A toxoplasmose, protozoose disseminada de baixa morbidade, apresenta número significativo de doença ocular, congênita ou do sistema nervoso central. O diagnóstico é sorológico por diferentes testes, mas limiares baixos e variação individual levam a frequentes problemas. Novos imunoensaios fluorescentes de fase sólida (FLISA) usam a quantificação direta de anticorpos. Aqui, desenvolvemos um FLISA multiplex (FLISAm) para a detecção simultânea de anticorpos IgG e IgM contra Toxoplasma gondii. Após padronização, a eficiência do FLISAm com conjugados comerciais foi feita inicialmente de forma isolada para cada imunoglobulina em 140 amostras de soro de universitários previamente analisadas pelo ELISA IgG/IgM. FLISA IgG mostrou boa concordância (Kappa=0,7088), com sensibilidade de 83,3% e especificidade de 94,2%, enquanto FLISA IgM apresentou boa concordância (K=0,6026), menor sensibilidade de 55,5% e igual especificidade de 98,4%. Foram produzidos novos conjugados fluorescentes de maior especificidade e seu desempenho no FLISAm foi validado em 24 amostras e sua eficiência foi avaliada em 120 amostras conhecidas de soro de gestantes. FLISAm mostrou excelente concordância, tanto para a detecção de anticorpos IgG (K=0.8837, sensibilidade=100,0%, especificidade=87,5%), quanto para a detecção de anticorpos IgM (K=0,9187, sensibilidade=100%, especificidade=99,1%) com excelente reprodutibilidade. O teste desenvolvido é rápido, econômico, de fácil execução, alto rendimento e que pode ser utilizado como método de triagem de soroconversão em mulheres grávidas, útil em aplicações de grande número de amostras como o cuidado pré-natal. / Toxoplasmosis, a disseminated low morbidity protozoan disease, presented significant numbers of affected people, mainly ocular disease, fetal infections or encephalitis in immune deficient patients. Serology is the main diagnosis with commercial antibody assays, but individual variation or low thresholds cause many inconsistencies. New solid phase immunofluorescence assays (FLISA) allows direct antibody quantification in microplates. Here, we developed a multiplex FLISA (FLISAm) for simultaneous detection of IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. After standardization, the efficiency of this method was initially analyzed in isolated FLISA for each immunoglobulin with commercial conjugates in 140 serum samples of the students previously screened by IgG/IgM ELISA. IgG FLISA showed good concordance (Kappa=0.7088), 83,3% sensitivity and 94,2% specificity, while IgM FLISA also showed good concordance (Kappa=0,6026), lower 55,5% sensitivity and similar 98,4% specificity. New higher efficiency conjugated were prepared and tested in 120 serum samples of the pregnant woman in a same well conjunct IgG/IgM FLISAm. We also validate the FLISAm in 24 serum samples. Compared to isolated ELISA IgG/IgM, FLISAm demonstrated excellent concordance for IgG (Kappa=0.8837; sensitivity=100%; specificity=87,5%,) and IgM (Kappa=0,9187; sensitivity=100%; specificity=99,1%), with excellent reproducibility. The standardized FLISAm is quick, inexpensive, easily performed and high throughput and the assay can be used for screening serum conversion in pregnant women, useful in large numbers applications as antenatal care.

Polyelectrolytes are conductive polymers because of their ionic side group and PEDOT-S is one of those conductive polyelectrolytes. Previously, recombinant silk fibre has been dyed with PEDOT-S. PEDOT-S showed that it can be dyed with recombinant silk fibre over a very wide range of pH from 11 to 1.7. Previous experiments of dyeing recombinant silk fibre with PEDOT-S has shown that it is a very versatile process and can also be applied on other types of protein-based fibres, and that prompted me to dye wool and silk fibre from Bombyx Mori and make these fibres functionalized. So in this thesis dyeing of wool and silk fibres with PEDOT-S has been carried out. By this bottom-up approach of making an organic polymer electrically conductive and utilising the flexibility of organic polymer, one can integrate it in OLEDs and in smart textiles. In this thesis dyeing of silk and wool fibres with different dyeing pH has been carried out to maximise the exhaustion of dyes on to the fibres to acquire maximum conductance. Then the wool and silk fibres’ conductance and mechanical properties after dyeing were compared. Wool showed better conductance and mechanical properties as compare to silk after being dyed with PEDOT-S. These results helped to propose a model that tells about the interaction between protein-based fibres and polyelectrolytes and gives us better understanding of how these protein-based fibres show certain conductivity at different pH. Results also showed that these conductive fibres can be used further in special purposes and applications. / Program: Magisterutbildning i textilteknologi

Este estudo in vitro avaliou o efeito da adição de rodamina B dissolvida em etanol nas concentrações de 0,02mg/mL e 0,10mg/mL, nas propriedades mecânicas dos sistemas adesivos não simplificados considerados padrão-ouro. 96 coroas de terceiros molares humanos hígidos foram seccionadas transversalmente no terço oclusal para remoção do esmalte e exposição da dentina. Os espécimes foram divididos de acordo com os sistemas adesivos Adper Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (MP) - convencional de três passos ou Clearfil SE Bond (SE) - autocondicionante de dois passos: MP-C e SE-C (MP e SE controles); MP-C1 e SE-C1 (MP e SE com rodamina B 0,02mg/mL); MP-C2 e SE-C2: (MP e SE com rodamina B 0,10mg/mL). Para o teste de RU, os espécimes (n=10) foram submetidos ao desgaste com lixas de granulação 320 e 600. A dentina foi tratada de acordo com as instruções de cada fabricante dos sistemas adesivos e restaurada com resina composta FiltekTM Z250. Após o armazenamento em saliva artificial (7dias/37oC), os espécimes foram seccionados para obtenção de palitos com 0,64 mm2 de área média e submetidos ao teste de microtração em máquina de teste universal a 0,5 mm/min, que foram analisados após 7 dias e 6 meses. O modo de fratura dos espécimes foi analisado com estereomicroscópio digital (x200) e classificado em: adesiva, coesiva em dentina, coesiva em resina e mista. Para o teste de MS, as coroas seccionadas (n=6) foram planificadas com lixa de granulação 600. A dentina foi tratada de acordo com as instruções de cada fabricante dos sistemas adesivos e os espécimes foram mantidos secos em estufa a 37oC durante 48 horas. O teste de MS foi realizado utilizando ponta Knoop (Microdurômetro Shimadzu HMV-2), a 10x e carga estática de 25gF por 10 segundos. Os resultados obtidos foram analisados por análise de variância (ANOVA-2 critérios) e teste de Bonferroni para comparações múltiplas (p<0,05). A análise de acordo com o tempo foi realizada com o teste de t-student. Os valores médios de RU e desvio padrão (MPa±dp; 7 dias / 6 meses) foram: MP-C (41,95±2,38 / 22,76±3,66); MP-C1 (28,02±5,12 / 17,93±5,70); MP-C2 (26,28±5,55 / 14,30±5,68); SE-C (46,07±1,43 / 19,07±6,75); SE-C1 (37,49±13,31 / 18,54±6,71); SE-C2 (34,16±7,71 / 17,89±4,87). No tempo de 7 dias, os fatores sistema adesivo e concentração de rodamina B foram significantes. Após 6 meses, apenas o fator concentração de rodamina B foi significante. A falha de fratura predominante em todos os grupos foi adesiva. Os valores de MS (KHN) e desvio padrão foram: MP-C (8,97±3,85); MP-C1 (7,33±0,99); MP-C2 (7,17±2,45); SE-C (4,71±4,42); SE-C1 (4,42±0,56); SE-C2 (3,27±0,30). Na comparação entre os sistemas adesivos, eles diferiram entre si na condição controle e de 0,10mg/mL. Para cada adesivo, não houve diferença entre as distintas condições de acordo com a adição de rodamina B. Em função dos resultados apresentados, a adição de rodamina B nos sistemas adesivos não simplificados MP e SE, nas concentrações de 0,02mg/mL e 0,10mg/mL, deve ser incorporada com cautela para que não influencie nas propriedades mecânicas do material. / This in vitro study evaluated the effect of addition of rhodamine B dissolved in ethanol in concentrations of 0.02mg/mL and 0.10mg/mL, the mechanical properties of non-simplified adhesive systems. 96 crowns of human third molars were transversely sectioned on the oclusal third to remove the enamel and exposure the dentin. The specimens were divided according to the adhesive systems Adper Scotchbond Multi-Purpose (MP) 3-step-etch-andrinse or Clearfil SE Bond (SE) 2-step-self-ecthing: MP-C and SE-C (MP and SE controls); MP-C1 and SE-C1 (MP and SE with 0.02mg/mL rhodamine B); MP-C2 and SE-C2: (MP and SE with 0.10mg/mL rhodamine B). For the &#x3BC;TBS test, the specimens (n=10) were ground with 320- to 600-grit silicon carbide paper. The dentin was treated according to the instructions of each manufacturer and restored with composite resin FiltekTM Z250. The specimens were stored in artificial saliva (7 days/37oC), and then sectioned to obtain sticks with an average of 0.64 mm2 area and submitted to &#x3BC;TBS test at a universal testing machine at 0.5 mm/min, which were analyzed immediately after 7 days and 6 months. The mode of fracture of the specimens was analyzed with digital stereomicroscope (x200) and classified as: adhesive, cohesive in dentine, cohesive in resin and mixed. For the SM test, the sectioned crowns (n=6) were flattened with 600-grit silicon carbide paper. The dentin was treated according to the manufacturers instructions for each adhesive system and the specimens were stored in dry condition at 37oC during 48 hours. The SM test was performed with Knoop indenter (Shimadzu HMV-2 hardness tester), at 10x and 25gF of load for 10 seconds. The results were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance tests and the Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons (p<0.05). The analysis regarding time was checked with t-student test. The mean &#x3BC;TBS and standard deviation (MPa±dp; 7 days / 6 months) were: MP-C (41.95±2.38 / 22.76±3.66); MP-C1 (28.02±5.12 / 17.93±5.70); MP-C2 (26.28±5.55 / 14.30±5.68); SE-C (46.07±1.43 / 19.07±6.75); SE-C1 (37.49±13.31 / 18.54±6.71); SE-C2 (34.16±7.71 / 17.89±4.87). In the immediate time, the adhesive system and rhodamine B concentration factors were significant. After 6 months, only the rhodamine B concentration was a significant factor. The predominant failure in all groups was adhesive. The values of SM and standard deviation were: MP-C (8.97±3.85); MP-C1 (7.33±0.99); MP-C2 (7.17±2.45); SE-C (4.71±4.42); SE-C1 (4.42±0.56); SE-C2 (3.27±0.30). In the comparison between the adhesive systems, they were significantly different for the conditions control and 0.10mg/mL. For each adhesive systems, there was no difference between the different conditions according to the addition of rhodamine B. Regarding the shown results, addition of rodhamine B in non-simplified adhesives MP and SE, in the concentrations of 0.02mg/mL e 0.10mg/mL must be carefully added to avoid implications to the mechanical properties of the materials.

Rain fall-runoff response in temperate humid headwater catchments is mainly controlled by hydrolo gical processes at the hillslope scale. Applied tracer experiments with fluore scent dye and salt tracers are well known tools in groundwater studies at the large scale and vadose zone studies at the plot scale, where they provide a means to characterise subsurface flow. We extend this approach to the hillslope scale to investigate saturated and unsaturated flow path s concertedly at a forested hill slope in the Austrian Alps. Dye staining experiments at the plot scale revealed that crack s and soil pipe s function as preferential flow path s in the fine-textured soils of the study area, and these preferenti al flow structures were active in fast subsurface transport of tracers at the hillslope scale. Breakthrough curves obtained under steady flow conditions could be fitted well to a one-dimensional convection-dispersion model. Under natural rain fall a positive correlation of tracer concentrations to the transient flows was observed. The results of this study demon strate qualitative and quantitative effects of preferential flow feature s on subsurface stormflow in a temperate humid headwater catchment. It turn s out that / at the hill slope scale, the interaction s of structures and processes are intrinsically complex, which implies that attempts to model such a hillslope satisfactorily require detailed investigation s of effective structures and parameters at the scale of interest.

Imaging tools in cellular and molecular biology have long relied on organic fluorophores to observe microorganisms or various cell constituents. The advent of semiconductor nanoparticles known as quantum dots (QDs) has offered the possibility to use this new class of fluorescent probes with very advantageous optical properties in cell biology. The imaging of transmembrane potential and ionic currents is of significant importance for monitoring the activity of the cell. It remains possible with relatively complicated instruments and methods such as patch clamping. A complementary approach to view the dynamics of ion channels with modern and efficient fluorophores is therefore of great interest to the field of biology in general. / We developed a construct based on the FRET signal between QDs and organic fluorescent dyes to monitor the conformational changes of voltage gated sodium channels. The amino acid histidine was used as a "landing platform" for QDs and the bacterial sodium channel NaChBac was chosen for testing. This study focused on the preliminary steps of the project and aimed to characterize the electrophysiological behavior of the histidine-tagged channel. The whole-cell configuration of patch clamping was the tool we used to understand the differences between the wild-type and the histidine-tagged variants of the channels. We also explore the possibility to land QDs on the histidine tag.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Neuroscience) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-93). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

La mélatonine est une neurohormone synthétisée au niveau de la glande pinéale durant la période nocturne chez l'ensemble des mammifères. Les sécrétions de cette hormone circulante par voie sanguine permette à tout système doté de récepteurs mélatoninergiques (MT1, MT2) de transmettre l'information de photopériode entrainant ainsi une adaptation aux périodes jour/nuit. La mélatonine est impliquée dans de nombreuses fonctions biologiques mais aussi dans diverses pathologies du système nerveux central tel que les troubles du rythmes circadien, l'anxiété, la dépression… A l'heure actuelle, il existe de nombreux ligands affins des ces récepteurs, cependant le manque de marqueurs sélectifs ralentit les recherches associées (pharmacologie). Partant de ce constat, nous avons conçu et synthétisé, selon deux approches différentes, des ligands fluorescents utilisant comme squelette de base, la structure de la mélatonine et certains analogues. Dans une première approche dite conventionnelle, les ligands mélatoninergiques sont associés à un fluorophore organique au moyen d'un bras espaceur et dans une seconde approche plus novatrice, le noyau indolique du ligand endogène est fusionné avec un pyrrole par analogie avec les fluorophores de types BODIPYs ®, puis dans une troisième partie, dérivée de la précédente, la mélatonine est fonctionnaliser par un hétérocycle azoté capable de chélater un atome de bore. Les évaluations pharmacologiques de ces composés ont montré de bonnes affinités de l'ordre du nanomolaire pour les récepteurs MT1 et MT2. Les études photophysiques ont confirmé la fluorescence induite par les fluorophores dans l'approche conventionnelle, et ont surtout montré l'existence de fluorescence par simple modification structurale de la mélatonine endogène. Les tests d'imagerie cellulaire ont également permis de valider ces méthodologies. / Melatonin is a main neurohormone synthesized in the pineal gland during the night in all mammals. Secretions of the blood circulating hormone through any system endowed melatoninergic receptors (MT1, MT2) transmit information leading to photoperiod and adaptation of the day / night periods. Melatonin is involved in many biological functions but also in various diseases of the central nervous system such as circadian rhythm disorders, anxiety, depression... Actually, there are many affinity receptors ligands, however, research on the pharmacology and the functionality of melatonin receptors suffers from the lack of selective probes for these two receptors. In order to overcome this scientific obstacle, we designed and synthesized fluorescent melatonin ligands according two different approaches. In a first conventional approach the melatoninergic ligands are tagged with an organic fluorophore via a linker. In a second approach more innovative, the indole ring of the endogenous ligand is fused with a pyrrole in order to obtain a structural analogy with the fluorophores BODIPYs types. In a third series derived from the previous one, melatonin is functionalized with a aza-heterocycle able to chelate a boron atom. Pharmacological evaluations of these compounds have shown nanomolar affinity for the receptors. Photophysical studies confirmed the fluorescence induced by the fluorescent dye in the conventional approach, and induced by simple melatonin structural modifications in the orthers. Preliminary cell imaging have also validated the methodologies.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-01-14Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:07:00Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 shimabucoro_ce_me_araca.pdf: 644965 bytes, checksum: 4c0994e094a9206c065633ccadc5a2cf (MD5) / O osso alveolar, como os demais ossos, é continuamente remodelado por processo que equilibra reabsorção óssea por osteoclastos seguido pela deposição óssea por osteoblastos. A aplicação de forças ortodônticas gera reações locais nos tecidos relacionados com a dentição e oclusão bem como em fatores sistêmicos relacionados com o metabolismo ósseo, como a concentração de cálcio, fósforo e fosfatase alcalina. O nosso objetivo foi identificar, através de marcadores fluorescentes, a deposição de cálcio no ligamento periodontal e analisar a concentração plasmática de cálcio, fósforo e fosfatase alcalina antes e após a movimentação dentária experimental. A movimentação foi realizada com aparelhos instalados no primeiro molar superior em ratos machos (Wistar/250g). Os animais receberam três injeções de marcadores ósseos fluorescentes, na seguinte ordem: calceína, alizarina e oxitetraciclina com intervalo de sete dias entre as injeções para análise de 17 (G1), 28 (G2) ou 35 (G3) dias após instalação do aparelho. Sete dias após a última injeção, o sangue foi coletado e centrifugado para a realização posterior das análises bioquímicas. As maxilas foram retiradas, limpas e submetidas aos procedimentos específicos para o preparo das lâminas e leitura posterior em microscópio de epifluorescência. Foi coletado sangue de oito animais que não receberam intervenção ortodôntica, para controle das concentrações plasmáticas. A análise qualitativa evidenciou diferença entre o lado controle e o submetido à movimentação dentária, entretanto, a análise quantitativa não constatou diferença estatisticamente significante. As leituras espectrofotométricas nas dosagens dos plasmas destes animais mostraram concentração de cálcio sem diferença estatística entre os grupos. / The alveolar bone, as the other bones, continuously is remodelled by process that balances bone resorption by osteoclasts followed by the bone deposition for osteoblasts. The application of orthodontic forces generates local reactions in tissues related to the teeth and occlusion as well as systemic factors related with the bone metabolism, as the concentration of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. Our objective was to identify, through fluorescent markers, the calcium deposition in the periodontal ligament and to analyze the plasma concentration of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase before and after the experimental tooth movement. The movement was performed with apparatus installed on the upper first the molar superior in male rats (Wistar/250g). These animals received three injections of bone fluorescent markers, in the following order: calcein, alizarin and oxytetracycline with interval of seven days between the injections for analysis of 17 (G1), 28 (G2) or 35 (G3) days after installation of the unit. Seven days after the last injection, the blood was collected and centrifuged to the achievement of subsequent biochemical analyses. The jaws had been removed, cleaned and submitted to the specific procedures for the preparation of the slides and posterior reading in the epifluorescence microscopy. Blood of eight animals that had not received intervention orthodontic, for control of the plasmatic concentrations was collected. The qualitative analysis evidenced difference between the side control and the submitted to the tooth movement, however, the quantitative analysis did not evidence significant difference statistical. The spectrophotometric readings in the dosages of plasmas of these animals had shown to calcium concentration without difference statistics between the groups. However, the analysis of the phosphorus evidenced co-relation between the plasmatic concentration and the time of tooth movement.

A espectroscopia de correlação de fluorescência (FCS) é uma das diferentes técnicas de análise por imagens de alta resolução espacial e temporal de biomoléculas em concentrações extremamente baixas. Ela se tornou uma técnica extremamente poderosa e sensível em áreas como bioquímica e biofísica. Como uma técnica bem estabelecida, ela é utilizada para medir concentrações locais de biomoléculas, através da marcação com moléculas fluorescentes. Coeficientes de difusão e constantes cinéticas também podem ser medidos através de FCS assim como detecção de molécula única. Ela também pode dar informação precisa sobre interações de antígeno-anticorpo, ácidos nucleicos e proteínas. Através de uma combinação de marcadores de alto rendimento quântico, fontes de luz estável (lasers), detecção ultrassensível e microscopia confocal, é possível realizar medidas de FCS em volumes de fentolitros (fL) e em concentrações de nanomolar (nM) em soluções aquosas ou em células vivas. Em contraste com outras técnicas de fluorescência, a sensibilidade da FCS aumenta com a diminuição da concentração do fluoróforo marcador, porque o parâmetro de interesse não é a intensidade de emissão de fluorescência, mas sim as flutuações espontâneas da fluorescência. Durante o tempo em que a partícula ou molécula atravessa o volume de medida pode ocorrer mudanças conformacionais e reações químicas e fotofísicas que alteram as características de emissão do fluoróforo e causam flutuações no sinal detectado. Estas flutuações são então monitoradas e transformadas em uma curva de autocorrelação, por intermédio de um software comercial que emprega um modelo físico apropriado para FCS. Em nosso estudo, utilizamos um marcador comercial (ALEXA 488&reg;) para marcar proteínas. Primeiramente utilizamos a técnica de FCS para medir concentrações extremamente baixas de marcadores fluorescentes. Também realizamos um experimento testando a influência da viscosidade do meio na difusão livre do fluoróforo, assim como as melhores condições em que temos um melhor sinal de FCS. Por fim, estudamos a difusão de proteínas marcadas (PUC II e IV) em meio aquoso (PBS) e no interior de células. / Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is one of the many different modes of high-resolution spatial and temporal analysis of extremely low concentrated biomolecules. It has become a powerful and sensitive tool in fields like biochemistry and biophysics. As a well established technique, it is used to measure local concentrations of fluorescently labeled biomolecules, diffusion coefficients, kinetic constants and single molecule studies. Through a combination of high quantum yield fluorescent dyes, stable light sources (lasers), ultrasensitive detection and confocal microscopy is possible to perform FCS measurements in femtoliters volumes and nanomolar concentrations in aquous solution or in live cells. Unlike with other fluorescence technics, its sensibility increases with the decrease of dye concentrarion, because the main factor is not the emission intensity itself. Instead this, spontaneous statistical fluctuation of fluorescence becomes the main factor in FCS analisys. During the time that the conjugated-dye cross the volume detection can occur conformational changes, chemical reaction and photophysical processes that can change the emission properties of the dye and, then, change the detected sinal. This fluctuations are tracked and changed into a autocorrelation curve, by a specific software, appropriate to perform FCS analisys. In our study, we use comercial dye (Alexa 488) to label proteins. Firstly, we applied FCS to measure extremally diluted concentrations of dyes (~1 nM). We have performed experiments testing the influence of the viscosity medium in the free difusion of the dyes and the optical apparatus and conditions that result in the best FCS signal. We also have studied protein diffusion (PUC II e IV) in aquous medium (PBS) and toward the inner of the cells.