As the worldwide demand for recombinant proteins and valuable metabolites continues to grow, and as the biological toolset at our disposal continues to expand, the development of novel, robust, and effective platforms for the production of these bioproducts represents an area of ever-increasing interest. Although many such bioprocesses are currently economically viable, many more, though holding considerable promise, remain uncompetitive. The development of novel, more productive systems increases the versatility and industrial applications of bioprocesses. The work described in this thesis explores several aspects of bioprocessing, both on the upstream side, concerned with the development of novel recombinant protein expression platforms or the isolation of novel genes with products possessing characteristics of interest, and on the downstream side, through the improvement of fermentation-based bioprocesses. Thirty-six homoplasmic recombinant strains of the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were developed having integrated genes for phytase or xylanase under the control of psbA and psbD promoters, codon optimized using novel algorithms, at two different genetic loci, in chloroplasts, to be used as novel animal feed additives. Enzyme production was characterized, and results, when compared to other published work in this field, may provide insight into the factors impacting recombinant protein production in microalgae. Using a “bio-prospecting approach”, the microflora of the digestive tract of a Canadian beaver was screened for cellulase-producing microorganisms. Although the screening approach did successfully identify a novel β-glucosidase gene from an isolated strain of Bacillus thuringiensis, the sequence was not significantly different from those already characterized. Two bioprocessing studies were performed to improve recombinant protein production in Pichia pastoris. In the first, the composition of standard Basal Salt Medium (BSM) was systematically optimized for the production of recombinant phytase, and the optimized media produced significantly more enzyme than the standard one, while also containing significantly reduced concentrations of KH2PO4 and MgSO4·7H2O (27.9 g/l and 4.8 g/l respectively), lowering the price of process inputs. The second was based on the screening of unconventional carbon sources for candidates that could sustain the growth and enzyme production using the same P. pastoris strain. Fructose and ethanol have shown to be viable alternatives to glucose or glycerol as sole carbon sources, and provide flexibility in terms of process design.

Two separate systems were developed for the expression of recombinant metalloproteins. A synthetic gene encoding the lipase-solubilized form of bovine liver microsomal cytochrome b₅ was designed and assembled for expression in E. coli. Analysis of the initial recombinant cytochrome revealed differences in several physical characteristics of the molecule compared to the authentic bovine liver species, including a reduction potential that was lower by 17 mV. Further studies showed the primary sequence of the initial recombinant differed from the authentic protein in the amidation status of three residues which, when corrected yielded a recombinant protein identical in behaviour to the authentic protein. The participation of Ser64 in the stabilization of the oxidized form of cytochrome b₅ was investigated using site-directed mutagenesis to alter this residue to Ala, which was predicted to ablate a hydrogen bond formed between the protein and heme-propionate 7. Spectroelectrochemical analysis of this variant showed that the reduction potential had been shifted downwards by 7 mV, in contrast to predictions from a structural model describing the red/ox behaviour of cytochrome b₅ (Argos and Mathews, 1975). The role of heme carboxylates in determining the reduction potential was confirmed for both the wild-type and Ala64 variants by heme replacement studies using the esterified derivative of protoporphyrin IX, suggesting that the presence of free carboxylates contributes to the stabilization of the oxidized species. In addition, constructions for the expression of the trypsin-solubilized form of bovine liver microsomal cytochrome b₅ and the erythrocytic form of human cytochrome b₅ are described. A tissue culture cell system was developed for the expression of the N-terminal half molecule of human serum transferrin. The recombinant molecule (hTF/2N) was secreted at high levels from selected eukaryotic cells, and displayed high identity with the proteolytically-derived molecule from authentic human serum transferrin as judged by sequence analysis, electrophoretic mobility and iron binding capacity. A construction for the expression of the C-terminal half molecule was assembled but failed to express recombinant protein when introduced into tissue culture cells. The production of these two heterologous expression systems allows for high-level recovery of recombinant protein and provides a convenient approach to structure-function studies employing site-directed mutagenesis techniques. / Medicine, Faculty of / Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

No description available.

Novel pairs of Bet/Exo recombineering proteins were identified in the beta-proteobacterium Laribacter hongkongensis (LHK) and in the SXT genetic element isolated from Vibrio cholerae. In this research, these new recombineering proteins were functionally characterized using a variety of in vivo and in vitro techniques. The SXT-Exo and LHK-Exo proteins were both found to be alkaline exonucleases, with activities similar to those of Lambda-Exo. Both the SXT-Bet/Exo and LHK-Bet/Exo protein pairs had dsDNA recombination activity within E. coli. / Recombineering is a powerful tool used to manipulate or engineer DNA in vivo, which enables chromosomes and plasmids to be modified precisely and efficiently. It is of critical importance for research into genome and proteome function, and greatly facilitates metabolic engineering applications. The Lambda-Red (Bet and Exo) and RecET proteins constitute the most efficient bacterial recombineering systems characterized to date. However, they work only in E. coli or closely-related bacteria (e.g. Salmonella spp.), which limits their widespread application. / The Lambda-Red and RecET recombineering systems can use PCR products (double stranded DNA, dsDNA) or single stranded DNA (ssDNA, oligonucleotides) to create precise point mutations (substitutions), gene deletions and insertions in chromosomal or episomal DNA. The Exo/RecE exonuclease proteins digest dsDNA and produce long 3'-ssDNA tails. The Bet/RecT ssDNA annealing proteins bind to these 3'-ssDNA tails and promote their homologous recombination with complementary ssDNA regions on the chromosome or episome. / The results described in this thesis will be very useful in assisting the future development of novel recombineering systems that can be used for genetic engineering applications across a wide range of bacterial organisms. Such tools will greatly promote functional genomic and proteomic studies within these organisms, and may also be used for microbial engineering and biotechnological applications. / The ssDNA recombination activities of five different Bet/RecT recombinases were directly compared using an E. coli reporter system. The comparison revealed that Bet protein from LHK had a higher efficiency than Lambda-Bet or RecT. Based on their predicted secondary structure, a set of rationally-designed lambda-Bet protein truncations were prepared and their biological activity was examined, to investigate structure-function relationships within this recombinase. / Chen, Wenyang. / Adviser: Ho W.S. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-02, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-128). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Heterologous gene expression is of considerable interest for the production of proteins of therapeutic and industrial importance. As the nature of recombinant proteins has become more complex and as transformation systems have been established in more species, so the variety of hosts available for expression has increased. Every system available has both advantages and disadvantages. The research presented here highlights the advantages of selecting the most appropriate expression system for different recombinant proteins. Expression of different biocatalytically-relevant enzymes, epoxide hydrolases, halohydrin dehalogenase, laccase and mannanase, in different host systems is undertaken, and expression levels and activity are compared. The development of Yarrowia lipolytica as a whole-cell biocatalyst is described. Y. lipolytica is used for the functional expression of epoxide hydrolases (EHs) and halohydrin dehalogenases. EHs are hydrolytic enzymes that convert epoxides to vicinal diols by ring-opening. Two new fungal EHs from Rhodosporidium toruloides NCYC 3181 and NCYC 3158 (a putative Cryptococcus curvatus strain) were identified and cloned. Additional EHs from different sources, including bacteria, yeasts, fungi and plants, were chosen for expression in Y. lipolytica, in order to determine its suitability as the expression system of choice for the production of EHs. Multi-copy integrants were developed, with the genes under control of the growthphase dependent hp4d promoter. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain was developed, expressing the EH from Rhodotorula araucariae1, to compare as a whole-cell biocatalyst with Y. lipolytica. This strain proved to be an exceptionally poor wholecell biocatalyst. All the Y. lipolytica strains developed showed varying levels of activity towards different classes of epoxides. Some strains displayed opposite enantioselectivities, allowing for potential complete conversions of racemic epoxides to the desired enantiomeric product. Halohydrins can be considered direct precursors of epoxides. Halohydrin dehalogenases catalyse the nucleophilic displacement of a halogen ion in halohydrins by a vicinal hydroxyl group, yielding an epoxide, a proton and a halide ion. The HheC gene from Agrobacterium radiobacter AD1, codon-optimised to match the codon usage of Y. lipolytica, was over-expressed in Y. lipolytica by generation of multi-copy integrants, further expanding the use of this organism as a host strain for heterologous production of enzymes. Expression levels were maximised by creating tandem repeats of the introduced HheC gene. The ring-closure activity with 2-chloro- 1-phenylethanol as substrate was demonstrated to be broadly dose-dependent. The b-mannanase gene (man1) from Aspergillus aculeatus MRC11624 was expressed in Y. lipolytica with effective secretion in the presence of its native secretion signal, using the hp4d promoter. The same gene was expressed in Aspergillus niger2 under control of the A. niger glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter (gpdP) and the Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase terminator (glaT). Following optimisation with copy numbers and culture conditions, maximal activity levels of 26,140 nkat.ml-1 for Y. lipolytica, and 16,596 nkat.ml-1 for A. niger were obtained. Laccases are important enzymes for bioremediation, and the best characterised enzymes are from the fungus Trametes versicolor. The objective of this research was to optimise expression of T. versicolor laccases (lcc1 and lcc2) in A. niger D15 and Pichia pastoris3. The Lcc1 enzyme was less active than Lcc2 in both hosts. P. pastoris secreted 0.4 U.L-1 Lcc1 and 2.8 U.L-1 Lcc2, compared to 2,700 U.L-1 produced by A. niger. The Lcc2 enzyme from recombinant A. niger was subsequently purified and characterised in terms of molecular weight and glycosylation, and compared to the wild-type enzyme purified from T. versicolor. The work presented underscores the requirement for experimentation before finalising the choice of an expression system for the optimal production of the desired protein. Every system available has both advantages and disadvantages, and when considering which system to use for producing a recombinant protein, various factors must be taken into consideration. However, the choice is broad and each decision needs to be made empirically. 1 The construction of the S. cerevisiae epoxide hydrolase production strain was carried out by Dr Neeresh Rohitlall of CSIR Biosciences. The Y. lipolytica epoxide hydrolase strains were constructed by the author. 2 The construction of Man1-producing A. niger strain was done by Dr Shaunita Rose of the University of Stellenbosch. The construction of Y. lipolytica Man1 production strains was done by the author. 3 The expression of T. versicolor laccases in P. pastoris was done by Christina Bohlin of Karlstad University. A niger laccase production strains were created by the author. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Heteroloë geen uitdrukking is van groot belang vir die produksie van proteïene wat van terapeutiese en industriele belang is. Soos die aard van rekombinante proteïene meer ingewikkeld raak en getransformasie-sisteme vir verskeie spesies gevestig raak, is daar ’n groter verskeidenheid van gashere beskikbaar vir geenuitdrukking. Elke sisteem het beide sy voor- en nadele. Hierdie navorsing beklemtoon die voordele wanneer die mees gepaste uitdrukkingssiteem gekies word. Die uitdrukking van verskeie ensieme van biokatalities belang, epoksiedhidrolases, halohidrien dehalogenase, lakkase en mannanase in verskillende gasheersisteme is onderneem en die uitdrukkingsvlakke en aktiwiteite vergelyk. Die ontwikkeling van Yarrowia lipolytica as ’n heelsel biokatalis word beskryf. Y. lipolytica word gebruik vir die funksionele uitdrukking van epoksiedhidrolases (EHs) en halohidrien dehalogenases. EHs is hidroliseringsensieme wat die epoksiede omskakel na aangrensende diole deur middel van ring-opening. Twee nuwe fungi EHs vanaf Rhodosporidiom toruloides NCYC 3181 en NCYC 3158 (’n moontlike Cryptococcus curvatus) is geïdentifiseer en gekloneer. Verdere EHs van verskillende bronne, insluitend bakterieë, giste, fungi en plante, is gekies vir uitdrukking in Y. lipolytica ten einde sy geskiktheid vir die produksie van EHs te bepaal. Multikopie integrante is ook ontwikkel met gene onder beheer van die groei-fase afhanklike hp4d promotor. ’n Saccharomyces cerevisiae ras is ook ontwikkel vir die uitdrukking van die EH van Rhodotorula araucariae4 sodat dit met Y. lipolytica as ’n heelsel biokatalis vergelyk kan word. Hierdie ras was ‘n buitengewone swak heelsel biokatalis. Al die Y. lipolytica rasse wat ontwikkel is het wisselende aktiwiteitsvlakke teenoor verskillende klasse van epoksiede getoon. Sommige rasse het teenoorgestelde enantio-selektiwiteit getoon en het die potensiaal om rasemiese epoksiede volledig na die gewensde enantiomeriese produk om te skakeling. Halohidriene kan as direkte voorgangers van epoksiede beskou word. Halohidrien dehalogenases kataliseer die nukleofiliese vervanging van ’n halogeen-ioon in halohidriene deur ’n aangrensende hidroksiel groep, wat ’n epoksied, ’n proton en ’n halied-ioon lewer. Die HheC geen van Agrobacterium radiobacter AD1 is kodon– geöptimiseer om te pas by die kodon gebruik van Y. lipolytica en was uitgedruk in Y. lipolytica deur die skep van mulitkopie integrante, ’n verdere verbreeding van die toepaslikheid van die organisme as gasheerras vir die heteroloë produksie van ensieme. Maksimum uitdrukkingsvlakke is bereik deur die skep van opeenvolgende herhalings van die ingevoegde HheC-geen. Daar is ook gewys dat die ring-sluitingsaktiwiteit met 2-chloro-1-pheniel-etanol as substraat meestal dosis-afhanklik is. Die -mannanase geen (man1) van Aspergillus aculeatus MRC11624 is uitgedruk en effektief in Y. lipolytica mbv sy eie uitskeidings sein uitgeskei, met die gebruik van die groei-fase afhanklike hp4d promotor. Dieselfde geen is uitgedruk in Aspergillus niger5 onder beheer van die A. niger gliseraldehied-3-fosfaat dehidrogenase promotor (gpdp) en die Aspergillus awamori glikoamilase termineerder (glaT). Verdere optimisering van kopiegetal en voedingskondisies het gelei tot maksimum aktiwiteitsvlakke van 26,140 nkat.ml-1 vir Y. lipolytica en 16,596 nkat.ml-1 vir A. niger. Lakkases is belangrike ensieme vir bio-remediëring, en die ensieme van die fungus Trametes versicolor is die beste gekarateriseer. Die doelwit van hierdie navorsing was die optimisering van die uitdrukking van T. versicolor lakkases (lcc1 en lcc2) in A. niger en Pichia pastoris6. Die Lcc1 ensiem was minder aktief as Lcc2 in altwee die gashere. P. pastoris het 0.4 U.L-1 Lcc1 en 2.8 U.L-1 Lcc2 onderskeidelik uitgeskei, in vergelyking met 2,700 U.L-1 Lcc2 wat deur A. niger geproduseer is. Die Lcc2 ensiem afkomstig van die rekombinante A. niger is vervolgens gesuiwer en gekarakteriseer met betrekking tot molekulêre massa en glikosilering, en daarna vergelyk met die wilde-tipe ensiem wat deur T. versicolor geproduseer word. Die werk wat hier aangebied word, beklemtoon die vereistes vir eksperimentering voor die finale keuse met betrekking tot ’n gepaste uitdrukkingsisteem gemaak kan word vir die optimale produksie van die gewensde proteïen. Elke sisteem het beide voordele en nadele, en wanneer ’n sisteem oorweeg word is daar verskeie faktore wat in ag geneem moet word. ’n wye verskeidenheid van keuses is beskikbaar en elke besluit moet empiries gemaak word. 4 Die konstruksie van die S. cerevisiae epoksiedhidrolase-produserende ras is deur Dr Neeresh Rohitlall van CSIR Biosciences gedoen. Die Y. lipolytica epoxied hydrolase rasse is deur die outeur gemaak. 5 Die konstruksie van die Man1-produserende A. niger ras is deur Dr Shaunita Rose van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch gemaak. Die Y. lipolytica Man1 ras is gemaak deur die outeur. 6 Die uitdrukking van T. versicolor lakkases in P. pastoris is gedoen deur Christina Bohlin van Karlstad University. Die A niger lakkase produksie ras is geskep deur die outeur.

A leptospirose é uma doença sistêmica, causada por bactérias patogênicas do gênero Leptospira. O desenvolvimento de novas estratégias para prevenir a doença é necessário. As pesquisas atuais têm interesse em identificar antígenos conservados que estão envolvidos nas interações patógeno-hospedeiro. Dois genes de L. interrogans foram selecionados, clonados, expressos e suas respectivas proteínas caracterizadas. Os genes foram amplificados por PCR e clonados no vetor de expressão PAE. As proteínas recombinantes foram purificadas por cromatografia de afinidade ao metal. A proteína rLIC10821 foi capaz de se ligar a laminina, plasminogênio e fibrinogênio. Ambas as proteínas foram localizadas na membrana externa de acordo com as três metodologias utilizadas: imunofluorescência, proteinase K, leptospira intacta. A proteína rLIC10821 que interagiu com o PLG foi capaz de gerar plasmina. Após a interação da proteína rLIC10821 com o fibrinogênio, foi possível identificar uma diminuição de 60% no coágulo de fibrina. / Leptospirosis is a systemic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of genus Leptospira. The development of new strategies to prevent the disease is needed. Currently research has focused to identify conserved antigens related to the host-pathogen interaction. Two genes of L. interrogans were selected, cloned, expressed and its proteins characterized. The genes were amplified by PCR and cloned into expression vetor pAE. The recombinant proteins were purified by chromatography of metal affinity. The protein rLIC10821 were able to bind to laminin, plasminogen and fibrinogen. Both proteins were localized in the outer membrane according three methodologies: immunofluorescence, proteinase K, intact leptospira. The protein rLIC10821 interacted with PLG was able to generate plasmin. After the interaction of the protein rLIC10821 with fibrinogen, we could identify a decrease of 60% in the fibrin clot.

Cellular activities are composite responses to stimuli from the surroundings. Materials for biological applications, therefore, must be designed with care such that undesired interactions between cells and the materials will not be elicited while cellular responses that are beneficial to the dedicated applications are promoted. Efforts have been made to construct such materials based on both synthetic polymers and natural polymers including poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and proteins. In particular, recombinant proteins have drawn great interest for their similar biocompatibility to natural proteins and the uniformity of material properties that is found in manufacturing of synthetic polymers. Recombinant proteins are designed at the DNA level, which allows precise control over the translated protein sequence. By assembling encoded DNA sequences of amino acids with desired functional groups or protein domains conferring desired functionalities, a recombinant protein-based material can be tailored. In this dissertation, works toward developing functional biomaterials based on both synthetic polymers and recombinant proteins are presented.<br>The first part of this thesis encompasses the development of a new thiol-based crosslinking approach to achieve independent control over degradability and mechanical properties of a hydrogel system. Thiol chemistry was chosen as the focus here because it can easily be incorporated into recombinant protein designs by inserting cysteine residues. In addition, the low frequency of cysteine residues in natural proteins can reduce unwanted reactions between the hydrogel material and encapsulated biomolecules or cells. We utilized divinyl sulfone (DVS) to form thioether crosslinking through thiol-ene addition and ferric ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (ferric EDTA) to make disulfide crosslinking via thiol oxidation. By controlling the ratio between the non-reducible thioether bonds to reducible disulfide bonds, hydrogels with similar mechanical properties can be made with different degradability in reducing conditions. Accelerated degradation and increased release of encapsulated dextran was observed in response to an extracellular reducing condition. Good viability of encapsulated fibroblasts also suggested high cytocompatibility of the crosslinking approach. This work demonstrated the potential of thiol crosslinking by DVS and ferric EDTA for making redox-responsive drug delivery vehicles and tissue engineering scaffolds.<br>In the second part, we developed protein adhesives using thiol- or catechol-based adhesion. Every year more than 310 million surgeries are performed around the world, and more than 50% of these surgeries used sutures or staples for wound closure. Surgical sealants or adhesive can be applied together with sutures and staples to mitigate the risk of infection. Protein-based adhesives could have better biocompatibility than synthetic polymer-based adhesives and have the potential of providing biochemical cues for cellular responses. Many adhesive proteins have been found in nature. Among them, mussel adhesive proteins have been actively studied for their outstanding underwater adhesion. The capability of being able to cure in a wet environment is critical for an ideal surgical sealant and adhesive. Mussels uses both thiols and a catechol, 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), to achieve underwater adhesion. Inspired by mussel adhesive proteins and modular recombinant design, we developed two proteins harboring thiol or DOPA groups with highly similar amino acid sequences. The adhesion performance, including curing kinetics, adhesion strength, and cytocompatibility, were compared between the two proteins. The similarity in the protein sequences allows us to focus on the performance difference between thiol- and DOPA-based adhesion. We also showed that a synergistic increase in the adhesion strength can be achieved when the two proteins are combined. This increase indicates a cross-reaction between thiol and DOPA groups. Our results provide insights into selecting the chemistry for designing adhesives based on the needs of the applications.<br>In the last part, we studied the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior of elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) with a series of ELPs with rationally designed charge distributions and chain lengths. The LCST behavior of ELPs are controlled by multiple factors including the amino acid composition, ELP chain length, protein concentration, salt identity, salt concentration, and pH of the solution. Fusion of other non-ELP recombinant protein domains to ELPs have also been shown to influence the LCST behavior of the fusion ELP protein. Inspired by this effect, we explored the use of short non-ELP sequences as a new way to tailor the LCST behavior of ELP-based proteins. We designed the non-ELP and the ELP sequences with different pH-dependent charge states and showed that pH sensitivity was introduced to the LCST behavior by electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the non-ELP and ELP sequences. The electrostatic interactions can be shielded by the ionic strength in the protein solution. The pH sensitivity was introduced by the non-ELP sequences, and this sensitivity decreased when the relative length of the ELP domain increased. We also found that the hydrophobicity of the non-ELP sequences changes the interactions between the proteins and Hofmeister ions in solution. Our results demonstrated the potential of using non-ELP sequences as a new factor in controlling the LCST behavior of ELP proteins.<br><br>

A proteína recombinante inibidora de serinoprotease denominada de Amblyomin-X foi obtida a partir de uma biblioteca de cDNA das glândulas salivares do carrapato Amblyomma cajannense, construída e utilizada para identificar um gene que codifica um inibidor de serinoprotease do tipo Kunitz. O Amblyomin-X inibe a formação da massa tumoral in vivo, no entanto o mecanismo envolvido neste efeito não está totalmente esclarecido. Visto que um dos mecanismos anti-carcinogênicos dos inibidores de serinoproteases é a inibição do processo de angiogênese, este trabalho foi delineado para avaliar as ações do Amblyomin-X sobre a angiogênese in vivo e sobre funções da célula endotelial envolvidas neste processo. A angiogênese in vivo foi estudada em modelo de câmara dorsal por microscopia intravital. Quarenta e oito horas após a implantação da câmara dorsal, os animais receberam tratamento tópico de salina ou de Amblyomin-X por 8 dias, com intervalos de 48 horas a cada dose (10, 100 ou 1000ng/mL). Os efeitos foram avaliados em condições basais e na vigência do crescimento tumoral (injeção de 1x105 células B16-F10 de melanoma murino no tecido subcutâneo). Adicionalmente, os efeitos do Amblyomin-X sobre a permeabilidade vascular foram avaliados pela mensuração espectrofotométrica da quantidade de corante extravasado no tecido dos animais após injeção intradérmica do fator de crescimento do endotélio vascular (VEGF) ou do Amblyomin-X. Uma série de estudos in vitro foram realizados em células endoteliais de linhagem de microcirculação (t-End) para avaliar os efeitos do Amblyomin-X (10, 100 e 1000ng/mL) sobre: 1) a migração destas células, usando modelos bidimensional (2D) de cicatrização in vitro e tridimensional (3D) em câmara de Boyden modificada, na ausência e frente ao fator de crescimento do endotélio vascular (VEGF; 100 ng/mL); 2) sobre a aderência em Matrigel® e 3) sobre a secreção de prostaglandina E2 (PGE2) e a produção de óxido nítrico (NO) por ensaio imunoenzimático e reação de Griess, respectivamente. Ademais, foram avaliados os efeitos do Amblyomin-X sobre a viabilidade das células B16-F10 (1x105) por citometria de fluxo. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a aplicação tópica de Amblyomin-X reduziu o número de vasos no tecido subcutâneo dorsal (10ng/mL = 21,7%; 100ng/mL= 35,7%; 1000ng/mL= 36,8% vs 1° dia de tratamento). O mesmo efeito foi observado na presença de células B16-F10 (1000ng/mL= 44,3% vs 1° dia de tratamento), além de uma redução no desenvolvimento da massa tumoral (1000ng/mL= 88% vs controle). O tratamento com Amblyomin-X reduziu a migração basal das células t-End no modelo 2D (10ng/mL=16,4%; 1OOng/mL=23, 1%; 1000ng/mL=26,8% vs controle) e 3D (10ng/mL=39,2%; 100ng/mL=49,4%; 1000ng/mL=50,4% vs controle); inibiu a adesão destas células endoteliais em Matrigel® (100ng/mL=46,4%; 1000ng/mL=48,4% vs controle); não alterou produção os mediadores químicos NO e PGE2 pelas células endoteliais; não modificou a permeabilidade vascular e não alterou a viabilidade das células de melanoma murino B16-F10. Em conjunto, os dados obtidos mostram que o Amblyomin-X inibe a formação de novos vasos em condições basais e na vigência de crescimento tumoral in vivo que este efeito pode estar relacionado à redução do desenvolvimento tumoral, uma vez que a concentração de Amblyomin-X que inibe a angiogênese não causou citotoxicidade às células tumorais in vitro. Além disso, os mecanismos envolvidos no processo de angiogênese podem ser decorrentes, pelo menos em parte, de prejuízos na migração e adesão das células endoteliais. / The recombinant serine protease inhibitor protein called Amblyomin-X was obtained from a cDNA library of the Amblyomma cajennense salivary glands constructed and used to identify a gene encoding a kunitz type serine protease inhibitor. Amblyomin-X presents inhibitory effect on tumoral mass formation in vivo. Nevertheless, the mechanisms involved in the effects have not been clarified. Considering that interference on angiogenesis process is one of the mechanisms responsible for the antitumor activity displayed by serine protease inhibitors, this project was undertaken to study the Amblyomin-X actions on this process and on related endothelial cell functions. In vivo angiogenesis was studied using dorsal chamber model associated to intravital microscopy. Forty eight hours after dorsal chamber implantation, the animals were topically treated with saline or Amblyomin-X during 8 days, with intervals at each 48hs (10, 100 ou 1000ng/mL). The effects were evaluated at basal conditions or during tumoral development (1x105 B16-F10 murine melanoma cells injected into subcutaneous tissue). In addition, the effects of Amblyomin-X on vascular permeability were evaluated by measuring the dye leakage into dorsal intradermic tissue after local injection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or Amblyomin-X, or both. In vitro assays were also performed using endothelial cells from microcirculation (t-End) and the effects of Amblyomin-X (10, 100 e 1000ng/mL) were studied on: 1) cell migration, using bidimensional (2D) and tridimensional (3D) models in modified Boyden chamber using chemotatic factor (VEGF100 ng/mL); 2) Matrigel® adherence and, 3) prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) secretion by enzymatic assay and Griess reaction, respectively. In addition, the Amblyomin-X toxicity was evaluated on the B16-F10 cells (1x105), using flow citometry. Results obtained show that topic application of Amblyomin-X reduced the number of vessels in the subcutaneous dorsal tissue (10ng/mL = 21,7%; 100ng/mL= 35,7%; 1000ng/mL= 36,8% vs 1st day of treatment). The same effect was observed in the presence of B16-F10 cells (1000ng/mL= 44,3% vs 1st day of treatment), simultanesouly to a significant reduction on tumoral mass development (1000ng/mL= 88% vs control). Amblyomin-X treatment impaired basal migration of tEnd in the 2D (10ng/mL=16,4%; 100ng/mL=23, 1%; 1000ng/mL=26,8% vs control) and 3D model (10ng/mL=39,2%; 100ng/mL=49,4%; 1000ng/mL=50,4% vs controle); inhibited the adhesion of t-End in Matrigel® (100ng/mL=46,4%; 1000ng/mL=48,4% vs control); did not alter the production of chemical mediators (PGE2 and NO); did not modify the vascular permeability and did not affect the B16-F10 cells viability. Taken together, data here obtained show that Amblyomin-X inhibited the new vessels formation under basal conditions, and during tumoral development. The effect could be related to the reduction of tumoral progress also detected in vivo, asthe schedule of treatment employed did not induce cancer cell toxicity. The mechanisms involved in the reduced angiogenesis may be related, at least in part, to the impaired endothelial cell migration and adhesion.

O sequenciamento da L. interrogans sorovar Copenhageni e as análises bioinformáticas permitiram a identificação de candidatos vacinais e fatores de virulência. Foram selecionados dois genes, LIC11834 e LIC12253, que foram submetidos a ensaios de presença do DNA genômico e RNA mensageiro em diferentes sorovares de Leptospira. Observamos que o gene LIC12253 foi o mais presente entre os sorovares testados. Os genes foram clonados em vetor de expressão pAE e expressos em E. coli BL21 SI. As proteínas recombinantes foram purificadas e submetidas a ensaio de dicroísmo circular, o qual confirmou que ambas as proteínas estavam estruturadas. Por meio de testes de imunogenicidade em camundongos, ambas as proteínas mostraram-se imunogênicas, apresentando altos títulos de anticorpos, porém não foram capazes de promover resposta imune celular. Em ensaios de localização das proteínas nativas podemos observar a presença destas proteínas na membrana externa de Leptospira. Ensaios de reatividade com soros de pacientes diagnosticados com leptospirose mostraram que há reconhecimento das proteínas por anticorpos presentes nesses soros, sugerindo que as proteínas são expressas durante a infecção. Em ensaios de adesão a componentes de matriz extracelular e componentes do soro e plasma humano, rLIC11834 apresentou ligação à laminina, sendo nomeada de Lsa33, além de ligação ao plasminogênio, ao C4bp e ao fibrinogênio de forma dose-dependente; rLIC12253 apresentou ligação à laminina, sendo chamada de Lsa25, e ao C4bp de forma dose-dependente. Ensaios de desafio demonstraram que as proteínas não apresentam proteção contra infecção letal em hamsters. Assim, acreditamos que estas proteínas multifuncionais possam interagir com proteínas do hospedeiro e ter participação na patogênese da doença. / The genomic sequencing and the advances of bioinformatics analysis allowed the identification of new vaccine candidates and new virulence factors. Therefore, two genes from L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni, LIC11834 and LIC12253 were selected and subjected to assays for the presence of genomic DNA and mRNA in different serovars of Leptospira. These assays found that the gene LIC12253 was the most present among the tested serovars. The genes were then cloned in the expression vector pAE and expressed in E. coli BL21 SI. The recombinant proteins were purified and subjected to circular dichroism, which confirmed that both proteins presented secondary structures. Immunogenicity tests in mice showed that both proteins are immunogenic, with high antibodies titers, but don\'t induce cellular immune response. Localization assays of the native proteins on the leptospiras demonstrated the presence of the proteins on the surface of Leptospira. Reactivity assays with sera of patients diagnosed with leptospirosis showed that the recombinant proteins could be recognized by their antibodies, suggesting that they are expressed during infection. Adhesion assays to the extracellular matrix components, human serum and plasma components, showed that the protein rLIC11834 binds to laminin and was called Lsa33. In addition, Lsa33 interacts to plasminogen, to C4bp and to fibrinogen in a dose-dependent manner. The protein rLIC12253 showed binding to laminina, named Lsa25, and to C4bp in a dose-dependent manner. Challenge assays showed that both recombinant proteins don\'t afford protection against lethal infection in hamsters. Thus, we believe that these multifunctional proteins may interact with host proteins and may play a role in leptospiral pathogenesis.