered benzenesulphonamide residue, was able to extract Carbonic anhydrases specifically and to discriminate between the two isoforms of human Carbonic anhydrase. The conjugation of an acridine derivative to a polypeptide via a 14 atom spacer has been shown to yield a binder with high affinity and selectivity for AChE. The selectivity was demonstrated by extraction of AChE from Cerebrospinal fluid. This thesis focuses on the development of a fast and reliable procedure for the construction, selection and evaluation of protein binders, with the ambition to develop a technology that is applicable to the development of binders for all proteins.

The aim of current research is to analyze the effect of microfluidization on the stability and some quality characteristics of orange juice with respect to treatment pressure and cycle. Orange juice was microfluidized with four different pressures (34, 69, 103 and 138 MPa) and three different cycles (1, 2 and 3) at 18 &plusmn / 2 0C. Physical and chemical properties of microfluidized juices were compared with non-microfluidized freshly squeezed orange juice. Microfluidization made orange juice brighter and decreased redness and yellowness. There was a huge difference between non-microfluidized juice and microfluidized juice in terms of particle size. Microfluidization decreased the volume weighted mean (VWM) of orange juice between 90 % and 97 %. The results of total phenol content and antioxidant activity experiments showed that treatment pressure affected them positively / however cycle had not a significant effect on total phenol content and antioxidant property of orange juice (p&lt / 0.05). Our current research also includes effect of microfluidization on stability of orange juice. The broken down of aggregated structure and reduction in particle size due to treatment were observed by the scanning electron and light microscopes. Therefore, it was observed that treated orange juice could be homogeneous and opaque for 14 days at 4 0C. Cloud stability of juice showed that both pressure and cycle had important effect on the cloud stability (p&lt / 0.05). Microfluidization made the juice very stable but increase in pressure and cycle resulted in less stable juice. It was also measured that pectin methyl esterase activity was increased due to treatment of microfluidization.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an important crop worldwide. It has been widely consumed for protein, oil and other soy products. To develop soybean cultivars with greater resistance against pests and improved meal quality, it is important to elucidate the molecular bases of these traits. This dissertation aims to investigate the biochemical and biological functions of soybean genes from four gene families, which are hypothesized to be associated with soybean defense against pests and soybean meal quality. There are three specific objectives in this dissertation. The first one is to determine the function of components in the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway in soybean resistance against soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines, SCN). The second one is to determine whether insect herbivory induce the emission of volatiles from soybean, and if so, how these volatiles are biosynthesized. The third objective is to identify and characterize soybean mannanase genes that can be used for the improvement of soybean meal quality. The soybean genome has been fully sequenced, which provides opportunities for cross-species comparison of gene families of interest and identification of candidate genes in soybean. The cloned cDNAs of putative genes were expressed in Escherichia coli to produce recombinant enzymes. Through biochemical assays, these proteins were proved to be soybean salicylic acid methyltransferase (GmSAMT1), methyl salicylate esterase (GmSABP2-1), α[alpha]-farnesene synthase (GmTPS1) and E-β[beta]-caryophyllene synthase (GmTPS2), and endo-β[beta]-mannanase (GmMAN1). Through a transgenic hairy root system harboring overexpression of GmSAMT1 and GmSABP2-1, both of these two genes were evaluated for their biological function related to resistance against SCN. The results showed that the over-expression of GmSAMT1 and GmSABP2-1 in the susceptible soybean background lead to enhanced resistance against SCN. Among four putative soybean mannanase genes, one gene was cloned and characterized. GmMAN1 showed the endo-β[beta]-mannanase hydrolyse activity and can hydrolyze cell walls isolated from soybean seeds. In summary, using comparative and functional genomics, a number of genes involved in soybean defense and meal quality were isolated and characterized. This study provides novel knowledge and molecular tools for the genetic improvement of soybean for enhanced resistance and improved meal quality.

The aim of this thesis was to explore the features of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in elderly people living in the community, and to seek diagnostic tools to discriminate between ASB and symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI). All men and women aged 80 and over living in an urban district of Falun, Sweden, were invited to participate. Urine samples were obtained together with information on symptoms and on health indicators. The same cohort was surveyed again after 6 and 18 months. Urinary cytokines were analysed in 16 patients with UTI, in 24 subjects with ASB and in 20 negative controls. ASB occurred at baseline in 19.0% of women and 9.4% of men, and was found at least once in 36.9% of women and in 20.2% of men. ASB in women was associated with reduced mobility and urge urinary incontinence. Of those with ASB at baseline, 60% still had bacteriuria at 6 and 18 months, but among those with repeated findings of ASB with E. coli, only 40% had the same bacterial strain after 18 months. In women, the risk of developing a UTI within 24 months was higher among those with ASB at baseline than in those without. Urinary levels of cytokines (CXCL1, CXCL8 and IL-6) and leukocyte esterase were higher in patients with UTI than in patients with ASB. There is convincing evidence that ASB is harmless and should not be treated with antibiotics. However, such treatment is still often given, thereby unnecessarily contributing to the increased number of bacteria resistant to common antibiotics. This study confirms the high prevalence of ASB in elderly people living in the community. In order not to be misled by a urinary test showing bacteria, it is important to restrict urinary testing for bacteria to patients where there is a suspicion of UTI. In elderly patients with diffuse symptoms or in patients who are unable to communicate their symptoms, further diagnostic help could possibly be obtained by evaluating the urinary levels of leukocyte esterase and/or IL-6.

Pierce s Disease (PD) of grapevines is caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), a xylem-limited gamma-proteobacterium that is responsible for several economically important diseases in many plants. A characteristic symptom of PD is leaf scorching, with regions of chlorosis progressing into necrotic zones at the peripheral margins of infected leaves. The occlusion of xylem elements and interference with water transport by Xf and its associated biofilm have been hypothesized as the main cause of PD symptom development; however, Xf virulence mechanism has not been elucidated. The analysis of Xf Temecula 1 secretome revealed a putative lipase/esterase (PD1703) that was abundantly secreted in the bacterial culture supernatant, and was characterized as a protein ortholog of the cell wall degrading enzyme LipA of Xanthomonas strains. The LipA was secreted and associated with a biofilm filamentous network and additional proteomic analysis revealed its abundant presence in outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Accumulation of LipA in leaf regions was positively associated with PD symptoms and inversely correlated with bacterial titer. The lipase/esterase was found to elicit a hypersensitive response in grapevine and was regulated by quorum-sensing signaling, which is known to modulate bacterial pathogenesis. We propose that Xff pathogenesis is caused by LipA secretion mediated by OMV cargos, and its release and accumulation in leaf margins leads to the observed PD symptoms development. / A Doença de Pierce (PD) em videiras (Vitis vinifera L.) é causada pela bactéria Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), uma gama-proteobactéria responsável por diversas doenças em plantas economicamente importantes. Um sintoma característico da PD é a queimadura, caracterizado por zonas de clorose progredindo em necrose nas margens da lâmina foliar. O processo resultante da oclusão dos elementos do xilema por células bacterianas e pelo biofilme associados às mesmas, bem como o consequente bloqueio do fluxo da seiva, têm sido hipotetizado como a principal causa dos sintomas comumente observados na PD. Embora tal hipótese seja suportada por algumas evidências, o mecanismo de virulência de Xf não foi totalmente compreendido. A análise do secretoma de Xf Temecula 1 revelou que uma lipase/esterase (PD1703) é abundantemente secretada in vitro. Esta proteína foi caracterizada como ortóloga à proteína LipA presente em bactérias do grupo das Xanthomonas e funcionalmente caracterizada como degradante da parede celular neste grupo. A proteína LipA foi associada à matriz extracelular filamentosa e análises proteômicas adicionais revelaram sua presença nas vesículas de membrana externa. O acúmulo da proteína LipA em folhas de plantas infectadas foi positivamente associado aos sintomas da PD e inversamente correlacionado com o título bacteriano. LipA induziu resposta de hipersensibilidade em videiras e foi regulada por sinalização célula-célula, mecanismo conhecido por modular a patogênese bacteriana. Com base em tais evidências, propomos que a secreção da proteína LipA mediada pelas vesículas de membrana externa e sua liberação e acúmulo em margens foliares, onde leva ao desenvolvimento dos sintomas comumente observados na doença, seja um mecanismo essencial à patogênese de X. fastidiosa na PD. / Doutor em Genética e Bioquímica