Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:23:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabiola G_ Nesello Vieira.pdf: 1352690 bytes, checksum: dde9077ce35994c9a408a58112929a03 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-10 / The abundant lignocellulosic biomass in agro-industrial waste can be reused as an inexpensive substrate for inducing the production of enzymes such as β-xylosidases. The purpose of this study was to analyze the production of β-xylosidase from Aspergillus fumigatus (PC-7S-2 M), isolated from the Atlantic Forest of the Dog Head State Park (Paraná, Brazil) and later identified by morphological and molecular (ITS) methods. The mesophilic fungus was grown at 28 °C in liquid culture media containing Czapeck and 1% of different agroindustrial residues (w/v): passion fruit peel, Ponkan peel, barley brewing residue, soy flakes and ripe banana peel. Inoculants of 105 conidia ml-1 were incubated for 7 days, filtered and assayed for β-xylosidase intracellular activity obtaining a maximum value of 15 U ml-1 of the enzyme in the presence of barley brewing residue after 4 days of cultivation. Then, it was used a Central Composite Rotational Design (CCRD) to optimize the production of β-xylosidase, using barley brewing residue as carbon source at a significance level of p<0.10 which generated a predicted model of 245.04 U ml-1. Model validation provided an average optimized result equal to 229.06 U ml-1 for the enzyme. Thus, the production of β-xylosidase increased in 1,500% over the initially obtained for A. fumigatus in the presence of the barley brewing residue, therefore, achieving 93.47% of the predicted model. This finding emphasizes the availability of A. fumigatus β-xylosidase production with possible applications in several biotechnological process. / A biomassa lignocelulósica abundante nos resíduos agroindustriais, pode ser reutilizada como substrato barato para induzir a produção de enzimas, como β-Xilosidases. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a produção de β-Xilosidase de Aspergillus fumigatus (PC-7S-2 M), isolado da Mata Atlântica do Parque Estadual Cabeça do Cachorro (Paraná, Brasil) e posteriormente identificado por métodos morfológicos e moleculares (ITS). O fungo mesofílico foi cultivado à temperatura de 28 °C em meios líquidos de cultura Czapeck, contendo 1% de diferentes resíduos agroindustriais (w/v): casca de maracujá, casca de pokan, bagaço de cevada, flocos de soja e casca de banana madura. Inóculos de 105 conídios mL-1 foram incubados durante 7 dias, filtrados e submetidos a dosagem de β-Xilosidase intracelular, obtendo-se um valor máximo de 15 U ml-1 para a enzima na presença de bagaço de cevada com 4 dias de cultivo. Assim, utilizou-se um delineamento composto central rotacional (DCCR) para otimizar a produção de -Xilosidase, usando o bagaço de cevada como fonte de carbono em um nível de significância p < 0,10, o qual gerou um modelo predito de 245,04 U ml-1. A validação do modelo forneceu um resultado otimizado médio igual a 229,06 U ml-1 para a enzima. Assim, a produção de β-Xilosidase aumentou em 1.500% em relação à obtida inicialmente para o fungo A. fumigatus na presença de bagaço de cevada como fonte de carbono (15 U ml-1), permitindo, deste modo, alcançar 93,47 % do modelo predito. Este achado ressalta a viabilidade de produção de β-Xilosidase de A. fumigatus com possíveis aplicações em vários processos biotecnológicos.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:24:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana_ Graciano.pdf: 1359694 bytes, checksum: 9321745e3e0faea5a21d91af3579b01a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-27 / The optimization of xylanase production of a new Aspergillus fumigatus Fresen strain (OI-1RT) was obtained by statistical approaches. The Plackett-Burman Design evaluation showed that the following components of Czapeck medium were biologically significant: sodium nitrate, potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate and corn straw. These factors were selected to implement the 24 Central Composite Rotational Delineation with the proposed model validation. The response surface plots have indicated a trend for increased xylanase activity with increasing concentrations of maize straw. An additional test was carried out with different concentrations of maize straw and the optimized xylanase activity was 530 U ml-1 in the presence of 6.5% (w / v) of residual biomass, which was 11 times higher than the one obtained only with the Plackett-Burman Planning (45.8 U mL-1). The thermostability of the enzyme was kept at 90% at 50 °C for 6 hours. Enzyma tic hydrolyses tests were performed to obtain reducing sugars from maize straw, hydrolyzed maize straw and beechwood xylan. This procedure has been performed for 96 hours with 2 U ml-1 for xylanase (crude extract) and resulted in net production of 3.89, 20.96 and 21.64 &#956;mol mL-1 for reducing sugars, respectively. This indicated possible biotechnological applications to the crude extract with xylan-degrading enzymes (xylanase). / As xilanases são glicosídeo hidrolases (GHs) com diferentes propriedades físico-químicas e várias aplicações biotecnológicas, como na indústria têxtil, alimentícia e de papel e celulose. Xilanases podem ser utilizadas para a degradação de fontes de carbono renováveis, tais como os resíduos agroindustriais. Desta forma, é possível aproveitar a capacidade energética de compostos disponíveis em abundância e que poderiam ser descartados levando à poluição de solos e corpos hídricos. Atualmente, existe uma busca por estratégias que permitam a otimização de processos biotecnológicos para utilizar a capacidade energética presentes na biomassa para geração de produtos de valor agregado, como a produção de xilitol e do etanol celulósico. Ferramentas bioquímico-moleculares e planejamentos estatísticos de otimização de processos são exemplos de estratégias que visam melhorar o desempenho catalítico de enzimas. Neste contexto, este trabalho objetivou aproveitar resíduos agroindustriais para a indução de xilanases usando duas abordagens. Na primeira, foi realizada a clonagem e expressão do gene xynA1 (CCNA_02894) de Caulobacter crescentus em Escherichia coli com a obtenção de uma proteína recombinante fusionada a uma cauda de histidina carboxi-terminal (XynA1), que foi posteriormente purificada e caracterizada quanto a suas propriedades bioquímicas e cinéticas. Nesta análise, verificou-se que dentre as várias fontes de carbono testadas para indução da XynA1 em C. crescentus, os substratos palha de milho, palha de milho hidrolisada e o sabugo de milho foram os mais eficientes para induzir a atividade xilanásica. Além disso, a caracterização da XynA pura, obtida por cromatografia de afinidade em colunas préempacotadas de níquel-sepharose de elevado desempenho, mostrou que a XynA1 possui atividade enzimática e atividade específica de 18,26 U mL-1 e 2,22 e U mg-1usando xilano de beechwood como substrato na reação. A atividade de XynA1 foi inibida por EDTA e íons metálicos tais como Cu 2+ e Mg 2+. Em contraste, ß-mercaptoetanol, ditiotreitol (DTT), e Ca2+ induziram a atividade da enzima recombinante. Os dados cinéticos para XynA1 revelaram valores de KM e Vmáx de 3,77 mg mL-1 e 10,2 &#956;M min-1, respectivamente. Finalmente, a enzima apresentou um pH ótimo igual a 6 e temperatura ótima de 50 °C. Além disso, 80% da atividade de XynA1 foi mantida a 50 °C por 4 hor as de incubação. Isso sugere estabilidade térmica para aplicação em processos biotecnológicos. Na segunda etapa do trabalho, foi realizada a otimização da produção xilanásica por um novo isolado vii termotolerante de Aspergillus fumigatus Fresen. (OI-1R-T), obtido de bioma de Mata Atlântica, usando metodologias estatísticas de delineamento experimental como Planejamento Plackett-Burman (Plackett-Burman Design-PBD) e Delineamento Composto Central Rotacional (DCCR). Verificou-se, nesses ensaios, uma atividade xilanásica de 530 U mL-1 na presença de 6,5% de palha de milho no meio de cultivo otimizado. Ensaios de hidrólises enzimáticas da palha de milho, palha de milho hidrolisada e do xilano de beechwood foram realizados durante 96 horas com 2 U mL-1 de atividade xilanásica do extrato bruto otimizado no mesmo resíduo, resultando em uma produção líquida de 3,89, 20,96 e 21,64 &#956;mol mL-1 de açúcares redutores, respectivamente. Assim, sugere-se que a enzima fúngica, mesmo em extrato bruto, também poderia ser aplicada em processos biotecnológicos diversos.

Les pathogènes respiratoires sont parmi les causes majeures de décès dans le monde entier. Déchiffrer les mécanismes d'évasion immune employés par les pathogènes est essentiel pour le développement de stratégies thérapeutiques contre les pathogènes respiratoires. Dans ce contexte, la vole de signalisation PDL-1 (programmed death ligand 1)-PD-1 (programmed death 1) a été impliquée dans l'évasion immune par les cellules tumorales et des virus. Par conséquent, j'ai voulu étudier le rôle de la voie PD-L1 dans la modulation de la réponse immunitaire contre le Mycobacterium tuberculosis et l'Aspergillus fumigatus. J'ai trouvé que l'α-(1,3)-glucan dérivé de l'A. fumigatus activait les cellules dendritiques (CDs) ; la maturation des CDs était partiellement dépendante du Toll like receptor (TLR)-2. L'analyse de la polarisation des cellules T CD4+ a révélé que les CDs éduquées par l'α-(1,3)-glucan induisent la génération de cellules T régulatrices (Treg) CD4+ CD25+FoxP3+, ceci étant en partie lié à l'expression de PD-L1 sur les CDs. De façon importante, le blocage de PD-L1 sur les CDs augmente la sécrétion d'IFN-γ sans moduler la réponse Th17. De manière similaire, PD-L1 induit par M. tuberculosis freine la réponse Th1 sans moduler la réponse Th17. L'analyse des voies de signalisation en aval a indiqué que la voie sonic hedgehog (SHH) en réponse au mycobacterium médiait l'induction de PD-L1 en inhibant des microARNs spécifiques, miR-324-5p et miR-338-5p qui ciblent PD-L1. De plus, SHH induit la cyclooxygénase (COX)-2 qui catalyse la synthèse de la prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) qui agit en synergie avec PD-L1 pour coordonner l'expansion des Treg. / SummaryPulmonary infections caused by respiratory pathogens are among the major causes of death worldwide. The outcome of infection depends on the ability of the host to respond to the challenge posed by the pathogens. Of note, the host needs to sense the pathogen, mount an efficient immune response and finally clear the ensuing inflammatory response to avoid tissue damage. In this context pathogens have adapted numerous strategies that hijack the host mechanisms to dampen the immune response and as a consequence causing infection. The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) – programmed death 1 (PD-1) pathway is a key pathway involved in mediating self-tolerance thereby maintaining homeostasis. Elegant reports have demonstrated that the PD-L1 – PD-1 pathway is exploited by cancer cells and viruses as an immune evasion mechanism to suppress effector T cell responses. Thus, I aimed at investigating the role of PD-L1 pathway in modulating immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis a bacterial pathogen and Aspergillus fumigatus an opportunistic fungal pathogen. I found that A. fumigatus-derived α-(1,3)-glucan induces maturation of DCs and secretion of various immunoregulatory cytokines that was partially dependant on Toll like receptor (TLR)-2. Analysis of CD4+ T cell polarization revealed that α-(1,3)-glucan-educated DCs induced CD4+ CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cell (Treg) generation that was in part dependent on the PD-L1 expression on DCs. Importantly, blocking PD-L1 on DCs enhanced IFN-γ secretion without modulating Th17 response. Similarly, M. tuberculosis induced PD-L1 dampened Th1 response without modulating Th17 response. Analysis of downstream signalling pathways indicated that, mycobacterium-responsive sonic hedgehog (SHH) mediated PD-L1 induction by inhibiting specific microRNAs, miR-324-5p and miR-338-5p that target PD-L1. Additionally, SHH induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 catalysed the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) that synergize with PD-L1 to coordinate the expansion of Tregs. My results thus demonstrate that respiratory pathogens either directly or by harbouring imuunoregulatory antigens highjack the PD-L1 pathway to suppress the protective Th1 response and orchestrate Treg generation without modulating Th17 response. Importantly, my results provide a rational for exploiting immunotherapeutic approaches that target PD-1 – PD-L1 co-stimulatory axis to restore effector T cell response to respiratory pathogens.

Les champignons du genre Aspergillus sont des moisissures banales de l'environnement. Elles sont présentes dans le sol et sur des végétaux en décomposition. Les Aspergillus se propagent par l'intermédiaire de spores microscopiques en suspension dans l'air. L'Homme et les animaux sont exposés en permanence aux spores aspergillaires mais les défenses immunes empêchent leur développement dans l'organisme. Lorsque ces défenses sont amoindries, une aspergillose est possible. Dans ce cas, Aspergillus fumigatus et A. flavus sont le plus souvent incriminés. Les oiseaux sont beaucoup plus sensibles que les mammifères et l'environnement représenté par les élevages aviaires est propice à la prolifération des moisissures du genre Aspergillus. L'objectif de ce travail de thèse a été de caractériser la diversité génétique et la sensibilité aux antifongiques d'isolats d'Aspergillus provenant d'élevages aviaires dans la province du Guangxi en Chine. La première partie de la thèse est une analyse bibliographique sur les champignons du genre Aspergillus, les aspergilloses et les caractéristiques de l'élevage aviaire en Chine. Une première enquête a été réalisée dans 3 élevages près de la ville de Nanning et dans un élevage (incluant un éclosoir) à proximité de la ville de Guilin. Des écouvillonnages pharyngés et des prélèvements d'air ont été réalisés pendant plusieurs semaines. Des prélèvements ont également été faits sur des œufs dans l'éclosoir. Cette enquête a montré que le niveau de contamination fongique dépendait du type d'élevage. De nombreux isolats fongiques ont pu être collectés : 188 isolats d'A. fumigatus et 159 isolats d'A. flavus. La seconde partie du travail expérimental a porté sur la caractérisation de la diversité génétique d'A. fumigatus et d'A. flavus. Pour cela, la technique MLVA (multiple locus VNTR analysis) a été utilisée. Pour A. flavus, 8 marqueurs VNTR (variable-number tandem-repeat) ont été sélectionnés et une réaction PCR multiplex a été mise au point. Au total, 91 isolats d'A. flavus, incluant 6 souches de référence, ont été caractérisées avec le panel des 8 marqueurs VNTR. Cette analyse a permis de définir 78 génotypes distincts et un index de discrimination de 0,993. L'analyse de 188 isolats d'A. fumigatus avec 10 marqueurs VNTR a permis de définir 142 génotypes distincts. Certains génotypes d'A. flavus ou d'A. fumigatus sont clairement regroupés dans le nuage de point généré par l'analyse MST (minimum spanning tree). La troisième partie du travail expérimental a porté sur la sensibilité aux antifongiques de 177 isolats d'A. fumigatus. Ces isolats ont été récupérés dans des élevages aviaires en Chine et en France. Les isolats de Chine sont pour la plupart sensibles avec des valeurs minimales inhibitrices (vis-à-vis de l'itraconazole) comprises entre 0,38 et 0,75 µg/mL. Les isolats de France sont pour la plupart sensibles avec des valeurs minimales inhibitrices (vis-à-vis de l'itraconazole) comprises entre 0.19 and 1 µg/mL. Quatre souches ont été considérées comme résistantes : 2 souches provenant de deux élevages en Chine et 2 souches provenant de deux élevages en France. Des mutations sur le gène Cyp51A ont été détectées pour 11 isolats (3 résistants et 8 sensibles). Vingt et une mutations nucléotidiques ont été identifiées. Onze de ces mutations sont silencieuses et 9 sont à l'origine d'un changement de la composition de la protéine. Sept substitutions ont déjà été décrites dans la littérature ; les mutations A116R, E130D et Q131H sont originales. / Fungi of the genus Aspergillus are moulds, which occur most frequently in soil, water and decaying vegetation. They sporulate abundantly and the spores are easily dispersed into the environment by air. As a result of this ubiquitous presence, animals and people are constantly exposed to Aspergillus spores. Aspergillus fumigatus and A. flavus are recognized as predominant causes of fungal diseases in humans and wide range of animals. Birds are much more sensitive that mammals and in avian farms, environmental conditions are favorable to the development of many fungal species, including Aspergillus spp. The objective of the present study was to assess the genetic diversity and antifungal susceptibility of Aspergillus isolates from avian farms in Guangxi, China. The first part of the experimental work related the evolution of fungal contamination in 3 avian farms near the city of Nanning and one farm (including a hatchery) near the city of Guilin. Pharyngeal swabs and air samples were collected during several weeks and 3 cycles of hatching were monitored. The average contamination level with Aspergillus spp. and Mucorales was significantly different according to the farms. The survey allowed to collect a total number of 188 A. fumigatus and 159 A. flavus isolates. The second part of the work was about the genetic diversity of A. fumigatus and A. flavus. For that purpose, the Multiple Locus Variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) Analysis was specifically developed and used. For A. flavus, 8 VNTR markers were selected and a multiplex reaction was designed. A total number of 91 A. flavus isolates, including 6 reference strains were typed with the panel of 8 VNTRs. This analysis yielded 78 different genotypes, which corresponds to a combined loci index of 0.993. Among all genotypes, 71 were only found once. The analysis of 188 A. fumigatus isolates using 10 VNTR markers led to the resolution of 142 distinct genotypes. Clusters of A. flavus or A. fumigatus isolates could be defined by using the graphing algorithm Minimum Spanning Tree. The third part of the experimental work was about the antifungal susceptibility of 177 A. fumigatus isolates collected in avian farms in China and France. Most of the isolates from China were susceptible to itraconazole with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) comprised between 0.38 and 0.75 µg/mL. Most of the isolates from birds and avian farms in France were susceptible to itraconazole with a MIC comprised between 0.19 and 1 µg/mL. MIC values of isolates collected in farms with antifungal chemoprophylaxis were not higher than those of isolates collected from birds (that never received antifungal drugs before the sampling). Susceptibility testings demonstrated that 4 isolates should be considered as resistant to itraconazole: (2 isolates from avian farms in Guangxi, China and 2 isolates from avian farms in France). A modification of the Cyp51A sequence was identified in 11 isolates (3 azole-resistant and 8 azole-susceptible isolates). Twenty-one nucleotidic mutations were detected. Eleven of these mutations were silent and 10 yielded to amino acid substitutions. Seven of these substitutions had already been described whereas mutations A116R, E130D and Q131H were original.

O fungo Aspergillus fumigatus é o segundo maior causador de infecções fúngicas invasivas em pacientes imunocomprometidos e a principal espécie causadora da aspergilose invasiva, doença de alta taxa de mortalidade que atinge principalmente os pulmões e que pode se disseminar pelo organismo. Durante o processo de infecção, o fungo precisa adaptar-se ao organismo do hospedeiro e um dos obstáculos encontrados é a mudança na concentração de dióxido de carbono (CO2), que, de 0,033% no ambiente, chega a até 6% no interior do hospedeiro. As anidrases carbônicas são enzimas envolvidas na hidratação reversível do CO2 e já foram apontadas como importantes na virulência de patógenos como Plasmodium falciparum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori, Cryptococcus neoformans e Candida albicans. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o papel da enzima anidrase carbônica no desenvolvimento e virulência do fungo A. fumigatus, que apresenta quatro homólogos desta enzima (cafA, cafB, cafC e cafD). Para isso, foram utilizadas linhagens de A. fumigatus com os homólogos da enzima deletados (?cafA, ?cafB, ?cafC, ?cafD e ?cafA?cafB) e a linhagem selvagem (?akuBku80), da qual foram originadas as mutantes. Foram realizadas avaliações fenotípicas da estrutura dos conidióforos das diferentes linhagens, determinação da sensibilidade frente a diferentes agentes estressantes (antifúngicos, promotores de apoptose, estresse iônico, nitroativo, oxidativo, e de parede celular) e determinação da expressão gênica global em diferentes concentrações de CO2. Foi verificado que a deleção de cada um dos homólogos da anidrase carbônica de A. fumigatus não interfere na estrutura dos conidióforos deste fungo. Por outro lado, a deleção induziu alteração da sensibilidade do fungo frente a alguns compostos estressantes (ácido acético e peróxido de hidrogênio). Ainda, a análise da expressão gênica revelou um gene envolvido na adaptação do fungo ao aumento da concentração de CO2, o gene cipC, que não apresenta homólogos nas células de mamíferos. Este gene foi caracterizado neste trabalho por meio de sua deleção na linhagem selvagem (?akuBku80) de A. fumigatus e avaliação fenotípica microscópica e de sensibilidade a agentes estressantes (antifúngicos, promotores de apoptose, estresse iônico, nitroativo, oxidativo, e de parede celular). A deleção do gene não interferiu na estrutura do fungo, porém aumentou sua sensibilidade a alguns compostos (calcoflúor e menadiona). Foram realizados, ainda, testes de virulência em modelo animal utilizando-se o mutante ?cipC, os quais revelaram que a deleção deste gene atenua a virulência do fungo. Assim, foi possível concluir que as anidrases carbônicas não são relevantes para o desenvolvimento e virulência de A. fumigatus; porém, este fungo modifica a expressão de seus genes de modo a adaptar-se às variações na concentração atmosférica de CO2. O gene cipC está envolvido nesse processo de adaptação e é importante para o desenvolvimento do fungo e sua virulência, tornando-se um alvo para o estudo de novas terapias para o tratamento da aspergilose invasiva. / The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is the second cause of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients and it is the main specie which causes invasive aspergillosis, a disease with high mortality rate that mainly affects the lungs and it can spread through the body. During the infectious process, the fungus must adapt to the host and one of the obstacles is the drastic change of the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, which is 0.033% in the environment and until 6% inside the host. The carbonic anhydrases are enzymes which are involved in the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide and they have been pointed as important in the virulence of pathogens such as Plasmodium falciparum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori, Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans. This work aimed to evaluate the role of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase in the development and virulence of the fungus A. fumigatus, which has four homologues of this enzyme (cafA, cafB, cafC e cafD). Therefore, strains, which have the homologues of the enzyme deleted (?cafA, ?cafB, ?cafC, ?cafD and ?cafA?cafB) were used in parallel with the wild strain (?akuBku80), which originated the mutant ones. We did structure phenotypic evaluations of the different strains of conidiophores, sensibility determination against different stressors (antifungal agents, apoptosis, ionic, nitrosative, oxidative, and cell wall stress promoters) and global gene expression determination at different carbon dioxide concentrations. It was verified that the carbonic anhydrases homologues deletion of A. fumigatus did not interfere on the n structure (conidiophore) of this fungus, in the tested conditions. On the other hand, the deletion caused a change in sensibility of the fungus against some stressors (acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide). The gene expression experiments showed a gene involved in the adaptation to the increase of CO2 concentration, the cipC gene. This gene does not have homologues in the mammalian cells. The cipC gene was characterized in this work by its deletion in the A. fumigatus wild strain (?akuBku80) and microscopic phenotypic evaluation and sensibility tests against stressors (antifungal agents, apoptosis, ionic, nitrosative, oxidative, and cell wall stress promoters). The gene deletion did not interfere on the fungus conidiophore structure but increase its sensibility to some compounds (calcoflúor white and menadione). Virulence tests in animal model using the ?cipC mutant were done and they showed that the deletion of this gene attenuates the fungus virulence. In conclusion, the carbonic anhydrases are not relevant to development and virulence of the fungus, which modifies the gene expression to adapt to the variations of atmospheric CO2 concentration. Besides, the cipC gene seems to be involved in this adaptation process. Moreover, the cipC gene showed to be important to the development of the fungus and its virulence, which makes the gene a target for the study of new therapies for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis.

Le but de ce travail a été de mieux comprendre les défenses mises en œuvre par l’hôte infecté par le champignon opportuniste humain Aspergillus fumigatus (Af). 1) Un modèle d’infection a été redéveloppé chez l’organisme modèle Drosophila melanogaster. Seules les mouches mutantes pour le gène MyD88 de la voie immunitaire Toll succombent à l’injection d’une poignée de conidies, sans toutefois qu’Af dissémine dans l’hôte. Ce travail a révélé que ce n’est pas la réponse immunitaire qui joue un rôle prépondérant dans la défense de l’hôte, mais sa capacité de résilience à l’exposition à des mycotoxines sécrétées par Af. 2) Un crible génétique d’envergure a été établi pour identifier des lignées transgéniques mutantes ARNi sensibles à l’infection par Af. 6.471 lignées ont été criblées et 241 gènes-candidats identifiés, dont peu fonctionnent dans la réponse immunitaire. Ainsi, ce travail a contribué à identifier de nombreux gènes impliqués dans la résilience de l’hôte à Af et ses mycotoxines. / The overarching goal of this work is to better understand host defenses against the human opportunistic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus (Af). 1) An infection model has been reestablished in the genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Only flies mutant for the immune response Toll pathway gene MyD88 succumb to the injection of a handful of conidia even though Af is unable to disseminate throughout its host. This work revealed that it is not the immune response that plays a cardinal role in host defense but its resilience capacity to the exposure to some mycotoxins secreted by Af. 2) A large-scale genetic screen has been implemented to identify transgenic RNAi mutant lines susceptible to Af infection in survival experiments. 6,471 lines have been screened and 241 candidate genes identified, few of which are known to act in the immune response. Thus, this work has contributed to identifying numerous genes involved in host resilience to Af and to some of its mycotoxins.

Immunsupprimierte Patienten besitzen ein erhöhtes Risiko für opportunistische Infektionen, die hauptsächlich durch das humane Cytomegalievirus (HCMV) und den Schimmelpilz Aspergillus fumigatus verursacht werden. Aufgrund ihrer Lokalisation in den Geweben unterhalb von Lungenepithelien und des Gastrointestinaltraktes werden dendritische Zellen (DCs) als diejenigen Zellen betrachtet, die während der frühen Phase einer Infektion in Kontakt mit HCMV und A. fumigatus kommen und eine Aktivierung von angeborenen und adaptiven Abwehrmechanismen vermitteln. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Dissertation wurde die Bedeutung von humanen DCs bei der Bekämpfung von HCMV und A. fumigatus näher untersucht. Um mit dem klinisch relevanten HCMV Stamm TB40E arbeiten zu können, musste zuerst ein geeignetes Zellkultursystem zur Anzucht von HCMV etabliert werden. Die aus Fibroblasten aufgereinigten Viren eigneten sich zur erfolgreichen Infektion von DCs, was durch verschiedene Färbemethoden nachgewiesen werden konnte. Aus diesem Grund war es möglich, in Abhängigkeit der Zeit ein Expressionsprofil von Klasse I Interferonen (IFN-alpha, IFN-beta), ausgesuchten Cytokinen (CXCL10, CXCL11, Rantes) und den wichtigen Immunrezeptoren Toll-like Rezeptor 3 (TLR3) und dendritic cell-specific ICAM3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) zu erstellen. Nachdem ein RNA Interferenz (RNAi) System zur erfolgreichen Transfektion von DCs mit small interfering RNA (siRNA) etabliert werden konnte, gelang es die Expression von TLR3 signifikant herunterzuregulieren. Stimulationsexperimente mit dem synthetisch hergestellten Polymer poly I:C identifizierten TLR3 als den Rezeptor, der die Expression von IFN-beta vermittelt. Ferner konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass TLR9 bei ex vivo generierten DCs keine Funktion besitzt. Eine direkte Aktivierung von TLR3 durch HCMV konnte mittels siRNA nicht nachgewiesen werden. Durch den Einsatz von genomweiten Microarray-Analysen konnten eine Vielzahl an Genen gefunden werden, die nach Co-Kultivierung von DCs und lebenden A. fumigatus Keimschläuchen (KS) differentiell exprimiert waren. Dabei wurde ein breites Spektrum an Cytokinen (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12), Chemokinen (IL-8, CCL20, CXCL10), Co-stimulatorischen Molekülen (CD40, CD80, CD83, CD86), Prostaglandin Synthese Genen (PTGS2) und Immunrezeptoren (PTX-3, TLR2, TLR4) gefunden, deren zeitabhängiges Expressionsprofil mittels qRT-PCR eindeutig bestätigt wurde. Als Wachen des Immunsystems müssen DCs Krankheitserreger zu einem frühen Zeitpunkt der Infektion erkennen. Die Erkennung von Pilzen wird durch die unterschiedlichen Rezeptoren vermittelt, die TLRs, C-Typ Lektine und Pentraxine umfassen, wobei ihre Bedeutung für humane DCs bisher nur unzureichend geklärt ist. Durch den Einsatz von siRNA konnte die Expression von TLR2, TLR4, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), DC-SIGN, Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) und caspase recruitment domain family member 9 (Card-9) signifikant verringert werden. Für TLR2, TLR4, PTX-3 und DC-SIGN konnte durch den Einsatz der RNAi aufgezeigt werden, dass diese Rezeptoren nicht an der Induktion einer pro-inflammatorischen Immunantwort von DCs nach Infektion mit A. fumigatus beteiligt sind. Sowohl die Stimulierung mit den TLR Liganden Zymosan und LPS, als auch mit A. fumigatus, führte zu einer erhöhten Expression von TNF-alpha und IL-12 (Light Cycler), die sich in einer vermehrten Cytokinfreisetzung (ELISA) bemerkbar machte. Im Gegensatz zur TLR4 siRNA Transfektion und LPS-Stimulation war keine Reduktion der Expression von TNF-alpha und IL-12 nach TLR2 und TLR4 siRNA Transfektion und anschließender Pilzinfektion zu beobachten. Auch der Einsatz von gegen TLRs gerichteten Antikörpern konnte eine mögliche Signaltransduktion bei DCs nicht unterbinden. Anstelle von TLR2 und TLR4 wurde Dectin-1 als DC-Immunrezeptor für A. fumigatus KS identifiziert. Mit Hilfe eines spezifischen Antikörpers gegen Dectin-1 war es möglich, die Freisetzung von TNF-alpha und IL-12 nach Pilzinfektion zu blockieren. In einem unabhängigen Experiment mit siRNA wurde Dectin-1 als Rezeptor für A. fumigatus bestätigt. Wie fortführende Experimente mit Candida albicans KS und Zymosan gezeigt haben, handelt es sich bei Dectin-1 auf humanen DCs um einen generellen Rezeptor für Pilze. Die durchgeführten SNP-Analysen (single nucleotide polymorphism) zur Ermittlung eines Zusammenhanges mit einem erhöhten Virus- und Pilzinfektionsrisiko für Patienten nach Stammzelltransplantation erbrachten die Erkenntnis darüber, dass zwei Marker (rs735240, rs2287886) in DC-SIGN mit einer erhöhten Empfänglichkeit für HCMV, und drei Marker (rs1554013, rs3921, rs4257674) in CXCL10 mit einem vergrößerten Riskio für eine invasive Aspergillose assoziiert waren. Ein Screening von Patienten auf das Vorhandensein dieser definierten SNPs könnte helfen, die individuelle Gefahr für HCMV und A. fumigatus nach nach allogener Stammzelltransplantation abzuschätzen. / Patients after allogenic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) have an increased risk to suffer from viral and fungal infections, which are mainly caused by the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and the mold Aspergillus fumigatus. Due to their localization in tissues under lung epithelia and the gastrointestinal tract, dendritic cells (DCs) are considered to be the first cells coming into close contact with HCMV and A. fumigatus for the activation of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. Within the scope of this dissertation, the role of human monocyte-derived DCs in the abatement of HCMV and A. fumgatus was analyzed. In order to work with HCMV, a cell culture system for effective culturing of the clinical relevant HCMV strain TB40E had to be established first. The viral particles up-cleaned from lung fibroblasts were used for infection of DCs and successful infection was approved by different staining methods. For this reason, it was possible to determine a time-dependent expression profile of class I interferons (IFN-alpha, IFN-beta), selected cytokines (CXCL10, CXCL11, Rantes) and immunoreceptors (TLR3, DC-SIGN). A RNA interference (RNAi) system for human DCs was established to significantly knock-down expression of TLR3 without the induction of an unwanted pro-inflammatory cytokine response. Stimulation experiments with the synthetic polymer poly I:C (which resembles dsRNA of infectious viruses) identified TLR3 as a receptor for triggering expression of IFN-beta. However, whether there is a direct activation of TLR3 through dsRNA intermediates, possibly emerging during replication of HCMV, can not be answered to date definitively, because TLR3 small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection prior to HCMV infection did not result in minor expression of IFN-beta. Gene expression pattern of DCs after co-cultivation with living A. fumigatus germ tubes was studied by whole genome microarray analysis and real-time PCR, demonstrating an upregulation of a broad spectrum of cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12), chemokines (IL-8, CCL20, CXCL10), co-stimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, CD83, CD86), prostaglandin synthesis genes (PTGS2), as well as genes involved in fungal recognition (PTX-3, TLR2, TLR4) and cytoskeleton organization / phagocytosis. As the sentries of the immune system, DCs must recognize fungi at an early step of infection. Pathogen detection is mediated by different receptors comprising TLRs, C-type lectins and Pentraxines (PTX), but only little is known about their relevance for DCs. Using specific siRNAs, expression of TLR2, TLR4, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88), dendritic cell-specific ICAM3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) and caspase recruitment domain family member 9 (Card-9) was significantly diminished, respectively. In contrast to control experiments with TLR4 siRNA and LPS stimulation, A. fumigatus induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-12) was not reduced when TLR2 and TLR4 expression was knocked-down by specific siRNAs prior to infection. However, using siRNAs directed against Dectin-1 allowed demonstration of an interaction between Dectin-1 and A. fumigatus germlings, Candida albicans germ tubes and Zymosan. In an independent approach, cytokine secretion could be blocked by anti-Dectin-1 antibody treatement prior to fungal exposure. In conclusion, Dectin-1 was identified as an important fungal receptor on DCs whereas TLR2 and TLR4 seemed to play a negligible role. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in various cellular receptor genes are associated with the susceptibility to and severity of infectious diseases. In this study, genetic polymorphisms in genes encoding for virus entry receptors have been analyzed for their association to HCMV reactivation and disease in patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. A comparison of different genotyping methods highlighted the advantages of the Light Cycler system, the cycle-suequencing and the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) when using small quantities of patients’ DNA. Two markers (rs735240, rs2287886) in the promoter region of DC-SIGN were found to be significantly associated with an increased susceptibility to HCMV. In addition, three SNPs (rs1554013, rs3921, rs4257674) in CXCL10 elevated the risk for the development of invasive aspergillosis. Screening of patients after alloSCT for the presence of these defined genetic polymorphisms may help to predict the individual risk to suffer from HCMV and A. fumigatus after alloSCT.

Orientador: Cristiane Angélica Ottoni / Resumo: As nanopartículas de prata (AgNP) oriundas da síntese biológica são descritas na atualidade como os novos agentes nanobiotecnológicos com potencial aplicação industrial e ambiental, principalmente devido a reconhecida atividade antimicrobiana. Dentre os diferentes organismos capazes de biossintetizar AgNP, os fungos filamentosos (Ff) se destacam, devido ao rápido crescimento e fácil escalonamento. Neste sentido, o presente estudo objetivou selecionar Ff marinhos, capazes de biossintetizar AgNP, assim como, otimizar o processo de síntese avaliando a influência de da concentração de AgNO3, biomassa, agitação, temperatura e pH. Também foi avaliada capacidade antimicrobiana e potencial efeito tóxico em camarão de água doce Palaemon pandaliformis. Dentre 12 linhagens Ff selecionadas, 10 apresentaram capacidade em biossintetizar AgNP. As AgNP produzidas pelas linhagens Penicillium citrinum IB-CLP11, Penicillium sclerotigenum IB-CLP17, Aspergillus niger IB-CLP20 e Penicillium polonicum IB-CLP22 apresentaram banda de ressonância plasmônica superficial no espectro em comprimento de onda compreendido entre 410-450 nm, tamanho compreendido entre 1-100 nm, carga com valor em módulo até o limite de 30 mV, índice de polidispersão inferior a 0,3. Nos estudos de ação antibacteriana, todas as 4 AgNP apresentaram capacidade em inibir o crescimento de Pseudomonas aeruginosa IPT322, Staphylococcus aureus IPT246 e Klebsiella pneumoniae IPT412 em concentração igual ou superior a 50 μg·mL-1 . Com r... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) from biological synthesis are currently described as the new nanobiotechnological agents with potential industrial and environmental application, mainly due to their recognized antimicrobial activity. Among the different organisms capable of biosynthesizing AgNP, filamentous fungi (Ff) stand out because of the rapid growth and easy staggering. Thus, the present study aimed to select marine fungi from the collection of culture of the Institute of Biosciences- Campus littoral Paulista (IB-CLP) of the state of São Paulo, which is able to biosynthesize AgNP, as well as optimize the synthesis process by evaluating the influence of different physico-chemical parameters, such, as variations concentrations in AgNO3, biomass, agitation, temperature and pH. An antimicrobial capacity and potential toxic effect were also evaluated in freshwater shrimp Palaemon pandaliformis. Among 12 selected strains of fungi, 10 were able to biosynthesize AgNP. All AgNP were characterized according to the proposed parameters and after 6 months of stability analysis, 4 presented a set of promising characteristics for the accomplishment of the second stage of the study. The AgNP produced by the Penicillium citrinum IB-CLP11, Penicillium sclerotigenum IB-CLP17, Aspergillus niger IB-CLP20 and Penicillium polonicum IB-CLP22 strains have surface plasmonic resonance band (SPR) in the wavelength range of 410-450 nm, size between 1-100 nm, load with module value up to the limit of 30 ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Aspergilose é uma das principais causas de mortalidade em aves imunocompetentes e imunodeprimidas. A manifestação clínica aguda da doença é geralmente observada em aves jovens, com episódios de surtos em aviários, enquanto a forma crônica é mais frequentemente observada em aves adultas. A inspeção das carcaças é fundamental para a detecção e monitoramento da prevalência de doenças. Os objetivos do trabalho foram avaliar a ocorrência de aspergilose causada por Aspergillus fumigatus em aves comerciais através do diagnóstico micológico e histopatológico e verificar a possibilidade de associação causal entre os critérios de diagnóstico de aspergilose e condenação por aerossaculite em frangos de corte através de um estudo de casocontrole. O estudo foi realizado com 380 amostras pulmonares. Foram coletados pulmões de frangos condenados (95) por aerossaculite e não condenados (285), diretamente na linha de abate de um frigorífico. Quarenta e seis (12%) amostras de pulmão foram positivas na cultura micológica. Do total de amostras, 177 (46,6%) apresentaram alterações histopatológicas, sendo as mais frequentes pneumonia fibrinoheterofílica necrótica, pneumonia heterofílica e hiperplasia linfóide. Do total de 380 pulmões analisados, 30 (65,2%) apresentaram concomitantemente alterações histopatológicas e isolamento fúngico. A relação entre a presença de lesões histopatológicas e isolamento de A. fumigatus testada por McNemar indicou que houve associação significativa entre a presença de alterações histopatológicas e o isolamento de A. fumigatus. A identificação molecular foi realizada em 44 isolados, sendo todos confirmados como sendo A. fumigatus através dos genes b-tub e rodA. O cultivo micológico e o exame histopatológico aumentam as chances de se detectar alterações pulmonares em aves condenadas pelo Sistema de Inspeção Final do que nas aves normais, sugerindo que tais critérios de diagnóstico são eficazes para aprimorar a avaliação e condenação de aves por aerossaculite. O perfil genético entre os isolados foi variado, mostrando que isolados de aves normais podem ser potencialmente causadores de aspergilose em aves suceptíveis. / Aspergillosis is one of the main causes of mortality in both immunocompetent and immunodepressed birds. The clinical manifestation of acute aspergillosis is usually observed in young birds, often with episodes of outbreaks in poultry farms, whereas chronic aspergillosis is more frequently observed in adult birds. The inspection of carcasses is fundamental for the detection of diseases and for monitoring their prevalence. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the occurrence of aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in poultry through mycological and histopathological diagnosis and to verify the possibility of a causal association between the criteria for aspergillosis diagnosis and carcass condemnation due to airsacculitis in broilers through a case-control study. The study was made with 380 lung samples. Lungs were collected from condemned (95) and not condemned (285) broilers due to airsacculitis, directly from the slaughter line of a slaughterhouse. Forty-six (12%) lung samples were positives in mycological culture. From the total samples, 177 (46.6%) showed histopathological alterations, the most frequent being necrotic, fibrinous, heterophilic pneumonia, heterophilic pneumonia and lymphoid hyperplasia. Of the 380 lungs analyzed, 30 (65.2%) showed histopathological alterations and isolation of fungi. The relation between the presence of histopathological lesions and the isolation of A. fumigatus, as observed with the McNemar test, indicated the significant association between the presence of histopathological alterations and the isolation of A. fumigatus.The molecular identification was made in 44 isolates, and all of them were confirmed to be A. fumigatus through analysis of the b-tub and rodA. The mycological cultivation and the histopathological test increase the chances of detecting pulmonary alterations in birds condemned by the Final Inspection System than in normal birds, suggesting that such diagnostic criteria are efficient to improve the assessment and condemnation of birds affected by airsacculitis. There were different genetic profiles among the isolates, which shows that isolates obtained from normal birds can potentially cause aspergillosis in those susceptible.

Submitted by Cássio da Cruz Nogueira (cassionogueirakk@gmail.com) on 2017-01-30T13:57:56Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertaca_ValidacaoAtividadeAntifungica.pdf: 2825671 bytes, checksum: 6f18d342d49cb45885df6f1717b7c911 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Edisangela Bastos (edisangela@ufpa.br) on 2017-02-01T12:05:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertaca_ValidacaoAtividadeAntifungica.pdf: 2825671 bytes, checksum: 6f18d342d49cb45885df6f1717b7c911 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-01T12:05:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertaca_ValidacaoAtividadeAntifungica.pdf: 2825671 bytes, checksum: 6f18d342d49cb45885df6f1717b7c911 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-29 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Os nitrocompostos foram empregados na terapêutica a partir da década de 40, quando foram amplamente sintetizados e testados frente a diversas doenças assim como a descoberta de seus efeitos citotóxicos. Deste modo foram estudados diversos grupos, derivados e análogos que pudessem se mostrar mais seguros e eficazes. Alguns estudos mostraram que os nitroestirenos, a exemplo do nitrofenileteno possuem diversas atividades biológicas como: antifúngica, antibacteriana, anti-inflamatória, antinoceptiva, etc. Associado a isto, atualmente, há um crescente interesse em novos agentes antifúngicos. Dentre os fungos do gênero Aspergillus o mais comuns é o Aspergillus fumigatus o qual é transmitido através do ar causando infecções denominadas de aspergiloses. Outros fungos com relevância na clínica são os dermatófitos que causam diversas doenças de pele e seus anexos, sendo o Trichophyton mentagrophytes bastante prevalente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi validar a estrutura química de nitroestirenos sintetizados em nível de bancada e testá-los como antifúngicos em duas espécies de fungos, entre eles um filamentoso oportunista e um dermatófito, assim como testar os efeitos sinérgicos entre os nitroestirenos obtidos com anfotericina B. Os resultados mostraram que espectros de Infravermelho e Ressonância Magnética Nuclear 1H dos análogos nitroestirenos correspondem com a estrutura proposta. O teste in vitro de microdiluição demonstrou atividade antifúngica dos nitroestirenos, pois foi obtida a CIM do composto 4’-metil-1-nitro-2-fenileteno (7B) na concentração de 0,05 mg/mL frente ao A. fumigatus. Já para a espécie T. mentagrophytes o composto com melhor atividade foi 4’-metoxi-1-nitro-2-fenileteno (7C) com a CIM de 0,22 mg/mL. Com relação à análise da combinação entre AB e os nitroestirenos, in vitro, pelo teste do checkerboard se mostrou antagonista para o composto 7A e 7C e indiferente para o composto 7B frente à cepa padrão de A. fumigatus. / Nitro compounds have been used in therapy from the 40s, when they were widely synthesized and tested against various diseases as well as the discovery of their cytotoxic effects. Thus different groups, derivatives and analogs which could prove safer and more effective were studied. Some studies have shown that nitrostyrenes, like the nitrofenileteno possess diverse biological activities such as antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antinoceptive, etc. Additonally, there is currently a growing interest in new antifungal agents. Among the fungi of the genus Aspergillus is the most common Aspergillus fumigatus which is transmitted through the air causing aspergillosis. Dermatophytes are clinically relevant and cause various skin diseases, Trichophyton mentagrophytes being quite prevalent. The objective of this study was to validate the chemical structure of synthesized nitrostyrenes and evaluate its antifungal activity in two species of fungi, including a filamentous dermatophytes and opportunistic as well as evaluation of the synergistic effects among nitrostyrenes and amphotericin B (AB). The results confirm the infrared spectral and nuclear magnetic resonance of 1H nitrostyrenes analogues as correspond with the proposed structure. Test microdilution demonstrated in vitro antifungal activity of nitrostyrenes with MIC values for 4'-methyl-1-nitro-2- phenylethene (7B) of 0,05 mg/ml against A. fumigatus. For T. mentagrophytes the most active compound was 4'-methoxy-1-nitro-2-phenylethene (7C) with MIC of 0,22 mg/mL. Regarding the analysis of the combination of AB and nitrostyrenes in vitro by the checkerboard test showed antagonist compound 7A and 7C. The 7B compound was indifferent against the standard strain of A. Fumigatus.