A indústria dos citros é de grande importância econômica e social para o Brasil, que é considerado o maior produtor e exportador de suco concentrado de laranja do mundo. Porém, sérios problemas relacionados a doenças têm afetado a produção e qualidade dos citros. Com o desenvolvimento da engenharia genética e a clonagem de genes relacionados à resistência a doenças em plantas, a transformação genética têm se mostrado uma ferramenta auxiliar a programas de melhoramento genético de citros. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a obtenção de plantas transgênicas de laranja doce das variedades ‘Hamlin’, ‘Valência, ‘Natal’ e ‘Pêra’ expressando o gene hrpN, sob o controle do promotor Pgst1, induzível pelo patógeno. A avaliação da resposta de plantas transgênicas da variedade ‘Hamlin’ contra o agente causal do cancro cítrico, a bactéria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, também foi realizada. Segmentos de epicótilo foram transformados via Agrobacterium tumefaciens, e selecionados em meio de cultura suplementado com canamicina ou gentamicina. A transformação genética foi confirmada por PCR e Southern blot. A transcrição do gene foi avaliada por RT-PCR e a produção da proteína harpina foi analisada por western blot. A eficiência de transformação variou de 2,7 e 6,2% de acordo com a variedade de laranja. Algumas linhagens de plantas transgênicas apresentaram desenvolvimento anormal, não permitindo a realização da análise por Southern blot nem a multiplicação por enxertia. Plantas de laranja ‘Hamlin’ foram propagadas por enxertia e avaliadas para resistência a Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri. Todas as linhagens apresentaram redução na severidade dos sintomas causados pela bactéria X. axonopodis pv. citri, avaliados 30 dias após a inoculação. / The citrus industry has a great economic and social importance for Brazil, which is considered largest producer and orange juice exporter in the world. However, serious problems related to pathogens have affected citrus production and quality. With the development of genetic engineering and the characterization of genes related with plant disease resistance, the genetic transformation became an important tool in citrus breeding programs. The objective of this work was the production of transgenic plants of four sweet orange cultivars ‘Hamlin’, ‘Valencia’, ‘Natal’ and ‘Pera’ expressing hrpN gene under the control of Pgst1 inducible promoter. The evaluation of ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange transgenic plants infected with the causal agent of citrus canker, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri was carry out. Epicotyl segments were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and selected in a culture medium supplemented with kanamycin or gentamycin. The genetic transformation was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. The gene transcription was evaluated by RT-PCR and the production of harpin protein was detected by western blot. The genetic transformation efficiency varied from 2,7% to 6,2% depending on the cultivar. Some transgenic lines had abnormal development, not allowing performing Southern blot analysis or multiplication by grafting. Plants of ‘Hamlin&#146 sweet orange were propagated by grafting and evaluated for Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri resistance. All tested plants presented reduction in the severity of the symptoms caused by bacterium X. axonopodis pv. citri 30 days after the inoculation.

Huanglongbing (HLB), considerada uma das mais graves doenças dos citros, está associada a Candidatus Liberibacter spp., bactérias endógenas restritas ao floema e de difícil cultivo em meio de cultura. Diferentemente de outras doenças que afetam plantas cítricas, ainda não foram encontradas dentro do gênero Citrus espécies resistentes ao HLB. Genes de interesse agronômico têm sido empregados na transformação genética de citros visando a resistência a doenças. Dentre estes, destacam-se os que conferem resistência a bactérias incluindo attA, que codificam os peptídeos antibacterianos atacinas, e hrpN, que ativam a produção de proteínas harpinas, relacionadas ao sistema de defesa. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resistência de plantas de laranja doce contendo o gene da atacina A (attA) ou o gene da harpina (hrpN) à Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) utilizando duas formas de inoculação: borbulhões infectados e o inseto vetor da bactéria, Diaphorina citri. Para as plantas contendo o gene hrpN, apenas o segundo método foi utilizado. Os principais sintomas do HLB foram observados aos quatro e oito meses após a inoculação por borbulhões. A infecção das plantas foi confirmada com a detecção de CLas por PCR (quatro e oito meses) e Rt-qPCR (oito meses). Em plantas inoculadas por D. citri, os sintomas foram observados oito e doze meses após a inoculação, assim como a detecção da bactéria por PCR. Após 15, 17 e 18 meses, foi realizada uma nova avaliação por Rt-PCR a partir de spots (imprints em membrana) de folhas. Rt-PCR foi empregado também em spots dos psilídeos utilizados na inoculação. Não foi possível avaliar a resistência ao HLB em plantas contendo o gene attA ou hrpN a partir da inoculação por D. citri. Os resultados de detecção da bactéria nas plantas e nos psilídeos utilizados para inoculação indicam que, possivelmente, não ocorreu a inoculação devido ao baixo percentual de psilídeos que continham CLas utilizados. Dentre as plantas transgênicas contendo o gene attA inoculadas por borbulhões infectivos, oito eventos (cinco de laranja Pera, dois de laranja Hamlin e um de laranja Valência) apresentaram menores títulos bacterianos e algumas também demonstraram redução dos sintomas do HLB quando comparadas com plantas não transgênicas, oito meses após a inoculação, indicando uma possível ação do peptídeo atacina A contra o agente causal do HLB. / Haunglongbing (HLB), considered one of the most serious diseases of citrus, is associated to Candidatus Liberibacter spp., endogenous and phloem-inhabiting bacteria not easily grown in culture medium No species within the genus Citrus is known to resist this bacterial infection. The use of genes of agronomic interest for genetic transformation aiming disease resistance in citrus has been reported. Among these genes, attA that codes for the antibacterial peptides attacin, and hrpN, that codes for proteins harpin that activate the plant defense system may have potential in searching for HLB resistance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the resistance of sweet orange containing attA or hrpN to Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) inoculated through infected budstick grafting or the insect vector, Diaphorina citri. For the plants containing hrpN, only the second method was used. The most obvious HLB symptoms were observed four and eight months after inoculation by infected budstick when CLas also was detected by PCR (four months) and RT-qPCR (eight months). For those inoculated with D. citri, symptoms were observed and bacteria detected eight and twelve months after inoculation. Fifteen, 17 and 18 months after inoculation, a new attempt was made for CLas detection, now through Rt-PCR from leaf and psyllids imprinting spots on membrane. It was not possible to evaluate the HLB resistance in plants containing attA or hrpN gene from D. citri inoculation. The results of CLas detection in plants and psyllids indicate that possibly there was no inoculation due the low rate of psyllids contained CLas used. Among the plants containing attA, five, two and one event of, respectively, Pera, Hamlin, and Valencia sweet orange had lower bacterial titers than those non transgenic plants and some also showed milder HLB symptoms, eight months after inoculation, suggesting a possible effect of attacin A against the causal agent of HLB.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:32:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_gabriel_klafke.pdf: 1619582 bytes, checksum: dcdfb7127ef88b680dc43b41887f2c86 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-18 / During the past decades, the development of genetically modified plants became a consolidated reality. Taking advantage of the genetic engineering process, it is possible to obtain modified plants to use as bioreactors in the production of tissue or organs expressing antigens which can be easily used as vaccines. The plant-based expression systems as tomato and lettuce, which attend as models for that process, present innumerous advantages such as conservation of eukaryotic machinery, which promote pos-translational modifications, possibility of large-scale production and development of safer and economically more attractive vaccines. Taking use of that strategy, the Swine mycoplasm hyopneumoniae (SMP) disease can be one important and possible target to either be eradicated or controlled. The SMP, caused by fastidious bacterium Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, is one of the most important respiratory disease in swine breeding, due to its very high prevalence coupled with associated losses all over the whorld, and has in the recombinant DNA technology a viable alternative in the development of more effective and safe vaccines The objective of my work was to genetically manipulate tobacco plants in order to use them as bioreactor in the production of an antigen against PMS. Tobacco leaves and internodes were cultured in different concentrations of BAP and AIA hormones. The best regeneration results for both explants were seen with 1,5mg.L-1 BAP and 0,1mg.L-1 AIA. The selection test with the kanamycin antibiotic appeared to be highly effective, showing a total inhibition of regeneration with 30 mg.L-1 and 100 mg.L-1 for leaves and internodes respectively. The recombinant colonies of A. tumefaciens, containing ltb-r, were co-cultivated with the internodes and leaves from plants germinated in vitro. The next step, the explants were transferred to the selection medium in order to induce the selection of the putatively transformed cells. The genomic DNA from regenerated and putatively transformed plants were extracted and amplified by PCR, where it was detected the presence of a band referent to ltb r1. The analyses of the integration and the transcription of ltb-r1 were carried out by Southern blot and RT-PCR, respectively. In both techniques, it was possible to confirm the presence of one band which corresponds to the expected size of ltb-r1, supporting the integration and expression of the gene. However, with the tests used here, it was not possible to detect with accuracy the recombinant protein / Nas últimas décadas, o desenvolvimento de plantas geneticamente modificadas tornou-se uma realidade consolidada. Nesse sentido, utilizando-se da engenharia genética, é possível obter plantas servindo como biorreatores na produção de tecidos ou orgãos expressando antígenos que podem ser facilmente utilizados como vacina. Os sistemas de expressão em plantas como tomate, alface, tabaco que servem como modelos desse processo, apresentam várias vantagens, entre elas, a conservação da maquinaria eucariótica que promove as modificações póstraducionais das proteínas e ainda a possibilidade de produção em larga escala. Dentro desta estratégia de produção de proteínas, pode-se citar a pneumonia micoplásmica suína (PMS), causada pelo agente Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, uma das principais doenças de suínos que provoca elevadas perdas econômicas em todo mundo, e tem, na tecnologia do DNA recombinante, uma alternativa de desenvolvimento de vacinas mais efetivas. O objetivo do trabalho foi transformar plantas de tabaco para sua utilização como biorreator na produção de um antígeno vacinal contra a PMS. Folhas e entrenós foram cultivados em diferentes concentrações de BAP e AIA. As melhores taxas de regeneração foram encontradas utilizando 1,5 mg.L-1 de BAP e 0,1 mg.L-1 de AIA para segmentos de folhas e entrenós. O teste de seleção utilizando canamicina mostrou-se altamente eficiente, obtendo-se a supressão da regeneração com 30 mg.L-1 e 100 mg.L-1 para segmentos de folhas e entrenós, respectivamente. Colônias recombinantes de A. tumefaciens contendo ltb-r1 foram co-cultivadas com entrenós e segmentos foliares de plantas germinadas in vitro. Após esta etapa, os explantes foram transferidos para meios de seleção, visando selecionar células possivelmente transformadas. O DNA genômico das plantas regeneradas e putativamente transformadas foi extraído e amplificado por PCR, na qual foi possível visualizar uma banda referente ao ltb-r1. A detecção da integração e transcrição do gene foi realizada por Southern blot e RTPCR, respectivamente. Em ambas as técnicas, foi possível verificar a presença de uma banda do tamanho esperado para ltb-r1, demonstrando assim, a integração e expressão do gene. Entretanto, não foi possível detectar com precisão, através dos testes utilizados, a proteína recombinante.

Les uvéites non infectieuses sont considérées actuellement comme une des plus importantes cause de déficience visuelle dans la population des jeunes adultes. Les uvéites non infectieuses sont des atteintes inflammatoires de la rétine et de l’uvée et sont généralement considérées comme autoimmunes et initiées par la perte de la tolérance immune aux protéines rétiniennes. Elles sont orchestrées d’une part, systémiquement par deux sous populations lymphocytaires dont la signature cytokinique est l’IFNγ (Th1) et l’IL-17 (Th17) et d’autre part, localement, par l’activation du tissu rétinien. Néanmoins, la vision systémique actuelle est plus complexe et fait intervenir une activation pathologique de l’immunité innée, donnant une composante d’autoinflammation aux uvéites non infectieuses. En plus de ce volet systémique, de nombreux travaux attestent de l’importance de l’activation des cellules rétiniennes dans le développement d’uvéites non infectieuses. Loin de jouer un rôle passif durant la maladie, elles vont être stimulées par une série de molécules pro-inflammatoires et ainsi permettre le recrutement et l’activation de cellules immunocompétentes. <p>Notre travail de thèse s’inscrit précisément dans ce contexte du rôle de l’activation des cellules rétiniennes et plus spécifiquement de celles de la barrière hémato rétinienne (BHR) dans le développement d’uvéite non infectieuses.<p>Lors de ce travail, nous avons tout d’abord caractérisé in vivo, dans deux modèles expérimentaux, l’expression de la molécule d’adhésion VCAM-1 (Vascular Adhesion Molecule) sur les cellules de la BHR. VCAM-1 est une molécule d’adhésion qui facilite l’extravasation des leucocytes du sang vers les tissus. Nous avons montré que VCAM-1 n’est pas exprimé dans l’œil sain mais est induit progressivement lors de la maladie et que l’intensité et l’extension de son expression étaient dépendantes de la sévérité de la maladie. Par ailleurs, nous avons montré que VCAM-1 pouvait être induit sur l’ensemble des cellules de la BHR. <p>Nous avons ensuite analysé in vitro, sur les cellules de l’EPR (Epithélium Pigmentaire Rétinien) qui forment la partie externe de la BHR, les effets antagonistes du TNFα sur l’induction des molécules de CMH de classe II par l’IFNγ. Durant le processus inflammatoire, l’EPR est la cible d’un ensemble de cytokines secrétées par les cellules inflammatoires. Il a été donc intéressant d’étudier les effets d’autres cytokines présentes lors de l’inflammation sur l’induction du CMHII par l’IFNγ au niveau de l’EPR. Nous avons démontré que le TNFα inhibe l’expression du CMH II induit par l’IFNγ sur les ARPE par régulation négative du CIITA (Class II Transactivator). Comme l’activation des lymphocytes T par les cellules de l’EPR dépend de leur niveau d’expression du CMH II, notre étude soutient l’idée que le TNFα possède des propriétés immunomodulatrices sur l’activation de ces cellules, et participe ainsi à la phase de résolution de l’inflammation.<p>Enfin, nous avons étudié les effets du blocage de l’activation des cellules rétiniennes par l’IFNγ en surexprimant le gène SOCS1 (Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling) in vivo et in vitro.<p>Nous avons surexprimé le gène SOCS1 au niveau rétinien et étudier l’effet de cette surexpression sur le développement de l’UAE. L’analyse des grading clinique n’a pas montré de différence significative entre les yeux injectés par l’AAV2-SOCS1 versus l’AAV2-EGFP contrôle. Afin de normaliser par rapport à la diversité inter-individuelle de la maladie, nous avons calculé pour chaque souris un ratio des grades cliniques de l’œil injecté sur l’œil non-injecté. L’analyse de la moyenne de ces ratios montre un effet à la limite de la significativité entre le groupe SOCS1 et le groupe EGFP en terme de grades cliniques. La différence devient par contre significative lorsque l’analyse de ces ratios est faite sur les grades histologiques. Nos expériences mènent donc plutôt à la conclusion que l’expression de SOCS1, médié par injection intravitréenne de l’AAV2 ne protège globalement pas les yeux du développement d’une UAE.<p>Cette absence d’effet peut avoir comme explication que l’injection intravitréenne conduit à une infection relativement limitée des cellules rétiniennes impliquées dans le développement de l’UAE. Il se pourrait également que le niveau d’expression de la protéine SOCS1 soit trop faible pour obtenir un effet protecteur ou que la surexpression de SOCS1 affecte uniquement l’activation des cellules de la rétine par l’IFNγ mais pas par d’autres cytokines telles le TNFα, l’IL-17, ou l’IL-22 qui jouent aussi un rôle important dans le développement d’UAE. C’est cette dernière hypothèse que nous avons choisi d’investiguer in vitro. Nos résultats montrent que la surexpression de ce même gène SOCS1 dans les cellules d’EPR a un effet inhibiteur sur leur activation par l’IFNγ mais pas par le TNFα.<p>Ce travail met tout d’abord en évidence l’importante expression, in vivo, de VCAM1 par les cellules de la BHR lors d’UAE et in vitro les effets antagonistes du TNFα et de l’IFNγ sur la régulation de l’expression de molécules du CMHII à la surface de l’EPR. Nos expériences démontrent que la surexpression du gène SOCS1 après injection intravitréenne du vecteur AAV-CAG-SOCS1 n’a que peu d’effet sur le développement de la maladie. Par ailleurs, la surexpression de ce même gène SOCS1 dans les cellules d’EPR a un effet inhibiteur sur leur activation par l’IFNγ mais pas par le TNFα et l’IL-17.<p> / Doctorat en sciences biomédicales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Les systèmes toxine-antitoxine (TA) sont très répandus au sein des génomes bactériens. Ces opérons bicistroniques de petite taille ont été découverts sur des plasmides à bas nombre de copies. Dans ce contexte génétique, les systèmes TA confèrent un avantage sélectif à leurs molécules-hôtes en tuant les bactéries-filles qui ne les ont pas héritées par le mécanisme de tuerie post-ségrégationnelle (PSK, post-segregational killing). Ces systèmes génétiques sont également appelés modules d’addiction étant donné qu’ils rendent la descendance des bactéries qui les contiennent dépendantes de leur présence. Alors que leur rôle dans les molécules d’ADN épisomiques est relativement bien établi, le sens biologique de la présence d’homologues à ces systèmes épisomiques au sein des chromosomes bactériens est sujet à d’intenses débats. L’idée que les systèmes TA chromosomiques confèrent un avantage sélectif a été mise en évidence dans plusieurs modèles. Selon ces modèles, les systèmes TA permettent aux bactéries de mieux faire face à des conditions environnementales stressantes. <p>Entre-temps, la compréhension de l’évolution des génomes bactériens a connu des avancées significatives. L’impressionnante capacité d’adaptation des bactéries est aujourd’hui majoritairement attribuée au transfert horizontal de gènes (THG) provoqué par les éléments génétiques mobiles (phages, plasmides, transposons…). Dans le débat du rôle des systèmes TA chromosomiques, très peu d’attention a été accordée aux relations phylogénétiques et interactions entre systèmes plasmidiques et chromosomiques co-existant au sein d’un même hôte ainsi qu’à l’impact du THG sur leur évolution. Notre travail de thèse vise à mieux comprendre la biologie des systèmes TA en tenant compte de ces paramètres. Nous nous sommes intéressés à des systèmes homologues au système plasmidique ccdF. Nous avons étudié expérimentalement les 4 systèmes ccd (ccd1, ccd2, ccd3 et ccd4) qui co-habitent au sein du chromosome d’Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937 (une bactérie phytopathogène), leurs interactions intragénomiques et les interactions de ces systèmes avec le système plasmidique ccdF. Ce cadre expérimental a mené à la construction du modèle d’anti-addiction. Ce modèle propose que certains systèmes chromosomiques puissent conférer un avantage sélectif à leurs hôtes bactériens en interférant avec le PSK médié par leurs homologues plasmidiques. Cet avantage sélectif pourrait permettre la fixation de systèmes TA latéralement acquis au sein des populations bactériennes. Nous avons également recherché de nouveaux systèmes ccd au sein des génomes bactériens afin d’avoir un aperçu de leur distribution, des contextes génétiques dans lesquels ils existent et de l’implication du THG dans leur dispersion. Les réflexions qui ont accompagné notre recherche nous ont mené à proposer une synthèse sur le rôle des systèmes TA (plasmidiques et chromosomiques). Celle-ci se nourrit des avancées qui ont été effectuées, ces dernières années, dans la compréhension de l’évolution des génomes bactériens, de la théorie hiérarchique de la sélection naturelle et des processus non-adaptatifs et contingents qui pourraient expliquer la présence et la propagation des systèmes TA au sein des génomes bactériens sans que ceux-ci en soient les agents causaux. <p><p> / Doctorat en sciences, Spécialisation biologie moléculaire / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Le caoutchouc naturel (CN), a cis-1,4-polyisoprene, est produit principalement par Hevea brasiliensis. Le CN est un matériau très important pour l’industrie du transport et médicale. La demande en CN augmente d’année en année. Le CN est obtenu à partir du latex. Le latex s’écoule des laticifères après saignée de l’écorce des hévéas. L’éthéphon, un libérateur d’éthylène, peut être appliqué sur certains clones d’hévéa pour stimuler la production de latex. La saignée et la stimulation à l’éthéphon sont des stress de récolte conduisant à la production de métabolites secondaires et par conséquence au caoutchouc. La biosynthèse et la signalisation de l’éthylène (ET) et de l’acide jasmonique (JA) jouent un rôle crucial dans la réponse aux stress de récolte. Deux gènes codant des facteurs de réponse à l’éthylène (ethylene response factor, ERF), HbERF-IXc4 et HbERF-IXc5, ont été prédits être orthologue à ERF1 d’Arabidopsis. ERF1 est considéré comme un facteur clé de la réponse de défense à travers l’intégration des voies de signalisation de l’éthylène et du jasmonate. Les transcrits de HbERF-IXc4 et HbERF-IXc5 s’accumulent dramatiquement en réponse à des traitements combinant la blessure, le méthyl jasmonate, et l’éthylène. Ces facteurs sont ainsi supposés être des régulateurs clés au croisement des voies de signalisation de l’éthylène et du jasmonate dans les laticifères. HbERF-IXc4 et HbERF-IXc5 ont plusieurs caractéristiques des facteurs de transcription révélés respectivement lors des expériences de trans-activation et de localisation subcellulaire : ils peuvent activer des éléments GCC agissant en cis des promoteurs des gènes cibles et ils sont présents au niveau du noyau.Dans cette étude, l’analyse fonctionnelle des gènes HbERF-IXc4 et HbERF-IXc5 a été effectuées par sur-expression de ces gènes sous le contrôle de deux promoteurs, 35S CaMV et HEV2.1 dans des lignées transgéniques d’Hevea obtenues par transformation génétique via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Cette sur-expression a conduit à augmenter les effets des gènes natifs HbERF-IXc4 et HbERF-IXc5. Vingt-neuf lignées à activité GFP ont été sélectionnées sur un milieu contenant de la paromomycine. Douze lignées ont permis régénérées des plantes mais seulement dix ont produit un nombre suffisant de plantes pour réaliser les observations de phénotypage avec au total 1622 plantes transgéniques acclimatées en serre. Ces dix lignées transgéniques ont été confirmées par hybridation moléculaire de type Southern. L’observation morphologique des plants jusqu’à un an montre que les deux gènes (HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5) favorisent une meilleure croissance, en termes de hauteur des plants, du diamètre des tiges, et du poids frais et sec des parties aériennes et racinaires, avec une plus forte vigueur et tolérance aux stress abiotiques. Les plants sur-exprimant HbERF-IXc5 ont aussi une meilleure performance que ceux sur-exprimant HbERF-IXc4. Ces résultats montrent aussi un système racinaire plus vigoureux et bien équilibré par rapport à la plante entière. Les analyses de RT-PCR en temps réel révèlent que l’expression des gènes HbERF-IXc4 et HbERF-IXc5 est plus forte dans les lignées transgéniques que la lignée sauvage. L’analyse fine des lignées HbERF-IXc5 montre aussi des modifications anatomiques (activité cambiale, nombre de cellules laticifères, amidon, et largeur du xylème).Ce travail est la première analyse fonctionnelle de facteurs de transcription chez Hevea. Des différences ont été observées entre les lignées HbERF-IXc4 et HbERF-IXc5. Comme ERF1, HbERF-IXc4 et HbERF-IXc5 doivent diriger la réponse à certains stress. HbERF-IXc5 serait un régulateur de la différentiation des laticifers. Cette étude pourrait être complétée par des analyses dans des lignées éteintes pour ces gènes, une comparaison des transcriptomes et métabolome de lignées sauvages et transgéniques, et l’identification des gènes cibles contrôlés par HbERF-IXc4 et HbERF-IXc5. / Natural rubber (NR) (cis-1,4-polyisoprene) is the main production from Hevea brasiliensis. NR is a very important industrial material for transportation, consumer, and medical. The demand for NR is increasing from year to year. NR is obtained from latex. The latex flows out from laticifers after tapping the bark. Ethephon, an ethylene releaser, can be applied on certain clones to stimulate the latex production. Tapping and ethephon stimulation are sources of harvesting stresses conducing to the production of secondary metabolites and consequent rubber. Ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and signalling pathways play a crucial role in the response to latex harvesting stress. Two Hevea ethylene response factor genes, HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5, were predicted to be orthologue to ERF1 from Arabidopsis. ERF1 was suggested to be a key component of defence responses through the integration of ethylene and jasmonic acid signalling pathways. Transcripts of HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5 were dramatically accumulated by combining wounding, methyl jasmonate, and ethylene treatment. These factors were assumed to be a key regulator at the crosstalk of ethylene and jasmonate signalling pathways in latex cells. HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5 have several features of transcription factor revealed by transactivation experiment and subcellular localization, respectively: they can activate the GCC cis-acting element of promoters of target genes and are localized in nucleus, In this study, functional analysis of HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5 genes have been carried out by overexpression under control of two promoters, 35S CaMV and HEV2.1 in transgenic Hevea lines obtained by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation. This overexpression led to emphasize the effect of native HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5 genes. Twenty-nine GFP-positive lines were established on paromomycin selection medium. Twelve lines regenerated plants but only ten led to produce a sufficient number of plants for further phenotyping with totally 1,622 transgenic plants in greenhouse. These ten ines were confirmed as transgenic by Southern blot hybridization. Observation of morphology until one year showed both genes (HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5) promoted a better growth in terms of plant height, stem diameter, and weight of aerial and root system with higher vigour and better tolerance to some abiotic stresses. Plants overexpressing HbERF-IXc5 have also a better performance than HbERF-IXc4. Data also showed a vigorous root system well balanced with regard to the whole plant. Real-time RT-PCR analyses revealed that expression of HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5 genes was higher in transgenic lines compared to wild-type . Analysis in details of HbERF-IXc5 lines also showed some changes in anatomy (cambium activity, number of latex cells, starch, and width of xylem).This work is the first successful functional analysis of transcription factors in Hevea. Some differences have been observed between HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5. As ERF1, HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5 should drive the response to some stresses. HbERF-IXc5 might be a regulator of laticifer differentiation. This study could be completed with analysis of silenced transgenic lines, comparison of transcriptome, metabolome of wild-type and transgenic lines, and identification of target genes controlled by HbERF-IXc4 and HbERF-IXc5.

Huanglongbing (HLB), considerada uma das mais graves doenças dos citros, está associada a Candidatus Liberibacter spp., bactérias endógenas restritas ao floema e de difícil cultivo em meio de cultura. Diferentemente de outras doenças que afetam plantas cítricas, ainda não foram encontradas dentro do gênero Citrus espécies resistentes ao HLB. Genes de interesse agronômico têm sido empregados na transformação genética de citros visando a resistência a doenças. Dentre estes, destacam-se os que conferem resistência a bactérias incluindo attA, que codificam os peptídeos antibacterianos atacinas, e hrpN, que ativam a produção de proteínas harpinas, relacionadas ao sistema de defesa. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resistência de plantas de laranja doce contendo o gene da atacina A (attA) ou o gene da harpina (hrpN) à Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) utilizando duas formas de inoculação: borbulhões infectados e o inseto vetor da bactéria, Diaphorina citri. Para as plantas contendo o gene hrpN, apenas o segundo método foi utilizado. Os principais sintomas do HLB foram observados aos quatro e oito meses após a inoculação por borbulhões. A infecção das plantas foi confirmada com a detecção de CLas por PCR (quatro e oito meses) e Rt-qPCR (oito meses). Em plantas inoculadas por D. citri, os sintomas foram observados oito e doze meses após a inoculação, assim como a detecção da bactéria por PCR. Após 15, 17 e 18 meses, foi realizada uma nova avaliação por Rt-PCR a partir de spots (imprints em membrana) de folhas. Rt-PCR foi empregado também em spots dos psilídeos utilizados na inoculação. Não foi possível avaliar a resistência ao HLB em plantas contendo o gene attA ou hrpN a partir da inoculação por D. citri. Os resultados de detecção da bactéria nas plantas e nos psilídeos utilizados para inoculação indicam que, possivelmente, não ocorreu a inoculação devido ao baixo percentual de psilídeos que continham CLas utilizados. Dentre as plantas transgênicas contendo o gene attA inoculadas por borbulhões infectivos, oito eventos (cinco de laranja Pera, dois de laranja Hamlin e um de laranja Valência) apresentaram menores títulos bacterianos e algumas também demonstraram redução dos sintomas do HLB quando comparadas com plantas não transgênicas, oito meses após a inoculação, indicando uma possível ação do peptídeo atacina A contra o agente causal do HLB. / Haunglongbing (HLB), considered one of the most serious diseases of citrus, is associated to Candidatus Liberibacter spp., endogenous and phloem-inhabiting bacteria not easily grown in culture medium No species within the genus Citrus is known to resist this bacterial infection. The use of genes of agronomic interest for genetic transformation aiming disease resistance in citrus has been reported. Among these genes, attA that codes for the antibacterial peptides attacin, and hrpN, that codes for proteins harpin that activate the plant defense system may have potential in searching for HLB resistance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the resistance of sweet orange containing attA or hrpN to Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) inoculated through infected budstick grafting or the insect vector, Diaphorina citri. For the plants containing hrpN, only the second method was used. The most obvious HLB symptoms were observed four and eight months after inoculation by infected budstick when CLas also was detected by PCR (four months) and RT-qPCR (eight months). For those inoculated with D. citri, symptoms were observed and bacteria detected eight and twelve months after inoculation. Fifteen, 17 and 18 months after inoculation, a new attempt was made for CLas detection, now through Rt-PCR from leaf and psyllids imprinting spots on membrane. It was not possible to evaluate the HLB resistance in plants containing attA or hrpN gene from D. citri inoculation. The results of CLas detection in plants and psyllids indicate that possibly there was no inoculation due the low rate of psyllids contained CLas used. Among the plants containing attA, five, two and one event of, respectively, Pera, Hamlin, and Valencia sweet orange had lower bacterial titers than those non transgenic plants and some also showed milder HLB symptoms, eight months after inoculation, suggesting a possible effect of attacin A against the causal agent of HLB.

No description available.

As a warm season grass native to the North American continent, switchgrass is considered as one of the most promising biofuel crops in the USA. It is a C4 plant that makes it energy efficient. Switchgrass has a deep root system that allows it to grow on marginal land with low water and nutrient input. Switchgrass has been used as a forage crop and its use for biofuel will not affect food security. Biofuels are more environment-friendly than fossil fuels as they do not produce net greenhouse gases. However, the problem of high cost of production per unit for biofuel has to be overcome if we want to replace fossil fuels with biofuels. One of the major factors related to the high cost of biofuel are the expensive cellulase enzymes used in the pretreatment of feedstock. Endoglucanase is the key enzyme used for breaking down cellulose before fermentation. Currently, endoglucanase is produced from engineered E. coli or yeast strains, which is still expensive for enzyme production and purification of industrial scales. Expression of endoglucanase in plants has been previously reported. However, there are no reports of transgenic switchgrass producing cellulase enzyme. In this study, the catalytic domain of beta-endoglucanase gene was codon-optimized and synthesized based on the cDNA cloned from Hypocrea jecorina. Rice RuBisCO small subunit targeting signal peptide was fused to the N-terminus of the beta-endoglucanase gene, which was expected to target the fusion protein to chloroplast. This subcellular compartment targeting could minimize negative effects on cell function and plant development. The endoglucanase gene was cloned with maize ubiquitin promoter in a modified binary vector pCambia 1305-2 and transformed into switchgrass genotype HR8 by using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In this study, I generated five independent transgenic switchgrass lines and they were confirmed by growing on the selection agent hygromycin, GUS assay, PCR amplification, southern blotting hybridization, for the presence of hygromycin and endoglucanase genes. However, based on RT-PCR analysis, only two transgenic lines were confirmed to produce mRNAs of the endoglucanase gene. These two transgenic lines were further characterized for their agronomic traits and the chlorophyll contents. Our results suggested that expression of endoglucanase in switchgrass could reduce chlorophyll content and affect plant development. Nevertheless, in this study, we demonstrated that a fungal endoglucanase gene could be expressed in switchgrass transgenic plants, though the gene expression level and the subcellular localization need to be carefully regulated in order to minimize the toxic effect of endoglucanase on plant cells. / Master of Science

Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee) is a major limiting factor in commercial cultivation of eggplant in southeast Asia. Extensive use of pesticides as well as the conventional breeding methods have been ineffective in controlling the borer so there is a need for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for its control. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is known to produce a variety of insecticidal crystal proteins toxic to lepidopteran, dipteran and coleopteran pests. The Cry2Aa protein has been found to be more toxic to brinjal shoot and fruit borer than Cry1Ab. My objective was to develop eggplant cultivars that express a codon-optimized cry2Aa gene, the sequence of which is based on that of an Indian isolate of Bt, with the eventual goal of producing fully resistant cultivars. The cry2Aa gene was modified for optimal expression in eggplant using the codon usage frequencies based on solanaceous sequences (eggplant, tomato and pepper). The GC content was increased from 34.3% in the native gene to 41.3% in the optimized gene, thus removing the AT-rich regions that are typical for Bt cry genes. Also, other mRNA destabilizing and hairpin forming structure sequences were removed. The gene was synthesized in four different parts with complementary restriction sites. A total of 152 oligonucleotides (oligos) was used to assemble the 1.9 kb gene using dual asymmetric (DA) and overlap extension (OE) PCR techniques. The individual parts were subsequently ligated using the complementary restriction sites and inserted into vector pCAMBIA 1302. Also, the transformation efficiency of 12 different eggplant cultivars was tested using plasmid pHB2892 to predict utility for transformation with the synthetic cry2Aa. / Master of Science