Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 A278 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1979 E94 / Master of Science

<p>While the many completely sequenced genomes of bacterial pathogens contain all the determinants of the host-pathogen interaction, and also every possible drug target and recombinant vaccine candidate, computational tools for selecting suitable candidates for further experimental analyses are limited to date. The overall objective of my PhD project was to attempt to design reusable systems that employ the two most important features of bacterial evolution, horizontal gene transfer and adaptive mutation, for the identification of potentially novel virulence-associated factors and possible drug targets. In this dissertation, I report the development of two novel technologies that uncover novel virulence-associated factors and mechanisms employed by bacterial pathogens to effectively inhabit the host niche. More importantly, I illustrate that these technologies may present a reliable starting point for the development of screens for novel drug targets and vaccine candidates, significantly reducing the time for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Our initial analyses of proteins predicted from the preliminary genomic sequences released by the Sanger Center indicated that a significant number appeared to be more similar to eukaryotic proteins than to their bacterial orthologs. In order determine whether acquisition of genetic material from eukaryotes has played a role in the evolution of pathogenic bacteria, we developed a system that detects genes in a bacterial genome that have been acquired by interkingdom horizontal gene transfer.. Initially, 19 eukaryotic genes were identified in the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis of which 2 were later found in the genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, along with two novel eukaryotic genes.</p> <p>Surprisingly, six of the M. tuberculosis genes and all four eukaryotic genes in P. aeruginosa may be involved in modulating the host immune response through altering the steroid balance and the production of pro-inflammatory lipids. We also compared the genome of the H37Rv M. tuberculosis strain to that of the CDC- 1551 strain that was sequenced by TIGR and found that the organisms were virtually identical with respect to their gene content, and hypothesized that the differences in virulence may be due to evolved differences in shared genes, rather than the absence/presence of unique genes. Using this observation as rationale, we developed a system that compares the orthologous gene complements of two strains of a bacterial species and mines for genes that have undergone adaptive evolution as a means to identify possibly novel virulence &ndash / associated genes. By applying this system to the genome sequences of two strains of Helicobacter pylori and Neisseria meningitidis, we identified 41 and 44 genes that are under positive selection in these organisms, respectively. As approximately 50% of the genes encode known or potential virulence factors, the remaining genes may also be implicated in virulence or pathoadaptation. Furthermore, 21 H. pylori genes, none of which are classic virulence factors or associated with a pathogenicity island, were tested for a role in colonization by gene knockout experiments. Of these, 61% were found to be either essential, or involved in effective stomach colonization in a mouse infection model. A significant amount of strong circumstantial and empirical evidence is thus presented that finding genes under positive selection is a reliable method of identifying novel virulence-associated genes and promising leads for drug targets.</p>

Drosophila melanogaster and many other insects harbor intracellular bacterial symbionts that are transmitted vertically from infected host mothers to their offspring. Many of these bacteria alter host reproductive developmental processes in order to increase their transmission success. For example, Spiroplasma, a spirochete that naturally infects D. melanogaster, selectively kills males during mid-embryogenesis while sparing females. Previous studies suggested that Spiroplasma interacts genetically with the male-specific dosage compensation pathway, which causes ~2-fold up-regulation of most genes located on the male’s single X chromosome so that their expression matches the levels found in females who have two Xs. To further test this idea, I used confocal microscopy to visualize dosage compensation complex (DCC) localization and activity in infected as well as uninfected embryos. In the presence of Spiroplasma, the DCC became abnormally mis-localized across the nucleus. This pattern was accompanied by abnormal acetylation of histone H4K16, a mark induced by DCC activity and needed for proper X chromatin remodeling. My results imply that Spiroplasma directly targets the DCC by misdirecting it to uncompensated regions of the genome, an effect that leads to abnormal gene mis-regulation and consequent lethality (work from other members in our group). To further investigate this interaction, we transgenically expressed low levels of MSL-2 in both Spiroplasma infected and uninfected embryos in order to cause ectopic formation of the DCC in the female sex. I found that when infected, female embryos expressing the DCC showed significantly reduced viability in comparison to uninfected transgenic females. This result supports the notion that Spiroplasma uses the DCC in a dominant gain-of-function manner to kill embryos.

With the number of fully sequenced bacterial genomes increasing in the past 7 years, it has been discovered that a large percentage of the putative protein coding genes have no known function. This lack of knowledge leaves scientists with an incomplete understanding of bacteria. In this study, conserved hypothetical protein mutants from Streptococcus sanguinis SK36 were screened on solid media with various environmental conditions. From these screens, the candidate protein, SSA_2372, displayed a sensitivity to acidic conditions. Its homolog in Bacillus subtilis 168, BSU00030, also displayed a sensitivity to pH conditions at its acid tolerance extremes unlike its other homolog in Escherichia coli, YbcJ. When the growth rate and cell yield was acquired, the sensitivity was shown to be significant for both SSA_2372 and BSU00030 mutants. Through data mining, it was determined that Firmicutes in this homolog family COG2501 may function as a regulator for recombination protein F.

Samples of cave water were analyzed for volatile organic compounds during four separate storm events. The major compounds detected were toluene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, methylene chloride, and 1,1-dicloroethane. Minor compounds detected were trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, 1,1-dichloroethylene, and ethylbenzene. These compounds were detected in varying amounts at each of the three study sites. During a storm event, the levels of each contaminant changed significantly at all three sites studied. Two effects were observed when a storm event occurred. The first effect was the dilution of the volatile organic compounds during the storm event. These effects were related to the amount of rainfall and the rate at which the rainfall occurred during a given storm event. The second effect was the drastic increase in the level of all contaminants after the storm event.

A new histozoic myxosporidian parasite (Class Mysoxporidea), Myxobolus meglitschi sp. nov., infecting young-of-the-year and yearling bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus Raf., from Shanty Hollow Lake, Warren County, Kentucky was described. Phenology was investigated from January 20 to December, 1969. The magnitude of infection varied seasonally in bluegill. Incidence was highest in July and August (43.92) in host populations, declining, but not disappearing from September to December 20, 1969. The infection exhibited a yearly mean incidence of 22.318. The pattern of distribution of cysts on hosts varied seasonally. During periods of low incidence cysts were confined primarily to a postanal area below the lateral line. During July and August cysts were widespread on hosts. Initial infection of hosts may occur accidentally through contact with spores, incidental to feeding upon protozoan intermediate transfer hosts or other benthic organisms; or, during spawning, by spore contact with eggs or larvae. Development of the parasite from initial spore contact to the production of detectable size cysts appeared to require 80-90 days. The parasite may spread on the host by means of autoinfection. Pathology was limited to scale erosion at the point contact by cysts.

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative anaerobic, pathogenic bacterium is a major etiological agent in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease. Due to the ever-changing environment of the oral cavity, inhabitants like Porphyromonas gingivalis must possess the ability to adapt to changes in environmental conditions like pH, temperature, oxygen tension, and metal concentration. P. gingivalis should therefore have an efficient regulatory system in order to adapt and survive in the oral cavity. This response adaptation occurs at the transcriptional level, which involves alternative sigma factors. Extracytoplasmic function sigma (ECF-s) factors are the largest group of alternative sigma factors that play a role in the bacterial response to environmental stress conditions. Here we analyze the s-70 factor gene, PG0214, an extracytoplasmic function sigma factor encoded in the P. gingivalis genome, and examine its role in the bacterial response to environmental stress and virulence. Our findings indicate that the PG0214 gene is important in regulating major functional gene groups and pathways in the P. gingivalis genome. Strains deficient in the PG0214 gene were analyzed and shown to have decreased protease activity, as well as reduced survivability and invasion rates in eukaryotic host cells when compared against wild-type W83 and ATCC 33277 strains. Collectively our studies demonstrate that the PG0214 gene is a positive regulator of gene expression for the survival and virulence of P. gingivalis in the presence of oxidative- and iron-stress, although further study is needed to fully characterize the gene and determine its specific function.

Orientador: Ruben Pablo Schocken-Iturrino / Banca: Antonio Carlos Pizzolitto / Banca: José Moacir Marin / Resumo: A suinocultura vem ganhando espaço no mercado brasileiro, atualmente o interesse por alimentos saudáveis trouxe a carne suína como aliada e não mais como vilã. A partir disso, novas tecnologias como sistemas de confinamento, foram adotadas a fim de obter melhorias que visam principalmente à higiene do processo, alimentação balanceada dos animais e instalações adequadas. Nesse enquadramento, doenças infecciosas entéricas representam um problema importante na suinocultura, e estão envolvidas com grandes perdas econômicas e contaminação da carcaça comercializada. Considerando estes aspectos, o trabalho objetivou identificar Clostridium perfringens e Salmonella spp., a fim de alertar o setor suinícola sobre os riscos ainda disseminados que causam enfermidades nos suínos e contaminam os produtos que serão comercializados; e correlacionar a presença de Clostridium perfringens com interferências no ganho de peso dos animais. Foram realizadas contagens bacterianas para Clostridium spp. que apresentaram médias de 1,2x105 UFC/mL na primeira coleta e 7,88x102 UFC/mL na segunda coleta do confinamento, e nas amostras do frigorífico contou-se 1,8x104 UFC/mL. Os resultados obtidos por PCR foram positivos apenas para a toxina alfa (cpa), caracterizando uniformidade dos positivos (25%) para Clostridium perfringens tipo A do confinamento e 46,4% do frigorífico. Para Salmonella spp. com o gene invA foram detectados 9,5% de positivos nos animais do confinamento e 21,4% das amostras do frigorífico. E Salmonella Typhimurium com o gene fliC, foram positivas 3,57% no confinamento e 8,33% no frigorífico. Foi possível concluir que Clostridium perfringens e Salmonella spp. foram... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Swine production is becoming more popular in the Brazilian market, currently interest in healthy foods brought swine as an ally and not as a villain. From this, new technologies such as confinement systems were adopted in order to achieve improvements aimed primarily to process hygiene, a balanced diet of animals and adequate facilities. In this framework, enteric infectious diseases represent a important problem in the swine production, and are involved with large economic losses and contamination of carcass marketed. Considering these aspects, the study aimed to identify Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella spp. in order to alert the swine sector still scattered about the risks that cause diseases in swine and contaminate the products to be marketed; and correlating the presence of Clostridium perfringens with interference on weight gains of animals. Bacterial counts were performed for Clostridium spp presenting averages of 1.2 x105 CFU/ mL in the first test and 7.88 x102 CFU / mL in the second collection of confinement, and the samples of slaughterhouse told by 1.8 x104 CFU/ mL. The results obtained by PCR were positive only for the alpha-toxin (cpa), featuring uniformity of positive samples (25%) for Clostridium perfringens type A of confinement and 46.4% of the slaughterhouse. For Salmonella spp. with the invA gene were detected 9.5% of positive animals in confinement and 21.4% of samples from the slaughterhouse. And Salmonella Typhimurium with the gene fliC, were positive 3.57% in the confinament and 8.33% in the slaughterhouse. It was concluded that Clostridium perfringens and Salmonella spp. were... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Rhodococcus is a soil bacterium, member of the Actinobacteria, and a close relative of the prolific small molecule producer Streptomyces. Recent interest in Rhodococcus as an under investigated source of possible bioactive secondary metabolites is sparked by the discovery of many polyketide synthase and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase genes of unknown function from sequenced Rhodococcus genomes. Rhodococcus species strain MTM3W5.2 was recently shown to produce a strong inhibitory compound with activity against most strains of Rhodococcus and closely related genera. A goal of this investigation is to discover the gene(s) required to synthesize this inhibitory molecule. The engineered Rhodococcus transposon, pTNR, was used to generate random insertional mutations in the genome of MTM3W5.2. The transposon insertion sites for 8 non-producing mutants were cloned and sequenced. Genes that encode polyketide synthases usually form parts of large biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for the production of small polyketide molecules.