Allergic inflammatory disorders of the airway like asthma and atopic asthma are complex, often long-term diseases that generate large public health and socioeconomic footprints especially in developed countries like US, UK and Australia. In 2009, approximately 8.2%, 24.6 million people in United States were affected by asthma. Currently 235 million people are affected by asthma worldwide and about 90% of those have allergic (atopic) asthma. An important factor in patients with allergic respiratory tract diseases is sensitization to fungi. Other risk factors for asthma include inhaled allergens that irritate the airways. Up to 70% of mold allergic patients have skin test reactivity to Alternaria. Alta1, an allergen produced by A. alternata also produces a prolonged and intense IgE mediated reaction in sensitized patients. Therefore A. alternata is not only a risk factor in development of asthma but also can lead to exacerbation of severe and potentially lethal asthma than any other fungus. Despite the well-documented clinical importance of Alternaria in allergic airway diseases, little knowledge exists about the role of individual fungal genes and gene products in theses pathological states besides a small repertoire of allergens and proteolytic enzymes. Moreover, the importance of small, secreted molecules of fungal origin has not been explored whatsoever in regards to immune responses triggered by Alternaria. This study addresses the hypothesis that Alternaria derived small molecule's have immune modulatory properties. A major thrust of this project was to assess the role of Alternaria secondary metabolites that are synthesized by genes called polyketide synthases (PKS) in immune responses of lung epithelial cells. / Master of Science

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses de radiação gama no crescimento de Alternaria alternata e na produção das toxinas Alternariol (AOH) e Alternariol Monometil Éter (AME), em amostras de cereais. Como resultado, nos grãos de arroz e nas sementes girassol observou-se diminuição do número de UFC/g, proporcionalmente à dose de radiação utilizada. Nos grãos de trigo e milho, o aumento da dose, resultou-lhes aumento das UFC/g. A análise micotoxicológica revelou, nos grãos de trigo e sementes de girassol, menor produção de AOH. Já nos grãos de arroz e milho, o grupo irradiado com 5 kGy, foi o que mais produziu AOH. Resultado semelhante foi constatado em relação à produção de AME. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura possibilitou a visualização de alterações estruturais provocadas pelas diferentes doses de radiação gama. A análise dos padrões das toxinas AOH e AME irradiados, não sofreu alterações. / The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different gamma irradiation doses on the growth of Alternaria alternata and on production of mycotoxins Alternariol (AOH) and Alternariol Monomethyl Ether (AME) in cereal samples. The results showed a significant reduction in the number of CFU/g in rice grains and sunflower seeds, which were proportional to radiation dose used. However, in corn and wheat grains was observed an increase in the number of CFU/g with the increase of gamma irradiation. The radiation doses used resulted in a reduction of AOH levels. In rice and corn grains, the production of AOH was highest in the group irradiated with 5 kGy. Similar result was obtained with relation to AME. Scanning electron microscopy made it possible to visualize structural alterations on A. alternata induced by the different g-radiation doses used. Analysis of irradiated AOH and AME toxins standards didn´t show any alteration comparing to the control group.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses de radiação gama no crescimento de Alternaria alternata e na produção das toxinas Alternariol (AOH) e Alternariol Monometil Éter (AME), em amostras de cereais. Como resultado, nos grãos de arroz e nas sementes girassol observou-se diminuição do número de UFC/g, proporcionalmente à dose de radiação utilizada. Nos grãos de trigo e milho, o aumento da dose, resultou-lhes aumento das UFC/g. A análise micotoxicológica revelou, nos grãos de trigo e sementes de girassol, menor produção de AOH. Já nos grãos de arroz e milho, o grupo irradiado com 5 kGy, foi o que mais produziu AOH. Resultado semelhante foi constatado em relação à produção de AME. A microscopia eletrônica de varredura possibilitou a visualização de alterações estruturais provocadas pelas diferentes doses de radiação gama. A análise dos padrões das toxinas AOH e AME irradiados, não sofreu alterações. / The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different gamma irradiation doses on the growth of Alternaria alternata and on production of mycotoxins Alternariol (AOH) and Alternariol Monomethyl Ether (AME) in cereal samples. The results showed a significant reduction in the number of CFU/g in rice grains and sunflower seeds, which were proportional to radiation dose used. However, in corn and wheat grains was observed an increase in the number of CFU/g with the increase of gamma irradiation. The radiation doses used resulted in a reduction of AOH levels. In rice and corn grains, the production of AOH was highest in the group irradiated with 5 kGy. Similar result was obtained with relation to AME. Scanning electron microscopy made it possible to visualize structural alterations on A. alternata induced by the different g-radiation doses used. Analysis of irradiated AOH and AME toxins standards didn´t show any alteration comparing to the control group.

O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a microbiota fúngica e a ocorrência de micotoxinas por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência acoplada à Espectrometria de Massas em amostras de grãos de trigo recém-colhidas e armazenadas. Os resultados revelaram a predominância do gênero Alternaria nas amostras de todas as coletas, seguido de Epicoccum (12,6%), Fusarium (8,3%) e mais 16 outros gêneros de fungos filamentosos. As espécies de Fusarium e Alternaria foram identificadas utilizando métodos moleculares, sendo F. graminearum e A. alternata as espécies mais frequentes. De 70 amostras, 69 (98,6%) estavam contaminadas com a toxina DON (210-2910 ppb) e 3 (4,3%) amostras contaminadas com a toxina ZEA (20-30,1 ppb). O nível de contaminação por DON é inferior aos limites estabelecidos recentemente pela legislação brasileira (3000 ppb), porém superam os limites da Comunidade Européia (1750 ppb). É prudente que se realize um monitoramento contínuo de grãos de trigo a fim de avaliar a exposição dos consumidores às contaminações e estabelecer diretrizes de segurança alimentar. / The present study aimed to evaluated the mycoflora and occurrence of mycotoxins by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass in freshly harvested and stored wheat samples. The results showed the predominance of genus Alternaria in all samples, followed by Epicoccum (12.6%), Fusarium (8.3%) and over 16 other genera of filamentous fungi. The species of Fusarium and Alternaria were identified using molecular methods, and F. graminearum and A. alternata were the most frequent species. Of 70 samples, 69 (98.6%) were contaminated with toxin DON (210-2910 ppb), and 3 (4.3%) samples contaminated with the toxin ZEA (20-30.1 ppb). The level of DON contamination is below of the limits recently established by Brazilian legislation (3000 ppb), but exceed the limits of the European Community (1750 ppb). It is prudent to perform a continuous monitoring of wheat to assess consumer exposure to contaminants and establish guidelines for food safety.

O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a microbiota fúngica e a ocorrência de micotoxinas por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência acoplada à Espectrometria de Massas em amostras de grãos de trigo recém-colhidas e armazenadas. Os resultados revelaram a predominância do gênero Alternaria nas amostras de todas as coletas, seguido de Epicoccum (12,6%), Fusarium (8,3%) e mais 16 outros gêneros de fungos filamentosos. As espécies de Fusarium e Alternaria foram identificadas utilizando métodos moleculares, sendo F. graminearum e A. alternata as espécies mais frequentes. De 70 amostras, 69 (98,6%) estavam contaminadas com a toxina DON (210-2910 ppb) e 3 (4,3%) amostras contaminadas com a toxina ZEA (20-30,1 ppb). O nível de contaminação por DON é inferior aos limites estabelecidos recentemente pela legislação brasileira (3000 ppb), porém superam os limites da Comunidade Européia (1750 ppb). É prudente que se realize um monitoramento contínuo de grãos de trigo a fim de avaliar a exposição dos consumidores às contaminações e estabelecer diretrizes de segurança alimentar. / The present study aimed to evaluated the mycoflora and occurrence of mycotoxins by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass in freshly harvested and stored wheat samples. The results showed the predominance of genus Alternaria in all samples, followed by Epicoccum (12.6%), Fusarium (8.3%) and over 16 other genera of filamentous fungi. The species of Fusarium and Alternaria were identified using molecular methods, and F. graminearum and A. alternata were the most frequent species. Of 70 samples, 69 (98.6%) were contaminated with toxin DON (210-2910 ppb), and 3 (4.3%) samples contaminated with the toxin ZEA (20-30.1 ppb). The level of DON contamination is below of the limits recently established by Brazilian legislation (3000 ppb), but exceed the limits of the European Community (1750 ppb). It is prudent to perform a continuous monitoring of wheat to assess consumer exposure to contaminants and establish guidelines for food safety.