Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-04-07Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:18:28Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000754808.pdf: 1123345 bytes, checksum: 945c6c9f352406de0091406c4f189c94 (MD5) / A mandioquinha-salsa (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft) é uma hortaliça originária da região andina, Venezuela, Colômbia, Equador, Peru e Bolívia. A família das apiáceas compreende também outras hortaliças importantes, como cenoura, salsa, coentro, aipo, dentre outras. A mandioquinha-salsa é propagada de forma vegetativa através dos propágulos, e isso pode favorecer a ocorrência de um número considerável de patógenos que causam degenerescência, principalmente os vírus. Está comprovado que alguns vírus são fator limitante em culturas de propagação vegetativa. Portanto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar por meio de métodos sorológico e molecular 241 amostras oriundas de diferentes localidades, a fim de fazer um estudo de ocorrência e predominância das espécies virais e verificar a variabilidade biológica dos isolados encontrados por meio de transmissão por extratos vegetais. A detecção foi realizada através de Enzyme linked immunossorbent assay (ELISA) utilizando antissoro comercial anti-poty para o gênero Potyvirus. Para a análise da variabilidade, foram desenhados 2 oligonucleotídeos para amplificar a região codificadora da proteína capsidial para o gênero Cheravirus, e para a detecção de potyvirus e nepovirus, oligonucleotídeos foram obtidos da literatura. No estudo foi possível detectar a espécie Arracacha motlle virus do gênero Potyvirus, coletadas nos estados de Goiás, Minas Gerais, Brasília e Paraná. Os demais vírus testados não foram identificados em nenhuma das amostras analisadas. Além desses testes de identificação, ainda foi realizada microscopia eletrônica de transmissão em seis amostras, das quais duas foi possível a identificação de potyvirus. O teste de gama de hospedeiras foi realizado e mostrou que o AMoV tem gama de hospedeiras bastante restrita, sendo possível infectar somente três de nove espécies testadas... / Arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancroft) is a vegetable crop of the Andean region, formed by Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. The Apiacea family also have other important vegetable crops such as carrots, parsley, cilantro, celery, among others. Arracacha is propagated vegetatively and this can favor the occurrence of a considerable number of pathogens that cause degeneration, especially viruses. Some viruses are a limiting factor in vegetatively propagated crops. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate by serological and molecular methods 241 samples from different localities in order to verify the occurrence and predominance of the viruses species and verify the biological variability by sap inoculation. The detection was performed using enzyme-linked immunossorbent assay (ELISA) technique, using commercial antiserum against-potyvirus. For variability analysis, primers were designed to amplify the coding region of the coat protein for the 4 genus Cheravirus, and oligonucleotides were obtained from literature for the detection of the genus potyvirus and nepovirus, . It was possible to detect Arracacha mottle virus, from genus Potyvirus, in the states of Goiás, Minas Gerais, Brasilia and Paraná. The others viruses tested were not identified in the collected samples. Six samples were analysed by electron microscopy, and the potyvirus were identified only in two samples. The host range was restricted, infecting only three species of nine tested. The nucleotide identity ranged from 96% to 99%, between collected samples and sequence from GenBank (acess DQ925486), showing low genetic variability among them

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates (namely Lewy bodies) in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. Alpha-synuclein (α- syn) is the major component of Lewy bodies (LBs) in PD, and impairment of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway has been linked to its accumulation. In our previous study, we identified corynoxine B (Cory B), an oxindole alkaloid isolated from Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks (Gouteng in Chinese), as a Beclin-1-dependent autophagy enhancer. In this work, we continued to screen autophagy enhancers from Gouteng alkaloids, and found corynoxine (Cory), an isomer of Cory B, also induces autophagy in different neuronal cell lines and primary neurons. Meanwhile, Cory promotes the formation of autophagosomes in the fat bodies of Drosophila. By inducing autophagy, Cory promotes the clearance of wild-type and A53T α-syn in inducible PC12 cells. Interestingly, different from its enantiomer Cory B, Cory induces autophagy through the Akt/mTOR pathway as evidenced by the reduced levels of phospho-TSC2, phospho-Akt, phospho-mTOR and phospho-p70 S6 Kinase. To identify the different pathway between Cory and Cory B, we performed phosphoproteomic study on N2a cells. With the help of iGPS (In vivo Group-based Prediction System), protein kinases which were significantly regulated by Cory or Cory B were predicted. Based on these kinases, we drew the detailed kinasesubstrates network regulated by Cory or Cory B. The structures of Cory and Cory B differ only in the stereochemistry at the spiro carbon; however, Cory has more effect on the CAMK, Trb and TSSK families, while CDK and CDKL families are more sensitive to Cory B. Furthermore, we established a rotenone rat model of PD via injecting rotenone into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), and evaluated the neuroprotection of Cory and Cory B on this rat model. Motor dysfunction, decreased TH level, impairment of autophagy, aggregation of α-syn and activation of microglia were all found on this PD model, which were consistent with previous reports. After the treatment of Cory or Cory B, we found that both Cory and Cory B improve motor dysfunction, increase the TH level, and inhibit microglial activation. Both Cory and Cory B decrease the puncta number of aggregated α-syn, likely due to the induction of autophagy. All these results indicate the neuroprotection of Cory and Cory B against PD. Collectively, our findings (1) provide the original finding of Coy to be an autophagy enhancer with experimental evidences that Cory inhibited the pathway of Akt/mTOR; (2) provide cellular and animal experimental evidences for developing Cory or Cory B as anti-PD agent, by inducing autophagy in neurons; and (3) provide candidate pathways to identify the primary molecular target of Cory or Cory B, which may turn out to be potential therapeutic targets for treating PD. Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, Cory, Cory B, autophagy, phosphoproteomic, neuroprotection.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-10T14:24:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-08-07. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-12-10T14:30:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000851956.pdf: 1446006 bytes, checksum: d0fd0cae1f3cd364c6ad457c27e8870b (MD5) / A cultura do pimentão (Capsicum annuum L.) tem elevada importância econômica e social para o Equador. Vários fatores têm contribuído para a baixa produtividade dessa cultura no país e dentre eles destacam-se as doenças de diversas etiologias. Poucas informações sobre a ocorrência de doenças nessa cultura estão disponíveis nas para as condições equatorianas. Neste trabalho foi realizado levantamento da ocorrência da doença pata seca e de viroses na cultura do pimentão, em plantios comerciais, durante anos de 2013 e 2014; a identificação dos agente(s) causal(ais) da pata seca; avaliações do eficácia da pulverização da aplicação de produtos fitossanitários (sulfato de cobre + fosetil alumínio; iprodione + clorotalonil; Trichoderma harzianum + T. koingii) em condições de campo, no controle da doença nos híbridos Nathalie e Quetzal e a sensibilidade in vitro do(s) patógeno(s) dessa doença a fungicidas (tebuconazole, benomil, clorotalonil, fosetil alumínio, iprodione, metalaxil + propanocarb e tebuconazole). A pata seca foi constatada em um 79,2% das propriedades, com incidência entre 5% a 53,6%, em quanto as viroses, foram detectada em 62,5% das propriedades, com incidência entre 9,6% a 61,2%. Os fungos S. clerotium rolfsii e Fusarium spp. foram isolados com maior freqüência das plantas com sintomas de pata seca. Entretanto, S.rolfsii foi mais virulento, sendo considerado o principal agente causal da doença pata seca. Não foi observada diferença dos produtos fitossanitários, aplicados no colo das plantas, na incidência de pata seca, nos dois ensaios realizados em campo. A aplicação de iprodione + clorotalonil propiciou uma maior quantidade de frutos comerciais nos dois ensaios e uma maior produção em um dos ensaios. Os Isolados de S. rolfsii apresentaram maior sensibilidade aos fungicidas tebuconazole, benomil e iprodione, ... / Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) has high economic and social importance for Ecuador. Several factors have contributed to the low productivity of this crop in the country and among them there are the diseases of different etiologies. Little information on the occurrence of diseases in this culture is available to the Ecuadorian conditions. This study was carried out survey of the occurrence of the disease pata seca and viruses in sweet pepper in commercial plantations, during the years 2013 and 2014; the identification of the agent (s) causal (es) of pata seca; evaluations of the effectiveness of spray application of pesticides (copper sulfate + fosetyl aluminum, iprodione + chlorothalonil; Trichoderma harzianum + T. koingii) in field conditions in controlling the disease in hybrid Nathalie and Quetzal and in vitro sensitivity ( s) pathogen (s) of the disease to fungicides (tebuconazole, benomyl, chlorothalonil, fosetyl aluminum, iprodione, metalaxyl + propanocarb and tebuconazole). The pata seca was found in a 79.2% of the properties, with an incidence of 5% to 53.6%, as in the viruses were detected in 62.5% of the properties, with an incidence of 9.6% to 61.2%. The fungus Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium spp. were isolated more frequently plants with symptoms of pata seca. However, S. rolfsii was more virulent, being considered the main causative agent of the disease pata seca. There was no difference of pesticides applied in the base of the plants, the incidence of pata seca in the two trial carried out in the field. The application of iprodione + chlorothalonil provided a larger amount of fruits in the two ...

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-11-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:24:10Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000754099.pdf: 1729116 bytes, checksum: 2b7d02470d50c8efac136fc81e002d7e (MD5) / Espécies de vírus dos gêneros Potyvirus, Carlavirus e Allexivirus são comumente encontradas na cultura do alho (Allium sativum L.) e em decorrência da sua propagação vegetativa, há o acúmulo de vírus de um ciclo para outro, formando um complexo entre espécies dos gêneros citados. Uma das principais causas da redução da produtividade ocorre devido à infecção por vírus, e a termoterapia associada à cultura de tecido pode ser um método eficiente para limpeza clonal e obtenção de alho semente livre de vírus. O estudo da degenerescência do alho livre de vírus é, portanto, importante para se conhecer o número de ciclos em que o alho semente, inicialmente sadio, pode ser multiplicado no campo, sem que ocorra a redução da produtividade. Neste estudo foi verificado que após três anos a produtividade foi 13,75% superior ao alho 100% infectado por vírus. Os bulbilhos aéreos também podem ser utilizados para a multiplicação de sementes e tem como vantagem o baixo custo quando comparado à utilização de bulbos provenientes da cultura de tecido. Entretanto, essa técnica só se torna viável com a utilização de matrizes isentas de vírus, pois a transmissão de vírus para os bulbilhos aéreos, provenientes de matrizes infectadas, podem chegar a 83,33% no caso dos potyvirus, 20% para carlavirus e 70% para allexivirus, segundo dados obtidos neste trabalho. Realizar uma diagnose precisa dos vírus que infectam o alho torna-se essencial para que não ocorram falhas durante a indexação. Pôde-se observar que para a detecção dos potyvirus, utilizando o teste de ELISA indireto, deve-se utilizar folhas novas, entre 21 e 63 dias após o plantio, pois a concentração viral nesse período é a mais elevada. Diferentes técnicas como o DIBA colorimétrico, DIBA quimioluminescente, ELISA e PCR em tempo real foram avaliadas para detecção do LYSV, aos 21 dias após a inoculação... / Virus species of genera Potyvirus, Carlavirus and Allexivirus are commonly infecting garlic plants (Allium sativum L.). Due to the vegetative propagation, the accumulation of viruses might occur from one cycle to another. The infection of viruses might induce yield losses, and the technique of thermotherapy associated with meristem tip culture is an efficient method to obtain virus-free seeds. The study of degeneration of seeds free of virus is important to know the number of cycles in which garlic may be multiplied in the field without reduction of productivity. In this study it was observed that after three years, the productivity increased 13,75% compared to 100% infected seeds. Currently, aerial bulbils may be used for multiplication of seeds with low cost, compared to meristem tip culture. However, this is a viable technique only if the matrix is free of viruses, because the transmission to aerial bulbils, from infected plants can reach 83.33 % for potyviruses, 20% for carlavirus and 65% for allexivirus, data obtained in this work. An accurate diagnosis in viruses that infect garlic is important to avoid mistakes during indexing material. It was 4 observed that the best time to detect potyvirus, through ELISA test is between 21 and 63 days after planting on young leaves, as the virus concentration is higher in this period. Whem using different techniques, such as the colorimetric DIBA, chemiluminescent DIBA, ELISA, and real-time PCR, it was possible to perform the detection of LYSV 21 days after inoculation. ELISA test detected LYSV only at 21 days after inoculation, whereas using real time PCR, in 5 days after inoculation it was possible to detect the virus due to its high sensitivity. The other tests also detected the virus 21 days after infection

Orientador: Marcos Antonio Machado / Resumo: A morte súbita dos citros (MSC) causou a morte ou erradicação de aproximadamente quatro milhões de plantas de laranja doce na principal região citrícola do Brasil. Embora sua etiologia ainda não esteja completamente resolvida, seus sintomas e distribuição (especial e temporal) indicam uma provável doença viral. Trabalhos anteriores associaram a MSC ao vírus da tristeza dos citros (CTV) e ao CSDaV (Citrus sudden death-associated virus), no entanto, os resultados obtidos destes trabalhos não são conclusivos. Afim de estudar as populações de vírus presentes em plantas de citros afetadas pela MSC, este trabalho realizou uma análise comparativa, através do sequenciamento de alta performance do transcriptoma e dos pequenos RNAs de plantas sintomáticas e assintomáticas para MSC. Os dados revelaram uma infecção viral mista, incluindo o CTV como vírus mais predominante, seguido do CSDaV, um pararetrovírus endógeno de citros (CitPRV) e dois possíveis novos vírus, putativamente denominados de Citrus jingmen-like virus (CJLV) e Citrus virga-like virus (CVLV). As análises de correlação com a MSC indicaram uma provável associação de plantas sintomáticas com o CitPRV, enquanto que os dois novos vírus mostraram estar mais associados com plantas assintomáticas. A associação mais evidente foi observada entre plantas sintomáticas e um genótipo específico de CSDaV, o que nos conduziu a um estudo mais específico de variabilidade genética de 31 isolados de CSDaV, obtidos de plantas MSC-sintomática... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

Submitted in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Master of Technology: Biotechnology, M. L. Sultan Technikon, 2002. / Fusarium species produce toxic mycotoxins that are known to exert adverse health effects in humans and animals. No attempts have been made to establish mycotoxin-producing capabilities of isolates of Fusarium species from bananas exhibiting symptoms of crown rot. Crown rot is one of the most serious post harvest problems in banana and the disease is caused by different fungal species, principally Fusarium species. Banana, which is of great economic significance in growing countries (i.e. Costa Rica, Cameroon, Ecuador) is seriously affected by crown rot and is a major cause of fruit loss / M

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (Magister Istitutiones Agrariae)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

The main objective of this thesis was the elucidation of the host-pathogen interaction between Pinus patula and Fusarium circinatum. This was accomplished by studying differential gene expression at the molecular level. Therefore, the first chapter reports the use of PCR-based methods in gene discovery and transcriptome analysis. The use of these techniques in the identification of novel transcripts in host-pathogen interactions addressed. These examples illustrate the differences and strong features of each technique. Chitinases are linked to defence responses in plants. In chapter tw0, the induction of chitinases in P. patula was assessed at both the protein and genetic level. Western blot analysis and enzyme activity assays indicate that chitinase enzyme is not detected a part of the defence response by P. patula after infection by F. circinatum. This was further confirmed by the lack of significant induction of two Pinus chitinase genes, LP6 and PSCHI4, as determined by RT-PCR analysis. Partial DNA sequence homologues for the LP6 and PSCH14 genes were determined and compared with a variety of plant chitinases. The low levels of detectable chitinase induction in P. patula might explain the high levels of susceptibility to the pitch canker fungus observed in seedlings of this tree. Pinus patula, the most widely planted species in South Africa, is highly susceptible to infection by F. circinatum. In chapter three, suppression subtractive hybridisation was used to elucidate the changes taking place at the molecular level early on in this interaction. Most of the identified transcripts shared homology to both biotic and abiotic stress in plants. The induction of one fragment, displaying homology to phytocyanin proteins, as followed through RT-PCR. Induction levels for this fragment differed significantly between less and more susceptible plants. Although most of the sequences isolated in this study can be Iiked to stress, most have not been linked with specific plant-pathogen interactions. This raises questions in regard to the function of these genes in host-pathogen interactions. Further research identify the function of these sequences in the defence response will be needed. These sequences can also be tested against a family of Pinus trees to ascertain if they will be useful in marker assisted selection. A molecular analysis of culture degeneration and pathogenicity of F. circinatum was attempted in chapter four. In this chapter, the differential induction of transcripts in F. circinatum was determined against several other Fusarium spp. Several of he identified fragments shared homology with stress related proteins. One transcript shared homology to a polyketide synthase, FUM5, that could be linked to fumonisin production in other Fusarium spp. ELISA detected no fumonisin production, although the FUM5 transcripts were detected. The identification of all the transcripts could provide a basis for more intensive gene discovery studies in F. circinatum and other Fusarium spp. The induction of these sequences in different isolates needs to be studied to prove their function in F. circinatum. This study also complements several other studies that studied the morphological characteristics of culture degeneration. Resistance gene analogues have been reported from a diverge set of plant species. In chapter five, degenerate PCR amplification was used to isolate TI-NBS-LRR like resistance gene analogues from a range of Pinus species. These sequences w re further characterised through comparative analysis with previously reported Pinus resistance gene analogues. Through motif analysis, several of the known conserved motifs found in NBS domains were identified and conservation with other plant NBS motifs is indicated. The P-Ioop and GLPL motifs displayed a high level of conservation on amino acid level with other plant NBS motifs. However, slight differences in several of the conserved regions were observed when the Pinus analogues were compared with Arabidopsis thaliana. The identification of differences between angiosperm and gymnosperm NBS sequences indicates that design of new degenerate probes and primers for the isolation of more ancient NBS sequences is needed. Further, phylogenetic and structural analyses of these sequences will also aid in understanding the relationship between angiosperm and gymnosperm NBS sequences. The knowledge gained from such a study will highlight the similarities between angiosperm and gymnosperm defence responses. This study represents the first detailed report on RGA in Pinus. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Genetics / Unrestricted

The fungus Diplodia maydis, (synonym Stenocarpella maydis (Berk)) is worldwide one of the most important cob rot pathogens of maize. The isolation of stenocarpin, a metabolite toxic to ducklings, from maize cultures of D. maydis as the 4,6-0-diacetate derivative and its structure elucidation has been reported in the literature. Detailed NMR studies established the structure as either (3S,4R,6R,7R)- or (3R,4R,6R,7R)-spiro[(4,6, 7-trihydroxy-7-methyl-8-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisochromane)-3 ,2' -tetrahydrofuran]. The absolute configuration of the C(3) spiroacetal stereogenic center remained unknown. The aim of the synthetic studies described in this dissertation was to develop a synthetic methodology for the spiroacetal moiety present in stenocarpin in order to establish unambiguously the C(3) absolute configuration. Retrosynthetic analysis of stenocarpin identified two model compounds (5S,lOR)- and (5R,lOR)-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]dec-8-en-10-o1 as the synthetic target. In turn the retrosynthetic analysis of these model compounds led to commercially available L-arabinose as starting material. Two strategies, which differ in the timing for the formation of the spiroacetal moiety as well as the initial type of protecting groups, were employed in the development of the synthetic route. In the first route the spirocyclisation reaction of a benzyl protected intermediate followed by the syn elimination of the cis-diol group resulted in the formation of only the (5S, lOR) model compound. The use of the acetonide and TBDPS protecting groups from the outset of the synthetic route and once again a spirocyclisation reaction, led to the formation of two spiro compounds epimeric at the C(5) spiro stereogenic centre, which could be separated and transformed by a syn elimination of the cis-diol group to the two model compounds. The configuration of the spiroacetal intermediates formed in the two synthetic routes and the changes in conformation that occurred in each of the steps were deduced from extensive NMR studies and especially the NOE technique. The results established the 3S configuration for stenocarpin and provided a viable synthesis for the (5S,lOR)-l,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]dec-8-en-1O-ol model compound that is to be used in the total synthesis of stenocarpin. In the dissertation the results of the first steps in a total synthesis, a study on the epoxidation of the double bond, is presented. / Dissertation (MSc (Chemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Chemistry / unrestricted

Please read the abstract in the section 07back of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Plant Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted