"February 2003." / Addendum and corrigenda inserted at back / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 249-272) / xi, 272 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Aims to identify and characterise potential virulence-associated factors from the locus of enterocyte effacement-negative shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O113:H21 strain 98NK2 which was responsible for an outbreak of haemolytic uremic syndrome. Particular attention was focused on putative virulence genes encoded on the megaplasmid of this strain. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2003

Novelty of the research: 1. During the experiments was defined composition of the anaerobic microflora in the rumen fluid of dairy cows and carried out its comparative evaluation when cows were fed the rations of different composition and nutritional value and different feeding technologies were applied. 2. The effect of biochemical parameters in the rumen fluid of dairy cows on their bacterial count and composition was also studied. 3. During the experiments great attention was paid to the dependence of various forages organic matter digestibility in vitro on the amount and composition of the anaerobic microflora in the rumen fluid of dairy cows. 4. The comparative evaluation of different forages digestibility in vitro was carried out in variable microbiological and biochemical conditions of the rumen fluid. Practical importance: 1. At the Research Center of Digestive Physiology and Pathology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology of LVA was implemented method for the cultivation of rumen obligative anaerobes cultivation. 2. Biochemical and microbiological parameters of the rumen fluid of dairy cows, composition of anaerobic microflora, its effect on the activity of fermentative processes when dairy cows are fed rations of different composition and nutritional value, applying different feeding technologies were studied.

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant and potent neurotoxin that bioaccumulates in aquatic and terrestrial food webs as monomethylmercury (MeHg). Anaerobic microbes are largely responsible for MeHg production, which depends on the bioavailability of inorganic Hg substrates to methylators. Hg redox cycling pathways such as Hg reduction play a key role in determining Hg’s availability in the environment. Although abiotic photochemical Hg reduction typically dominates in oxic surface environments, Hg reduction pathways mediated by photosynthetic and anaerobic microbes are thought to play an important role in anoxic habitats where light is limited and MeHg production occurs. Currently, the physiological mechanisms driving phototrophic and anaerobic Hg reduction remain poorly understood. The main objective of my thesis is to provide mechanistic details on novel anaerobic and phototrophic Hg reduction pathways. I used a combination of physiological, biochemical and trace Hg analytical techniques to study Hg reduction pathways in a variety of anaerobic and photosynthetic bacteria. I demonstrated that Hg redox cycling was directly coupled to anoxygenic photosynthesis in aquatic purple non-sulphur bacteria that reduced HgII when cells incurred a redox imbalance. I discovered that terrestrial fermentative bacteria reduced Hg through pathways that relied on the generation of reduced redox cofactors. I also showed that sulphur assimilation controlled Hg reduction in an anoxygenic phototroph isolated from a rice paddy. In addition, I developed methods to explore cryptic anaerobic Hg redox cycling pathways using Hg stable isotope fractionation. At its core, my thesis underscores the intimate relationship between cell redox state and microbial Hg reduction and suggests a wide diversity of microbes can participate in anaerobic Hg redox cycling.

Foi examinado o efeito dos surfactantes polisorbato 60 (Tween 60), polisorbato 80 (Tween 80), brometo de cetil trimetil amônio (CTAB) e lauril sulfato de sódio (SDS) na estimativa da densidade de Bactérias Redutoras de Sulfato (BRS) e Bactérias Anaeróbias Heterotróficas Totais (BANHT) em amostras de petróleo. Para a realização dos experimentos, foram selecionadas três amostras com diferentes proporções de óleo e água de forma a representar amostras reais. A primeira amostra contém uma alta proporção de óleo, a segunda uma proporção média e a última amostra uma baixa proporção de óleo. A densidade bacteriana foi estimada através do método do Número Mais Provável (NMP). As concentrações dos surfactantes empregadas neste estudo foram estabelecidas através de estudo anterior. Os resultados demonstram que nas amostras com alta e média proporção de óleo, a adição dos surfactantes não foi favorável a um aumento na quantificação de BRS. Por outro lado, o Tween 60 e o Tween 80 mostraram um aumento significativo na quantificação de BANHT quando aplicados na concentração de 0,01% e 0,03% m/v, respectivamente. O CTAB favoreceu o crescimento de BRS e BANHT na amostra com baixa proporção de óleo quando sua concentração foi de 0,001% m/v e 0,0001% m/v, respectivamente / The effect of the surfactants (Tween 60), polyoxyethylene monooleate (Tween 80), cetyl, trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the estimation of bacterial density (sulfate reducing bacteria SRB and General Anaerobic Bacteria GanB) was examined in the petroleum samples. In order to carry out the experiments, we selected three different mixtures of oil and water to be representative of the real samples. The first one contains a high proportion of oil, the second contains a medium proportion and the last one contains a low proportion. The most probable number (MPN) was used to estimate the bacterial density. The concentrations of the surfactants used in this work were determined in a previous study. The results showed that the addition of surfactants did not improve the SRB quantification for the high or medium proportion of oil of the petroleum samples. On other hand, Tween 60 and Tween 80 showed a significantly increase on the GanB quantification when their concentrations were 0.01% and 0.03% m/v, respectively. CTAB increased the SRB and GanB estimation for the low proportion of oil of the petroleum sample when its concentration was 0.001% and 0.0001% m/v, respectively

Foi examinado o efeito dos surfactantes polisorbato 60 (Tween 60), polisorbato 80 (Tween 80), brometo de cetil trimetil amônio (CTAB) e lauril sulfato de sódio (SDS) na estimativa da densidade de Bactérias Redutoras de Sulfato (BRS) e Bactérias Anaeróbias Heterotróficas Totais (BANHT) em amostras de petróleo. Para a realização dos experimentos, foram selecionadas três amostras com diferentes proporções de óleo e água de forma a representar amostras reais. A primeira amostra contém uma alta proporção de óleo, a segunda uma proporção média e a última amostra uma baixa proporção de óleo. A densidade bacteriana foi estimada através do método do Número Mais Provável (NMP). As concentrações dos surfactantes empregadas neste estudo foram estabelecidas através de estudo anterior. Os resultados demonstram que nas amostras com alta e média proporção de óleo, a adição dos surfactantes não foi favorável a um aumento na quantificação de BRS. Por outro lado, o Tween 60 e o Tween 80 mostraram um aumento significativo na quantificação de BANHT quando aplicados na concentração de 0,01% e 0,03% m/v, respectivamente. O CTAB favoreceu o crescimento de BRS e BANHT na amostra com baixa proporção de óleo quando sua concentração foi de 0,001% m/v e 0,0001% m/v, respectivamente / The effect of the surfactants (Tween 60), polyoxyethylene monooleate (Tween 80), cetyl, trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the estimation of bacterial density (sulfate reducing bacteria SRB and General Anaerobic Bacteria GanB) was examined in the petroleum samples. In order to carry out the experiments, we selected three different mixtures of oil and water to be representative of the real samples. The first one contains a high proportion of oil, the second contains a medium proportion and the last one contains a low proportion. The most probable number (MPN) was used to estimate the bacterial density. The concentrations of the surfactants used in this work were determined in a previous study. The results showed that the addition of surfactants did not improve the SRB quantification for the high or medium proportion of oil of the petroleum samples. On other hand, Tween 60 and Tween 80 showed a significantly increase on the GanB quantification when their concentrations were 0.01% and 0.03% m/v, respectively. CTAB increased the SRB and GanB estimation for the low proportion of oil of the petroleum sample when its concentration was 0.001% and 0.0001% m/v, respectively

MSc (Microbiology) / Department of Microbiology

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Please see fulltext for abstract / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sien asb volteks vir opsomming

Orientador: Elisa Helena Giglio Ponsano / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a composição química e as atividades antimicrobiana e antioxidante dos extratos etanólicos de Curcuma longa e Bixa orellana, na busca por substituintes aos aditivos sintéticos utilizados na indústria de alimentos. Pela espectrometria de massa (GC-MS) foram identificados bisdemetoxicurcumina, demetoxicurcumina e curcumina no extrato de C. longa e prunina e naringenina no extrato de B. orellana. C. longa apresentou atividade antimicrobiana frente a Clostridium sporogenes e Staphylococcus aureus, com concentração bactericida mínima (CBM) de 25 mg/mL e 156 µg/mL, respectivamente. O extrato de B. orellana apresentou CBM de 50 mg/mL para C. sporogenes e 625 µg/mL para S. aureus. Nenhum dos extratos apresentou atividade bactericida para Escherichia coli e Salmonella Typhimurium. A atividade antioxidante dos extratos foi evidenciada pelos métodos Poder Antioxidante por Redução Férrica (FRAP) e Capacidade de Absorção do Radical Oxigênio (ORAC). O extrato de B. orellana apresentou maior atividade antioxidante pelos métodos FRAP e ORAC (277,70 e 455,17 mM trolox equivalente/g, respectivamente) do que o extrato de C. longa (129,74 e 217,98 mM trolox equivalente/g, respectivamente). Os efeitos biológicos dos extratos etanólicos de C. longa e B. orellana revelados no presente estudo apontaram seu potencial para a utilização na indústria de alimentos como uma alternativa aos aditivos sintéticos. / Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Curcuma longa and Bixa orellana ethanolic extracts, in the search for alternatives to the synthetic additives used in the food industry. Mass spectrometry (GC-MS), identified bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin and curcumin in the extract of C. longa and prunin and naringenin in the extract of B. orellana. C. long showed antimicrobial activity against Clostridium sporogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, with a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 25 mg/mL and 156 μg/mL, respectively. MBC of B. orellana extract was 50 mg/mL for C. sporogenes and 625 μg/mL for S. aureus. None of the extracts showed bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evidenced by the methods Iron Reduction Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC). B. orellana extract had higher antioxidant activity by FRAP and ORAC (277.70 and 455.17 mM trolox equivalent/g, respectively) than C. longa extract (129.74 and 217.98 mM trolox equivalent/g, respectively). The biological effects of C. longa and B. orellana ethanolic extracts revealed in this study indicated their potential as an alternative to synthetic additives used in the food industry. / Mestre

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri (Xac), uma bactéria gram negativa, é a causadora da doença Cancro Cítrico que ocasiona enormes prejuizo na citricultura brasileira. Com o seqüenciamento do genoma deste patógeno foram encontradas inúmeras sequências codificadores com funções desconhecidas. Assim com a finalidade de estudos funcionais do genoma de Xac, foram gerados mutantes randômicos usando o transposon EZ::TN, que induziu disrupção aleatoria de seus genes com o intuito de avaliar que genes inativados afetam a patogenicidade da bactéria. Para o mapeamento do local de inserção do transposon foi desenvolvida uma metodologia baseada na técnica de PCR touchdown utizando oligonucleotídeos semidegenerados. A confiabilidade deste novo método foi comprovada através do mapeamento por Southem blot de alguns mutantes. Conseguiu-se mapear 90 mutantes randômicos com este método. Os testes de patogenicidade em citros mostraram mutantes com sua patogenicidade afetada observando-se variações nos sintomas da doença. Mutantes interessantes contendo uma ORF hipotética inativada ou tendo uma inserção num espaço intergênico foram achadas, sendo também detectados alguns mutantes com nocaute de genes nos seus plasmídeos pXac33 e pXac66. / Xanthomonas axonopodis pv citri (Xac), a gram-negative bacteria, is the causer of the Citrus Canker disease that produces enormous losses to the brazilian citrus sector. Many coding sequences with unknown functions were found in the genome sequence of this pathogen. Therefore, with the goal of functional studies of Xac\'s genome, random mutants using the EZ::TN transposon, have been generated, which carry aleatory disruptions of their genes, with the aim of evaluating inactived genes that potentially affect bacterial pathogenicity. A method based in the PCR touchdown technique using semidegenerate primers was developed for the mapping of the transposon insertion site. The reliability of this new method was tested by means of mapping some mutants using Southern blot. Ninety random mutants were mapped with this method. The pathogenicity tests in citrus showed mutants with their pathogenicity affected and variations in the disease symptoms were observed. Interesting mutants containing an inactive hypothetical ORF or with an insertion in intergenic regions have been found, and also some mutants with inactivated genes in their plasmids pXac33 and pXac66 were detected.

Bordetella pertussis e Bordetella parapertussis são os principais agentes causadores da coqueluche no homem. O óxido nítrico é fundamental para o controle de diversos processos fisiopatológicos. Neste trabalho analisamos sinais moleculares envolvidos na produção de NO em macrófagos derivados de medula óssea murina (BMDMO) infectadas por Bpertussis e Bparapertussis. Nossos resultados mostraram que BMDMO de C57BL/6 estimulados com Bpertussis não sintetizaram níveis significativos de nitrito, ao contrário da infecção com Bparapertussis. BMDMO de C57BL/6 infectados por Bpertussis e Bparapertussis produziram níveis elevados de arginase e de TGFb e esta produção foi dependente de TLR4, porém a produção de NO pelos BMDMO de C3H/HeJ infectados com Bparapertussis foi independente deste receptor. A adição exógena de PT em BMDMO infectados com Bparapertussis reduziu a quantidade de NO sintetizada. Concluímos que TGFb e arginase contribuem para o controle da produção de NO durante a infecção in vitro de BMDMO com Bpertussis e este mecanismo depende de LPS envolvendo TLR4 e PT. / Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis are the main etiologic causes of human whooping cough. Nitric oxide (NO) is crucial for several physiopathologic events. Herein we analyzed the molecular signals required for NO production by murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) infected with Bpertussis or Bparapertussis. Our data show that BMDM obtained from C57Bl/6 mice was not able to produce measurable levels of nitrite when stimulated with Bpertussis while infection of these cells with Bparapertussis induced high levels of nitrite. Arginase and TLR4-dependent TGF-b were produced in response to infection with either Bpertussis or Bparapertussis. NO production by BMDM obtained from C3H/HeJ mice occurred after Bparapertussis infection in the absence of TLR4. Addition of pertussis toxin to the C57Bl/6 BMDM cultures infected with Bparapertussis decreased NO levels. In conclusion, TGF-b and arginase play a role controlling NO production by BMDM during in vitro infection by Bpertussis. This effect depends on the presence of LPS-TLR4 and PT signaling pathways.