Campylobacter organisms are the most commonly reported bacterial causes of foodborne infection in the world, with Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli responsible for over 99% of reported infections. Traditionally, Campylobacter species detection is an arduous process, requiring a special incubation environment as well as specific growth media for an extended growth period. The development of a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool for the detection of Campylobacter species would be a valuable aid to the medical diagnostic decision process, especially to rule out Campylobacter infection during the enteric pre-surgical time period. Improved patient outcomes would result if this rapid assay could reduce the number of enteric surgeries. Assays performed during this dissertation project have demonstrated that both SYBR® green and hydrolysis probe assays targeting an 84 nucleotide portion of cadF, a fibronectin-binding gene of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, were able to detect from 101 to 108 copies of organism from stool specimens, did not detect nonspecific targets, and exhibited a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.1% or less. Analytical validation of sensitivity, specificity and precision, successfully performed in these studies, warrants additional clinical validation of these assays.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / At the present time, gentamicin is used in the treatment of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial infections. However, the poorly understood side effect of nephrotoxicity is a serious problem and is one of the dose-limiting factors in the use of gentamicin. In our model system, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is relatively resistant to gentamicin, at least 20 genes are required for gentamicin resistance. Inspection of the physical and genetic interactions of the gentamicin sensitive mutants reveals a network centered on the ARF pathway which plays a key role in the regulation of retrograde trafficking. Our studies show that arf1ts arf1Δ arf2Δ cells, gea1ts gea1Δ gea2Δ cells, and gcs1ts gcs1Δ glo3Δ cells are all hypersensitive to gentamicin which indicates that impaired Arf1 function causes yeast cells to become hypersensitive to gentamicin. As evidence, cellular CPY trafficking and processing are blocked by the presence of gentamicin in some of these mutants. Interestingly, gentamicin can directly affect the level of the GTP-bound form of Arf1 in a cell growth phase-dependent manner; even though total Arf1 levels in S. cerevisiae are not affected. As predicted, we also find that gentamicin-bound resin can enrich both yeast Arf1-TAP protein and rat Arf1 protein in vitro. With the help of mass spectrometry, we also generated a gentamicin-binding protein list. Gentamicin hypersensitivity is also observed in S. cerevisiae double deletion strains that lack both ARF1 and ARF2 but are kept alive by the presence of hARF4 or bARF1. Increased -1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting efficiency is also observed in cells treated with gentamicin. Finally, a comparison of a gentamicin mixture and four of the gentamicin congeners reveals that gentamicin C1 is less toxic than other gentamicin congeners or the gentamicin total mixture.

Anaerobic bacterial infection increases the proclivity of red oak lumber to develop surface, internal and end checks, and develop or aggravate ring failure during drying. It also extends the drying time. Bacterial infection is hard to identify before drying without the use of costly, time- consuming tests. Thus, there is a need for an inexpensive, rapid and accurate method for the identification that can be used at a mill. This research project investigated the possibility to use stress wave timing for the identification of bacterial infection, by studying the relationship of the level of bacterial infection and impact-induced stress wave travel time across the grain of green 4/4 red oak lumber from Southcentral Virginia. Bacterial infection increased stress wave travel time, but a considerable overiap existed between infected and uninfected boards. Tests on tensile strength perpendicular to grain, which is critical for lumber to check during drying showed a decrease in strength due to the bacterial infection. A parallel kiln- drying experiment, following a standard drying schedule (T4D2), showed more drying defects in the infected lumber than in the uninfected lumber. Defects were also more frequent in lumber with a long stress wave travel time than in lumber with a short stress wave travel time. / Master of Science

Aerotolerance of Campylobacter jejuni ATCC 29428 and one of its aerotolerant mutants (strain MC711-01) was measured at 37°C and 42°C. The aerotolerance of C. jejuni was higher at 42°C than at 37°C. Three different lots of Gibco dehydrated Brucella broth were used to prepare Brucella agar. The agar media were then tested to see if they differed in their ability to support growth of C. jejuni. However, only slight differences in viable counts of C. jejuni were obtained between lots. Ageing of dehydrated Brucella medium for 2½ months and hydrated Brucella medium for 1½ months greatly affected the growth of C. jejuni and decreased its aerotolerance. This is probably due to the deterioration of the sodium bisulfite in Brucella medium during storage, because addition of 0.01% sodium bisulfite (the same amount as contained in the Brucella medium) to the aged medium (dehydrated or hydrated form) restored the ability of the medium to support growth of C. jejuni under various O₂ levels equivalent to or even better than that obtained with fresh Brucella medium. Moreover, when Brucella agar was prepared from the individual chemical and peptone components, only the medium containing the 0.01% bisulfite yielded colony counts of C. jejuni similar to that obtained on fresh commercial Brucella medium. When sodium bisulfite was omitted, viable counts and aerotolerance were decreased. / Master of Science

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a microaerophilic, Gram-negative motile curved rod that inhabits the gastric mucosa of the human stomach. The organism chronically infects billions of people worldwide and is one of the most genetically diverse of bacterial species. Infection with the organism potentially induces chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. In addition, H. pylori plays a role in the etiology of gastric cancer and gastric MALT lymphoma. The risk of infection is increased in those living in the developing world, which has been ascribed to precarious hygiene standards, crowded households, and deficient sanitation common in this part of the world. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the risk factors in the transmission of H. pylori in our environment, i.e. in Nkonkobe Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Faecal samples were collected from 356 apparently healthy subjects, consisting of 168 males and 188 females aged from 3 months to 60 years (Mean = 31 years). A standardized questionnaire was applied, it described demographic characteristics including age, sex, household hygiene, socioeconomic status, area of residence, duration of stay in the area, sharing bath water, sharing tooth brush, habit of sucking thumb, medication currently being taken or medication taken within the past three months, source of water, type of toilet used, education and occupation. A sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay amplification technology (Amplified IDEIA TM Hp StAR TM , Oxoid, UK) was used to analyze the faecal samples for the detection of H. pylori antigens using monoclonal antibodies specific for H. pylori antigens. To assess the possibility of faecal oral route with tap water as an intermediary link, PCR targeting the ureC (glmM), a highly conserved gene in H. pylori ii was carried out to detect H. pylori DNA in faecal samples of already positive samples by HpSA test as well as in direct tap water used by the H. pylori positive subjects. QIAamp DNA stool mini kit was used to extract DNA from faecal samples. Tap water samples were then obtained using sterile bottles from areas inhabited by H. pylori positive subjects as determined by HpSA test and PCR. DNA extraction from water samples was done using UltraCleanTM Water DNA Isolation Kit (0.22μm) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. PCR with primers specific for H. pylori glmM gene was carried out with both positive and negative controls incorporated. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess the univariate association between H. pylori infection and the possible risk factors. Odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95 percent confidence interval (CI) were calculated to measure the strength of association using EPI INFO 3.41 package. P values of < .05 were required for significance. The precision rate of the diagnostic tests used was also determined. H. pylori antigen was detected in 316 of the 356 subjects giving an overall prevalence of 88.8 percent. Prevalence increased with age from 75.9 percent in children < 12 years age to 100 percent in the age group from 13 years to 24 years, also 100 percent prevalence of H. pylori was recorded in young adults aged 25-47 years and subjects aged 60 years (P < .05). H. pylori prevalence was higher in females than in males. Of 188 females who participated in the study, H. pylori antigen was detected in 172 (91.5 percent) versus 144 (85.7 percent) of 168 males (P > .05). Interestingly, H pylori antigen was detected more often (100 percent) in the high socioeconomic group than in those of low socioeconomic group (85.9 percent). Sixteen (66.7 percent) of twenty four faecal samples that had previously tested positive for the organism by HpSA test were confirmed positive by PCR. However none of the treated tap water samples tested positive for the organism by PCR. The present iii study revealed a high prevalence of H. pylori in faecal samples of asymptomatic individuals in the Nkonkobe Municipality, an indication of active infection. The obtained results also revealed that direct treated tap water might not be playing a crucial role in the oral transmission of H. pylori in the studied population.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the aquaculture setting, opportunistic pathogens are present as part of the normal aquatic microflora, colonizing surfaces in fish tanks as part of biofilm communities, and often causing severe economic losses to the aquacultural industry. Isolates belonging to the genera Chryseobacterium, Elizabethkingia, Myroides and Empedobacter have been isolated from diseased fish, and are responsible for causing secondary fish infections, fish- and food-product spoilage, and have been described as etiological agents of various human diseases. Thirty-four Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia spp. and five Myroides and Empedobacter spp. isolates, obtained from various diseased fish species and biofilm growth in South African aquaculture systems, were characterised genetically using 16S rRNA gene PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR, whole cell protein (WCP) and outer membrane protein (OMP) analyses. Genetic heterogeneity was displayed by the Myroides and Empedobacter spp. study isolates following OMP analysis, although 16S rRNA gene RFLP, RAPD-PCR and WCP analysis did not allow for differentiation of these isolates. A high degree of genetic heterogeneity was displayed by the Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia spp. study isolates following OMP analysis, 16S rRNA gene RFLP with MspI, and RAPD-PCR with primer P2. However, based on the results obtained by WCP analysis, 16S rRNA gene RFLP with CfoI and TaqI, and RAPD-PCR with primer P1 the isolates appeared genetically very homogeneous. High MAR indices and potential multi-drug resistance phenotypes were obtained for the Myroides and Empedobacter spp. and some of the Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia spp. isolates by antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Primary adherence and the influence of environmental changes on adherence was investigated by a modified microtitre-plate adherence assay. Nutrient composition, temperature and hydrodynamic incubation conditions were observed to influence adherence abilities of all study isolates. In addition, adherence varied greatly among isolates of the genera Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia, as opposed to a consistent strong adherence profile observed for the Myroides and Empedobacter spp. isolates. The influence of cell surface properties such as capsule presence and cell surface hydrophobicity, on primary adherence of the isolates was also investigated. Quantitative analysis of capsular material revealed the presence of thick capsular material surrounding the Myroides and Empedobacter spp. and some of the Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia spp. isolates, but could not be directly associated with adherence. Hydrophobicity were investigated using the salt aggregation assay (SAT) and bacterial adherence to hydrocarbon test (BATH). A very hydrophilic cell surface was observed for all of the Myroides and Empedobacter spp. isolates, and majority (74%) of the Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia spp. isolates. Cell surface hydrophobicity could not be correlated to the adherence of the Myroides and Empedobacter spp. isolates, and only SAT-determined hydrophobicity could be positively correlated to adherence of Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia spp. isolates under certain conditions. Coaggregation studies were performed between the study isolates and various important clinical and aquacultural microorganisms. High coaggregation indices were observed between the Myroides and Empedobacter spp. isolates and E. faecalis and S. aureus, and between E. faecalis, S. enterica serovar Arizonae, S. aureus and Listeria spp. and the Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia spp. isolates. Biofilm-forming capacity of the study isolates in an environment simulating their natural environment was investigated microscopically using a flow cell system. Typical ‘cone-like’ biofilm structures were observed for selected strains of both Myroides and Empedobacter spp. and Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia spp. isolates. The effect of increased hydrodynamics on biofilm architecture was seen through the narrowing of the biofilm structures and the formation of single cell chains towards the increased hydrodynamic area of the flow chambers. Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia spp. and Myroides and Empedobacter spp. appear to be potential primary biofilm-formers associating with a variety of microbes thus perpetuating their survival in a variety of aquatic habitats. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Opportunistiese patogene kom gereeld in akwakultuur sisteme voor as deel van die akwatiese mikroflora wat dikwels biofilms vorm op oppervlaktes in hierdie sisteme. Visinfeksies veroorsaak deur hierdie patogene lei tot ernstige ekonomiese verliese vir akwakultuur industrieë. Chryseobacterium, Elizabethkingia, Myroides en Empedobacter spp. is reeds voorheen van verskeie geïnfekteerde visspesies geïsoleer hierdie bakterieë is verantwoordelik vir sekondere visinfeksies, die bederf van vis- en kosprodukte, asook menslike siektes. Vier-en-dertig Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. en 5 Myroides en Empedobacter spp. isolate, geïsoleer vanaf verskeie geïnfekteerde visspesies en biofilm-groei in Suid Afrikaanse akwakultuur-sisteme, is geneties met behulp van 16S rRNS geen PKR restriksie fragment lengte polimorfisme (RFLP), toevallig geamplifiseerde polimorfiese DNS (TGPD) PKR, heel-sel protein (HSP) en buitemembraan protein (BMP) analise gekarakteriseer. BMP analise het getoon dat die Myroides en Empedobacter spp. isolate geneties heterogeen is, alhoewel 16S rRNS TGPD-PKR, TGPD-PKR en HSP analise nie tussen die isolate kon onderskei nie. BMP analise, 16S rRNS TGPD-PKR met MspI en TGPD-PKR met inleier P2 was meer suksesvol as HSP analise, 16S rRNS TGPD-PKR met CfoI en MspI, en TGPD-PKR met inleier P1, om onderskeid te tref tussen die Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. isolate en het gedui op ‘n hoë vlak van genetiese heterogeniteit tussen hierdie isolate. Beide die Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. en Myroides en Empedobacter spp. isolate het ‘n hoë vlak van antibiotika weerstand getoon wat dui op ‘n menigvuldigde antibiotika weerstands-fenotiepe. Primêre vashegting vermoëns en die invloed van omgewingsfaktore op vashegting is met behulp van ‘n gemodifiseerde mikrotiterplaat vashegtings toets ondersoek. Vashegting van die isolate is beïnvloed deur variasies in die samestelling van die medium, temperatuurveranderings en verskillende hidrodinamiese inkubasie kondisies. Inteenstelling met die sterk vashegtingsvermoë van die Myroides en Empedobacter spp. isolate, het die vermoë om vas te heg grootliks tussen die Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. isolate gevarieer. Verder is ondersoek ingestel op die invloed van seloppervlak eienskappe soos die teenwoordigheid van kapsules en hidrofobisiteit op die isolate se vermoë om aan oppervlaktes te heg. Die Myroides en Empedobacter spp. isolate en verskeie Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. isolate is omring deur dik kapsules, maar geen verband tussen vashegting en die teenwoordigheid van kapsules kon bepaal word nie. Die sout aggregasie toets (SAT) en bakteriële vashegting aan koolwaterstowwe (BVAK) toets was gebruik om die hidrofobisiteit van die isolate se seloppervlaktes te bepaal. Die Myroides en Empedobacter spp. isolate en 74% van die Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. isolate het ‘n baie hidrofiliese seloppervlak getoon. Slegs die hidrofobisiteit bepaal deur die SAT toets het ‘n positiewe verwantskap met die aanhegtingsvermoë van die Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. isolate getoon. Mede-aggregasie tussen die isolate en verskeie belangrike mediese en akwakultuur mikroörganismes is ook ondersoek. Die Myroides en Empedobacter spp. isolate het ‘n sterk assosiasie met E. faecalis en S. aureus getoon Die Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. isolate het sterk met E. faecalis, S. aureus, S. enterica serovar Arizonae en Listeria spp. geassosieer. Vloei-sel studies is uitgevoer om die biofilm-vormingsvermoë van die isolate te ondersoek. Vir beide die Myroides en Empedobacter spp. en Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. isolate is tipiese kegelagtige biofilm stukture waargeneem. Die invloed van verhoogde hidrodinamiese kondisies in die vloei-sel het vernouing van die biofilm strukture en die vorming van enkel-sel kettings tot gevolg gehad. Vanuit hierdie studie is afgelei dat die Myroides en Empedobacter spp. en Chryseobacterium en Elizabethkingia spp. isolate onder verskeie kondisies aan oppervlaktes kan vasheg en dus potensiële primêre biofilm-vormings organismses is. Hierdie organismes besit ook die vermoë om met ‘n verskeidenheid ander organismes te assosieer, wat waarskynlik hulle suksesvolle oorlewing in akwakultuursisteme verseker.

Thesis (MScMedSc (Pathology. Medical Microbiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: S. aureus causes serious infections in the hospital and community settings. The rate of MRSA infections are rapidly increasing worldwide. Currently, at Tygerberg hospital, approximately a third of S. aureus isolates are MRSA. This was the first epidemiological study of S. aureus conducted at Tygerberg Hospital that included prospective clinical data on patients with S. aureus bacteraemia together with spa typing of strains and the detection of the mecA and pvl genes in a multiplex PCR. Clonal cluster groups of S. aureus isolates were obtained by BURP analysis and compared to international important clones. The molecular epidemiology of hospital acquired (HA), health-care associated (HCA) and community acquired (CA) S. aureus bacteraemic strains at this hospital was examined. Lastly, repeat isolates of patients were collected to analyse any possible organism-related factors associated with persistent and recurrent bacteraemia. We investigated a total number of 113 S. aureus strains from 104 patients (70% MSSA, 30% MRSA). Repeat strains consisted of nine isolates (from 5 patients). All isolates were obtained from blood cultures collected during the period March 2008 to May 2009. Phenotypic and genotypic detection of methicillin resistance correlated well. According to the literature, most CA-MRSA strains are distinguishable from HA-MRSA strains based upon the presence of the PVL toxin. However, no CA-MRSA was detected in our study, therefore the association between HA-MRSA versus CA-MRSA strains could not be analysed. In this study, CA-MSSA was identified in 22% of all MSSA isolates versus 0% CA-MRSA. PVL positive strains were found in 22.7% of all MSSA isolates with no detection in MRSA isolates. It was noted that MRSA strains clustered in spa CC-701 and CC-012, whereas CC-002 only contained MSSA strains. Likewise HA-strains representing the majority of MRSA strains also clustered in spa CC-701 and CC-012. Forty nine spa types were identified in 89.3% of all isolates, whereas 9.7% of these strains were non-typeable. Five novel spa types were revealed. We detected a diverse number of spa-types that correlated to international clones. The most predominant spa type found in our setting was t037 (only in MRSA), followed by t891. According to the literature, t037 is associated to the Brazilian/Hungarian clone (SCCmec type III; ST 239). Our findings, as well as other South African studies, indicate that t037 has been identified in clinical strains from numerous provinces in South Africa. Interestingly, all isolates from spa type t891 were PVL positive MSSA. Bacteraemia cases were predominantly related to catheter sepsis, followed by skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). Only one persistent bacteraemia case was identified related to a HA-SSTI. Recurrent bacteraemia cases were found in patients on dialysis for chronic renal failure and in burns patients related to intravascular catheter infections. The local epidemiology of S. aureus and the prevalence rate of different strains are important to investigate. The information provided contributes to the epidemiology of staphylococcal strains causing bacteraemia in our setting. These insights are useful for optimal diagnostic and therapeutic measures. The techniques developed can be used to identify outbreaks and recurrent infections. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: S. aureus veroorsaak ernstige infeksies in die hospitaalomgewing en in die gemeenskap. Wêreldwyd, neem metisillien-weerstandige S. aureus (MRSA) infeksies vinnig toe. Huidiglik by Tygerberg hospitaal is ongeveer ‘n derde van S. aureus isolate MRSA. Hierdie is die eerste epidemiologiese studie by Tygerberg hospitaal wat prospektiewe kliniese data van pasiënte met S. aureus bakteremie saam met spa tipering en aantoning van die mecA en pvl gene in ‘n multipleks PKR insluit. Klonale groepe (spa-CC) van MRSA en MSSA isolate is deur BURP analise verkry, en vergelyk met internasionaal belangrike klone. Die molekulêre epidemiologie van hospitaalverworwe (HA), gesondheidsorgverworwe (HCA) en gemeenskapsverworwe (CA) S. aureus bakteremie by hierdie hospitaal is ondersoek. Laastens, oorspronklike en daaropvolgende herhaal isolate is gekollekteer om moontlike organisme- faktore geassosieerd met persisterende en herhalende bakteremiese episodes te analiseer. Ons het in totaal 113 S. aureus isolate van 104 pasiënte ondersoek (70% MSSA, 30% MRSA). Nege isolate (van 5 pasiënte) was herhaal isolate. Alle isolate was afkomstig vanaf bloedkulture wat gedurende die periode Maart 2008 tot Mei 2009 gekollekteer is. Fenotipiese en genotipiese aantoning van metisillien weerstandigheid het goed gekorreleer. Volgens die literatuur kan die meeste CA-MRSA isolate van HA-MRSA isolate onderskei word op grond van die teenwoordigheid van die PVL toksien. Geen CA-MRSA is egter in ons studie gevind nie, dus kon die assosiasie tussen HA-MRSA en CA-MRSA isolate nie ondersoek word nie. CA-MSSA was in 22% van alle MSSA geidentifiseer teenoor 0% CA-MRSA. PVL is in MSSA isolate gevind (22.7% van alle MSSA) maar glad nie in MRSA nie. Dit is opgemerk dat MRSA isolate hoofsaaklik in spa CC 701 en CC-012 kloongroepe voorkom, teenoor kloongroep CC-002 wat slegs MSSA isolate bevat het. Soortgelyk het HA-isolate wat die meerderheid van MRSA isolate verteenwoordig het ook in kloongroepe 1 & 2 gegroepeer. Nege-en-veertig spa tipes is geïdentifiseer in 89.3% of alle isolate en 9.7% was nie-tipeerbaar. Vyf nuwe spa tipes is getoon. Ons het ‘n diverse aantal spa-tipes geïdentifiseer wat met internasionale klone gekorreleer het. Die mees dominante spa tipe in ons omgewing was t037 (slegs in MRSA), gevolg deur t891. Volgens die literatuur word t037 met die Brasiliaanse/Hongaarse kloon geassosieer (SCCmec tipe III; ST 239). Ons bevindings, asook ander Suid Afrikaanse studies, dui aan dat t037 in kliniese isolate vanaf talle provinsies in Suid-Afrika aangetoon is. Van belang is dat al die isolate van spa tipe t891 MSSA en PVL positief was. Bakteremiese gevalle was hoofsaaklik geassosieer met kateter-sepsis, gevolg deur vel en sagteweefsel infeksies (SSTI). Slegs een persisterende bakteremiese geval was geïdentifiseer geassosieer met HA-SSTI. Herhalende bakteremiese episodes is in pasiënte op dialise vir kroniese nierversaking en in brandwonde pasiënte met intra-vaskulêre kateter infeksies aangetoon. Die lokale epidemiologie van S. aureus en die prevalensie koers van verskillende stamme is van belang. Hierdie inligting dra by tot kennis van die epidemiologie van stafilokokkale stamme wat in ons omgewing bakteremie veroorsaak. Hierdie insigte is nuttig vir optimale diagnostiese en terapeutiese riglyne. Die tegnieke wat ontwikkel is, kan gebruik word om uitbrake en herhalende infeksies te identifiseer.

Thesis (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ostrich industry in South Africa is currently threatened by respiratory disease in feedlot ostriches which causes a dramatic loss in production. Ms01, Ms02 and Ms03 were identified as the three ostrichspecific mycoplasmas to be associated with this respiratory disease in ostriches of South Africa. The ostrich-specific mycoplasmas have a major impact on ostrich production and for this reason there is a serious need for treatment for these infections. For this reason, the ostrich industry has undertaken an investigation into the development of vaccines against mycoplasma infections. In this study, an approach to DNA vaccine development will be investigated and applied, specifically for the ostrich mycoplasma Ms02. Firstly, the whole genome of Ms02 was sequenced using GS FLX sequencing technology. The contiguous sequences obtained from the whole-genome sequencing were analysed bioinformatically which included the annotation of the contiguous sequences and the subsequent search for a vaccine candidate gene for the development of a DNA vaccine. The P100 gene of Ms02, which showed a high degree of homology with the P100 gene of the human pathogen M. hominis, was chosen as a vaccine candidate gene for the development of a DNA vaccine. The P100 gene was successfully cloned and subsequently modified by means of site-directed mutagenesis to correct for alternative codon usage, where after the modified P100 gene was subcloned into the mammalian expression vector, pCI-neo for vaccination trials in the near future. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die volstruisbedryf van Suid-Afrika is tans bedreig deur 'n respiratoriese siekte in voerkraal volstruise wat lei tot aansienlike verliese in volstruisproduksie. Ms01, Ms02 en Ms03 is geïdentifiseer as die drie volstruis-spesifieke mikoplasmas wat 'n rol speel in hierdie respiratoriese siektes van volstruise in Suid- Afrika. Die drie volstruis-spesifieke mikoplasmas het 'n groot impak op die produksie van volstruise en om hierdie rede is daar 'n ernstige behoefte aan 'n behandeling van hierdie infeksies. Ten einde mikoplasma infeksies in volstruise te voorkom, het die Suid-Afrikaanse volstruisbedryf 'n ondersoek geloods na moontlike strategieë vir entstof ontwikkeling. In hierdie studie, is 'n benadering van DNA entstof ontwikkeling ondersoek en toegepas, spesifiek teen die volstruis mikoplasma Ms02. Eerstens, is die volledige Ms02 genoomvolgorde bepaal deur gebruik te maak van GS FLX volgordebepalingstegnologie. Die gedeeltelike volgordes verkry vanaf die heelgenoom volgordebepaling is bioinformaties geanaliseer wat die annotering van die gedeeltelike volgordes asook die soektog vir 'n kandidaat entstof geen vir die ontwikkeling van 'n DNA entstof ingesluit het. Die P100 geen van Ms02, wat hoë homologie met die P100 geen van die menslike patogeen M. hominis getoon het, is gekies as die kandidaat entstof geen. Die P100 geen is suksesvol gekloneer en gemodifiseer deur middel van setelgerigte mutagenese om die P100 geen geskik te maak vir die invoeging in die soogdier ekspressie vektor, pCI-neo vir toekomstige entstofproewe.

In Southeast Asia, the family Pangasiidae is important for commercial fisheries and aquaculture. Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (striped catfish) is the most economically important species farmed in Vietnam, with a total export value of 1.7 billion USD in 2012. Intensive aquaculture can lead to problems with major outbreaks of disease and Edwardsiella ictaluri and Aeromonas hydrophila represent two important bacterial pathogens in P. hypophthalmus aquaculture. Immunostimulants have proven to be a very useful food additive for the aquaculture industry, since they can be easily fed to fish to enhance their immune response at times of stress and to improve resistance to disease. The immune system of pangasius catfish has not been fully described, despite the recent growth in aquaculture for this species, and little is known about the effects of immunostimulants on disease resistance. Understanding the immune response is very important in order to evaluate the health status of the fish and assist in control of disease (including prevention) so that production levels by the aquaculture industry can be sustained. The aims of this thesis were to develop and standardise methods to elucidate and measure immune responses in P. hypophthalmus and then to use these with relevant disease models (A. hydrophila and E. ictaluri) and immunomodulators (β-glucans from different sources and at different doses) to determine if bacterial diseases can be controlled, and which functional immune responses and immune genes could be correlated with disease resistance. As a variety of different species from family Pangasiidae are economically important for aquaculture, initial work focused on the characterisation of the immunoglobulin IgM molecule in these species, and anti-P. hypophthalmus IgM mAbs were tested to determine if they cross-reacted between different Pangasiidae species (Chapter 2). Although affinity purification of IgM from the different fish species resulted in a purer preparation ammonium sulphate precipitation (14% w/w), the latter proved faster and easier to perform. The heavy (H) and light (L) chains of IgM from P. hypophthalmus were estimated to be 70-72 kDa and 25-26 kDa, respectively, using SDS-PAGE (12.5%). The L chains of IgM in the other Asian fish species examined were similar in molecular weight to P. hypophthalmus, while the H chains varied (P. gigas and P. larnaudii 76kDa, P. sanitwongsei 69kDa, H. filamentus 73kDa, P. borcoti and H. wyckioides 75kDa, C. bactracus 74kDa, C. macrocephalus 73kDa and C. carpio 70kDa), as did the native IgM molecules. Sedimentation velocity ultracentrifugation was used to determine the molecular weight of the whole IgM molecule from P. hypophthalmus as an alternative to the more commonly used native gels that are run under non-denaturing conditions, although this technique proved more complex. Anti–P. hypophthalmus IgM monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) cross reacted with all of the Pangasiidae species and were successfully applied in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using mAb 23 to measure serum antibody response of P. hypoophthalmus following experimental infection with A. hydrophila by interperitoneal (I.P.) injection in Chapter 3 and E. ictaluri by immersion in Chapter 4. As P. hypophthalmus is a relatively new aquaculture species, there are few reports evaluating its immune response to pathogens. Thus, functional assays were standardised to evaluate both innate and adaptive immune responses of this species and then these assays used to compare immune response following stimulation with live and killed A. hydrophila. (Chapter3). Four treatment groups of 40 fish per group (53.2 ± 14.8g.) consisting of an untreated control group, a group injected I.P. with adjuvant (Montanide ISA 760 VG) only, a group injected with heat-killed A. hydrophila (1 x109 cfu ml-1 mixed with adjuvant), and a group injected with a subclinical dose of live A. hydrophila 2.7 x105 cfu ml-1 were used in the study. Samples were collected 0, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days post injection (d.p.i.) to assess the immune response of fish. The results indicated that challenge with live or/and dead bacteria stimulated the immune response in P. hypophthalmus significantly above control groups with respect to specific antibody titre, lysozyme activity, phagocytosis and plasma peroxidase at 7 or/and 14 d.p.i. Moreover, on 21 d.p.i. total IgM, specific antibody titre and lysozyme activity from both live and dead A. hydrophila challenge groups were significantly different to the control groups. Differential immune responses between live and dead bacterial challenges were also observed as only live A. hydrophila significantly stimulated WBC counts and plasma peroxidase at 3 d.p.i. with the greatest increase in WBC counts noted at 21 d.p.i. and in phagocytosis at 14 d.p.i. By 21 d.p.i. only the macrophages from fish challenged with dead A. hydrophila showed significantly stimulated respiratory burst activity. Immunostimulants are food additives used by the aquaculture industry to enhance the immune response, and β-glucan is now commonly used for this purpose in aquaculture. In Chapter 4 the effect of the prebiotic β-glucan on the immune response and disease resistance of P. hypophthalmus was evaluated. The fish (60.3 ± 11.7 g.) were fed with a basal diet (control) or diets supplemented with fungal derived β-glucan at concentrations of 0.05 %, 0.1 %, or 0.2 % g/kg for four weeks. Fish fed 0.1 % commercial yeast derived β-glucan were also included as a positive control group. Samples were collected from fish on Days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The results showed that fish fed with the highest two levels of fungal derived β-glucan had enhanced immune responses compared to the control group, with respiratory burst activity on all days examined and lysozyme activity on 7 days post feeding (d.p.f.) being significantly elevated (P<0.05) in the group fed with 0.2 % fungal derived β-glucan, while plasma anti-protease activity on 21 d.p.f., natural antibody titre on 3 d.p.f. and complement activity 7 d.p.f. and 14 d.p.i. were significantly enhanced (P<0.05) in the group fed 0.1 % fungal derived β-glucan. The lowest dose of fungal derived β-glucan (0.05 %) appeared insufficient to effectively stimulate the fish’s immune response. WBC count, respiratory burst, lysozyme activity and complement were useful as an early indication of immunostimulation (1 to 7 days). Four weeks after feeding with the different diets, the fish were experimentally infected with E. ictaluri by immersion using 8 x104 cfu ml-1 for 1 h and mortalities were monitored for 14 days. There was a great deal of variation in the level of mortalities within the four replicate tanks for each dietary group. Although the in vivo challenge results showed no statistical differences between the groups fed on the different diets, the highest mortalities were observed in group fed with the control diet and the lowest mortalities were observed in the groups fed with commercial yeast derived β-glucan and 0.2 % fungal derived β glucan. Immune gene expression following stimulation with β-glucan and challenge with E. ictaluri was investigated in Chapter 5.

Historically, the causative agent of infectious coryza has been identified as the NAD requiring bacterium Haemophilus paragallinarum and the implementation of an intensive vaccination program led to the effective control of this contagious upper respiratory infection. More recently, however, a decline in the protective capacity of a vaccine conditioned immune response was noted, with a number of contributing factors, including the emergence of a fast-growing NAD-independent bacterium, which has largely replaced the traditional NAD-dependent variety. As such, accurate, reproducible methods for determining and continually monitoring the type of infecting bacteria was necessitated. To address this need, strains of H. paragallinarum were evaluated according to both their phenotypic and their genotypic properties, in a combination serodiagnostic approach. A data bank of NAD-dependent H. paragallinarum reference strain and field isolate serovar-specific fingerprints was established on both a whole cell and outer membrane protein level. Visual comparative analysis of the qualitatively and quantitatively similar outer membrane protein patterns of all strains of NAD independency studied with the formulated data bank, indicate that the NAD-independent strains displayed profiles typical of serovar C-3. The outer membrane proteins have been identified as putative virulence determinants and, as such, were characterised according to their surface location, susceptibility to heat modification, functional role as endotoxins, sequence homology to structural membrane counterparts, and finally, their ability to induce an immune response. These studies represent novel efforts and form the foundation for identifying those antigens responsible for maintaining an infection in the host milieu. Ribotype analysis served as an adjunct to phenotypic observations, with the local NAD-independent field isolates being identified as serotype A. These contradictory outcomes call for the creation of a set of reference strains specific for NAD-independent isolates. The identification of restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the conserved 16S rRNA gene sequences indicate the potential application of this method for type assignment, requiring the recognition of a battery of versatile restriction enzymes to generate serovar-specific polymorphic profiles. The complexity of serotype allocation demands that a combination approach in which genotypic analyses complement phenotypic-based methods of haemagglutination inhibition and outer membrane protein profiling. The groundwork for implementation of such a system has been accomplished. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.