Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-04-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:38:25Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 prado_tm_me_araiq.pdf: 1251787 bytes, checksum: e701c01c70d3c55f076e7d02386ea0b5 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O presente trabalho mostra o desenvolvimento do primeiro biossensor descrito na literatura para determinação de antibióticos β-lactâmicos, usando pasta de carbono modificada com a enzima β-lactamase, e sua aplicação em amostras de leite de vaca in natura. A partir de estudos prévios de otimização da preparação do biossensor, o grafite em pó foi ativado com carbodiimida para permitir a ligação covalente da enzima β-lactamase que, junto com o mediador de elétrons ftalocianina de cobalto ofereceram variações na corrente catódica na presença da penicilina G, sendo esta escolhida para representar os antibióticos β-lactâmicos. Utilizando este procedimento para a construção dos biossensores, foi possível registrar voltamogramas cíclicos e amperogramas que permitiram quantificar a benzilpenicilina (penicilina G) em condições de análise também otimizadas, que incluíram estudo da quantidade de mediador na pasta; o pH, tipo e concentração do eletrólito usado para realização das medidas e o potencial aplicado na amperometria. Com o método otimizado foi possível detectar penicilina G em amostras de leite in natura, fortificadas com o antibiótico, com alta exatidão (erro relativo de 1%) e boa precisão (desvio padrão relativo de 8,3%, n = 3), mostrando que o biossensor desenvolvido é uma ferramenta promissora para detecção de penicilinas, e que ao serem realizados mais estudos para diminuir seu limite de quantificação, poderá se tornar uma um método de análise alternativo aos kits comerciais existentes / This work describes the development of the first biosensor described in the literature for the determination of β-lactam antibiotics using a carbon paste electrode modified with the enzyme β-lactamase, and its application in samples of fresh cow's milk. After optimizing the biosensor preparation procedure, the graphite powder was activated with carbodiimide to allow covalent binding of the enzyme β-lactamase, which together with the electron mediator, cobalt phthalocyanine, offered variations in cathodic currents in the presence of penicillin G, which was chosen as representative of the β-lactam antibiotics. Using this procedure for the construction of biosensors, it was possible to record cyclic voltammograms and amperograms that enabled quantification of benzylpenicillin (penicillin G) under analytical conditions that had been optimized in terms of the amount of mediator in the paste, the pH, the type and concentration of the electrolyte used in the measurements, and the applied amperometric potential. With the optimized method, it was possible to detect penicillin G in samples of fresh milk fortified with the antibiotic, with high accuracy (error of 1%) and adequate precision (RSD of 8.3%, n=3), demonstrating that the proposed biosensor is a promising tool for the detection of penicillins. Once quantitation limits have been further improved, the analytical method could become an alternative to existing commercial kits

It was the purpose of the present investigation to determine if sensitivity to other antibiotics can likewise be affected by subjecting S. aureus to heparin contact. It is of special interest in this problem to determine whether heparin in some manner affects the combining process of penicillin with the cells of several strains of S. aureus.

Bakgrund: Bakterieinfektioner som förekommer efter förlossningen kräver en läkemedelsbehandling med antibiotika. Den största utmaningen vid det här fallet är att ge modern en effektiv farmakologisk behandling, utan att skada spädbarnet. Även mjölkproducerande djur kan få bakterieinfektioner och behöver behandlas med antibiotika.. Syftet: Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka utsöndringen av β-laktamantibiotika från blodet till mjölk. Metod: Syftet besvarades genom originalartiklar i databasen Pubmed. Resultat: Resultatet visade att de flesta β-laktamantibiotika kan passera över till bröstmjölk, men i mycket låga mängder. Vilket i sin tur innebär mindre mängd läkemedel som når spädbarnet. β-laktamantibiotika nivåerna i mjölk från djur har även visat sig vara mycket låga efter antibiotikabehandling. Om läkemedelsresterna visar sig vara mycket låga, men över de fastställda gränserna kan det i vissa fall behövas en karenstid eller en kassering av mjölken. Slutsats: Slutsatsen som kan dras baserad på denna studie är att de flesta β-laktamantibiotika kan passera över till bröstmjölk och mjölk från djur, men i väldigt låga mängder. Vilket innebär att de nivåerna som har hittats i bröst och komjölk inte tillför någon skada. Därför kan man konstatera att de flesta β-laktamantibiotikagrupper är säkra att använda för ammande mödrar, så länge barnet inte har någon överkänslighet mot dessa antibiotikagrupper.

A stable biofilm of Penicillium chrysogenum in a slab geometry was characterized with respect to penicillin production at various sugar and oxygen concentrations by studies using a novel bench scale bioreactor. The biofilm was submerged in aerated liquid media, mounted vertically in a tube and oriented so that the liquid media and sparged gas bubbles flow uniformly over the two slab faces. The conditions necessary for definite oxygen and sugar limitations were found by operating under various bulk nutrient concentrations. The periodic determination of total biofilm volume (rate of growth) and dry cell weight provided additional information. Definite oxygen mass transfer limitations were found to exist in the biofilm. These limitations could be overcome by increasing the oxygen supply rate to the biofilm. / Master of Science

Peptidoglycan not only protects bacterial cells against intracellular pressure but also provides the cells with a defined morphology. Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) catalyze the polymerization of the peptidoglycan in Bacillus subtilis. PBP2a and PBP2b are class B PBPs which have been known to have transpeptidase activities and they localize at different positions on the cell membrane. PBP2a spreads around the cylindrical wall as well as some at the septum, and PPB2b localizes exclusively to the septum and some at the cell poles. Both PBP2a and PBP2b are composed of four domains: S, N, P, and C domains from the N- to C- terminus. A FLAG epitope was tagged to the C-terminal ends of PBP2a and PBP2b. Cells with FLAG tagged PBP2a or PBP2b grow as well as wild type strain. Expression of PBP2a-FLAG and PBP2b-FLAG can be detected by western blotting using anti FLAG antibody. The expression of wild type PBP2a/PBP2b in these strains was tightly controlled by a xylose promoter. The FLAG fusion didn't influence the normal membrane localizations of PBP2a or PBP2b. PBP2a/2b mutant strains with the S and/or N domains switched between PBP2a and PBP2b were constructed. All these domain-switch proteins were tagged with a FLAG at the C-terminus. The expression of these recombinant proteins can be detected by western blotting. None of these domain-switch proteins was able to complement the wild type PBP2a and PBP2b and cells with only these recombinant proteins but no wild type proteins were non-viable. Cellular localization of these domain switch proteins were visualized using immunofluorescence microscopy. Proteins containing the PBP2a S domain had the same localization patterns as wild type PBP2a. Proteins that have the PBP2b S domain localized specifically at the septum and cell poles, which is similar to the wild type PBP2b. These results indicate that the S domain is the determinant to direct PBP2a and PBP2b to their cellular destinations. / Master of Science

The penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) synthesize and modify peptidoglycan (PG), the main structural element of the bacterial cell wall. PBPs and PG synthesis are highly conserved in all bacteria and both have been important targets for antibiotic and antibacterial development. In the Gram positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis, PBP1 is composed of the four domains S, N, P, and C in order from the N- to C-terminus. It plays important roles in vegetative PG synthesis. Compared to the wild type B. subtilis, the PBP1 null mutant has decreased growth rate, cell diameter, and PG crosslinking; the cell population has more long cells; and the colonies have raised and smooth edges. In this work, we constructed six mutant forms of PBP1 that were tagged with a C-terminal FLAG epitope, to complement the wild type gene. We examined the colony and cell morphologies, and PBP1 localization in the mutant strains. The removal of the cytoplasmic region of the PBP1 S domain and the replacement of PBP1 S domain by PBP4 S domain did not change the colony morphologies, and each of these two mutations had minor effects on growth rate, cell diameter, PG crosslinking and generation of long cells in the cell population. The single point mutation in the active site of the N or P domain presumably removed the enzymatic activity, and each mutation caused slower growth rate, decreased cell diameter and PG crosslinking. The point mutation in the P domain had a minor effect on the colony morphology and formation of long cells; while the mutation in the N domain altered the colony morphology, and resulted in high percentage of long cells that is comparable to the PBP1 null mutant. The C domain of PBP1 has no apparent enzymatic activity, but the loss of it altered the colony morphology, and caused slower growth rate, decreased cell diameter, and PG crosslinking. In the wild type B. subtilis, PBP1 localizes to the septum. This septum localization specificity was lost in strains expressing PBP1 without the C domain, with PBP4 S domain, or with a point mutation in the active site of the N domain. PBP1 with a point mutation in the active site of the P domain, or without the cytoplasmic region of the S domain, had decreased septum localization specificity. These findings were used to develop a model of how PBP1 domain functioning in B. subtilis. / Master of Science

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry, 1978 / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ph. D. / Ph. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemistry

Em procariotos, a principal forma de reprodução é a divisão binária, que permite à célula-mãe dar origem a duas outras células-filhas, com conteúdo genético idêntico ao da progenitora. Em Bacillus subtilis este processo acontece graças ao divisomo, um complexo formado por aproximadamente dezesseis proteínas, que leva à constrição da membrana e da parede, formando o septo de divisão. A montagem do divisomo é coordenada por FtsZ, um homólogo de tubulina, que polimeriza na região central da bactéria e serve de arcabouço para a montagem do divisomo. Partindo de um levantamento detalhado da distribuição dos genes envolvidos em divisão em genomas completos de procariotos detectamos que divIVA, um gene de divisão já bem caracterizado, apresentava um gene parálogo em B. subtilis, conhecido como ypsB. Para determinarmos se YpsB seria um novo componente do divisomo foi realizada uma caracterização citológica e funcional desta proteína. Utilizamos microscopia de fluorescência e fusões de YpsB a GFP para determinar a localização subcelular de YpsB. Estes experimentos revelaram que YpsB está presente no divisomo, apresentando um padrão de localização semelhante mas não idêntico ao de DivIVA. Medindo-se a taxa de co-localização entre o anel Z e YpsB ficou demonstrado que estas proteínas co-localizam em aproximadamente 50%, sugerindo que YpsB é recrutada depois que o anel Z é montado. Para determinar quando YpsB chega ao divisomo, usamos mutantes termo-sensíveis das proteínas de divisão que revelaram a dependência de YpsB pelo sub complexo DivIB-DivIC-FtsL-FtsW-PBP2B. Já na ausência de DivIVA, YpsB continua associado ao divisomo, indicando que não depende do seu parálogo para localizar. Além disso, análises de deleções de YpsB mostraram que a porção N-terminal da proteína é a mais importante para o seu recrutamento ao divisomo. Para determinarmos o papel de YpsB durante a divisão foi construído um mutante com deleção completa do gene. DivIVA é uma proteína responsável por localizar o sistema Min nos pólos da bactéria e assim contribui para a precisão espacial da divisão. Apesar de serem parálogos, a função de YpsB, no entanto, parece ser diferente da de DivIVA. Análise do mutante ypsB- mostrou que na sua ausência, o divisomo é montado e o seu posicionamento tanto em fase vegetativa como em esporulação não são afetados. Como a ausência de YpsB não afeta perceptivelmente a divisão, combinamos a mutação em ypsB com mutações em outros genes envolvidos em divisão. A análise destes duplos mutantes revelou que a ausência simultânea de YpsB e FtsA produz exacerbada lise celular e letalidade. Com base neste fenótipo e em evidências evolutivas, sugerimos que YpsB esteja envolvida na regulação da síntese de peptideoglicano do septo. Mais especificamente, YpsB seria responsável por modular a atividade de PBP1, uma enzima necessária para a síntese de peptideoglicano septal. / In prokaryotes, the main form of reproduction is binary fission, which allows the mother-cell to give origin the two daughter-cells, with identical genetic material. In Bacillus subtilis, this process is performed by the divisome, a complex formed for approximately sixteen proteins that leads to the constriction of the membrane and the wall, creating the division septum. The assembly of the divisome is coordinated by FtsZ, a homolog of tubulin, that polymerizes in the central region of the bacteria and serves as the base for the assembly of the divisome. From a detailed survey of the distribution of the genes involved in division in complete genomes of prokaryotes, we detected that divIVA, a well characterized division gene, showed a paralog in B. subtilis, known as YpsB. To determine if YpsB would be a new component of the divisome, a cytological and functional characterization of this protein was carried out. We used fluorescence microscopy and fusion of YpsB to GFP to determine the subcellular localization of YpsB. These experiments displayed that YpsB is present in the divisome, with similar but not identical localization as DivIVA. Measuring co-localization between the Z ring and YpsB demonstrated that this happened in approximately 50% of the cells, suggesting that YpsB go to the divisome after the Z ring is formed. To determine when YpsB goes to the divisome, we used temperature-sensitive mutants of the division proteins. This showed that YpsB depends on the DivIB-DivIC-FtsL-FtsW-PBP2B sub-complex to associate with the divisome. In the absence of DivIVA, YpsB is still present in the divisome, indicating that it does not depend on its paralog to localize. Moreover, deletion analyses of YpsB showed that the N-terminal portion of the protein is the most important for its recruitment to the divisome. To determine the role of YpsB during division, we constructed a ypsB- mutant. DivIVA is the protein responsible for localization of the Min system in polar regions of B. subtilis and, thus, contributes for the spatial precision of division. Our results showed that the function of YpsB must be different from that of DivIVA, since analysis of the ypsB- mutant showed that in the absence this protein the divisome is assembled and septum position in vegetatively growing or sporulating cells is not affected. Since the absence of YpsB does not affect division, we combined the ypsB- mutant with mutants involved in division. Analysis of these double mutants showed that the simultaneous absence of YpsB and FtsA caused cellular lysis and lethality. Based on this phenotype and evolutionary evidences, we suggest that YpsB is involved in the regulation of peptidoglycan synthesis in the septum. More specifically, YpsB would be responsible for modulating the activity of PBP1, a necessary enzyme for septum peptidoglycan synthesis.

Em procariotos, a principal forma de reprodução é a divisão binária, que permite à célula-mãe dar origem a duas outras células-filhas, com conteúdo genético idêntico ao da progenitora. Em Bacillus subtilis este processo acontece graças ao divisomo, um complexo formado por aproximadamente dezesseis proteínas, que leva à constrição da membrana e da parede, formando o septo de divisão. A montagem do divisomo é coordenada por FtsZ, um homólogo de tubulina, que polimeriza na região central da bactéria e serve de arcabouço para a montagem do divisomo. Partindo de um levantamento detalhado da distribuição dos genes envolvidos em divisão em genomas completos de procariotos detectamos que divIVA, um gene de divisão já bem caracterizado, apresentava um gene parálogo em B. subtilis, conhecido como ypsB. Para determinarmos se YpsB seria um novo componente do divisomo foi realizada uma caracterização citológica e funcional desta proteína. Utilizamos microscopia de fluorescência e fusões de YpsB a GFP para determinar a localização subcelular de YpsB. Estes experimentos revelaram que YpsB está presente no divisomo, apresentando um padrão de localização semelhante mas não idêntico ao de DivIVA. Medindo-se a taxa de co-localização entre o anel Z e YpsB ficou demonstrado que estas proteínas co-localizam em aproximadamente 50%, sugerindo que YpsB é recrutada depois que o anel Z é montado. Para determinar quando YpsB chega ao divisomo, usamos mutantes termo-sensíveis das proteínas de divisão que revelaram a dependência de YpsB pelo sub complexo DivIB-DivIC-FtsL-FtsW-PBP2B. Já na ausência de DivIVA, YpsB continua associado ao divisomo, indicando que não depende do seu parálogo para localizar. Além disso, análises de deleções de YpsB mostraram que a porção N-terminal da proteína é a mais importante para o seu recrutamento ao divisomo. Para determinarmos o papel de YpsB durante a divisão foi construído um mutante com deleção completa do gene. DivIVA é uma proteína responsável por localizar o sistema Min nos pólos da bactéria e assim contribui para a precisão espacial da divisão. Apesar de serem parálogos, a função de YpsB, no entanto, parece ser diferente da de DivIVA. Análise do mutante ypsB- mostrou que na sua ausência, o divisomo é montado e o seu posicionamento tanto em fase vegetativa como em esporulação não são afetados. Como a ausência de YpsB não afeta perceptivelmente a divisão, combinamos a mutação em ypsB com mutações em outros genes envolvidos em divisão. A análise destes duplos mutantes revelou que a ausência simultânea de YpsB e FtsA produz exacerbada lise celular e letalidade. Com base neste fenótipo e em evidências evolutivas, sugerimos que YpsB esteja envolvida na regulação da síntese de peptideoglicano do septo. Mais especificamente, YpsB seria responsável por modular a atividade de PBP1, uma enzima necessária para a síntese de peptideoglicano septal. / In prokaryotes, the main form of reproduction is binary fission, which allows the mother-cell to give origin the two daughter-cells, with identical genetic material. In Bacillus subtilis, this process is performed by the divisome, a complex formed for approximately sixteen proteins that leads to the constriction of the membrane and the wall, creating the division septum. The assembly of the divisome is coordinated by FtsZ, a homolog of tubulin, that polymerizes in the central region of the bacteria and serves as the base for the assembly of the divisome. From a detailed survey of the distribution of the genes involved in division in complete genomes of prokaryotes, we detected that divIVA, a well characterized division gene, showed a paralog in B. subtilis, known as YpsB. To determine if YpsB would be a new component of the divisome, a cytological and functional characterization of this protein was carried out. We used fluorescence microscopy and fusion of YpsB to GFP to determine the subcellular localization of YpsB. These experiments displayed that YpsB is present in the divisome, with similar but not identical localization as DivIVA. Measuring co-localization between the Z ring and YpsB demonstrated that this happened in approximately 50% of the cells, suggesting that YpsB go to the divisome after the Z ring is formed. To determine when YpsB goes to the divisome, we used temperature-sensitive mutants of the division proteins. This showed that YpsB depends on the DivIB-DivIC-FtsL-FtsW-PBP2B sub-complex to associate with the divisome. In the absence of DivIVA, YpsB is still present in the divisome, indicating that it does not depend on its paralog to localize. Moreover, deletion analyses of YpsB showed that the N-terminal portion of the protein is the most important for its recruitment to the divisome. To determine the role of YpsB during division, we constructed a ypsB- mutant. DivIVA is the protein responsible for localization of the Min system in polar regions of B. subtilis and, thus, contributes for the spatial precision of division. Our results showed that the function of YpsB must be different from that of DivIVA, since analysis of the ypsB- mutant showed that in the absence this protein the divisome is assembled and septum position in vegetatively growing or sporulating cells is not affected. Since the absence of YpsB does not affect division, we combined the ypsB- mutant with mutants involved in division. Analysis of these double mutants showed that the simultaneous absence of YpsB and FtsA caused cellular lysis and lethality. Based on this phenotype and evolutionary evidences, we suggest that YpsB is involved in the regulation of peptidoglycan synthesis in the septum. More specifically, YpsB would be responsible for modulating the activity of PBP1, a necessary enzyme for septum peptidoglycan synthesis.

No description available.