Listeria monocytogenes is food-borne pathogen that causes listeriosis in individuals with a compromised immune system and pregnant women. This pathogen can survive in anaerobic conditions present in specially packaged foods as well as the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study is to evaluate virulence of L. monocytogenes F2365 in anaerobic conditions. Another goal of this study is to establish gerbils as the ideal animal model since descrepancies exist in current models. Gerbils were orally infected with one of four doses: 1) phosphate buffered saline, 2) 5X106CFU aerobic dose, 3) 5X108CFU aerobic dose, and 4) 5X106CFU anaerobic dose. Results indicate anaerobically cultured F2365 colonized the intestines consistently throughout the study unlike aerobic cultures. Additionally, intestinal damage was observed in challenged gerbils. Further goals include evaluating how viurlence is influenced in anaerobic conditions with varying bile concentrations and pH levels.

Unlike desert rodents from North America, Allenby’s gerbil (Gerbillus andersoni allenbyi) from the Negev Desert, Israel has evolved with snakes that do not have heat-sensitive sensory pits that enhance night vision. Does this history affect their ability to assess and respond to a snake that has this ability? As a test, we exposed gerbils to risk of predation from various predators, including snakes, owls, and foxes. The snakes included the Saharan horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) and the sidewinder rattlesnake (Crotalus cerastes). The former snake lacks sensory pits and shares a common evolutionary history with the gerbil. The latter snake, while convergent evolutionarily on the horned viper, has sensory pits and no prior history with the gerbil. The gerbils exploited depletable resource patches similarly, regardless of snake species and moon phase. While the gerbils did not respond to the novel snake as a greater threat than their familiar horned viper, the gerbils were cognizant that the novel predator was a threat. In response to both snakes, giving-up densities (GUDs; the amount of food left in a resource patch following exploitation) of the gerbils were higher in the bush than open microhabitat. In response to moonlight, GUDs were higher on full than on the new moon. Based on GUDs, the gerbils responded most to the risk of predation from the red fox, least from the two snake species, and intermediate for the barn owl. Keywords:

<p>The kidney is the major organ responsible for the regulation of the composition and volume of the body fluids, which is essential for homeostasis. The glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (HA), with extreme water-binding capacity, is present in the interstitium of the kidney with a heterogenous distribution. The importance of HA in renal water-handling is unknown and was the focus of the present investigation.</p><p>Acute water-loading in rats caused the amount of papillary HA to increase and during water deprivation, the amount was reduced. Gerbils, with extreme urine concentrating capacity, have less HA in the renal papilla in normal conditions and responded diametrically different to water-loading (reduction in HA). Renomedullary interstitial cells (RMICs), which are probably the main producers of HA in the renal medulla, were cultured at different media osmolalities to mimic the milieu of the medulla during variations in the water balance. The amount of HA found in the media was decreased at high osmolalities and increased at low osmolalities, thereby strengthening the <i>in vivo</i> results. CD44, an HA-receptor involved in the uptake and degradation of HA, was expressed on RMICs in an osmolality dependent manner. During high media osmolality, the CD44 expression increased and at lower osmolalities, the opposite occurred, probably due to the need for uptake and degradation of HA.</p><p>Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury causes a cortical accumulation of HA, up-regulation of CD44, and a depression of functional parameters. The time periods of ischemia correlated with the accumulation of HA which, in turn, was inversely correlated to GFR. Hyaluronidase injections in this setting failed to reduce HA levels and significantly improve renal function.</p><p>In conclusion, the results from the present study suggest an important role for HA and RMICs in renal water-handling and that the intrarenal distribution of HA is altered after ischemia-reperfusion injury, which correlates with renal dysfunction.</p>

The kidney is the major organ responsible for the regulation of the composition and volume of the body fluids, which is essential for homeostasis. The glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (HA), with extreme water-binding capacity, is present in the interstitium of the kidney with a heterogenous distribution. The importance of HA in renal water-handling is unknown and was the focus of the present investigation. Acute water-loading in rats caused the amount of papillary HA to increase and during water deprivation, the amount was reduced. Gerbils, with extreme urine concentrating capacity, have less HA in the renal papilla in normal conditions and responded diametrically different to water-loading (reduction in HA). Renomedullary interstitial cells (RMICs), which are probably the main producers of HA in the renal medulla, were cultured at different media osmolalities to mimic the milieu of the medulla during variations in the water balance. The amount of HA found in the media was decreased at high osmolalities and increased at low osmolalities, thereby strengthening the in vivo results. CD44, an HA-receptor involved in the uptake and degradation of HA, was expressed on RMICs in an osmolality dependent manner. During high media osmolality, the CD44 expression increased and at lower osmolalities, the opposite occurred, probably due to the need for uptake and degradation of HA. Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury causes a cortical accumulation of HA, up-regulation of CD44, and a depression of functional parameters. The time periods of ischemia correlated with the accumulation of HA which, in turn, was inversely correlated to GFR. Hyaluronidase injections in this setting failed to reduce HA levels and significantly improve renal function. In conclusion, the results from the present study suggest an important role for HA and RMICs in renal water-handling and that the intrarenal distribution of HA is altered after ischemia-reperfusion injury, which correlates with renal dysfunction.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Giardia duodenalis is one of the main causative agents of diarrhea worldwide, being transmitted by oral-fecal route. Giardiasis is usually self-limiting in immunocompetent individuals, indicating the presence of effective host defense mechanisms. The objective of that study was to determine the prepatent period and to evaluate the kinetics of elimination of cysts and the immune response humoral systemic (IgA, IgG1, IgG2a, IgM, IgE) and intestinal secretory (IgA) in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) inoculated, experimentally, with different doses of trophozoites of Giardia duodenalis, in the primary infection, reinfection, immunosuppression and reinfection/immunosuppression. We used 48 animals, 6-8 weeks old, distributed in 5 groups inoculated with different doses of trophozoites of G. duodenalis (101, 102, 103, 104 and 105) and a group control. Coproparasitology exams were carried out, daily, using the method of fluctuation in zinc sulfate 33%, to determine the prepatent period and the kinetics of elimination of cysts. Weekly, blood collections for retro-orbital puncture were performed and samples of feces were processed for obtaining of faecal extracts. In the 45th day after inoculation, the animals of each group were redistributed in 4 subgroups and submitted to the reinfection, immunosuppression or reinfection/immunosuppression. It was verified that all the gerbils inoculated with different trophozoites doses were susceptible to the primary infection, with prepatent period between 9 and 13 days. The reinfected animals didn't eliminate cysts and the immunosuppressed or reinfected/immunosuppressed again they presented recrudescence of the infection. The production of antibodies was induced by the parasite, although the systemics antibodies just reflect the stimulation of the immune response for G. duodenalis, since they don't act in the elimination of the parasite. In the reinfection it was observed fast production of both serum and secretory antibodies and the immunossuppressed animals they presented smaller levels of responsible antibodies for the control of the infection. Fecal IgA showed increase in the titles in the period in that absence of cysts was verified in the feces, could be correlated with the control of the giardiasis in this experimental model. / Giardia duodenalis é um dos principais agentes causadores de diarréia em todo o mundo, sendo transmitido por via oro-fecal. A giardíase é, usualmente, auto-limitante em indivíduos imunocompetentes, indicando a presença de mecanismos efetivos de defesa do hospedeiro. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar o período pré-patente e avaliar a cinética de eliminação de cistos e a resposta imune humoral sistêmica (IgA, IgG1, IgG2a, IgM, IgE) e secretora intestinal (IgA) em gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) inoculados, experimentalmente, com diferentes doses de trofozoítos de Giardia duodenalis, na infecção primária, reinfecção, imunossupressão e reinfecção/imunossupressão. Foram utilizados 48 animais, com idade entre 6 e 8 semanas, distribuídos em 5 grupos inoculados com diferentes doses de trofozoítos de G. duodenalis (101, 102, 103, 104 e 105) e um grupo controle. Exames coproparasitológicos foram realizados, diariamente, utilizando método de flutuação em sulfato de zinco a 33%, para determinar o período pré-patente e a cinética de eliminação de cistos. Semanalmente, coletas sanguíneas por punção retro-orbital foram realizadas e amostras de fezes foram processadas para obtenção de extratos fecais. No 45º dia após inoculação, os animais de cada grupo foram redistribuídos em 4 subgrupos e submetidos à reinfecção, imunossupressão ou reinfecção/imunossupressão. Verificou-se que todos os gerbils inoculados com diferentes doses de trofozoítos mostraram-se susceptíveis à infecção primária, com período pré-patente entre 9 e 13 dias. Os animais reinfectados não voltaram a eliminar cistos e os imunossuprimidos ou reinfectados/imunossuprimidos apresentaram recrudescência da infecção. A produção de anticorpos foi induzida pelo parasito, embora os sistêmicos apenas reflitam a estimulação da resposta imune por G. duodenalis, já que não atuam na eliminação do parasito. Na reinfecção foi observada rápida produção de anticorpos séricos e secretores e os animais imunossuprimidos apresentaram baixos níveis de anticorpos responsáveis pelo controle da infecção. A IgA fecal mostrou aumento nos títulos no período em que se verificou ausência de cistos nas fezes, podendo estar correlacionada com o controle da giardíase neste modelo experimental. / Mestre em Imunologia e Parasitologia Aplicadas

Orientadores: Sebastião Roberto Taboga, Silvana Gisele Pegorin de Campos / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T14:53:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Goncalves_BiancaFacchim_D.pdf: 8580892 bytes, checksum: 1e3927b5ad73e189b4b4245aa141895e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Um dos principais desafios no campo de pesquisa do câncer prostático é a busca por sistemas modelo que permitam a investigação dos aspectos patológicos, bioquímicos e genéticos desta doença. O gerbilo Meriones unguiculatus tem possibilitado a avaliação de lesões prostáticas e sua evolução de estágio benigno para maligno (invasivo) após período relativamente curto de tratamento com o carcinógeno N-Metil-N-Nitrosuréia (MNU), um potente causador de metilação do DNA por ação direta. Assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivos: 1) Determinar a incidência, multiplicidade e latência tumoral de lesões espontâneas e quimicamente induzidas nos lobos prostáticos ventral e dorsolateral do gerbilo; 2) Investigar se o estradiol exerce papel protetor e/ou promotor sobre neoplasias induzidas por MNU; 3) Avaliar o potencial promotor da dieta hiperlipídica sobre a carcinogênese induzida na próstata ventral; 4) Analisar a participação de produtos alterados de genes ras e do status global de metilação do DNA do epitélio prostático no processo tumoral mediado por MNU. Para tanto foram utilizados animais adultos submetidos à dose única intraperitoneal de MNU (50mg/Kg), exceto o grupo controle. Os grupos experimentais foram submetidos à exposição crônica de andrógeno, estradiol ou dieta hiperlipídica por 14 e 28 semanas. As metodologias aplicadas envolveram análises quantitativas e estatísticas de multiplicidade e incidência de lesões prostáticas, peso corporal, acúmulo de gordura corporal, peso prostático, dosagens hormonais, índice proliferativo, cariometria, frequência de células AR-positivas e basais, status global de metilação e determinação da expressão de proteínas. O modelo de indução tumoral prostática por MNU associado à testosterona no gerbilo se mostrou eficaz, pois reduziu a latência tumoral e permitiu o estudo de estágios avançados da carcinogênese após curto período. As neoplasias se manifestam inicialmente no lobo dorsolateral e requerem um tempo maior para se estabelecer no lobo ventral. No entanto, a progressão de lesões pré-malignas para malignas ocorre de maneira mais significativa no lobo ventral. Isso indica que a progressão tumoral ocorre de maneira distinta entre os lobos prostáticos e que vias alternativas estão possivelmente envolvidas nesse processo. A longa exposição a altas doses de estrógeno foi capaz de prevenir e reduzir a taxa de crescimento tumoral. Apesar dos efeitos terapêuticos contra a progressão neoplásica, a terapia estrogênica levou ao estabelecimento de um epitélio com características distintas da próstata normal, como: mudanças no padrão de metilação do DNA e aumento de células basais e AR positivas. Juntos, esses eventos contribuíram para criar um ambiente epitelial instável que pode provocar a recidiva das lesões em períodos subsequentes. A associação entre MNU e dieta hiperlipídica promoveu aumento na incidência de lesões estimuladas pelo carcinógeno isoladamente, as quais apresentaram maior número de células AR-positivas, ruptura da camada de músculo liso indicando microinvasão tumoral, e alta reatividade para metaloproteinase do tipo 2. A análise molecular indicou alta expressão das proteínas Ras em tecidos induzidos por MNU, sugerindo a participação dessa via na promoção e progressão de tumores prostáticos. Assim, conclui-se que a dieta hiperlipídica pode ser considerada um agente promotor da carcinogênese prostática, e o gerbilo representa um bom modelo para estudos histopatológicos / Abstract: One of the major challenges in the field of prostate cancer research is the search for model systems that allow the investigation of pathological, biochemical and genetic factors of this disease. The gerbil Meriones unguiculatus has enabled the evaluation of prostate lesions and evolution from benign to malignant (invasive) stage after a relatively short period of treatment with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), a potent causative of DNA methylation by direct action. Thus, this study aimed to: 1) Determine the incidence, multiplicity, and tumor latency of spontaneous and chemically-induced lesions in ventral and dorsolateral gerbils' prostatic lobes; 2) Investigate whether estradiol exerts protective and/or promoter hole on neoplasms induced by MNU; 3) Evaluate the promotional potential of high-fat diet on induced-carcinogenesis in ventral prostate; 4) Analyze the involvement of altered ras gene products and the global DNA methylation status of prostate epithelium on MNU-mediated tumor process. Therefore, we used adult animals subjected to a single intraperitoneal dose (50mg/kg) of MNU, except the control group. The experimental groups were subjected to chronic exposure of androgen, estradiol or high-fat diet for 14 and 28 weeks. The methodologies involved quantitative and statistical analysis of multiplicity and incidence of prostatic lesions, body weight, body fat accumulation, prostate weight, hormonal measurements, proliferative index, karyometry, frequency of AR-positive and basal cells, global methylation status and determination of protein expression. The model of prostatic tumor induction by MNU associated with testosterone in the gerbil was effective because it reduced tumor latency and allows the study of advanced stages of carcinogenesis after short period. Neoplasms manifest initially in dorsolateral lobe and require a longer time to be established in ventral lobe. However, the progression from premalignant to malignant lesions occurs more significantly in the ventral lobe. This indicates that tumor progression occurs differently between prostatic lobes and alternative pathways maybe possibly involved in this process. Long exposure to high doses of estrogen was able to prevent and reduce the rate of tumor growth. Despite therapeutic effects against neoplastic progression, estrogen therapy led to the establishment of an epithelium with distinct characteristics from normal prostate, such as changes in the pattern of DNA methylation and increased amount of basal cell and ARpositive cells. Together, these events contributed to create an unstable epithelial compartment that can cause lesions recurrence in subsequent periods. The association between MNU and high-fat diet promoted an increase in incidence of lesions stimulated by carcinogen alone, which had a higher number of AR-positive cells, disruption of the smooth muscle layer indicating tumor microinvasion and high reactivity for metalloproteinase type 2. Molecular analysis indicated high expression of Ras proteins in tissues induced by MNU, suggesting the involvement of this pathway in the promotion and progression of prostate tumors. Thus, we conclude that the high-fat diet can be considered a promotional agent of prostate carcinogenesis and that gerbil is a good model for histopathological studies / Doutorado / Biologia Celular / Doutora em Biologia Celular e Estrutural