Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The BCNU + O6benzylguanine (O6BG) driven selective enrichment strategy was first established for enhanced transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. This study describes a novel application of this BCNU + O6BG driven selective enrichment strategy in skeletal muscle stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, this study addresses the three main limitations observed in previously reported skeletal muscle stem cell transplantation strategies. Limitation of ineffective donor cells which lack the ability for successful engraftment was overcome by using a heterogeneous population of donor cells which are present during a normal skeletal muscle regeneration response. The limitation of donor cell death upon transplantation as a result of competition from the endogenous stem cells of the host muscles was overcome by elimination of host muscle stem cells with BCNU + O6BG treatment. Efficiency of elimination of host muscle stem cells was further demonstrated by the complete inhibition of a regeneration response up to 3 months in injured, BCNU + O6BG treated muscles. The limitation of localised engraftment as a result of intramuscular injection of donor cells was also addressed. The transplanted donor cells demonstrated the ability to migrate via systemic circulation. This characteristic of the donor cells would allow the transplantation of cells via intraarterial or intravenous delivery which would overcome the limitation of localised engraftment. Finally, application of the BCNU + O6BG driven selective enrichment strategy in skeletal muscle stem cell transplantation demonstrated enhanced engraftment. This is the first reported attempt of enhanced stem cell transplantation in a solid tissue achieved upon application of the BCNU + O6BG driven selective enrichment strategy. This study provides the basis for application of the BCNU + O6BG driven selective enrichment strategy in other tissues where stem cell transplantation is considered.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The BCNU + O6benzylguanine (O6BG) driven selective enrichment strategy was first established for enhanced transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. This study describes a novel application of this BCNU + O6BG driven selective enrichment strategy in skeletal muscle stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, this study addresses the three main limitations observed in previously reported skeletal muscle stem cell transplantation strategies. Limitation of ineffective donor cells which lack the ability for successful engraftment was overcome by using a heterogeneous population of donor cells which are present during a normal skeletal muscle regeneration response. The limitation of donor cell death upon transplantation as a result of competition from the endogenous stem cells of the host muscles was overcome by elimination of host muscle stem cells with BCNU + O6BG treatment. Efficiency of elimination of host muscle stem cells was further demonstrated by the complete inhibition of a regeneration response up to 3 months in injured, BCNU + O6BG treated muscles. The limitation of localised engraftment as a result of intramuscular injection of donor cells was also addressed. The transplanted donor cells demonstrated the ability to migrate via systemic circulation. This characteristic of the donor cells would allow the transplantation of cells via intraarterial or intravenous delivery which would overcome the limitation of localised engraftment. Finally, application of the BCNU + O6BG driven selective enrichment strategy in skeletal muscle stem cell transplantation demonstrated enhanced engraftment. This is the first reported attempt of enhanced stem cell transplantation in a solid tissue achieved upon application of the BCNU + O6BG driven selective enrichment strategy. This study provides the basis for application of the BCNU + O6BG driven selective enrichment strategy in other tissues where stem cell transplantation is considered.

Challenges encountered in pathogen identification and detection include the genetic heterogeneity of strains within species of some foodborne pathogens, isolation of injured cells, mixed strains or mixed species contamination of foods, and differentiation between viable and dead cells. The first objective of this research was to evaluate an isolation medium that was based on time-delayed release (5 to 6 h) of selective agents in tablet format to a modified Listeria recovery enrichment broth (mLRB) medium for enhanced and rapid recovery of injured Listeria. The second objective involved the use of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and chemometric analysis for the differentiation of: Listeria monocytogenes epidemic clones (ECs); viable versus heat-killed populations; different mixed strains and mixed species of Listeria; and different injury treatments and repair in Listeria populations. Nitrite- or acid-injured Listeria at approximately 10 CFU/ml were recovered in mLRB medium, and cell populations enumerated at various times (12 to 48 h) of incubation at 37oC. Analysis of variance revealed that acid-injured Listeria populations in mLRBS6 (mLRB plus the selective agents at 6 h) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in mLRBS0 (mLRB plus the selective agents at 0 h) at 24 h; however, the differences in populations on these two media were not significant for nitrite-injured Listeria. Cell populations of four strains of Listeria recovered in mLRBTD (mLRB plus the time-delayed release tablets of the selective agents) were significantly higher than when those strains were enriched in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) broths at 24 h. Comparison between artificially contaminated milk and meat samples with a four-strain cocktail of Listeria resulted in cell populations that were significantly higher (P < 0.05) on mLRBTD for contaminated meat than on mLRBTD for contaminated milk at 24 h. FT-IR spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region (4000 to 600 cm-1) and chemometrics was successfully applied to discriminate L. monocytogenes strains belonging to the same EC (ECII or ECIV) (100% accurate spectral classification), intact and heat-killed populations of each EC strain (100% accurate spectral classification), and spectral wavenumbers 1650 to 1390 cm-1 were used to differentiate heat-killed from intact populations. FT-IR spectroscopy and chemometrics in the wavelength region 1800 to 900 cm-1 could successfully discriminate different mixed strains of L. monocytogenes (98.15% accurate spectral classification) and different mixed species of L. monocytogenes and L. innocua (92.06% accurate spectral classification) from individual strains; Wavelength range 1800 to 900 cm-1 was successfully used to discriminate between intact, acid-injured, and heat-injured Listeria, with repaired cells from acid and heat treatments clustering closer to intact cells (93.33% of spectra accurately classified). Delayed-addition of selective agents to broth medium improves recovery of injured Listeria by allowing repair time, could minimize contamination through manual addition of selective agents, and saves analyst time; FT-IR spectroscopy is a highly discriminatory and reproducible technique that can be used for the differentiation of strains and various physiological states of Listeria.

abstract: Microbial electrochemical cells (MXCs) are promising platforms for bioenergy production from renewable resources. In these systems, specialized anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) deliver electrons from oxidation of organic substrates to the anode of an MXC. While much progress has been made in understanding the microbiology, physiology, and electrochemistry of well-studied model ARB such as Geobacter and Shewanella, tremendous potential exists for MXCs as microbiological platforms for exploring novel ARB. This dissertation introduces approaches for selective enrichment and characterization of phototrophic, halophilic, and alkaliphilic ARB. An enrichment scheme based on manipulation of poised anode potential, light, and nutrient availability led to current generation that responded negatively to light. Analysis of phototrophically enriched communities suggested essential roles for green sulfur bacteria and halophilic ARB in electricity generation. Reconstruction of light-responsive current generation could be successfully achieved using cocultures of anode-respiring Geobacter and phototrophic Chlorobium isolated from the MXC enrichments. Experiments lacking exogenously supplied organic electron donors indicated that Geobacter could produce a measurable current from stored photosynthate in the dark. Community analysis of phototrophic enrichments also identified members of the novel genus Geoalkalibacter as potential ARB. Electrochemical characterization of two haloalkaliphilic, non-phototrophic Geoalkalibacter spp. showed that these bacteria were in fact capable of producing high current densities (4-8 A/m2) and using higher organic substrates under saline or alkaline conditions. The success of these selective enrichment approaches and community analyses in identifying and understanding novel ARB capabilities invites further use of MXCs as robust platforms for fundamental microbiological investigations. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Microbiology 2013

O Mycobacterium bovis causa a tuberculose bovina, doença zoonótica que propaga, provavelmente com baixa prevalência, em todo o território nacional e pode ser transmitida pelo leite. A adoção sistemática da pasteurização do leite contribuiu para a redução dos casos humanos da doença, mas em alguns países, como o Brasil, é comum o consumo de leite cru e de seus derivados, o que pode contribuir para ocorrência de casos humanos. A participação desse agente nos atuais índices de tuberculose humana, cujo principal agente é o M. tuberculosis, é pouco investigada, mas acredita-se que seja maior do que parece. As razões que contribuem para isso incluem o fato do tratamento humano ser o mesmo independentemente do agente,e as dificuldades e alto custo de distinguir as espécies. O método de diagnóstico \"gold standard\" em laboratório para Mycobacterium bovis em amostras clínicas é o isolamento do agente em meios como Stonebrink-Leslie ou similares. A riqueza em nutrientes dos meios, mais o lento metabolismo deste agente e o alto grau de contaminantes das amostras torna imprescindível o uso de descontaminantes que, via de regra, são tóxicos para o agente, dificultando o isolamento em amostras com níveis baixos do patógeno; cenário provável no caso do leite devido à mistura com o leite de animais sadios. Mas, a despeito de constituir-se uma importante zoonose transmitida pelo leite, não existe uma metodologia oficial para detecção desse agente em alimentos lácteos. Esses fatos justificam um estudo para avaliar o desempenho de meios líquidos, já utilizados em caros sistemas automatizados para detecção de micobactérias, como alternativa para um enriquecimento seletivo do M. bovis em amostras lácteas. Assim, amostras de leite integral esterilizado e de queijo tipo parmesão foram contaminadas com 10 a 100 UFC/ml ou g de M. bovis AN5 e enriquecidas em dois meios líquidos seletivos (MGIT e MGIT modificado), foram analisados nos dias 0, 7, 14, 21, 24, 28 e 32, mantidas em estufa a 37°C. Nessas datas, uma alíquota foi semeada em meio Stonebrink-Leslie e incubada a 37°C por 60 dias. No leite, houve crescimento exacerbado do M. bovis principalmente no MGIT modificado. No queijo, não foi possível isolar M. bovis de nenhuma amostra em MGIT modificado, devido à contaminação excessiva que deteriorou o meio de cultura. O MGIT modificado foi mais eficaz como enriquecimento para o Mycobacterium bovis, mas foi menos seletivo que o MGIT. Estudos futuros devem concentrar a investigação da curva de crescimento do agente na primeira semana de enriquecimento. / Mycobacterium bovis causes bovine tuberculosis, zoonotic disease raging, probably with low prevalence, throughout the national territory and can be transmitted through the milk. The systematic adoption of milk pasteurization helped reduce human cases of the disease, but in some countries, like Brazil, is the common consumption of raw milk and its derivatives, which may contribute to the occurrence of human cases. The participation of this agent in the current rates of human tuberculosis, the principal agent is M. tuberculosis, it is not investigated, but it is believed to be larger than it looks, the reasons contributing to this include the fact that human treatment is similar regardless of the agent and the difficulty / cost to distinguish between species. The diagnostic method \"gold standard\" for Mycobacterium bovis in clinical samples is the isolation of the agent means, Leslie as Stonebrink or the like. The species richness in nutrient media, over the slow metabolism this agent and the high degree of contamination of the samples makes indispensable using decontaminant that, as a rule, are toxic to the agent, making isolation in samples with low levels of the pathogen; scenario likely due to the milk mixture with the milk of healthy animals. But, despite constitute an important zoonosis transmitted by milk, there is no official method for detection of this agent in dairy foods. These facts justify a study to evaluate the performance of liquid media, as used in expensive automated systems for detection of mycobacteria, as alternative to a selective enrichment of M. bovis in milk samples. Thus, samples of sterilized milk and Parmesan cheese type were infected with 10 to 100 CFU / ml or g of M bovis AN5 and enriched in two selective liquid media (MGIT and modified MGIT) were analyzed on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 24, 28 and 32, maintaining at 37 ° C. On that date, an aliquot was plated on Stonebrink half- Leslie and incubated at 37 ° C for 60 days. In milk, there was overgrowth of M. bovis mainly in MGIT modified. Cheese, it was not possible to isolate M. bovis no sample in MGIT modified due to excessive contamination it deteriorated the culture medium. The modified MGIT was more effective as enrichment for Mycobacterium bovis, but was less selective than the MGIT. Future studies should focus on investigating the growth curve of the agent in the first week of enrichment.

O Mycobacterium bovis causa a tuberculose bovina, doença zoonótica que propaga, provavelmente com baixa prevalência, em todo o território nacional e pode ser transmitida pelo leite. A adoção sistemática da pasteurização do leite contribuiu para a redução dos casos humanos da doença, mas em alguns países, como o Brasil, é comum o consumo de leite cru e de seus derivados, o que pode contribuir para ocorrência de casos humanos. A participação desse agente nos atuais índices de tuberculose humana, cujo principal agente é o M. tuberculosis, é pouco investigada, mas acredita-se que seja maior do que parece. As razões que contribuem para isso incluem o fato do tratamento humano ser o mesmo independentemente do agente,e as dificuldades e alto custo de distinguir as espécies. O método de diagnóstico \"gold standard\" em laboratório para Mycobacterium bovis em amostras clínicas é o isolamento do agente em meios como Stonebrink-Leslie ou similares. A riqueza em nutrientes dos meios, mais o lento metabolismo deste agente e o alto grau de contaminantes das amostras torna imprescindível o uso de descontaminantes que, via de regra, são tóxicos para o agente, dificultando o isolamento em amostras com níveis baixos do patógeno; cenário provável no caso do leite devido à mistura com o leite de animais sadios. Mas, a despeito de constituir-se uma importante zoonose transmitida pelo leite, não existe uma metodologia oficial para detecção desse agente em alimentos lácteos. Esses fatos justificam um estudo para avaliar o desempenho de meios líquidos, já utilizados em caros sistemas automatizados para detecção de micobactérias, como alternativa para um enriquecimento seletivo do M. bovis em amostras lácteas. Assim, amostras de leite integral esterilizado e de queijo tipo parmesão foram contaminadas com 10 a 100 UFC/ml ou g de M. bovis AN5 e enriquecidas em dois meios líquidos seletivos (MGIT e MGIT modificado), foram analisados nos dias 0, 7, 14, 21, 24, 28 e 32, mantidas em estufa a 37°C. Nessas datas, uma alíquota foi semeada em meio Stonebrink-Leslie e incubada a 37°C por 60 dias. No leite, houve crescimento exacerbado do M. bovis principalmente no MGIT modificado. No queijo, não foi possível isolar M. bovis de nenhuma amostra em MGIT modificado, devido à contaminação excessiva que deteriorou o meio de cultura. O MGIT modificado foi mais eficaz como enriquecimento para o Mycobacterium bovis, mas foi menos seletivo que o MGIT. Estudos futuros devem concentrar a investigação da curva de crescimento do agente na primeira semana de enriquecimento. / Mycobacterium bovis causes bovine tuberculosis, zoonotic disease raging, probably with low prevalence, throughout the national territory and can be transmitted through the milk. The systematic adoption of milk pasteurization helped reduce human cases of the disease, but in some countries, like Brazil, is the common consumption of raw milk and its derivatives, which may contribute to the occurrence of human cases. The participation of this agent in the current rates of human tuberculosis, the principal agent is M. tuberculosis, it is not investigated, but it is believed to be larger than it looks, the reasons contributing to this include the fact that human treatment is similar regardless of the agent and the difficulty / cost to distinguish between species. The diagnostic method \"gold standard\" for Mycobacterium bovis in clinical samples is the isolation of the agent means, Leslie as Stonebrink or the like. The species richness in nutrient media, over the slow metabolism this agent and the high degree of contamination of the samples makes indispensable using decontaminant that, as a rule, are toxic to the agent, making isolation in samples with low levels of the pathogen; scenario likely due to the milk mixture with the milk of healthy animals. But, despite constitute an important zoonosis transmitted by milk, there is no official method for detection of this agent in dairy foods. These facts justify a study to evaluate the performance of liquid media, as used in expensive automated systems for detection of mycobacteria, as alternative to a selective enrichment of M. bovis in milk samples. Thus, samples of sterilized milk and Parmesan cheese type were infected with 10 to 100 CFU / ml or g of M bovis AN5 and enriched in two selective liquid media (MGIT and modified MGIT) were analyzed on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 24, 28 and 32, maintaining at 37 ° C. On that date, an aliquot was plated on Stonebrink half- Leslie and incubated at 37 ° C for 60 days. In milk, there was overgrowth of M. bovis mainly in MGIT modified. Cheese, it was not possible to isolate M. bovis no sample in MGIT modified due to excessive contamination it deteriorated the culture medium. The modified MGIT was more effective as enrichment for Mycobacterium bovis, but was less selective than the MGIT. Future studies should focus on investigating the growth curve of the agent in the first week of enrichment.

À l’heure où l’intégration des enjeux environnementaux dans le développement de procédés éco-efficients joue un rôle essentiel dans le moteur de l’innovation responsable, la chimie verte est devenue l’un des sujets de préoccupation majeure. Ainsi, le développement de nouveaux procédés éco-respectueux pour la production d’ingrédients naturels issus de matières premières végétales renouvelables est devenu une démarche incontournable dans le modèle de recherche. L’objectif de cette thèse a consisté au développement d’une stratégie d’éco-valorisation innovante employant les fluides sub/supercritiques pour l’extraction, la caractérisation, la production et l’imprégnation sur support cosmétique de produits naturels d’origine végétale. Pour cela, nous avons utilisé comme modèle végétal : les graines oléagineuses de la plante Kniphofia uvaria, sélectionnée pour des applications cosmétiques grâce à ses propriétés bioactives antioxydantes et anti-âge. Dans un premier temps, le développement de méthodes complémentaires en SFC ainsi que le développement du couplage SFC-MS a été réalisé à l’aide de la source APCI afin d’identifier les molécules responsables des activités bioactives des graines de Kniphofia uvaria. Ainsi, le développement d’un système hybride (U)HPLC/SFC-HRMS a été réalisé afin de mettre en place ce couplage. Des optimisations en termes de proportion et nature de solvant make-up ainsi qu’un travail au niveau des paramètres SFC et MS ont été faits afin de d’améliorer la sensibilité et la spécificité des analyses lipidiques. Dans un second temps, nous nous sommes attachés au développement d’une stratégie d’enrichissement en composés bioactifs à l’aide des méthodes : SFE et CPC. Ainsi, en SFE, des optimisations en termes de température, pression, nature/proportions de co-solvant dans le fluide ont été réalisées alors qu’en CPC, des optimisations au niveau de l’injection ont été faites. Des conditions optimales pour le fractionnement sélectif des anthraquinones et des triglycérides ont été déterminées en SFE et CPC. Dans un dernier temps, ce travail a consisté à développer un couplage en-ligne pour extraire et imprégner sélectivement sur silice cosmétique : les anthraquinones. Le développement et l’optimisation de ce procédé en-ligne ont été réalisés à l’échelle du laboratoire et ont démontré la faisabilité de ce couplage ainsi qu’un intérêt certain pour l’obtention de produits naturels sous une première forme galénique, destinée à une future incorporation dans la formulation de cosmétiques. / Nowadays, green chemistry is a great challenge. It seeks innovation in the development of eco-efficient processes. The production of natural products from renewable materials by these new environmentally friendly processes is more and more used. The aim of this Ph.D thesis is to develop an eco-valuation strategy to extract, characterize, produce and impregnate natural products onto a cosmetic support using sub/supercritical fluids. Consequently, we used oleaginous plant seeds from Kniphofia uvaria as a plant model, which was selected for its interesting cosmetic properties such as antioxidant or anti-ageing. Firstly, the SFC-MS hyphenation with the APCI as an ionization source was developed to screen bioactive molecules; responsible of cosmetic properties. This coupling was performed by the hybrid combination of (U)HPLC/SFC-HRMS. Various optimizations in terms of the solvent make-up (nature and proportion), modulation with SFC and MS parameters were carried out in order to improve sensitivity and selectivity of lipid analysis. Secondly, an enrichment strategy to concentrate bioactive compounds in the final extract was developed by SFE and CPC. Thus, in SFE, experimental parameters (temperature, pressure, nature/proportion of the modifier in the CO2 fluid) were optimized while in CPC, the injection optimization was realized. Methods for the selective fractionation of anthraquinones and triglycerides were obtained in CPC and SFE. Finally, an on-line sub/supercritical extraction-impregnation process was developed to extract and for simultaneously impregnating anthraquinones onto a cosmetic silica. Development and optimization of this process was realized on a laboratory scale. Consequently, this study demonstrated the feasibility of this concept and it presents a great interest to provide natural products as a galenic form, which could be used in the cosmetic formulation.