The use of standards in quantitative PCR (qPCR) is essential, especially in forensic cases, to determine the concentration of DNA in an unknown sample. The standard curve for Quantifiler Trio is commonly made up of a ten-fold serial dilution of the known DNA standard in the qPCR kit. Due to the known concentration of the standard and the serial dilution, the threshold cycle values of the standards can be compared to the cycle threshold values of the unknown samples to determine their concentrations. Use of the Quantifiler Trio kit provides the concentration of total human DNA, including both small autosomal and large autosomal amounts which are used to calculate a degradation ratio, and also determines the concentration of male DNA in the sample. Each aspect has its own standard curve to determine the DNA concentration. However, serial dilutions cause variance between runs, even when using the same samples, due to small pipetting differences or errors which can make sample reruns and verifying data difficult. Creating a virtual curve by using data from multiple serial dilutions would minimize or eliminate the variance between runs. This is accomplished by taking the averages of slopes and y-intercepts of the standards to creature the virtual curve.

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Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:46:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1965376 bytes, checksum: 32df14418e8fde9c7b4067ac9f8ea6c6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-07 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) is the major causative agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and is associated with different syndromes that affect the swine. The term PCVAD (Porcine circovirus associated diseases) was introduced in 2006 to gather many diseases. Since serological studies are essential for monitoring the virus, the aim of this study was to develop enzyme immunoassays (ELISA) for detection and titration of antibodies to PCV-2 and also for viral quantification as well as the recombinant protein capsid PCV-2 (rCAP PCV-2) in extracts of Escherichia coli. After the standardization of the technique, 29 negative serum samples in ELISA were used for determining the cutt off. The quantitative ELISA was compared with the Immunoperoxidase monolayer (IPMA), through analysis of 155 serum samples, pre-determined by IPMA, of which 125 samples were positive and 30 negative samples for antibodies to PCV-2, in ELISA. The tests showed a concordance of 98.70% confirming the high sensitivity and specificity of ELISA on the IPMA. In the quantitative assay, 20 serum samples had the title determined by ELISA and it showed a higher detection limit of antibodies than the IPMA in 18 of the 20 samples tested. To quantify the rCAP PCV-2 in extracts of E.coli, a capture ELISA was developed. Were used precipitated IgGs from polyclonal rabbit serum anti-rCap PCV-2 as capture antibody and the conjugated IgGs with peroxidases as detection antibody. A standard curve was obtained by serial dilution of rCap PCV-2 and the test showed a detection limit in the range of 0.625 to 0.0097 mg/mL, which was successfully used to quantify the protein in the extract of E.coli. Thus it is expected that this test is also applied in the quantification of future PCV-2 in field samples. / O Circovírus suíno 2 (PCV-2) é o principal agente causador da Síndrome Multissistêmica do Definhamento dos Suínos (SMDS), e está associado a diferentes síndromes que acometem esses animais. O termo PCVAD (Porcine circovírus 2 associated diseases) foi introduzido em 2006, para enquadrar todas essas doenças. Uma vez que estudos sorológicos são fundamentais para o monitoramento do vírus, o objetivo desse trabalho foi desenvolver ensaios imunoenzimáticos (ELISA) para a detecção e titulação de anticorpos anti-PCV-2 e também para a quantificação viral, assim como da proteína recombinante do capsídeo do PCV-2 (rCap PCV-2) em extratos de Escherichia coli . Após a padronização da técnica, 29 amostras de soro negativos por ELISA indireto foram utilizadas para a determinação do cutt off. O ELISA qualitativo foi comparado com a Imunoperoxidase em Monocamada (IPMA), através da análise de 155 amostras de soro, pré-determinadas por IPMA, sendo 125 amostras positivas e 30 amostras negativas para anticorpos anti-PCV-2, no ELISA. Os testes apresentaram uma concordância de 98,70 % confirmando assim a alta sensibilidade e especificidade do ELISA relativa ao IPMA. No ensaio quantitativo, 20 amostras de soro tiveram o título determinado através do ELISA e este apresentou um maior limite de detecção de anticorpos do que o IPMA, em 18 das 20 amostras avaliadas. Para a quantificação da rCap PCV-2 presente em extratos de E.coli, um ELISA de captura foi desenvolvido. Foram utilizadas IgGs precipitadas a partir de soro policlonal de coelho anti-rCap PCV-2 como anticorpo de captura e as IgGs conjugadas com peroxidase como anticorpo de detecção. Uma curva-padrão foi obtida através da diluição seriada da rCap PCV-2 e o ensaio apresentou um limite de detecção na faixa entre 0,625 a 0,0097 μg/mL, que foi utilizado com sucesso para quantificar a proteína no extrato de E.coli. Assim espera-se que este teste seja também aplicado futuramente na quantificação do PCV-2 em amostras de campo.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of molecules secreted by cells, which is essential for providing structural support and facilitating cell processes including adhesion, migration and survival. Tenascin-C is an immunomodulatory ECM protein that exhibits limited expression in healthy tissues, but is transiently elevated at sites of tissue injury, and is persistently expressed in chronic inflammatory diseases and tumours. Alternative splicing of 9 of tenascin-C's fibronectin type III-like domains (FnIII- A1, A2, A3, A4, B, AD2, AD1, C and D) generates enormous diversity in form; yielding 511 possible isoforms. Post-transcriptional modification of tenascin-C has been studied in cancer and during development where disease and tissue specific isoforms exhibit distinct adhesive, migratory and proliferative effects. However, little is known of how tenascin-C is expressed or alternatively spliced during inflammation. This study characterises inflammation and disease specific tenascin-C isoforms made by immune cells and fibroblasts, and investigates their functional relevance. Biosynthesis and alternative splicing of tenascin-C was examined using standard curve qPCR, ELISA, Western blot and confocal immunocytochemistry in resting and activated primary human immune cells, dermal fibroblasts, and in synovial fibroblasts isolated from healthy controls and from osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Based on these data, three recombinant proteins comprising FnIII domains AD2-AD1, B-C-D and B-AD2-AD1-C-D were cloned, expressed and purified, and their impact on cell behaviour including adhesion, morphology and migration was assessed. Basal tenascin-C expression was lower in myeloid and lymphoid cells than fibroblasts, and was induced in all following inflammatory stimulation. Tenascin-C expression was elevated in disease with RA and OA synovial fibroblasts containing higher levels than healthy controls. Alternative splicing following cell activation was cell-type specific: all FnIII except AD2 and AD1 were upregulated in dendritic cells and macrophages, in T-cells all FnIII remained unchanged with FnIII A1 absent; and no change in splicing was observed in activated dermal fibroblasts. Normal and OA synovial fibroblasts exhibited similar tenascin-C splicing patterns, but FnIII B and D were specifically elevated in RA. Functional analysis revealed differences in the adhesion, morphology and migration of myeloid cells and dermal fibroblasts cultured on FnIII AD2-AD1, B-C-D, B-AD2-AD1-C-D and full length tenascin-C substrates; FnIII B-C-D promoted MDDC migration while B-AD2-AD1-C-D promoted fibroblast adhesion, compared to full length tenascin-C. For the first time, this study reveals differences in tenascin-C biosynthesis and alternative splicing by immune cells and fibroblasts following activation with inflammatory stimuli; and starts to reveal how alternative splicing of tenascin-C may influence the behaviours of both stromal and immune cells types during inflammation and in inflammatory diseases.