No description available.

Komagataella pastoris, formerly known as Pichia pastoris, and hereafter referred to as Pichia, is a methylotrophic yeast widely employed as a recombinant protein factory for biotechnical and industrial purposes. P. pastoris boasts the ability to thrive at high cell densities, executes numerous post-translational modifications, and exhibits minimal secretion of endogenous proteins, thus greatly facilitating the expression and purification of recombinant proteins. Despite these advantages, Pichia still presents certain challenges as an expression system. Occasionally, recombinant proteins are retained within the cell and subject to degradation. Furthermore, Pichia falls short in matching the production capabilities of more widely used systems like Escherichia coli in terms of sheer numbers of recombinant proteins generated. When incubating a strain of Pichia expressing reporter protein enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) (yJC100:pDT300) with fetal bovine serum (FBS), western blot analysis revealed a novel, higher molecular band in addition to the expected band, suggesting that FBS was altering recombinant protein expression. The alterations to this higher molecular weight variant were confirmed to happen intracellularly, but the molecular mechanisms behind it remain unclear. To elucidate the intracellular molecular mechanisms behind the production of the novel recombinant protein variant, our lab utilized site-directed mutagenesis and mass spectrometry. Through site-directed mutagenesis, we were able to localize the alteration facilitated by FBS to the C-terminus of eGFP, demonstrating that post-translational modifications incurred by FBS incubation occur at the C-terminus. Analysis of intracellular lysate of yJC100:pDT300 revealed proteomic alteration caused by treating P. pastoris with fetal bovine serum, presenting possible key players in FBS’s interaction with yJC100:pDT300. LC-MS was also used to analyze the extracellular media of FBS-treated yJC100:pDT300, revealing peptide discrepancies in the C-terminus of eGFP between FBS-treated and FBS-untreated samples. These results confirm that FBS’s interaction with yJC100:pDT300 significantly affects secretion through interaction with eGFP’s C-terminus. Our research serves to characterize the FBS’s interaction with yJC100:pDT300 and set precedence for future work in further characterization and optimization of the novel mechanism occurring due to FBS’s presence in growth media.

Submitted by Marivaldo Rodrigues Figueiro (marivaldo.figueiro@embrapa.br) on 2018-05-02T19:49:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Marivaldo_Rodrigues_Figueiro.pdf: 1104812 bytes, checksum: 07b57b57c50c0ce48e486b2965bd2e74 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alexandra Maria Donadon Lusser Segali null (alexmar@fcav.unesp.br) on 2018-05-04T17:05:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 figueiró_mr_dr_jabo.pdf: 1104812 bytes, checksum: 07b57b57c50c0ce48e486b2965bd2e74 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-04T17:05:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 figueiró_mr_dr_jabo.pdf: 1104812 bytes, checksum: 07b57b57c50c0ce48e486b2965bd2e74 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-19 / O maior rebanho bubalino da América Latina encontra-se no Brasil, fato que pode fazer do país um grande exportador de material genético da espécie. Nesse contexto, o desenvolvimento e o uso das biotécnicas da reprodução animal surgem como eixo central para aumentar a capacidade de multiplicação de material genético superior e promover o melhoramento animal. Desta forma, este estudo trem como objetivo validar protocolos que proporcionem a obtenção de embriões com maior qualidade e menor acúmulo lipídico, os quais estão apresentados em dois capítulos. O capitulo I, é composto de revisão bibliográfica abordando os estudos relacionados aos principais aspectos na maturação in vitro de oócitos bubalinos, importância dos lipídeos nos oócitos e embriões produzidos in vitro, efeitos da redução lipídica no desenvolvimento oocitário e embrionário e o emprego da L-carnitina na produção embrionária. No capítulo II, está apresentado um artigo composto de experimento I, o qual foi a determinado a menor concentração de SFB no meio MIV que promovesse manutenção das taxas de desenvolvimento embrionário, No experimento II, foi avaliado a adição de 5 mM de L-carnitina nos meios de maturação e consequentemente forma submetidos à avaliação lipídica, por meio de técnicas de coloração em microscopia óptica e confocal. Onde concluímos que não houve diferenças em relação ao acúmulo lipídico embrionário e que possível reduzir a concentração de SFB até 5% nos meios de maturação in vitro para produção de embriões em bubalinos e a suplementação do meio com L-carnitina não proporciona aumento na produção embrionária. / The largest buffaloes herd in Latin America is in Brazil, a fact that can make the country a great exporter of genetic material of the species. In this context, the development and use of biotechnics of animal reproduction arise as a central axis to increase the multiplication capacity of higher genetic material and promote animal improvement. In this way, this study train as objective validate protocols that provide the obtaining of embryos with higher quality and lower lipid accumulation, which are presented in two chapters. Chapter I, is composed of a bibliographical revision addressing the studies related to the main aspects of the in vitro maturation of oocytes buffaloes, importance of the lipids in the oocytes and in vitro embryos produced, effects of the reduction lipid in oocitário and embryonic development and the use of L-carnitine in embryonic production. In chapter II, an article composed of experiment I, which was determined the smallest concentration of fetal bovine serum (FBS) in the IVM environment that promoted the maintenance of the embryo development rates. In the experiment II, was evaluated the addition of 5 mM of L-carnitine in the means of maturation and consequently form subjected to the lipid evaluation, by means of coloring techniques in optical and confocal microscopy. Where we concluded that there were no differences in relation to embryonic lipid accumulation and that it could reduce the concentration of FBS up to 5% in the IVM methods for the production of embryos in buffaloes and the supplementation of the medium with L-carnitine does not provide increase in embryonic production.

Submitted by Samira Ramos (samira.ramos@unifenas.br) on 2018-04-25T21:05:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TAIS APARECIDA PATROCINIO.pdf: 726977 bytes, checksum: 8cef7ddcd6970bf3d2ccd912eb038060 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-25T21:05:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TAIS APARECIDA PATROCINIO.pdf: 726977 bytes, checksum: 8cef7ddcd6970bf3d2ccd912eb038060 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais - FAPEMIG / This study evaluated the effect of AR33 (patent-pending formula), a resveratrol analogue, in the culture of in vitro fertilized embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) recovered from bovine ovaries collected at the slaughterhouse were matured in vitro for 24 h and fertilized in vitro for 20 h, both at 38.8 °C under 5% CO2 in air and high humidity. Probably partially nude zygotes were randomly distributed in two experiments. Experiment 1: 0 (control, n = 347), 0.1 μM (n = 337), 0.5 μM (n = 277) and 2.5 μM AR33 (n = 343) with 2.5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and experiment 2: 2.5 μM AR33 (n = 381), 0.5 μM resveratrol (n = 381), both with 2.5% SFB and 0 (control, n = 341) with 10% FBS. The base medium for all treatments was SOFaa and incubation conditions were 38.8 °C under 5% CO2 in air and high humidity. Half of the culture medium was fed on days 3 and 5 after fertilization. The cleavage rate was evaluated on day 3 and the blastocyst rate (B1) on days 7 and 8 post-fertilization. At day 8, the blastocysts were fixed and subsequently submitted to analysis of the number of cells and apoptotic index. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were analyzed by logistic regression models (Proc Logistic), and the number of cells and apoptotic index by mixed linear models (Proc Mixed) using the SAS statistical package. In experiment 1, the cleavage rate (P <0.05) was higher at 2.5 μM (69.0 ± 4.4%) than at 0, 0.1 and 0.5 μM AR33 (62.1 ± 2.0%, 60.7 ± 5.9% and 56.7 ± 5.8%, respectively). At day 7, the Bl rate was similar (P> 0.05) between 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 μM (18.1 ± 5.4%, 17.5 ± 2.9% and 19.4 ± 3.3%, respectively) and all were higher (P <0.05) 05) at 0 μM AR33 (12.4 ± 2.5%). At day 8, only 0.1 and 2.5 μM (21.0 ± 5.0% and 24.6 ± 3.3%) were higher than 0 μM AR33 (15.2 ± 2.5%). There was no difference (P> 0.05) between treatments regarding total cell number (TC) and internal cell mass (MCI); However, the apoptotic index in CT and MCI was higher for 0 and 2.5 μM (11.36 and 9.89%, 20.52 and 15.85%) than in 0.1 and 0.5 μM AR33 (4.66 and 4.82%, 8.47 and 10.92%). In the experiment 2 the cleavage rate (P <0.05) was higher in the control (80.8 ± 3.4%) than in the treatment with 0.5 μM resveratrol (76.4 ± 3.6%), but similar to 2.5 μM AR33 (76.9 ± 1.2%). There were no differences (P> 0.05) for the Bl rate on days 7 and 8. The apoptotic index in the CT and MCI was higher in the control (8.9 and 14.9%, respectively) than in the 2.5 μM AR33 and 0.5 μM resveratrol (6.4 and 5.5%, 11.1 and 8.8%, respectively). In conclusion, resveratrol and its synthetic analogue tested in this study improve bovine embryonic development in culture medium supplemented with 2.5% FBS under 5% CO2 in air. / Este estudo avaliou o efeito de AR33 (fórmula com patente-pendente), um análogo de resveratrol, no cultivo de embriões fecundados in vitro. Complexos cumulus-oócitos (COCs) recuperados de ovários bovinos coletados no matadouro, foram maturados in vitro durante 24 h e fertilizados in vitro por 20 h, ambos em 38.8 °C sob 5% de CO2 em ar e alta umidade. Prováveis zigotos parcialmente desnudos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois experimentos. Experimento 1: 0 (controle, n=347), 0.1 µM (n=337), 0.5 µM (n=277) e 2.5 µM de AR33 (n=343) com 2,5% de soro fetal bovino (SFB), e experimento 2: 2.5 µM de AR33 (n=381), 0.5 µM de resveratrol (n=381), ambos com 2,5% SFB e 0 (controle, n=341) com 10% SFB. O meio base para todos os tratamentos foi SOFaa e as condições de incubação foram de 38.8 °C sob 5% de CO2 em ar e alta umidade. Metade do meio de cultura foi renovado (feeding) nos dias 3 e 5 após a fertilização. A taxa de clivagem foi avaliada no dia 3 e a taxa de blastocisto (Bl) nos dias 7 e 8 pós-fecundação. No dia 8, os blastocistos foram fixados e posteriormente submetidos a análise do número de células e índice apoptótico. As taxas de clivagem e de blastocistos foram analisadas por modelos de regressão logística (Proc Logistic), e o número de células e índice apoptótico por modelos lineares mistos (Proc Mixed) usando o pacote estatístico SAS. No experimento 1, a taxa de clivagem (P<0.05) foi maior para 2.5 µM (69.0±4.4%) do que para 0, 0.1 e 0.5 µM de AR33 (62.1±2.0%, 60.7±5.9% e 56.7±5.8%, respectivamente). No dia 7, a taxa de Bl foi semelhante (P>0.05) entre 0.1, 0.5 e 2.5 µM (18.1±5.4%, 17.5±2.9% e 19.4±3.3%, respectivamente) e todos eles foram superiores (P<0,05) à 0 µM AR33 (12.4±2.5%). No dia 8, apenas 0.1 e 2.5 µM (21.0±5.0% e 24.6±3.3%) foram maiores do que 0 µM AR33 (15.2±2.5%). Não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre tratamentos quanto ao número de células totais (CT) e da massa celular interna (MCI); contudo, o índice apoptótico nas CT e na MCI foram maiores para 0 e 2.5 µM (11.36 e 9.89%; 20.52 e 15.85%) do que em 0.1 e 0.5 µM AR33 (4.66 e 4.82%; 8.47 e 10.92%). No experimento 2 a taxa de clivagem (P<0,05) foi maior no controle (80.8±3.4%) do que no tratamento com 0.5 µM resveratrol (76.4±3.6%), e este último semelhante à 2.5 µM AR33 (76.9±1.2%). Não houve diferenças (P>0,05) para a taxa de Bl nos dias 7 e 8. O índice apoptótico nas CT e MCI foi maior no controle (8.9 e 14.9%, respectivamente) do que para 2.5 µM AR33 e 0.5 µM resveratrol (6.4 e 5.5%; 11.1 e 8.8%, respectivamente). Em conclusão, o resveratrol e o seu análogo sintético testado neste estudo melhoram o desenvolvimento embrionário bovino em meio de cultura suplementado com 2,5% SFB sob 5% de CO2 em ar.

No description available.

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into various cell types and possess immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, making them interesting candidates for therapeutic applications. MSCs are present in small quantities in tissues like bone marrow and therefore need to be expanded while preserving their essential characteristics. They should adhere to plastic, differentiate into osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes and express specific cell surface markers. Currently, the “golden standard” culture media supplement is fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, there is a potential contamination risk of MSCs by xenogeneic and zoonotic infectious agents, which can trigger an immune response. As an alternative, xeno-free serum supplements derived from human sources, e.g., human serum (HS) can be used.  Aim: This study aimed to identify and characterize human bone marrow derived MSCs and examine the effects different supplements have on the cells.  Methods: MSCs were cultured in 10% FBS, 2% FBS and 10% HS for 20 -21 days. Differentiation was induced and the potential was detected with immunocytochemistry. Cell surface markers CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD45 were identified with flow cytometry.  Results and Conclusion: There was no significant difference in morphology, differential potential or immunophenotype between the different serum conditions. However, HS-supplemented culture media resulted in a significantly higher number of cells with 1 x 107 cells after 20 days without affecting their differentiation potential and immunophenotype in comparison to 10% FBS with 2.2 x 106 cells (p=0.0004). MSCs cultured in 2% FBS resulted in the least number of cells (9.9 x 105) after 21 days of expansion.

Natural Killer (NK) cells can recognize and lyse a large variety of tumor cells and have been of interest as a potential cancer treatment option. Our group has developed a particle-based NK cell expansion method that utilizes plasma membrane particles (PM-particles) derived from K562 cells genetically engineered to express membrane bound IL21 and 41BBL(K562-mbIL21-41BBL), two proteins that stimulate growth and activity of NK cells. This method selectively expands highly cytotoxic NK cells > 400-fold in 14 days of culture. Currently NK cells are expanded in vitro using Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) as a serum-supplement to promote cell growth. While effective, the use of animal products is not preferred in cell cultures grown for clinical purposes. This project tested Human Platelet Lysates (HPL) as a potential replacement for FBS in NK cell culture. NK cells were expanded using PM21-particle based expansion method with either FBS or HPL as supplements. Their growth characteristics, phenotype and functionality were assessed and compared. Results of this study determined that HPL is a viable option to replace FBS in NK cell culture for clinical applications, as there was no significant difference between the two serum supplements.

Translation of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based therapies is advancing in human and veterinary medicine. One critical issue is the in vitro culture of MSC before clinical use. Using fetal bovine serum (FBS) as supplement to the basal medium is still the gold standard for cultivation of many cell types including equine MSC. Alternatives are being explored, with substantial success using platelet lysate-supplemented media for human MSC. However, progress lags behind in the veterinary field. The aim of this study was to establish a scalable protocol for equine platelet lysate (ePL) production and to test the ePL in equine MSC culture. Whole blood was harvested into blood collection bags from 20 healthy horses. After checking sample materials for pathogen contamination, samples from 19 animals were included. Platelet concentrates were prepared using a buffy coat method. Platelets, platelet-derived growth factor BB, and transforming growth factor b1 concentrations were increased in the concentrates compared with whole blood or serum (p < 0.05), while white blood cells were reduced (p < 0.05). The concentrates were lysed using freeze/thaw cycles, which eliminated the cells while growth factor concentrations were maintained. Donor age negatively correlated with platelet and growth factor concentrations after processing (p < 0.05). Finally, all lysates were pooled and the ePL was evaluated as culture medium supplement in comparison with FBS, using adipose-derived MSC from four unrelated donor horses. MSC proliferated well in 10% FBS as well as in 10% ePL. However, using 5 or 2.5% ePL entailed highly inconsistent proliferation or loss of proliferation, with significant differences in generation times and confluencies (p < 0.05). MSC expressed the surface antigens CD90, CD44, and CD29, but CD73 and CD105 detection was low in all culture media. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation led to similar results in MSC from different culture media. The buffy coat method is useful to produce equine platelet concentrate with increased platelet and reduced white blood cell content in large scales. The ePL obtained supports MSC expansion similar as FBS when used at the same concentration (10%). Further investigations into equine MSC functionality in culture with ePL should follow.

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-10-06T18:08:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissACP.pdf: 6605106 bytes, checksum: c63dcdec106579e271edaa4dc5a8bdcf (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (bco.producao.intelectual@gmail.com) on 2017-11-28T12:14:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissACP.pdf: 6605106 bytes, checksum: c63dcdec106579e271edaa4dc5a8bdcf (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (bco.producao.intelectual@gmail.com) on 2017-11-28T12:14:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissACP.pdf: 6605106 bytes, checksum: c63dcdec106579e271edaa4dc5a8bdcf (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-28T12:26:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissACP.pdf: 6605106 bytes, checksum: c63dcdec106579e271edaa4dc5a8bdcf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Nowadays, cancer is one of the most feared diseases, affecting each day more and more people worldwide. The importance of new cancer treatment researches is very clear since the ones that has been used are not very effective and may lead to drug resistance, implying in a constant dose increasing which can lead to toxicity issues. Collateral effects and the instability generated in the patient’s organism are also reasons why the necessity of discovering new cancer treatments is imminent. A treatment alternative that has aroused interest is the use of monoclonal antibodies as immunotherapics, since they act by stimulating the patient’s immune system neutralizing the tumor cells in a very efficient and specific way. This kind of antibody can be produced by culturing hybrid animal cells, better known as hybridoma, under strictly controlled conditions so they can be studied and used in human beings. For this reason, the major goal of this project was the production of murine monoclonal antibodies using hybridoma cell culture in order to stablish an efficient culture methodology for hybridomas PC-61 or DTA1 producers of monoclonal antibodies anti-CD25 and anti-GITR, respectively, with high quality and enough amounts using Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) free medium to, in the future, carry out animal model studies of their potential as therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. Both hybridomas were cultivated on a small scale with RPMI medium and addition of SFB, for comparative purposes and only one was selcted for the second step. The sequential adaptation methodology test, consisted in a gradual percent’s reduction of medium with serum at the same time that increase the percentage of commercial medium without serum, and was selected the medium without SFB in which the hybridoma was better adapted. After was carried out on a laboratory scale in a system type spinner flask (500 ml) with the commercial medium selected in the previous step, in controlled conditions of temperature (37 ° C) and pH (7.2). Based on analyzes of cell culture results, amino acid consumption and monoclonal antibodies quantification , SFM commercial medium SFB-free provided better results for culturing the PC-61 hybridoma, allowing the pilot scale culture reached even higher cell densities than in the standard medium with addition of FBS. / O câncer é uma das doenças mais temidas da atualidade, e atinge cada vez mais pessoas em todo o mundo. A importância de pesquisas sobre novos tratamentos na luta contra o câncer é clara e consensual, uma vez que os que vem sendo utilizados, não são muito eficientes, causam resistência à medicação utilizada o que implica na utilização de doses crescentes que por sua vez podem gerar problemas de toxicidade. Os efeitos colaterais e a instabilidade gerada no organismo do paciente, também são fatores da necessidade de pesquisar novos caminhos para o tratamento do câncer. Uma das alternativas de tratamento que tem despertado interesse é a utilização de anticorpos monoclonais (mAbs) como imunoterápicos, os quais agem estimulando o próprio sistema imune do paciente neutralizando a ação das células tumorais de forma eficiente e específica. A produção de tais anticorpos pode ser feita mediante o cultivo de células animais híbridas, mais conhecidas como hibridomas, sobre condições estritamente controladas para que possam ser estudados e utilizados em humanos. Por essa razão definiu-se como objetivo desse trabalho a produção anticorpos monoclonais murinos por meio de cultivo de hibridomas com a finalidade de estabelecer uma metodologia eficiente de cultivo dos hibridomas PC-61 ou DTA1 secretores dos mAbs anti-CD25 e antiGITR respectivamente, com qualidade e em quantidades suficientes utilizando meios livres de soro fetal bovino (SFB), para a seguir efetuar estudos em modelo animal de seu potencial como agentes terapêuticos no tratamento de câncer. Os dois hibridomas foram cultivados em pequena escala utilizando meio RPMI-1640 e adição de SFB, para fins comparativos e somente um foi selecionado para a próxima etapa. O teste da metodologia de adaptação sequencial, onde houve a redução gradativa da porcentagem de meio RPMI-1640 com 10% de SFB e o aumento da porcentagem de meio comercial sem SFB, e foi selecionado o meio livre de SFB em que o hibridoma melhor se adaptou. Posteriormente foi realizado o cultivo do hibridoma em escala laboratorial em sistema de frasco agitado biorreator do tipo Spinner (500 mL) com o meio livre de SFB selecionado na etapa anterior, sob condições bem controladas de temperatura (37ºC), pH (7,2). Com base nas análises dos resultados dos cultivos celulares, metabolismo de aminoácidos e quantificação de mAbs, o meio comercial SFM livre de SFB proporcionou melhor resultados para o cultivo do hibridoma PC-61, permitindo que o cultivo em escala laboratorial atingisse densidades celulares ainda maiores que no meio padrão com adição de SFB. Como consequência desse vasto crescimento celular em quantidades abundantes de mAbs foram conseguidas para iniciar num futuro próximo ensaios em modelos animais.

Graphene (G) and nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) are carbon allotropes and promising nanomaterials with an excellent combination of their properties, such as high mechanical strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, possibility of functionalization and very high surface area to volume ratio. For these reasons, G and NCD are employed next to electronics in biomedical applications, including implant coating, drug and gene delivery and biosensing. For a fundamental characterization of cell behavior on G and NCD, we studied osteoblast adhesion and proliferation on differently treated G and NCD. Generally, both G and NCD exhibited better properties for osteoblast cultivation than control tissue culture polystyrene. Better cell adhesion but lower cell proliferation were observed on NCD compared to G. The most surprising finding was that hydrophobic G with nanowrinkled topography enhanced cell proliferation extensively, in comparison to hydrophilic and flat G and both NCDs (hydrophobic and hydrophilic) with slightly higher roughness. Promoted cell proliferation enables faster cell colonization of G and NCD substrates, meaning faster new tissue formation which is beneficial in biomedical applications. Furthermore, it was shown that osteoblast adhesion was promoted in the initial absence of fetal bovine...