This thesis describes development and optimalization of method for identification of polyphenols compounds present in hops (Humulus lupulus L.) that have potential antimicrobial activity. Within extraction of compounds from hop, minced hop cones were applied in a growth medium, where compounds diffused into the medium and created an inhibition zone after inoculated with Streptococcus aureus. The method combining extraction with acetone a salting out using QuEChERS principles was optimized for extraction of compounds from solid growth medium. The analysis was carried out using LC/HR-MS with a quadrupole-orbitrap hybrid mass analyzer. The MS method was developed as a screening method with a subsequent fragmentation of compound of interest on the base of inclusion mass list. The compounds extracted from inhibition zone were identified either by searching against a database or their structures have been elucidated on the basis of their fragmentation spectra.

Interactions are all around us, and as humans we may use words and gestures to communicate our intentions. At the micro level of fungi, communications are replaced by chemical signals and structure. These interactions fall into three distinctive categories: synergistic, where organisms help each other, as is the case with ectomycorrhizal fungi and tree roots, deadlock, or combat, where organisms fight for or defend a resource. When it comes to fungi-tree interactions, the fungi group of basidiomycetes fall into the latter category. At the onset of fungal infection, a living tree defends itself by producing resinous substances such as terpenes. These compounds are frequently found in hydrodistilled turpentine, which makes turpentine a prime source of antifungal compounds. A D-optimal design of fractionated turpentine together with gas chromatography (GC) coupled to a mass spectrometer was employed to find the most biologically active constituent of turpentine. Growth rate of Coniophora puteana was used to assess the efficacy of the mixed fractions. The partial least squares projection model had an excellent predictive power (R2 = 0.988, Q2 = 0.825) and validity. A putative sesquiterpene was identified as the most active compound for inhibiting fungal growth. The model was corroborated by an external validation assay employing preparative GC. After the death of a tree, fungi are no longer hindered by secondary metabolites from the tree. Instead, other interspecies interactions and intraspecies interactions, such as fungi-fungi interactions, occur. We found that when the white-rot fungus Heterobasidion parviporum and brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum sepiarium interact with each other, amino acids are used to a higher extent. Amino acids may be used to produce antifungal compounds to hinder the other species from growing. Lysine in particular was utilized to a greater extent during interaction. Glutamine was the only amino acid that increased in concentration. Glutamine might be exuded or converted by enzymes from already existing glutamic acid. Dry weights suggest that the fungi were in a deadlock and that nutrient limitation might be a determining factor. It seemed that H. parviporum was favoured by a decrease in pH while the opposite pattern may be true for G. sepiarium.

The master´s thesis is focused on the study of biologically active compounds of fennel. The theoretical part describes basic characteristics of fennel and its chemical composition, further specifies plant´s biological active substances and antioxidants, also describes extraction techniques for obtaining these bioactive compounds, methods of their determination and verification of antimicrobial effect. In the experimental part were spectrophotometrically determined contents of polyphenols and flavonoids in the prepared extracts of fennel tea, whole and crush spice. On the basis of extraction curves, antioxidant activity and potential antimicrobial activity against the selected microorganisms Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Serratia marcescens a Micrococcus luteus was determined in the samples with the highest values of the given bioactive substances. Among the all monitored extracts, the inhibitory effect was showed only by an aqueous extract of the fennel tea against the bacterial strain of Micrococcus luteus.

Capillary zone electrophoresis is an analytical method frequently used in many laboratories for solving various analytical problems. This diploma thesis describes one of many applications of capillary zone electrophoresis using a unique laboratory apparatus composed of a short capillary and dual conductivity/UV detector placed in one detection point of the separation capillary. In the first part of this thesis, the laboratory apparatus was tested by the separation of small inorganic and organic ions. Sodium, potassium, tyramine and histidine ions were used to test the two parts of the dual detector. Experimentally obtained mobilities of these ions were compared with those calculated from the tabulated values. In the second part, the apparatus was used for determination of analytes in samples with more complex matrixces, pharmaceuticals Acylcoffin and B-komplex produced by Zentiva, a.s. One analyte was chosen from each pharmaceutical preparation for determination of its concentration in the preparation, caffeine from Acylcoffine and thiamine from B-komplex. The concentrations were calulated using three different calibration methods and the experimentally obtained values were compared with those specified by the pharmaceuticals producer. Key words: capillary electrophoresis; short capillary;...

réalisé en cotutelle avec la Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar. / Le pois chiche (Cicer arietinum L.) a l’avantage de pouvoir assimiler l'azote atmosphérique grâce à son association symbiotique avec des bactéries du genre Mesorhizobium. Malgré cet effet bénéfique sur les systèmes culturaux, le pois chiche réduit parfois la productivité du blé qui la suit. Cet effet négatif du pois chiche pourrait provenir d’une réaction allélopathique à ses exsudats racinaires ou résidus, ou de changements inopportuns dans la communauté microbienne du sol induits par la plante. L'amélioration des interactions symbiotiques du pois chiche pourrait améliorer la performance économique et environnementale des systèmes culturaux basés sur le blé. L’objectif à long terme de ce travail est d'améliorer l’influence du pois chiches sur son environnement biologique et sur la productivité du système cultural. À court terme, nous voulons 1) vérifier l'effet des champignons endophytes sur la performance de cultivars de pois chiche de type desi et kabuli, particulièrement en conditions de stress hydrique, ainsi que sur celle d’une culture subséquente de blé dur, 2) identifier des cultivars de pois chiche capables d’améliorer la qualité biologique de sols cultivés, 3) vérifier que des composés biologiquement actifs sont présents dans les racines des différents cultivars de pois chiches et 4) définir la nature de l’activité (stimulation ou inhibition) des ces composés sur les champignons endomycorhiziens à arbuscules (CMA), qui sont des microorganismes bénéfiques du sol reconnus. L’inoculation du pois chiche avec des champignons endophytes indigènes en serre a augmenté la tolérance à la sécheresse du cultivar de type kabuli à feuille simple CDC Xena et amélioré la nutrition azotée et phosphatée d’un cultivar de type desi, cv. CDC Nika, cultivé en conditions de stress hydrique. La germination des graines de blé dur fut meilleure lorsque celles-ci étaient semées dans les débris de pois chiche inoculé de type kabuli. Le sol dans lequel le génotype de pois chiche à feuille simple CDC Xena fut cultivé mais duquel tout le matériel végétal de pois chiche fut retiré a fortement inhibé la germination des semences de blé dur, ce qui suggère un effet des exsudats racinaires sur la communauté microbienne du sol associée à cette variété de pois chiche. En champ, les cultivars de pois chiche ont influencé différemment la composition des communautés de champignons de la rhizosphère. Les espèces de champignons pathogènes étaient infréquentes et les espèces saprotrophiques et de CMA étaient fréquentes dans la zone des racines du cultivar de type desi CDC Anna. L’effet des composés contenus dans les fractions séparées par HPLC et solubles en solution de méthanol à 25% et 50% de l’extrait racinaire de ce cultivar sur la germination de spores de CMA a été testé in vitro. Les deux espèces de CMA utilisées ont répondu différemment à l’exposition aux composés testés, révélant un mécanisme impliqué dans l’association préférentielle entre les plantes hôtes et les CMA qui leurs sont associés. Nous concluons que le génotype de pois chiche influence la composition de la communauté microbienne qui lui est associée et que cette influence est reliée au moins en partie aux molécules bioactives produites par les racines de la plante. D’autre part, la productivité du pois chiche et de la culture subséquente pourrait être favorisée par la manipulation de leurs champignons endophytes par inoculation. / Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) has the ability to bring free N into cropping systems, but is only a fair rotation crop, leading to lower yield in following wheat crops, as compared to medic, vetch or lentil. The negative effects of a chickpea plant on the following wheat crops could come from chickpea root exudates, their residues or their influence on the soil microbial community. The identification of chickpea cultivars best able to promote soil biological quality and the growth of a subsequent crop in rotation will help farmers in selecting better crop rotations and, thus, will improve crop management in soil zone growing chickpea. The global objective of this research is to improve the fitness of chickpea crops to their biological environment and to improve the ability of the plant to enhance soil biological quality. The specific objectives were (1) to verify that the productivity of chickpea and subsequent crops could be promoted through the inoculation by some indigenous endophytic fungi particularly under drought stress conditions (2) to verify the existence of variation in the rhizospheric associations of field-grown chickpea, as it is a necessary condition for the selection of genotypes with improved compatibility with beneficial microorganisms. (3) to identify the biologically active compounds present in the root extracts of chickpea cultivars with contrasting phenotypes, and assess their effect on beneficial and pathogenic soil microorganisms. The greenhouse experiments show that inoculation with indigenous endophytes increased drought tolerance of the unifoliate Kabuli chickpea CDC Xena and the N and P nutrition of the drought stressed Desi chickpea CDC Nika. Inoculation of both Kabuli chickpea varieties with indigenous endophytes improved wheat seeds germination in tissues amended soil. Residue-free soil previously growing the unifoliate Kabuli chickpea CDC Xena strongly inhibited durum seed germination suggesting an effect of root exudates on the soil microbial community, with this Kabuli chickpea variety. In a field experiment, the fungal diversity in cultivated Prairie dryland appeared to host a large array of fungal groups known to reduced plant nutrient, water and biotic stresses, and chickpea genotypes influenced differently the composition and biomass of the soil microbial community. The Desi chickpea CDC Anna was associated with high diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and culturable fungi, favored the proliferation of soil bacteria and fungal genus hosting biocontrol agents, and developed high AM root colonization level, as compared to the three Kabuli genotypes examined. The HPLC fractions of the roots of chickpea cultivar CDC Anna were recovered and the effects of these fractions on AM fungal spore germination were assayed in multi-well plates. Root extract fractions affect in a different ways the percentage of spores’ germination of Glomus etunicatum and Gigaspora Rosea. We concluded that the genotype of chickpea plants influences the composition of the associated microbial community, and this influence may be related to molecular signals produced by the plants. Furthermore, the productivity of chickpea and subsequent crops could be promoted through the inoculation with indigenous endophytic fungi.

Depuis la mise en évidence de l’existence des protéines kinases vers la fin des années 1950 cette famille d’enzymes s’est vu attribuer d’importants rôles dans divers mécanismes pathologiques notamment dans des processus de cancérisations. Plus récemment ces enzymes ont été identifiées comme potentiellement impliquées dans d’autres types de maladies telles que les maladies neurodégénératives.Deux projets de recherche seront présentés. Le premier projet expose la conception et la synthèse de nouveaux composés tricycliques de la famille des pyrido[3,4-g]quinazolines. Les propriétés inhibitrices de kinases des premiers dérivés ont été évaluées sur un panel de cinq kinases (CDK5, CK1, GSK3, CLK1 and DYRK1A) connues pour leurs implications dans la maladie d’Alzheimer. L’intérêt de ces nouveaux squelettes tricycliques comme inhibiteurs de kinases a été validé par des activités inhibitrices nanomolaire à l’encontre des kinases DYRK1A et CLK1. D’autre part l’obtention de structures co-crystallographiques d’interaction de deux dérivés avec le site ATP de la kinase CLK1 a permis de rationnaliser la substitution du motif pyrido[3,4-g]quinazoline. Le second projet présente le développement d’un nouveau dérivé de la staurosporine aglycone (K252c) dans lequel la partie lactame a été remplacée par un noyau pyrazole. Une étude préliminaire des propriétés biologiques de l’indolopyrazolocarbazole obtenu met en avant une cytotoxicité, du même ordre de grandeur que K252c, contre les lignées cellulaires K562 (leucémie humaine) et HCT116 (carcinome du colon). En revanche, le composé chef de file s’est révélé être un faible inhibiteur de cibles connues de K252c, les isoformes α and γ de la protéine kinase C et présente un bon potentiel inhibiteur des kinases Pim 1-3. Ce nouveau chemotype pourrait être un inhibiteur de kinases prometteur. / In 1950’s protein kinases were found to play a critical role in cell signaling, rising strong research potential for this enzyme family. Initially investigated for their implications in cancerogenesis they were more recently found to be involved in a wide variety of diseases including neurodegenerative pathologies. Herein will be presented two research projects that offer bright new perspectives for the inhibition of kinases involved whether in neurodegenerative diseases or cancers.First, the design and synthesis of new pyrido[3,4-g]quinazoline derivatives will be described as well as their protein kinase inhibitory potencies toward five CMGC family members (CDK5, CK1, GSK3, CLK1 and DYRK1A) that are known to play a potential role in Alzheimer’s disease. The interest for this original tricyclic heteroaromatic scaffold as modulators of CLK1/ DYRK1A activity was validated by nanomolar potencies. CLK1 co-crystal structures with two inhibitors revealed the binding mode of these compounds within the ATP-binding pocket and led to the synthesis of new diversely substituted pyrido[3,4-g]quinazolines.Then the synthesis of a new derivative of the staurosporine aglycon (K252c), in which the lactam ring was replaced by a pyrazole moiety, will be depicted. The resulting indolopyrazolocarbazole inhibited Pim isoforms 1–3 whereas it did not impair the activity of two known targets of K252c, protein kinase C isoforms α and γ . The lead compound exhibited same cytotoxic activity as K252c toward both human leukemia and colon carcinoma cell lines (K562 and HCT116), strongly suggesting that this new scaffold deserves further investigations for treatment of malignancies associated with kinases activities.

Le pois chiche (Cicer arietinum L.) a l’avantage de pouvoir assimiler l'azote atmosphérique grâce à son association symbiotique avec des bactéries du genre Mesorhizobium. Malgré cet effet bénéfique sur les systèmes culturaux, le pois chiche réduit parfois la productivité du blé qui la suit. Cet effet négatif du pois chiche pourrait provenir d’une réaction allélopathique à ses exsudats racinaires ou résidus, ou de changements inopportuns dans la communauté microbienne du sol induits par la plante. L'amélioration des interactions symbiotiques du pois chiche pourrait améliorer la performance économique et environnementale des systèmes culturaux basés sur le blé. L’objectif à long terme de ce travail est d'améliorer l’influence du pois chiches sur son environnement biologique et sur la productivité du système cultural. À court terme, nous voulons 1) vérifier l'effet des champignons endophytes sur la performance de cultivars de pois chiche de type desi et kabuli, particulièrement en conditions de stress hydrique, ainsi que sur celle d’une culture subséquente de blé dur, 2) identifier des cultivars de pois chiche capables d’améliorer la qualité biologique de sols cultivés, 3) vérifier que des composés biologiquement actifs sont présents dans les racines des différents cultivars de pois chiches et 4) définir la nature de l’activité (stimulation ou inhibition) des ces composés sur les champignons endomycorhiziens à arbuscules (CMA), qui sont des microorganismes bénéfiques du sol reconnus. L’inoculation du pois chiche avec des champignons endophytes indigènes en serre a augmenté la tolérance à la sécheresse du cultivar de type kabuli à feuille simple CDC Xena et amélioré la nutrition azotée et phosphatée d’un cultivar de type desi, cv. CDC Nika, cultivé en conditions de stress hydrique. La germination des graines de blé dur fut meilleure lorsque celles-ci étaient semées dans les débris de pois chiche inoculé de type kabuli. Le sol dans lequel le génotype de pois chiche à feuille simple CDC Xena fut cultivé mais duquel tout le matériel végétal de pois chiche fut retiré a fortement inhibé la germination des semences de blé dur, ce qui suggère un effet des exsudats racinaires sur la communauté microbienne du sol associée à cette variété de pois chiche. En champ, les cultivars de pois chiche ont influencé différemment la composition des communautés de champignons de la rhizosphère. Les espèces de champignons pathogènes étaient infréquentes et les espèces saprotrophiques et de CMA étaient fréquentes dans la zone des racines du cultivar de type desi CDC Anna. L’effet des composés contenus dans les fractions séparées par HPLC et solubles en solution de méthanol à 25% et 50% de l’extrait racinaire de ce cultivar sur la germination de spores de CMA a été testé in vitro. Les deux espèces de CMA utilisées ont répondu différemment à l’exposition aux composés testés, révélant un mécanisme impliqué dans l’association préférentielle entre les plantes hôtes et les CMA qui leurs sont associés. Nous concluons que le génotype de pois chiche influence la composition de la communauté microbienne qui lui est associée et que cette influence est reliée au moins en partie aux molécules bioactives produites par les racines de la plante. D’autre part, la productivité du pois chiche et de la culture subséquente pourrait être favorisée par la manipulation de leurs champignons endophytes par inoculation. / Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) has the ability to bring free N into cropping systems, but is only a fair rotation crop, leading to lower yield in following wheat crops, as compared to medic, vetch or lentil. The negative effects of a chickpea plant on the following wheat crops could come from chickpea root exudates, their residues or their influence on the soil microbial community. The identification of chickpea cultivars best able to promote soil biological quality and the growth of a subsequent crop in rotation will help farmers in selecting better crop rotations and, thus, will improve crop management in soil zone growing chickpea. The global objective of this research is to improve the fitness of chickpea crops to their biological environment and to improve the ability of the plant to enhance soil biological quality. The specific objectives were (1) to verify that the productivity of chickpea and subsequent crops could be promoted through the inoculation by some indigenous endophytic fungi particularly under drought stress conditions (2) to verify the existence of variation in the rhizospheric associations of field-grown chickpea, as it is a necessary condition for the selection of genotypes with improved compatibility with beneficial microorganisms. (3) to identify the biologically active compounds present in the root extracts of chickpea cultivars with contrasting phenotypes, and assess their effect on beneficial and pathogenic soil microorganisms. The greenhouse experiments show that inoculation with indigenous endophytes increased drought tolerance of the unifoliate Kabuli chickpea CDC Xena and the N and P nutrition of the drought stressed Desi chickpea CDC Nika. Inoculation of both Kabuli chickpea varieties with indigenous endophytes improved wheat seeds germination in tissues amended soil. Residue-free soil previously growing the unifoliate Kabuli chickpea CDC Xena strongly inhibited durum seed germination suggesting an effect of root exudates on the soil microbial community, with this Kabuli chickpea variety. In a field experiment, the fungal diversity in cultivated Prairie dryland appeared to host a large array of fungal groups known to reduced plant nutrient, water and biotic stresses, and chickpea genotypes influenced differently the composition and biomass of the soil microbial community. The Desi chickpea CDC Anna was associated with high diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and culturable fungi, favored the proliferation of soil bacteria and fungal genus hosting biocontrol agents, and developed high AM root colonization level, as compared to the three Kabuli genotypes examined. The HPLC fractions of the roots of chickpea cultivar CDC Anna were recovered and the effects of these fractions on AM fungal spore germination were assayed in multi-well plates. Root extract fractions affect in a different ways the percentage of spores’ germination of Glomus etunicatum and Gigaspora Rosea. We concluded that the genotype of chickpea plants influences the composition of the associated microbial community, and this influence may be related to molecular signals produced by the plants. Furthermore, the productivity of chickpea and subsequent crops could be promoted through the inoculation with indigenous endophytic fungi. / réalisé en cotutelle avec la Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar.

Present Ph.D. Thesis is focused on the development of electrochemical methods for determination of anticancer drugs using various types of membranes for their preliminary separation. Furthermore, this Thesis reports the study of transport mechanisms of heavy metals in the presence of phytochelatins across biological membranes. Sodium anthraquinone-2-sulphonate (AQS) was used as a model compound for its similar structure with anthraquinone-based (AQ-based) anticancer drugs (doxo/daunorubicin) and also due to its better availability. All these compounds can be easily electrochemically oxidized and/or reduced. Redox behaviour of AQS was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in a cathodic region on mercury meniscus modified (m-AgSAE) and polished silver solid amalgam (p-AgSAE) electrodes, Obtained results were used for the development of a micro-volume voltammetric cell (MVVC). Its applicability for voltammetric determination of anticancer drugs was verified by using doxorubicin (DX) as a model substance. The second part of this Thesis deals with therapeutic monitoring of anticancer drugs in the blood circulation of the patients. For pilot experiments, a liquid-flow system with dialysis catheter and amperometric detection was used. The flow rate of carrier...