At the present study we examined the effect of fluid shear stress on two different cell types. The cells studied were the Human Umbilical Vein endothelial cells and Smooth Muscle cells. For that purpose, a device which was simulating the arterial circulation was used. Shear stress is the hemodynamic force of blood. We show that this mechanical stress can efficiently parallelize the cellular morphology and induce changes at a gene transcription level. Specifically, we proove that shear stress is responsible for the upregualation of specific endothelial markers whereas can mediate the downregulation of smooth muscle cells markers in both cell types examined. / Στην παρούσα εργασία μελετήθηκε η επίδραση της διατμητικής τάσης ρευστού επάνω σε δυο διαφορετικούς τύπους κυττάρων. Τα κύτταρα που μελετήθηκαν ήταν τα Ανθρώπινα Ενδοθηλιακά κύτταρα απο φλέβα του Ομφάλιου λώρου και τα Λεία Μυικά κύτταρα. Χρησιμοποίηθηκε μια συσκευή η οποία προσομοίωνε την αρτηριακή κυκλοφορία του αίματος. Η διατμητική τάση ρευστού είναι η αιμοδυναμική δύναμη του αίματος. Στην εργασία δείχτηκε πως η δύναμη αυτή μεταβάλει τη μορφολογία των κυττάρων παραλληλίζοντας τα με τη ροή ενώ αυξάνει τα ενδοθηλιακά γονιδία και μειώνει τα λεία μυικά γονίδια και στους δυο τύπους κυττάρων που εξετάστηκαν.

abstract: Invasive salmonellosis caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ST313 is a major health crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, with multidrug resistance and atypical clinical presentation challenging current treatment regimens and resulting in high mortality. Moreover, the increased risk of spreading ST313 pathovars worldwide is of major concern, given global public transportation networks and increased populations of immunocompromised individuals (as a result of HIV infection, drug use, cancer therapy, aging, etc). While it is unclear as to how Salmonella ST313 strains cause invasive disease in humans, it is intriguing that the genomic profile of some of these pathovars indicates key differences between classic Typhimurium (broad host range), but similarities to human-specific typhoidal Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi. In an effort to advance fundamental understanding of the pathogenesis mechanisms of ST313 in humans, I report characterization of the molecular genetic, phenotypic and virulence profiles of D23580 (a representative ST313 strain). Preliminary studies to characterize D23580 virulence, baseline stress responses, and biochemical profiles, and in vitro infection profiles in human surrogate 3-D tissue culture models were done using conventional bacterial culture conditions; while subsequent studies integrated a range of incrementally increasing fluid shear levels relevant to those naturally encountered by D23580 in the infected host to understand the impact of biomechanical forces in altering these characteristics. In response to culture of D23580 under these conditions, distinct differences in transcriptional biosignatures, pathogenesis-related stress responses, in vitro infection profiles and in vivo virulence in mice were observed as compared to those of classic Salmonella pathovars tested. Collectively, this work represents the first characterization of in vivo virulence and in vitro pathogenesis properties of D23580, the latter using advanced human surrogate models that mimic key aspects of the parental tissue. Results from these studies highlight the importance of studying infectious diseases using an integrated approach that combines actions of biological and physical networks that mimic the host-pathogen microenvironment and regulate pathogen responses. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Microbiology 2015

abstract: The emergence of invasive non-Typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) infections belonging to sequence type (ST) 313 are associated with severe bacteremia and high mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Distinct features of ST313 strains include resistance to multiple antibiotics, extensive genomic degradation, and atypical clinical diagnosis including bloodstream infections, respiratory symptoms, and fever. Herein, I report the use of dynamic bioreactor technology to profile the impact of physiological fluid shear levels on the pathogenesis-related responses of ST313 pathovar, 5579. I show that culture of 5579 under these conditions induces profoundly different pathogenesis-related phenotypes than those normally observed when cultures are grown conventionally. Surprisingly, in response to physiological fluid shear, 5579 exhibited positive swimming motility, which was unexpected, since this strain was initially thought to be non-motile. Moreover, fluid shear altered the resistance of 5579 to acid, oxidative and bile stress, as well as its ability to colonize human colonic epithelial cells. This work leverages from and advances studies over the past 16 years in the Nickerson lab, which are at the forefront of bacterial mechanosensation and further demonstrates that bacterial pathogens are “hardwired” to respond to the force of fluid shear in ways that are not observed during conventional culture, and stresses the importance of mimicking the dynamic physical force microenvironment when studying host-pathogen interactions. The results from this study lay the foundation for future work to determine the underlying mechanisms operative in 5579 that are responsible for these phenotypic observations. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2016

abstract: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a Gram-negative enteric pathogen that causes self-limiting gastroenteritis in healthy individuals and can cause systemic infections in those who are immunocompromised. During its natural lifecycle, S. Typhimurium encounters a wide variety of stresses it must sense and respond to in a dynamic and coordinated fashion to induce resistance and ensure survival. Salmonella is subjected to a series of stresses that include temperature shifts, pH variability, detergent-like bile salts, oxidative environments and changes in fluid shear levels. Previously, our lab showed that cultures of S. Typhimurium grown under physiological low fluid shear (LFS) conditions similar to those encountered in the intestinal tract during infection uniquely regulates the virulence, gene expression and pathogenesis-related stress responses of this pathogen during log phase. Interestingly, the log phase Salmonella mechanosensitive responses to LFS were independent of the master stress response sigma factor, RpoS, departing from our conventional understanding of RpoS regulation. Since RpoS is a growth phase dependent regulator with increased stability in stationary phase, the current study investigated the role of RpoS in mediating pathogenesis-related stress responses in stationary phase S. Typhimurium grown under LFS and control conditions. Specifically, stationary phase responses to acid, thermal, bile and oxidative stress were assayed. To our knowledge the results from the current study demonstrate the first report that the mechanical force of LFS globally alters the S. Typhimurium χ3339 stationary phase stress response independently of RpoS to acid and bile stressors but dependently on RpoS to oxidative and thermal stress. This indicates that fluid shear-dependent differences in acid and bile stress responses are regulated by alternative pathway(s) in S. Typhimurium, were the oxidative and thermal stress responses are regulated through RpoS in LFS conditions. Results from this study further highlight how bacterial mechanosensation may be important in promoting niche recognition and adaptation in the mammalian host during infection, and may lead to characterization of previously unidentified pathogenesis strategies. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2016

abstract: The discovery that mechanical forces regulate microbial virulence, stress responses and gene expression was made using log phase cultures of Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) grown under low fluid shear (LFS) conditions relevant to those encountered in the intestine. However, there has been limited characterization of LFS on other growth phases. To advance the growth-phase dependent understanding of the effect of LFS on S. Typhimurium pathogenicity, this dissertation characterized the effect of LFS on the transcriptomic and phenotypic responses in both stationary and lag phase cultures. In response to LFS, stationary phase cultures exhibited alterations in gene expression associated with metabolism, transport, secretion and stress responses (acid, bile salts, oxidative, and thermal stressors), motility, and colonization of intestinal epithelium (adherence, invasion and intracellular survival). Many of these characteristics are known to be regulated by the stationary phase general stress response regulator, RNA polymerase sigma factor S (RpoS), when S. Typhimurium is grown under conventional conditions. Surprisingly, the stationary phase phenotypic LFS stress response to acid and bile salts, colonization of human intestinal epithelial cells, and swimming motility was not dependent on RpoS. Lag phase cultures exhibited intriguing differences in their LFS regulated transcriptomic and phenotypic profiles as compared to stationary phase cultures, including LFS-dependent regulation of gene expression, adherence to intestinal epithelial cells, and high thermal stress. Furthermore, the addition of cell-free conditioned supernatants derived from either stationary phase LFS or Control cultures modulated the gene expression of lag phase cultures in a manner that differed from either growth phase, however, these supernatants did not modulate the phenotypic responses of lag phase cultures. Collectively, these results demonstrated that S. Typhimurium can sense and respond to LFS as early as lag phase, albeit in a limited fashion, and that the lag phase transcriptomic and phenotypic responses differ from those in stationary phase, which hold important implications for the lifecycle of this pathogen during the infection process. / Dissertation/Thesis / Transcriptomic Data / Doctoral Dissertation Microbiology 2020

Most women die of ovarian metastasis rather than the effects of the primary tumor. However, little is known about the factors that support the survival and secondary outgrowth of exfoliated ovarian cancer cells. In addition to genetic and molecular factors, the unique environment of the peritoneal cavity exposes ovarian cells to biophysical forces, particularly fluid shear stress (FSS). These biomechanical forces, only recently identified as a hallmark of cancer, induce rapid signaling events in attached and aggregated cells, a process termed mechanotransduction. The cellular responses to these forces and their impact on tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis are not understood. In order to delineate these phenomena, dynamic and syngeneic cell models are needed that represent the development of the disease and can be used in relevant engineered testing platforms. Thus, in an interdisciplinary approach, this work bridges molecular and cancer biology, device engineering, fluid mechanics, and biophysics strategies. The results demonstrated that even a low level of continual FSS significantly and differentially affected the viability of epithelial ovarian cancer cells of various stages of progression over time, and enhanced their aggregation, adhesion, and cellular architecture, traits of more aggressive disease. Furthermore, benign cells that survived FSS displayed phenotypic and genotypic changes resembling more aggressive stages of the disease, suggesting an impact of FSS on early stages of tumor development. After identifying a biological affect, we designed an in vitro testing platform for controlled FSS investigations, and we modeled the system fluid mechanics to understand the platform's performance capability. A cylindrical platform divided into annular sections with lid-driven flow was selected to allow continuous experiments sustainable for long durations. Tuning of the lid speed or fluid height resulted in a wide range of FSS magnitudes (0- 20 N/m2) as confirmed by analytical and numerical modeling. Further, detailed numerical modeling uncovered that FSS magnitudes experienced by cell aggregates were larger than previously observed, suggesting an even larger role of FSS in ovarian cancer. Finally, we built and engineered the designed platform to investigate changes in benign and cancer cells as a function of time and FSS magnitude. Device precision was balanced with biological consistency needs, and a novel platform was built for controlled FSS investigations. This work provides a foundational understanding of the physical environment and its potential links to ovarian cancer progression and metastatic potential. / Ph. D. / Most women die of ovarian metastasis rather than the effects of the primary tumor. However, little is known about the factors that support the survival and secondary outgrowth of exfoliated ovarian cancer cells. In addition to genetic and molecular factors, the unique environment of the peritoneal cavity exposes ovarian cells to biophysical forces, particularly fluid shear stress (FSS). These biomechanical forces, only recently identified as a hallmark of cancer, induce rapid signaling events in attached and aggregated cells, a process termed mechanotransduction. The cellular responses to these forces and their impact on tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis are not understood. In order to delineate these phenomena, dynamic and syngeneic cell models are needed that represent the development of the disease and can be used in relevant engineered testing platforms. Thus, in an interdisciplinary approach, this work bridges molecular and cancer biology, device engineering, fluid mechanics, and biophysics strategies. The results demonstrated that even a low level of continual FSS significantly and differentially affected the viability of epithelial ovarian cancer cells of various stages of progression over time, and enhanced their aggregation, adhesion, and cellular architecture, traits of more aggressive disease. Furthermore, benign cells that survived FSS displayed phenotypic and genotypic changes resembling more aggressive stages of the disease, suggesting an impact of FSS on early stages of tumor development. After identifying a biological affect, we designed an in vitro testing platform for controlled FSS investigations, and we modeled the system fluid mechanics to understand the platform’s performance capability. A cylindrical platform divided into annular sections with lid-driven flow was selected to allow continuous experiments sustainable for long durations. Tuning of the lid speed or fluid height resulted in a wide range of FSS magnitudes (0 − 20 N/m² ) as confirmed by analytical and numerical modeling. Further, detailed numerical modeling uncovered that FSS magnitudes experienced by cell aggregates were larger than previously observed, suggesting an even larger role of FSS in ovarian cancer. Finally, we built and engineered the designed platform to investigate changes in benign and cancer cells as a function of time and FSS magnitude. Device precision was balanced with biological consistency needs, and a novel platform was built for controlled FSS investigations. This work provides a foundational understanding of the physical environment and its potential links to ovarian cancer progression and metastatic potential.

Les interactions cellule-cellule et cellule-matrice extracellulaire (MEC) sont cruciales pour entretenir la cohésion tissulaire. Ces deux types d'adhésions sont fonctionnellement interconnectés par un dialogue permanent qui met en jeu des voies de signalisation convergentes régulant notamment l'architecture et la contractilité du cytosquelette d'acto-myosine sous-jacent. Ce dialogue permet d'établir un équilibre de forces intracellulaires en réponse à la tension appliquée par le milieu extérieur. L'endothélium des vaisseaux sanguins est un tissu soumis à des conditions mécaniques particulières. En plus des compressions intercellulaires subies par tout épithélium, les cellules endothéliales (CEs) doivent également subir et résister aux forces hémodynamiques du flux sanguin et à la rigidité de la lame basale – deux signaux mécaniques agissant de part et d'autre de l'endothélium. Les Cerebral Cavernous Maformations (CCM) ou encore angiomes caverneux sont des lésions vasculaires hémorragiques d'origine génétique qui se développent au niveau des capillaires du système nerveux central et qui se caractérisent par des défauts dans l'environnement proche des CEs. La perte des jonctions intercellulaires et du recouvrement par les cellules murales, l'organisation aberrante de la membrane basale aussi que la stagnation du flux sanguin sont les caractéristiques des CCM. C'est pourquoi nous avons choisi cette pathologie comme modèle intéressant de mécanotransduction mettant en jeu le dialogue entre les intégrines et les cadhérines. En effet, les trois gènes indifféremment mutés dans cette pathologie codent pour des protéines, CCM1-3, qui s'associent en un complexe ternaire et qui sont reconnues comme des acteurs importants de la régulation des jonctions adhérentes. Des études moléculaires et protéomiques montrant que le complexe CCM interagit avec la protéine ICAP-1, un régulateur négatif de l'intégrine β1, nous ont conduit à formuler l'hypothèse selon laquelle ce complexe jouerait un rôle pivot dans la signalisation croisée entre ces intégrines et cadhérines. Les études effectuées pendant ma thèse ont démontré que les protéines CCM régulent l'homéostasie tensionnelle médiée par les structures d'adhérence intercellulaires et à la MEC par leur action inhibitrice sur l'intégrine β1 et en controlant une balance d'activité entre les deux isoformes de ROCK, ROCK1 et ROCK2. Nous avons montré que, suite à la perte des protéines CCMs, la suractivation de l'intégrine β1 augmente la sensibilité des CEs aux signaux mécaniques comme la rigidité de la MEC ou les forces hémodynamiques du flux sanguin. Il en résulte une suractivation de la contractilité cellulaire dépendante de ROCK1 déclenchant une boucle de rétrocontrôle mécanique conduisant à l'amplification des tensions intra- et extracellulaire et brisant ainsi l'homéostasie tensionnelle pour favoriser le phénotype malin. / Cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions have crucial roles in the maintenance of the physical cohesion of any tissue. In addition, growing body of evidence indicates that these two adhesion systems do not act independently, but rather are functionally interconnected by a permanent crosstalk. This dialog usually operates via common molecules that trigger convergent signaling as well as by actomyosin network which, by providing physical link, contributes to establishment of intracellular force counterbalancing tension applied by extracellular surrounding. Blood vessels endothelium is a particular tissue in term of mechanical conditions. Apart from intracellular compression, endothelial lining needs to resist hemodynamic forces as well as rigidity of the basal membrane - two mechanical inputs acting from opposite sides of the endothelial layer. Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM) is a sporadically acquired or inherited disease of venous capillaries within neuro-vascular unit characterized by defects in all aspects of local microenvironment. Loss of intra-endothelial junctions and mural cell coverage, aberrant organization of basal lamina as well as stagnant blood flow are features of CCM lesions. Thereby, CCM became for us an interesting model to study mechanotrasduction process and in this context, the cross-talk between integrin and cadherin mediated adhesion structures. Indeed, CCM proteins are well recognized players involved in a control of VE-cadherin mediated intracellular junctions. In addition, CCM1 was found to interact with ICAP-1, a negative regulator of β1 integrin, raising the possibility that this complex most likely acts as molecular node regulating β1 integrin/ VE-cadherin convergent signaling pathways.Studies performed during this thesis have demonstrated that CCM complex coordinates cadherin- and integrin-mediated tensional homeostasis by repressing β1 integrin activation and maintaining a balance of activity between the two isoforms of RhoA-associated kinases ROCK1 and ROCK2. We have found that β1 integrin sustained over-activation upon CCM proteins loss contributes to increased ECs sensitivity to mechanical cues, such as ECM physical reorganization or hemodynamic force that in turn activates ROCK1-dependent contractility. This establishes a positive feedback mechanical loop that breaks tensional homeostasis and switches on the malignant phenotype.

abstract: Understanding how microorganisms adapt and respond to the microgravity environment of spaceflight is important for the function and integrity of onboard life support systems, astronaut health and mission success. Microbial contamination of spacecraft Environmental Life Support Systems (ECLSS), including the potable water system, are well documented and have caused major disruption to spaceflight missions. The potable water system on the International Space Station (ISS) uses recycled wastewater purified by multiple processes so it is safe for astronaut consumption and personal hygiene. However, despite stringent antimicrobial treatments, multiple bacterial species and biofilms have been recovered from this potable water system. This finding raises concern for crew health risks, vehicle operations and ECLSS system integrity during exploration missions. These concerns are further heightened given that 1) potential pathogens have been isolated from the ISS potable water system, 2) the immune response of astronauts is blunted during spaceflight, 3) spaceflight induces unexpected alterations in microbial responses, including growth and biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, stress responses, and virulence, and 4) different microbial phenotypes are often observed between reductionistic pure cultures as compared to more complex multispecies co-cultures, the latter of which are more representative of natural environmental conditions. To advance the understanding of the impact of microgravity on microbial responses that could negatively impact spacecraft ECLSS systems and crew health, this study characterized a range of phenotypic profiles in both pure and co-cultures of bacterial isolates collected from the ISS potable water system between 2009 and 2014. Microbial responses profiled included population dynamics, resistance to silver, biofilm formation, and in vitro colonization of intestinal epithelial cells. Growth characteristics and antibiotic sensitivities for bacterial strains were evaluated to develop selective and/or differential media that allow for isolation of a pure culture from co-cultures, which was critical for the success of this study. Bacterial co-culture experiments were performed using dynamic Rotating Wall Vessel (RWV) bioreactors under spaceflight analogue (Low Shear Modeled Microgravity/LSMMG) and control conditions. These experiments indicated changes in fluid shear have minimal impact on strain recovery. The antimicrobial efficacy of silver on both sessile co-cultures, grown on 316L stainless steel coupons, and planktonic co-cultures showed that silver did not uniformly reduce the recovery of all strains; however, it had a stronger antimicrobial effect on biofilm cultures than planktonic cultures. The impact of silver on the ability of RWV cultured planktonic and biofilm bacterial co-cultures to colonize human intestinal epithelial cells showed that, those strains which were impacted by silver treatment, often increased adherence to the monolayer. Results from these studies provide insight into the dynamics of polymicrobial community interactions, biofilm formation and survival mechanisms of ISS potable water isolates, with potential application for future design of ECLSS systems for sustainable human space exploration. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Molecular and Cellular Biology 2019

No description available.

No / This chapter describes the current approaches to reduce bacterial adhesion to various biomaterial surfaces, focusing on nonfouling surfaces through patterning and hydrophobicity plasma-assisted surface treatment and deposition; incorporation of antimicrobials, antibiotics, antibiofilms, and natural extracts that are either immobilized or released; dual function antimicrobial surfaces; incorporation of nonpathogenic bacteria, bacteriophages, and biofilm dispersal agents but also reduced bacterial adhesion through tissue integration. To facilitate the design of new materials, the role of physical, chemical, and biological surface properties on bacterial adhesion is reviewed in each case, as an insight into the chemical and physical cues that affect bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation can provide ideas for creating successful antifouling or antimicrobial surfaces. The application of these surfaces is explored based on the clinical needs and the market gaps. How multidisciplinary research on surface design and engineering may have an impact on both fundamental understanding of bacterial adhesion to biomaterials and applied biomaterial science and technology is finally discussed.