Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite that causes neuromuscular paralysis in dogs and abortions in cattle. N. caninum is responsible for losses of several million dollars to the dairy and beef industries in several parts of the world. The key players in the host immune response to N. caninum include CD4+ T cells, the Th1 cytokines IL-12, Interferon gamma and IgG2a isotype antibodies. There are currently no chemotherapeutic agents that are effective against adult cattle neosporosis. A commercially available, inactivated vaccine induces the undesirable Th2 type of immunity against N. caninum. Therefore, two approaches towards vaccine development against N. caninum that were designed to induce potent cell mediated immunity have been explored in this dissertation. The first approach consisted of the development of a bivalent recombinant vaccine for both brucellosis and neosporosis, while the second approach involved gamma irradiation of N. caninum tachyzoites for use as an attenuated vaccine against N. caninum. Since N. caninum research has been conducted with several strains of mice and the different strains of mice vary in their susceptibility to infection with N. caninum, there is a need to develop a standard lab animal model for N. caninum. A gerbil and a C57BL/6 mouse model for N. caninum vaccine testing have been developed. It was found that the LD50 of N. caninum tachyzoites in gerbils was 9.3 x105 tachyzoites per gerbil delivered intra-peritoneally, (i.p) while for C57BL/6 mice the LD50 was 1.5 x107 tachyzoites per mouse delivered i.p. Vertical transmission rates in C57BL/6 mice infected with N. caninum tachyzoites during mid-gestation were determined and found to be in the range of 96-100%. Putative protective antigens of N. caninum that included MIC1, MIC3, GRA2, GRA6 and SRS2 were expressed in B. abortus strain RB51 to create recombinant vaccine strains. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with either the recombinant strains or the irradiated tachyzoites. Antigen specific IgG2a and IgG1 responses and high levels of interferon gamma and IL-10 were induced by vaccination. Mice vaccinated with irradiated tachyzoites, RB51-MIC1 and RB51-GRA6 were completely protected against lethal challenge, while the mice vaccinated with RB51-SRS2, RB51-GRA2 and RB51-MIC3 were partially protected. To determine the efficacy of the vaccines in preventing vertical transmission of N. caninum, mice were vaccinated and bred after administration of a booster dose four weeks after the primary vaccination. Antigen specific IgG1 and IgG2a and significant levels of IFN-ã and IL-10 were detected in vaccinated, pregnant mice. Pregnant mice were challenged with 5 x 106 N. caninum tachyzoites between days 11-13 of pregnancy. Brain tissue was collected from pups three weeks after birth and examined for the presence of N. caninum by a semi-nested PCR. Protection against vertical transmission elicited by the RB51-GRA6, RB51-MIC3, irradiated tachyzoite, RB51-GRA2, RB51-MIC1 and RB51-SRS2 vaccinated groups were 43%, 38%, 34%, 34%, 18%, and 7% respectively. Since not all the antigens that were highly protective against acute disease were not very effective in preventing vertical transmission, the role of the selected antigens in preventing acute disease and vertical transmission appear to differ. Only GRA6 was found to be effective in protecting against an acute lethal challenge as well as preventing vertical transmission 43% of the time. In summary, two animal models for the testing of N. caninum vaccines were developed. N. caninum protective antigens were successfully expressed in B. abortus strain RB51. The irradiated tachyzoite and recombinant RB51-Neospora vaccines were highly effective in protecting against acute neosporosis and partially protective against vertical transmission. Therefore, both these approaches show great promise as practical and effective means to achieve the goal of successful prophylaxis against N. caninum induced abortions and reduce the chances of vertical transmission. / Ph. D.

Brucella abortus is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen, which causes abortion in cattle and undulant fever in human. B. abortus strain RB51 (Strain RB51) is the official vaccine for bovine brucellosis in the USA. B. abortus strain RB51 can be used as a vector for the over-expression of its own (homologous) as well as heterologous protective antigens. The immune system can detect these heterologous antigens and produce a response. Expressing a protein in different bacterial compartments has been shown to affect its accessibility to the immune system and the way the antigen is processed by antigen presenting cells. In order to determine if the immune response is affected by the localization of the antigen, green fluorescent protein (GFP) was expressed at three different locations in B. abortus strain RB51, outer-membrane (OM), periplasmic space (PS) and in the cytoplasmic region (CR) of B. abortus strain RB51. This localization was obtained by transforming strain RB51 with plasmids pBBg18sGFP and pBBgSsGFP, in which the 18 kDa Brucella lipoprotein and the Brucella Cu/Zn SOD protein signal sequences were added to the GFP sequence to cause OM and PS expression respectively. No signal sequences were added to the plasmid pBBgGFP for CR only expression. Expression and localization of GFP in the different compartments in recombinant B. abortus strain RB51 were confirmed by electron microscopy and antibody absorption experiments. Groups of 5 female BALB/c mice each were injected and boosted with three recombinant strains and appropriate controls. Mice were bled and their anti-GFP antibody production was assessed. None of the immunized mice produced specific antibodies against GFP, probably due to the low expression of the heterologous antigen observed in this study by strain RB51 observed in this study. It will be necessary to produce new recombinants which are able to express higher amounts of GFP to answer if localization of heterologous antigen within the recombinant RB51 affects the level of a specific immune response. / Master of Science

Brucella causes undulant fever in humans and uterine and systemic infection leading to abortions in domestic animals and wild life. For the acquisition of iron in mammalian hosts, species of Brucella are known to produce two siderophores, 2, 3-dihydroxy benzoic acid (2, 3-DHBA) and brucebactin. Inability to synthesize of 2, 3-DHBA affects the ability of pathogen to metabolize erythritol, replicate in trophoblast cells and cause abortion in pregnant ruminant host. The entF gene has been implicated in the unresolved pathway allowing brucebactin biosynthesis in Brucella. The research effort presented in this thesis tries to relate the role of entF in iron acquisition and potential relation with erythritol metabolism by wild type B. abortus 2308. An entF deletion mutant (BAN1) of B. abortus 2308, generated using cre-lox methodology was found to be growth inhibited in iron minimal media compared to wild type strain. Growth inhibition was further enhanced with the addition of an iron chelator or 0.1% erythritol. Compared to wild type strain, no growth inhibition of BAN1 mutant was found in murine J774A.1 macrophages, which suggests that Brucella could acquire iron inside mammalian cells. The entF gene complemented mutant strains of BAN1 (BAN2A and BAN2B) were found to be intermediate in their ability to grow in iron minimal media supplemented with 0.0.05% erythritol, when compared to wild type and BAN1 strain. The results from the present thesis demonstrate that entF gene plays an important role in iron acquisition and erythritol metabolism by B. abortus 2308 under iron limiting conditions. / Master of Science

The gram-negative bacterial pathogen Brucella abortus is a zoonotic pathogen causing brucellosis in a variety of animal species including humans. The loss of the O-side chain in the lipopolysaccharide of the outer membrane decreases Brucella virulence. To understand the genetics of O-side chain biosynthesis and its relationship to virulence, studies were initiated to characterize specific O-side chain mutants. B. abortus rough mutant strain RA2 was derived by transposon (Tn5) mutagenesis of smooth B. abortus 2308. The chromosomal region of strain RA2 with the Tn5 and flanking chromosomal region was cloned into the sequencing vector pGEM-3Z to create a suicide plasmid pNW-2. The plasmid pNW-2, or a derivative of it (pNW-3), in which Tn5 was replaced with a Kank gene, were electroporated into wild type smooth B. abortus 2308 in order to assess the phenotypic conversion from smooth to rough. The electroporation parameters such as cell growth stage, pulse field strength and pulse length were optimized. It was determined that using late log phase cells (approximately 70-77 Klett units), 10 ms and 13 KV/cm were the best conditions for achieving transformation by pNW-2 or pNW3. Kanamycin resistant and ampicillin sensitive Brucella were screened for double reciprocal crossovers between the suicide plasmids (pNW-2 and pNW-3) and Brucella chromosomal DNA. The recombinants were checked for their O-side chain by crystal violet uptake and immunoblotting with monoclonal antibody specific for the O-side chain. The locations of Tn5 and the flanking region in the genome of these recombinants were characterized by Southern blot using either a Tn5 probe or a flanking region probe. An analysis of KanR colonies showed that none of the recombinants were rough. The B. abortus DNA in pNW-2 was sequenced and compared with other genes. No Significant homology was found between the Brucella DNA in pNW-2 and gene sequences in the gene bank. Analysis of the recombinants suggests no linkage between the Tn5 element in strain RA2 and the rough phenotype. / Master of Science

As a first step in characterizing the genes involved in O-side chain synthesis in <i>Brucella abortus</i> strain 2308, a portion of the genomic DNA was cloned from a rough mutant created by Tn5 (KnR) mutagenesis. This mutant was rough based on the lack of reactivity by either whole cells or extracted LPS to an O-side chain monoclonal antibody (BRU-38). A 30 kb <i>Xba</i>I genomic fragment (including Tn5) from the rough strain was subcloned into a sequencing vector to create pJM6. When <i>B. abortus</i> 2308 was electroporated with pJM6, KnR clones were unable to react with BRU-38; a Southern analysis of these clones revealed Tn5 in the 30 kb <i>Xba</i>I genomic fragment. Various regions of the 30kb fragment were subcloned and tested for their ability to complement specific <i>rfa</i> and <i>rfb</i> mutants of <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Salmonella typhimurium</i>. One particular DNA fragment complemented an <i>rfbD</i> mutation in <i>E. coli</i> as judged by agglutination with <i>E. coli</i> anti-O (0:85) serum. The same DNA fragment failed to cause <i>E. coli rfbD</i> to react with either BRU-38 or <i>B. abortus</i> anti-O polyclonal antisera. The <i>B. abortus</i> 30 kb <i>Xba</i>I fragment contains a gene which has been identified by comple-mentation as containing the equivalent of the <i>rfbD</i> gene encoding dTDP-rhamnose synthetase in <i>E. coli</i>. Since <i>Brucella</i> is not known to have rhamnose in its core this enzyme may have a different function in <i>Brucella</i> LPS synthesis. / Master of Science

Brucella abortus and Agrobacterium tumefaciens are pathogenic bacteria that infect animals and plants, respectively. These bacteria are genetically similar and are found within the same Class, Alphaproteobacteria, and Order, Rhizobiales, of the domain Eubacteria; however, they survive and replicate in vastly different environmental niches. In Order to adapt to different environments, bacteria utilize several mechanisms of gene regulation to tightly control gene expression. Two of these mechanisms include transcriptional regulators and small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), which can activate and repress gene expression through various interactions with DNA, mRNA, and proteins. A well-conserved transcriptional regulator among the Rhizobiales is VtlR, a virulence-associated transcriptional LysR regulator. The objectives of this dissertation were three fold: 1) characterize the known regulon of VtlR in B. abortus with regards to gene regulatory function and virulence, 2) determine the regulon of VtlR in A. tumefaciens and define the mechanism by which this regulation occurs, and 3) define the role of an ABC-type transport system indirectly regulated by VtlR in B. abortus that putatively imports the non-proteinogenic amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). VtlR was characterized in B. abortus as a virulence-associated transcriptional regulator that directly activates four genes: the sRNA AbcR2, and the three small hypothetical proteins BAB1_0914, BAB2_0512, and BAB2_0574; and deletion of vtlR led to a significant defect in the ability of B. abortus to cause infection in vitro and in vivo. Since dysregulation of abcR2 alone could not account for the defect in virulence, it was hypothesized that one or all three hypothetical proteins could be responsible for a virulence phenotype observed in ΔvtlR. This turned out to not be the case, as a deletion of the entire VtlR regulon displayed no difference in virulence compared to the parental strain. Further characterization of the small hypothetical proteins is outlined in Chapter 2 and the data revealed bona fide translation of each small protein, and the deletion strain of the VtlR regulon displayed a growth defect when grown in the presence of the sugar fucose. This phenotype was subsequently observed in ΔvtlR as well. This led to the identification of a putative fucose transport and metabolism locus in B. abortus that has yet to be studied. In A. tumefaciens, VtlR is necessary for proper attachment to plant cells and biofilm formation and regulates over 200 genes, significantly more than the four genes VtlR regulates in B. abortus. The mechanism by which this occurs was unknown, and the relationship between VtlR and AbcR1 or AbcR2 was uncharacterized. The data in Chapter 3 outline the VtlR network by showing that VtlR regulation of myriad genes in A. tumefaciens is primarily indirect via the direct regulation of a few sRNAs. This direct interaction was shown experimentally and a VtlR binding box was identified in the A. tumefaciens genome. This project outlines the divergence of a regulatory element between phylogenetically related organisms that occupy different environmental niches. The AbcR sRNAs are conserved throughout the Rhizobiales and regulate numerous ABC-type transport systems within these bacteria. In A. tumefaciens, one of these transport systems specifically transports the amino acds proline and GABA. B. abortus contains homologs of this system, which led to the hypothesis that the brucellae may also transport GABA but for a yet unknown purpose. The data in Chapter 4 revealed that B. abortus also transports GABA in vitro and this transport is under the regulation of AbcR1 and AbcR2. This transport was increased under extreme nutrient limitations and was uninhibited by the presence of other amino acids. Metabolic studies showed GABA is not utilized by B. abortus under aerobic conditions, and transcriptomic data revealed increased expression of several loci in the presence of GABA. Altogether, this study uncovers a putative signaling role for the amino acid GABA that has been understudied in bacterial pathogens that infect animal hosts. Overall, the work presented in this dissertation is focused on further elucidating the biological role of downstream regulatory targets of both VtlR and the sRNAs AbcR1 and AbcR2 in the related organisms Brucella abortus and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Findings show that while there are similarities between the two systems, there are also many differences that may be attributed to the vastly different lifestyles of each organism. / Doctor of Philosophy / Brucella abortus and Agrobacterium tumefaciens are two highly related bacterial pathogens that infect mammals and plants, respectively. Although genetically related, both organisms survive and replicate in vastly different environmental niches with one living in the soil (i.e., A. tumefaciens) and the other living within immune cells of the infected host (i.e., B. abortus). In Order to quickly adapt to changing environmental conditions, the bacteria must rapidly control gene expression through multiple regulatory mechanisms. The works presented in this dissertation will focus on further characterizing one of these regulatory systems and comparing the homologous systems shared by B. abortus and A. tumefaciens. This includes uncovering a putative sugar transport and metabolism system, as well as discovering the potential for host-pathogen signaling via the well-studied neurotransmitter GABA.

Brucella abortus is a facultative, intracellular zoonotic pathogen, which can cause undulant fever in humans and abortion in cattle. Despite all of the progress in brucellosis research, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of Brucella infections. To better understand the Brucella antigens involved in virulence and/or immunity, genetic and immunologic characterization of a 16 kDa protein of B. abortus was performed. Using PCR methods, the gene encoding the 16 kDa protein was cloned and sequenced. PCR and Southern blot analysis revealed that the gene is conserved among the 6 nomen species of Brucella. Overexpression of this protein in B. abortus vaccine strain RB51 was achieved using Brucella groE and sodC promoters as well as its own promoter. Protection and clearance studies were performed in mice to determine the role of this protein in Brucella immunity and pathogenesis. Inoculation with either strain RB51 overexpressing the 16 kDa protein or a DNA vaccine encoding the 16 kDa protein gene failed to provide significant protection. No difference was noted between the splenic clearance of B. abortus strain 2308 and its recombinant overexpressing the 16 kDa protein. A mutant of strain 2308 (2308D16) was created by disrupting the 16 kDa protein's gene with a chloramphenicol resistance cassette. Western blot analysis indicated that the O antigen profile of strain 2308D16 differed from that of strain 2308. Mice cleared strain 2308D16 faster than strain 2308 indicating the potential attenuation of the disruption mutant. Purified 16 kDa protein was obtained by overexpressing it in E. coli via the pRSET expression system. Western blotting results initially identified this protein as an immunoglobulin-binding protein. Hemagglutination assay revealed that the 16 kDa protein exhibits lectin-like properties. Preliminary studies using hemagglutination inhibition identified mannose as a possible sugar to which the 16 kDa protein can interact. The lectin-like properties exhibited by the 16 kDa protein appears to influence smooth lipopolysaccharide production, and thereby may be involved in virulence. / Master of Science

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2017-12-21T18:17:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 julianamelo.pdf: 1321154 bytes, checksum: 6613c9596412757aeb47ee110faa5b87 (MD5) / Rejected by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br), reason: Favor corrigir autor: Sobrenome, Nome on 2017-12-22T12:19:42Z (GMT) / Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2017-12-22T12:28:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 julianamelo.pdf: 1321154 bytes, checksum: 6613c9596412757aeb47ee110faa5b87 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-12-22T13:02:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 julianamelo.pdf: 1321154 bytes, checksum: 6613c9596412757aeb47ee110faa5b87 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-22T13:02:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 julianamelo.pdf: 1321154 bytes, checksum: 6613c9596412757aeb47ee110faa5b87 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-22 / A brucelose é uma doença infectocontagiosa causada por bactérias do gênero Brucella que acometem o homem e uma grande variedade de animais domésticos, resultando em prejuízos econômicos significativos aos sistemas de produção. Em humanos essa infecção pode causar febre ondulante, endocardite, artrite, osteomielite e complicações neurológicas enquanto em animais leva ao aborto e infertilidade. Sabe-se que a resposta imunológica a bactérias intracelulares como a Brucella ocorre essencialmente através da imunidade mediada por células, sendo macrófagos especialmente importantes no combate à infecção. Entretanto, apesar da efetividade da resposta, a B. abortus conta com diversos mecanismos de evasão, o que garante a sua sobrevivência no organismo hospedeiro. Dentre estes mecanismos, a modulação de células apresentadoras de antígenos tem sido apontada como um dos mais relevantes. Recentemente, diversos trabalhos têm evidenciado a importância das NTPDases e da molécula PD-1 na modulação da resposta imune. As NTPDases estão envolidas com a produção de adenosina que apresenta relevante caráter imunomodulador. Já a molécula PD-1 está associada a indução de um perfil anti-inflamatório com diminuição de IL-12 e aumento de IL-10. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se a infecção com B. abortus é capaz de alterar a expressão destas moléculas e assim limitar a ação do sistema imune, favorecendo a sobrevivência do patógeno. Para isso, células RAW 264.7 foram infectadas com B.abortus e a modulação das moléculas CD80, CD86, CD40, MHCII, foi avaliada por citometria de fluxo. Em seguida, a expressão de CD39 também foi determinada por citometria de fluxo e por Western Blot. Por fim analisamos possíveis alterações na expressão da molécula PD-1 induzidas pela bactéria. Como resultados, foi confirmado que a infecção é capaz de inibir a expressão de CD80, CD86 e CD40, embora o mesmo não tenha sido observado com o MHCII. Além disso, a expressão de CD40 se mostrou diminuída mesmo após o estímulo com LPS. De forma surpreendente, foi observada uma diminuição na expressão das moléculas CD39 e PD-1, o que pode ser explicado pela menor ativação celular induzida pela infecção. Assim, os dados obtidos até o momento demonstram que as moléculas CD39 e PD-1 não são utilizadas pela Brucella para modular as APCs, mas são influenciados pela menor ativação celular induzida pelo patógeno. / Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella that affect humans and a wide variety of domestic animals, resulting in significant economic losses to production systems. In humans the infection can cause undulant fever, endocarditis, arthritis, osteomyelitis and neurological complications while in animals leads to abortion and infertility. It is known that the immune response to intracellular bacteria such as Brucella occurs primarily by cell-mediated immunity, macrophage being especially important in fighting infection. However, despite the effectiveness of the response, B. abortus has several avoidance schemes, which ensures their survival in the host organism. Among these mechanisms, modulation of antigen-presenting cells has been identified as one of the most relevant. Recently, several studies have shown the importance NTPDase and PD-1 molecule to modulate the immune response. The NTPDase are envolidas with the production of adenosine which presents immunomodulatory relevant character. Since PD-1 molecule is associated with induction of an anti-inflammatory profile with decreased IL-12 and IL-10 increase. In this context, the aim of this study was to determine whether infection with B. abortus is able to alter the expression of these molecules and thus limit the action of the immune system, favoring the survival of the pathogen. To this end, RAW 264.7 cells were infected with B.abortus and modulation of CD80 molecules, CD86, CD40, MHCII, was evaluated by flow cytometry. Then the CD39 expression was also determined by flow cytometry and Western blot. Finally, we analyze possible changes in PD-1 molecule expression induced by bacteria. As a result, it was confirmed that the infection is capable of inhibiting expression of CD80, CD86 and CD40, although this has not been observed with MHCII. Additionally, CD40 expression showed decreased even after the stimulation with LPS. Surprisingly, it was observed a decrease in the expression of CD39 and PD-1 molecules, which can be explained by the lower cellular activation induced by the infection. Thus, the data obtained so far show that the PD-1 and CD39 molecules are not used by Brucella Modular APCs but are less influenced by cellular activation induced by the pathogen.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-09-14T12:27:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 patriciapaivacorsetti.pdf: 2969873 bytes, checksum: f90d3d721f56a1166b3f3bbc78e327a9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Diamantino Mayra (mayra.diamantino@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-09-26T20:17:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 patriciapaivacorsetti.pdf: 2969873 bytes, checksum: f90d3d721f56a1166b3f3bbc78e327a9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-26T20:17:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 patriciapaivacorsetti.pdf: 2969873 bytes, checksum: f90d3d721f56a1166b3f3bbc78e327a9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-10-07 / Brucella abortus é uma bactéria patogênica Gram-negativa, que causa uma doença crônica em bovinos, humanos e outras espécies denominada brucelose. A habilidade do hospedeiro em montar uma resposta tipo Th1/pró-inflamatória contra a bactéria é crucial para o controle e resolução da infecção. Evidências sugerem que a citocina IFN-γ produzida pelo perfil Th1 é crucial para o controle da infecção em camundongos. A interleucina-10 (IL-10) é conhecida por diminuir a produção de IFNγ in vitro interferindo diretamente no processo da eliminação do patógeno. Durante a infecção pela B. abortus, a IL-10 pode atuar limitando a resposta inflamatória e favorecendo o estabelecimento da infecção persistente em camundongos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o papel da IL-10 endógena na infecção pela B. abortus. Para acessar o papel da IL-10, camundongos deficientes para IL-10 (IL-10 KO) ou 129 Sv/Ev foram infectados com a cepa S2308 de B. abortus e foram avaliados os númerso de bactérias viáveis recuperadas no baço desses animais. Uma, 2, 3, 6 e 14 semanas após infecção, camundongos IL-10 KO apresentaram menor número de bactérias recuperadas quando comparadas com o grupo controle em todos os tempos de infecção, principalmente em 14 semanas. Adicionalmente, constatou-se por análise de curva de sobrevivência em um período de 14 semanas após infecção que aproximadamente 35% dos camundongos IL-10 KO morrem somente na 2ª ou 3ª semana. Ademais, a produção de IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-17 e TNF-α foi avaliada em esplenócitos dos camundongos infectados quando estimulados in vitro com a B. abortus viva (S2308), morta pelo calor (HKBA), LPS de E. coli ou ConA. Os animais IL-10 KO apresentaram uma maior quantidade de IFN-γ e TNF-α no sobrenadante das células estimuladas com Brucella quando comparada a produção destas citocinas pelas células provenientes dos camundongos 129 Sv/Ev. A citocina IL-17 somente foi produzida pelas células dos animais IL-10 KO em todos os tempos analisados. Adicionalmente, a produção de TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12-p40, NO e IL-10 foram avaliados em macrófagos derivados da medula óssea, dos animais IL-10 KO e 129 Sv/Ev. TNF-α, NO, IL-6 e IL-12 apresentaram aumento nos animais IL-10 KO apenas quando estimulados com HKBA. Entretanto, nos animais 129 Sv/Ev a bactéria viva e morta estimularam a produção de IL-10. Estas mesmas citocinas foram avaliadas em sobrenadante de cultura de células dendríticas derivadas da medula óssea. Níveis mais elevados de TNF-α e IL-12-p40 foram obtidos no sobrenadante de células de animais IL-10 KO quando comparados ao grupo controle, em todos os tempos e estímulos da cinética de infecção. A expressão de TGF-β foi avaliada por PCR em tempo real em células esplênicas nos tempos 0 (não infectado), 1, 2 e 6 semanas de infecção estimulados com a bactéria viva. Na 2ª semana após infecção os animais IL-10 KO expressaram níveis mais elevados de TGF-β em relação ao grupo controle, porém na 6ª semana este perfil é invertido. Adicionalmente, o nível de células CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ (Treg) presente no baço dos animais infectados foi analisado por citometria de fluxo. Esta população encontrouse aumentada nos animais IL-10 KO a partir da 3ª e 6ª semanas após a infecção. Análises histopatológicas descritiva dos fígados destes animais durante toda a cinética de infecção demonstraram a diminuição gradativa dos granulomas nos dois grupos estudados, porém essa redução foi mais eficiente nos camundongos IL-10 KO principalmente na 6ª semana após a infecção considerando-se a área do granuloma, analisada por morfemetria digital, e a recuperação do parênquima hepático. Em conjunto, os dados obtidos neste trabalho suportam que a ausência da produção da IL-10 está associada a uma maior resistência à infecção pela bactéria B. abortus em modelo murino, através do aumento da produção de citocinas próinflamatórias culminando com uma maior eliminação da bactéria e uma resolução mais rápida da patologia tecidual do hospedeiro levando, assim, a um controle efetivo da infecção. / Brucella abortus is a Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium which causes a chronic disease in bovine, humans and others species called brucellosis. The host ability to mount a Th1/pro-inflammatory response against the bacteria is crucial to control and to solve the infection. It is suggested that IFN-γ produced by Th1cells is crucial to control the infection in mice. The interleukin IL-10 is considered to be responsible to decrease the IFN-γ production in vitro interfering directly in the pathogen elimination. During B. abortus infection, IL-10 acts limiting inflammatory response favoring the establishment persistence infection in mice. The goal of this study was evaluated the role of endogenous IL-10 during B. abortus infection. To assess the role of IL-10 in vivo, IL-10 knockout (IL-10 KO) mice or 129 Sv/Ev mice were infected with B. abortus strain S2308 and the number of viable bacteria recovery from the spleen were evaluated. One, 2, 3, 6 and 14 weeks post infection, IL-10 KO mice showed lower number of bacteria in the spleen when compared to wild type mice during all the time points. It was observed the increase of the difference at 14th week post infection. Additionally, it was demonstrated by survival curve in a period of 14 weeks post infection that approximately 35% of IL-10 KO mice died only at 2 or 3 weeks. Furthermore, the IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-17 and TNF-α production were measured in the supernatant from spleen cell culture in vitro when the cells were stimulated with alive B. abortus (S2308), heat killed B. abortus (HKBa), E. coli LPS or ConA. IL-10 KO cells showed greater increase in IFN-γ and TNF-α level in the supernatant from these cells when they were stimulated with Brucella when compared to wild type cells production. IL-17 was only detected in the supernatant from IL-10 KO cells in all time points analyzed. In addition, the TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12-p40, NO and IL-10 levels were evaluated in bone-marrow macrophage derived cell supernatant. TNF-α, NO, IL-6 and IL-12 showed augmented in IL-10 KO cells when stimulated with HKBa. However, only in supernatant from 129 Sv/Ev mice it was observed IL-10 production. In bone-marrow dendritic cell supernatant greater levels of TNF-α and IL-12-p40 were observed in IL-10 KO cells when compared to wild type mice cells during all time points analyzed when the cells were stimulated with all stimulus. The TGF-β expression was evaluated by real time PCR in splenic cells culture at 0 (non-infected cells), 1, 2 and 6 weeks after infection with S2308. At 2 weeks post infection the IL-10 KO cells demonstrated greater increased of TGF-β expression when compared to wild type cells. At 6 weeks post infection the TGF-β expression profile showed inverted. Additionally, the level of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ (Treg) cells was assessed at spleen of infected mice by flow cytometry during the infection process. This population was increased at 3th and 6th weeks post infection in IL-10 KO mice. Descriptive histopathology analyses were done at liver level demonstrating a gradual diminishment of granuloma in both kinds of analyzed animals. However, the decrease pathology was more effective at IL-10 KO livers considering the granuloma area, measured by digital morphometry, and the hepatic parenchyma recovery. Taken together, the data provided by this work support that the lack of IL-10 is related to higher resistance to B. abortus infection in murine infection throughout the increase production of pro-inflammatory cytokines culminating with better bacteria elimination and a quicker tissue pathological resolution leading to a more effective control of this infection.

Memoria para optar al Título Profesional de Médico Veterinario / En el presente trabajo se desarrolló y validó un ensayo inmunoabsorbente ligado a un enzima (ELISA), usando antígeno lipopolisacárido rugoso (LPS-R) de la cepa RB51 de Brucella abortus para el diagnóstico de infección con B. ovis en ovinos. Se probaron 2 tipos de placas de poliestireno NUNC 69620 y Maxisorp, 2 tipos de tampones de distinto pH con 2 diferentes conjugados: policlonal anti IgG-ovina (Sigma A3415) y monoclonal anti IgG-caprino/ovino (Sigma A9452), las diluciones del antígeno y del conjugado del trabajo se obtuvieron mediante una titulación en tablero de ajedrez. El ensayo se validó utilizando la placa NUNC 69620 con una sensibilización del antígeno 1:50 en el tampón carbonato-bicarbonato y el uso del conjugado monoclonal, en 55 sueros de ovinos positivos a examen clínico y a la prueba de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) y 338 sueros de ovinos provenientes de un rebaño libre de la enfermedad, confirmados por medio de fijación del complemento (FC). Para comparar las placas, las densidades ópticas (DO) fueron llevadas a porcentajes de positividad (PP), el punto de corte fue un 39,5% utilizando la metodología “Receiver-Operator Characteristic” (ROC), estimando la sensibilidad y la especificidad en un 92.7% y un 98,5% respectivamente. Estos resultados permiten establecer que el ELISA desarrollado sea una alternativa real, para el diagnóstico serólogico de B. ovis en el país