Extraction of nucleic acids is an important step for all molecular biological studies. The process of isolation of plant DNA is complicated due to the presence of polyphenols, polysaccharides and other metabolites. They can be co-isolated with DNA and act as PCR inhibitors. The aim of this study was to compare CTAB extraction procedure, Qiagen DNA easy kit, direct homogenization, carboxyl-functionalised magnetic non-porous HEMA based microspheres and combination of the above mentioned methods for DNA isolation from different plants. The DNA was evaluated regarding concentration, purity and amplification in PCR. All methods provided DNA that could be used in downstream PCR applications. However, there were differences regarding yield, purity, labour intensiveness and cost. Combination of direct homogenization and magnetic microspheres coated by carboxyl groups was isolated DNA from various plants and plant foods in a quality suitable for convectional PCR, real time PCR and restriction analysis. This method is fast, simple and does not require work with harmful substances.

This thesis is interested in isolation and identification of probiotic bacteria in three different probiotic products using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA in quality suitable for PCR was isolated from crude lysates using three different types of magnetic microparticles and phenol extraction. Identification genera and species of probiotic bacteria was proven using genus and species specific PCRs. Results were in accordance with data presented by manufacturers.

Um total de 107 S. aureus isolados de casos de mastite, glândulas portadoras, pele do úbere, ordenhadores e insufladores, em rebanhos de São Paulo e Pernambuco, foram tipados por técnicas moleculares PCR-RFLP do gene coa e PCR de spa distinguiram seis perfis. Todas as amostras amplificaram genes coa, spa, icaA e 69% produziram biofilme glicose-induzido in vitro. PFGE identificou 31 perfis e 12 linhagens. Uma linhagem foi predominante (P < 0,0001) e amplamente disseminada em ambas as regiões. Um mesmo perfil foi isolado de mastite clínica, subclínica e portadoras. Houve heterogeneidade genética entre isolados de fazenda. Isolados de origem humana e animal constituíram populações distintas. Poucos isolados de leite, insufladores e pele do úbere tiveram igual perfil. Uma amostra extramamária, 77% dos isolados de leite e. 99% de S. aureus de portadoras produziram biofilme. Não foi detectada correlação entre produção de biofilme e CCS. O isolamento sucessivo do mesmo perfil de PFGE de glândulas assintomáticas por mais de 16 dias caracterizou o estágio de portador. / A total of 107 S. aureus isolated from bovine milk, udder skin, milkers and milking machine, from São Paulo and Pernambuco herds was typed by molecular techniques. PCR-RFLP coa gene and PCR spa gene distinguished six amplicons. All strains amplified coa, spa, icaA genes and, 69% produced in vitro glucose-induced biofilm. PFGE identified 31 pulsotypes, 12 lineages. One of the lineages was predominantly isolated (P<0.0001) and widely disseminated. A same pulsotype was isolated from clinical and, subclinical mastitis as well as from carriers. There was genetic heterogeneity among isolates from the herds. Strains from human and animal origin were genetically different. Few isolates from milk, milking machine and udder skin showed similar pulsotype. An extramammary strain, 77% of the milk isolates and, 99% of the S. aureus isolated from carriers produced biofilm. It was not detected any correlation between SCC and biofilm production. The successive isolation during more than 16 days of a same pulsotype from the asymptomatic glands characterized the carrier status.

Um total de 107 S. aureus isolados de casos de mastite, glândulas portadoras, pele do úbere, ordenhadores e insufladores, em rebanhos de São Paulo e Pernambuco, foram tipados por técnicas moleculares PCR-RFLP do gene coa e PCR de spa distinguiram seis perfis. Todas as amostras amplificaram genes coa, spa, icaA e 69% produziram biofilme glicose-induzido in vitro. PFGE identificou 31 perfis e 12 linhagens. Uma linhagem foi predominante (P < 0,0001) e amplamente disseminada em ambas as regiões. Um mesmo perfil foi isolado de mastite clínica, subclínica e portadoras. Houve heterogeneidade genética entre isolados de fazenda. Isolados de origem humana e animal constituíram populações distintas. Poucos isolados de leite, insufladores e pele do úbere tiveram igual perfil. Uma amostra extramamária, 77% dos isolados de leite e. 99% de S. aureus de portadoras produziram biofilme. Não foi detectada correlação entre produção de biofilme e CCS. O isolamento sucessivo do mesmo perfil de PFGE de glândulas assintomáticas por mais de 16 dias caracterizou o estágio de portador. / A total of 107 S. aureus isolated from bovine milk, udder skin, milkers and milking machine, from São Paulo and Pernambuco herds was typed by molecular techniques. PCR-RFLP coa gene and PCR spa gene distinguished six amplicons. All strains amplified coa, spa, icaA genes and, 69% produced in vitro glucose-induced biofilm. PFGE identified 31 pulsotypes, 12 lineages. One of the lineages was predominantly isolated (P<0.0001) and widely disseminated. A same pulsotype was isolated from clinical and, subclinical mastitis as well as from carriers. There was genetic heterogeneity among isolates from the herds. Strains from human and animal origin were genetically different. Few isolates from milk, milking machine and udder skin showed similar pulsotype. An extramammary strain, 77% of the milk isolates and, 99% of the S. aureus isolated from carriers produced biofilm. It was not detected any correlation between SCC and biofilm production. The successive isolation during more than 16 days of a same pulsotype from the asymptomatic glands characterized the carrier status.

Leaky buildings are those that show elevated moisture contents of the framing timber, which can subsequently lead to the establishment of fungal and bacterial decay. Prior to this study, the causative agents of the decay in these leaky buildings were unknown, though it was suspected to be one or more species of decay fungi. Therefore, the overall goal of this multi-disciplinary PhD thesis research was to determine the causative agents of decay in leaky buildings of New Zealand in an effort to develop solutions for both their remediation and future prevention. Use of molecular biology methodology and classical mycological techniques based on morphology enabled identification of decay fungi from framing timber and air samples of leaky New Zealand buildings and provided insight into relative importance based on isolation frequency. In most cases, fungi colonising Pinus radiata D. Don were isolated to produce pure cultures. Mycelia from these cultures on agar media were collected to extract DNA. To identify the fungi to the species level, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with fungal specific DNA primer pairs were performed followed by DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Identification was by BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) search on sequences in known GenBanks. In total, 421 samples from leaky buildings were processed, predominately untreated P. radiata decayed framing timber and also fibre cement boards and building paper. From these, sixty-eight fungal identifications were made. The only taxa that were isolated with significant frequency were identified as 4 basidiomycete species, as follows, along with the number of times they were isolated from the 421 samples: • Gloeophyllum sepiarium (Wulf.: Fr.) Karst. 13x • Oligoporus placenta (Fries 1865) Gilb. In Ryv.1985 11x • Antrodia sinuosa (Fr.) Karst. 8x • Gloeophyllum trabeum (Fr.) Murr. 4x Although these species were identified repeatedly, in total they represent less than 10% of the total samples and, therefore, it is concluded that the leaky building decay samples represent high fungal biodiversity. An aerial spore study of internal air, wall cavity air and exterior air of leaky buildings was carried out using a Merck MAS-100 instrument which collects spores directly onto selective media plates. Viable fungal aerial spores were detected at every sampling location tested at the leaky buildings, by the criteria of culturing, with a highest mean of 3714 colony-forming units (CFU) per cubic metre found in the cavities of water-damaged walls. This aerial spore study in conjunction with isolation from decayed wood samples from the same leaky buildings enabled identification of G. sepiarium and A. sinuosa at the same test site. The use of carboxymethylcellulose medium further demonstrated the presence of potential cellulose-degrading fungi within and around the location. Overall, the combination of direct sampling of timber and air sampling proved useful for detection of fungal species variability at a multi-unit building. Four decay fungi isolated from New Zealand leaky buildings and two standard control decay fungi (Coniophora puteana and Serpula lacrymans) were submitted to laboratory wood block testing to determine the effectiveness of currently used wood framing preservatives under laboratory conditions before and after a standard leaching regime. P. radiata blocks were treated with water based boron copper azole and solvent based IPBC propiconazole plus tebuconazole (1:1) preservatives and exposed to the basidiomycetes for 12 weeks. Mass loss for the fungal decay-infected samples was recorded of up to 55% for preservative-treated samples, up to 62% mass loss for leached samples and up to 58% mass loss for un-preservative treated samples. Additionally, well defined dosage responses and approximate toxic thresholds were obtained for all preservatives tested. Results suggested that the minimum IPBC retention specified by Hazard Class 1.2 of NZS3640:2003 (0.025% m/m) is on the low side, and demonstrated after the 2 week leaching regime complete loss of efficacy of boron at 0.4% m/m boric acid equivalent (BAE). This PhD research gave a first overview of fungi occurring in New Zealand leaky buildings, and it demonstrated the following key aspects of wood preservation: 1. The isolated test fungus Antrodia sinuosa was more difficult to control with propiconazole plus tebuconazole at retention 0.007% m/m than the known tolerant fungus Oligoporus placenta; 2. Boron at Hazard Class 1.2 retention of 0.4% m/m BAE was not toxic to Oligoporus placenta; 3. Serpula lacrymans exhibited tolerance to the highest retention of 0.06 %m/m tebuconazole plus propiconazole; and 4. Gloeophyllum species appeared susceptible to all wood preservatives. In order to correlate fungal colonisation and wood decay, colonised wood blocks were studied using light microscopy (LM) and field- emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Microscopic observations of P. radiata wood blocks following a standard wood decay test of twelve weeks of fungal colonisation by Serpula lacrymans, Antrodia sinuosa, Oligoporus placenta and Gloeophyllum sepiarium revealed that the two microscopic techniques employed were complementary by allowing features such as pit membranes, chlamydospores or S3/S2 compound middle lamella interface to be photographed in greater detail, allowing for more precise analyses and interpretation of key findings, as follows: 1. Brown rot fungi directly target their apical growth towards degraded pit apetures; 2. Reliance on light microscopy and observed birefringence as a tool to record changes in cell wall crystallinity associated with brown rot decay alone could be misleading; 3. Presence of fine (≤ 1 m) to wide (≥ 3.5 m) bore-hole and hyphal size ranges, and nearly unchanged cell wall thickness of all wood/test fungal combinations, confirmed active decay at moderate to late stages; 4. Some ray parenchyma cells for Antrodia sinuosa, Oligoporus placenta and Gloeophyllum sepiarium colonised blocks were intact throughout late stages of decay, outlining that they were not preferentially degraded early in the brown rot decay process, and 5. Presence of bore-holes, clamp and medallion clamp formation and resting spores (chlamydospores and arthrospores) are fungal specific, can aid in their differentiation and identification, and should be recorded during wood decay studies, as especially resting spores are an important factor when planning remediation strategies. In summary, this PhD thesis research provided the first comprehensive investigation into the biodiversity of fungi from leaky New Zealand buildings, identified the dominant species and presented details about their micromorphology and their decay patterns. It also demonstrated substantial differences in efficacy of preservative formulations currently (December 2008) approved for framing treatments in New Zealand and possible deficiencies where framing may be subjected to severe leaching. This study also provided the first comparative analyses of viable fungal aerial spores between leaky wall cavities and the surrounding air environment. Subsequently, this research added to the knowledge of the decay fungal species diversity in and around New Zealand leaky buildings, outlined their capabilities to degrade treated and un-treated P. radiata framing timber and illustrated the efficacy of New Zealand approved wood preservatives for their potential as remedial treatment and future prevention.

In these days are probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) very often used in food processing industry, such as milk products, cheese and fermented salami production. As well as the food conservation agent. Except of the industry usage of the LAB there are microbiological aspects. Identification of the bacterial species methods based on the isolation and amplification of DNA are very often used last few years. Diploma thesis deal with the bacterial cell of Lactobacillus species lysis and it´s optimalization. At first it was tested the optimal concentration of lysozyme (3mg/ml, 5mg/ml, 10mg/ml) and the exposure times (3, 5 a 10 hours). Another testing was aimed to the use and suitability of washing powder to the bacterial cell of Lactobacillus species lysis. I tested the Amway washing powder optimal concentration (1%, 2%, 3% a 4%). Four of another comercial washing powders were tested too. All these tests were performed at the pure Lactobacillus bacterial culture. To ensure the results I tested the washing powders at the real food matrix (Acidified milk, yogurt mango, yogurt white). All the methods were evaluated at the amplification method PCR with specific primers for the Lactobacillus genus. The DNA isolation was performed with the paramagnetic microsperes P(HEMA-co-GMA) and the amount of the DNA was quantified spectrophotometrically. The PCR products detection was performed with the agarose gel electrophoresis.

The rapid and accurate identification of the bacterium of the genus Lactobacillus, which are an important part of the normal gastrointestinal microflora and fermented dairy products are currently mainly used amplification methods. The aim of the study was to analyze the possibility of resolution of selected bacterial strains of the genus Lactobacillus, using the metod of polymerase chain reaction in the real time combined with high resolution melting curve analysis (qPCR HRM). It was tested five primers designed for qPCR-HRM analysis of lactic acid bacteria. The specificity of the primers was also verified simultaneously using bioinformatic analysis. On the basis of analysis of the DNA were selected as the most appropriate primers P1V1/P2V1, V3F/V3R and V6F/V6R. The suitability of the primers V3F/V3R and V6F/V6R was verified on a complex sample of food supplement from which the DNA was isolated using magnetic particles. The presence of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus was performed using high resoluting melting analysis curves. The obtained results were in agreement with the information given by the manufacturer.

In impoverished and resource limited communities such as townships, and welfare organizations, areas such as living and sleeping spaces are sometimes shared with animals, and occasionally humans. Dogs play an integral role in our lives and have become part of the family. Therefore, it is probable that ectoparasites, such as ticks, that feed on dogs also feed on other vertebrates, thereby, transmitting pathogens. The primary aim of this study was to screen for the presence of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from welfare organisations and townships in Cape Town, with special focus on Ehrlichia and Babesia spp. The reason for this choice of subject is due to the fact that very few tick-borne infection studies have focused on resource limited communities. Furthermore, welfare organisations have continuously attracted awareness due to the amount of unrestricted work performed by veterinarians in communities with limited resources. Consequently, the topic was borne. A total of 126 blood samples and 509 ticks (adults and nymphs) were collected directly from dogs from four welfare organisations and two townships in Cape Town. Samples were collected from April to July 2014. The four welfare organisations where samples were collected included the Animal Anti Cruelty League welfare organisations in Epping and Bellville, the Lucky Lucy Foundation in Joostenberg Vlakte and The Emma Animal Rescue Society (TEARS), located in the Sunnydale area. Samples were also collected from the Asanda village and Nomzamo, two townships located just outside the Cape Town suburb, the Strand. DNA was extracted from blood and ectoparasites and screened for the presence of Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Theileria and Babesia species infections using touchdown PCR and RLB hybridization assays. Genus and species-specific probes were used during hybridization in order to identify specific parasite infections in the blood samples and the tick samples pooled according to geographical origin and species. Forty six (36.5%) of the blood samples tested positive for tick-borne pathogen DNA. Of the positive blood samples, 17 (13.5%) were infected with Ehrlichia canis; 16 (12.7%) with Babesia rossi and four (3.2%) samples were infected with Babesia vogeli. Incidental infections were also detected, these included Ehrlichia ruminantium (n=6, [4.7%]), Theileria taurotragi (n=2, [1.6%]) and Anaplasma sp. Omatjenne (n=1, [0.8%]) infections. DNA detected from 10 samples (7.94%) hybridized only to the Ehrlichia/Anaplasma genus-specific probes and four samples (3.17%) hybridized only to the Theileria/Babesia genus-specific probes. None of these 14 samples hybridized to any of the species-specific probes. Collected Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=457) and Haemaphysalis elliptica (n=52) ticks were grouped into 15 pools, representing both tick species according to specific collection locations. Since only two H. elliptica from Asanda and one R. sanguineus from TEARS were collected, these ticks were mixed in pools of the dominant species as they were too few for DNA extraction. Ticks were collected from the Nomzamo Township (R. sanguineus n=400), Asanda village (H. elliptica n=2; R. sanguineus n=42), TEARS (H. elliptica n=21; R. sanguineus n=1), and the Animal Anti Cruelty League in both Epping (R. sanguineus n=14), and Bellville (H. elliptica n=29), in Cape Town. Analysis by the RLB assay showed that 11 (73.3%) of the 15 tick pools representing both tick species were positive for at least one parasite species. All positive samples hybridized with the Ehrlichia/Anaplasma genus-specific probe. Three (20%) tick pools containing both tick species tested positive for Ehrlichia canis infection, two (13.3%) tested positive for Babesia rossi and Babesia vogeli DNA was identified in one (6.6%) tick pool. The Theileria/Babesia genus-specific probe hybridised in three (20%) tick pools. These three pools were comprised of both R. sanguineus and H. elliptica tick species. These tick pools also tested positive for a specific Babesia tick-borne pathogen. Tick-borne pathogen DNA could not be detected in four (26.6%) tick pools. The fore-mentioned tick-borne pathogen DNA detected in the dog blood samples, and the ectoparasites collected from the same dogs during this study, suggests that dogs play a large role in the endemicity of these pathogens / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Science)

Prenatal assessment of fetal health is routinely offered throughout pregnancy to ensure that the most effective management can be provided to maintain fetal and maternal well-being. Currently, invasive testing is used for definitive diagnosis of fetal aneuploidy, which is associated with a 1% risk of iatrogenic fetal loss. Developing non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a key area of research and methods to increase the level of cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) within the maternal circulation have been discussed to improve accuracy of such tests. In this study, three strategies; co-amplification at lower denaturation temperature polymerase chain reaction (COLD-PCR), inverse-PCR and Pippin Prep™ gel electrophoresis, were analysed to identify a novel approach to selectively enrich shorter cffDNA fragments from larger maternal cell-free DNA (cfDNA). The sensitivity of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) against real-time PCR (qPCR) was compared for fetal sex and RHD genotyping. In addition RHD zygosity testing was carried out for non-maternal samples. Consequently, Pippin Prep™ gel electrophoresis was combined with ddPCR analysis for the NIPD of Down Syndrome (DS) in pseudo-maternal samples. The results revealed that the Pippin Prep™ gel electrophoresis enrichment approach successfully demonstrated 2-fold to 5-fold increases in the cffDNA fraction. However, further optimisation assays of COLD-PCR and inverse-PCR using actual maternal samples were required. The spike experiments for DS detection revealed that with the present assay IV overrepresentation of the chromosome 21 target could be significantly detected for samples with ≥15% ‘cffDNA fraction’. In conjunction with the Pippin Prep™ enrichment method, this would have enabled assessment of all 10 maternal samples. Alternatively, fetal sex and RHD genotyping results determined that ddPCR provides a more sensitive platform compared to qPCR approaches, particularly for samples that express low cffDNA fractions (<2%). The ddPCR platform also proved to be a rapid and accurate system for the determination of RHD zygosity. This study highlights that ddPCR could be used as opposed to qPCR for accurate determination of fetal sex and RHD status. While sequencing approaches currently provide the most sensitive platforms for NIPT of fetal aneuploidy, high costs (>£400) prevent universal application. The combination of cffDNA enrichment with ddPCR analysis could provide a cheaper and more widely available platform for NIPD. However, further large scale validation studies using actual maternal samples are required.

Systematic studies of basal nonsense suppression, orthogonality of tRNAPyl variants, and cross recognition between codons and tRNA anticodons are reported. E. coli displays detectable basal amber and opal suppression but shows a negligible ochre suppression. Although detectable, basal amber suppression is fully inhibited when a pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase (PylRS)-tRNAPyl_CUA pair is genetically encoded. trnaPyl_CUA is aminoacylated by an E. coli aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase at a low level, however, this misaminoacylation is fully inhibited when both PylRS and its substrate are present. Besides that it is fully orthogonal in E. coli and can be coupled with PylRS to genetically incorporate a NAA at an ochre codon, tRNAPyl_UUA is not able to recognize an UAG codon to induce amber suppression. This observation is in direct conflict with the wobble base pair hypothesis and enables using an evolved M. jannaschii tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase-tRNAPyl_UUA pair and the wild type or evolved PylRS-tRNAPyl_UUA pair to genetically incorporate two different NAAs at amber and ochre codons. tRNAPyl_UCA is charged by E. coli tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase, thus not orthogonal in E. coli. Mutagenic studies of trnaPyl_UCA led to the discovery of its G73U form which shows a higher orthogonality. Mutating trnaPyl_CUA to trnaPyl_UCCU not only leads to the loss of the relative orthogonality of tRNAPyl in E. coli but also abolishes its aminoacylation by PylRS.