Reductionist biology has yielded tremendous insight into the basis of biochemistry and genetic disease. However, the remarkable failure of reductionist biology to explain complex problems, especially cancer, has led to the development of systems biology. The vast complexity of biological systems remains the most difficult problem in biology today. In order to understand this complexity, we need tools to massively multiplex measurements of a signaling network. Therefore, we developed lysate microarray technology to fill this need. In this work, we discuss three ways in which lysate microarrays were applied to human disease. In the first work, we discuss a key stage in malaria development. The liver-stage malaria parasite represents a promising target for intervention, and we present the first use of lysate microarray technology as a screening tool for host-parasite interactions in an infectious disease. We identified three cancer-related pathways that are modified in malaria infection, and studied the p53 pathway in depth. Our finding that the parasite downregulates p53 and that treatment with Nutlin-3 strongly decreases parasite load may lead to the development of a prophylactic malaria vaccine. In the second work, we began by screening drug combinations and varying dosing schedule in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). We systematically explored stimulation space and collected a large lysate microarray dataset, which was used for statistical analysis. We identified a sensitization effect when a growth factor signaling inhibitor was presented before a genotoxic agent. This sensitization was generalizable among a subset of TNBCs and may generally be important for cancers driven by growth factor signaling, as we found the effect extends to nonTNBC cancers. We hope this data will be useful in guiding cancer treatment strategies in patients. In the third work, we study the changing role of the DNA Damage Response (DDR) as a cell line evolves towards cancer. We used the MCF10A progression series and studied how these cell lines respond to genotoxic agents. We identified differences in cell fates after treatment, and collected a large lysate microarray dataset for statistical analysis. Early analysis of the data indicates gross rewiring within the DDR between the MCF10A cell lines.

HER2/neu is an oncogenic tumor-associated antigen over-expressed in several human tumors including breast and ovarian cancer. The selective expression of HER2/neu and its role in epithelial carcinogenesis makes HER2/neu an ideal target for immunotherapy. Tumor-derived chaperone-rich cell lysate (CRCL), containing numerous heat shock proteins, has successfully been used to generate tumor-specific immunity against a wide range of murine tumors and is a great candidate for an effective vaccine against HER2/neu positive tumors. In the first part of this study, the potency of human ovarian cancer-derived CRCL to activate dendritic cells (DCs) and to generate tumor-specific T cells in vitro has been investigated. Chaperone-rich cell lysate was generated from primary ovarian cancer tissues and SKOV3-A2, a HER2/neu, Wilm's tumor gene 1 (WT1) and HLA-A2 positive human ovarian tumor cell line. T cells from healthy donors and from ovarian cancer patients secreted higher amounts of interferon-γ following in vitro re-stimulation with ovarian cancer-derived CRCL compared to HER2/neu or WT1 peptide-pulsed DCs. We were also able to generate cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity against cancer-specific antigens such as HER2/neu and WT1 from all healthy donors, but from only one of the four ovarian cancer patients with bulky disease. In the second part of the study, the potency of tumor-derived CRCL to elicit the humoral immune response against a murine HER2/neu positive tumor (TUBO) has been examined. Vaccination of mice bearing a palpable tumor efficiently delayed the development of the tumor. In the vaccinated mice, CRCL vaccination induced significant anti-HER2/neu antibodies. Using B cell deficient mice and antibody transfer experiments, we have shown that the induction of anti-HER2/neu antibodies is both necessary and sufficient for the anti-tumor effect. Further, we have demonstrated that serum from TUB0 CRCL-vaccinated mice stimulated the internalization of the HER2/neu molecules, resulting in the down-regulation of their surface expression. Moreover, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity has been observed against TUBO cells when presented with sera from vaccinated mice. These results indicate that CRCL may be a potent adjuvant for women suffering from HER2/neu positive ovarian or breast cancer and that this personalized vaccine may be a promising approach for active immunotherapy.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a clonal hematopoetic stem cell disorder characterized by proliferation of cells expressing BCR-ABL fusion protein. In the BCR-ABL+ leukemia murine model, 12B1, we explored the therapeutic applicability of chaperone-rich cell lysate (CRCL) in the context of syngeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) to treat pre-existing leukemia. Our results demonstrate that tumor growth is significantly delayed in mice receiving syngeneic HCT from 12B1 tumor CRCL immunized donors compared to animals receiving HCT from non-immunized donors. CRCL immunization post-immune HCT further hindered tumor growth when compared to immune HCT without post-transplant vaccination. The magnitude of the immune response was consistent with the anti-tumor effects observed in vivo. We also demonstrated that cured mice had developed long-term tumor specific immunity against 12B1 tumor cells. In addition, we documented that both T cells and NK cells contributed to the anti-tumor effect of CRCL vaccination as depletion of either subset hampered tumor growth delay. Thus, our results suggest that CRCL represents a promising vaccine capable of generating specific immune responses. This anti-tumor immunity can be effectively transferred to a host via HCT and further enhanced post-HCT with additional tumor CRCL immunizations.CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) play a central role in the prevention of autoimmunity and in the control of immune responses by down-regulating the function of effector CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. The role of Treg in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and persistence is inadequately documented. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine whether CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells may modulate immunity against human tuberculosis (TB). Ourresults indicate that the number of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg increases in the blood or at the site of infection in active TB patients. The frequency of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg in pleural fluid inversely correlates with local MTB-specific immunity(p<0.002). These CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ T lymphocytes isolated from the blood and pleural fluid are capable of suppressing MTB-specific IFN-γ and IL-10 production in TB patients. Therefore, CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg expanded in TB patients suppress Mycobacterium tuberculosis immunity and may therefore contribute to the pathogenesis of human TB.

Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences / Department of Anatomy and Physiology / Mark L. Weiss / Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived from the umbilical cord (UC-MSCs) have therapeutic applications and are studied to understand their potential uses and immunomodulatory properties. Research must identify good manufacturing process (GMP) compliant methods to isolate and expand UC-MSCs. In addition, MSCs metabolism characteristics in culture are unknown, warranting further investigation. Viability of MSCs decreases after cryopreservation, which is detrimental to clinical translation. Previously published methods used to isolate MSCs from the umbilical cord included open dissection steps and xenogeneic components. Here, I developed improved methods by eliminating dissection which reduces contamination risks. Instead, I used the whole umbilical cord and Miltenyi dissociator tubes to mechanically and enzymatically dissociate cells in a closed system. Xenogeneic components were decreased by using medium containing pooled human platelet lysate instead of fetal bovine serum. The cell numbers isolated from umbilical cord averaged 2.68 x 10⁵ per cm, which represents greater than 20 fold improvement over the previous method. Moreover, expansion cell numbers were increased using 10% pooled human platelet lysate supplemented media. The UC-MSCs generated here met the International Society of Cell Therapy (ISCT) definition of MSCs. Metabolism characteristics of MSCs indicated that glucose was the critical metabolite, maintaining cells longer in culture than glutamine. Cell death followed depletion of glucose, too. Finally, the average viability after thawing cryopreserved MSCs was more than 95%, higher than previous methods. The improvements I introduced to our methodology could speed clinical translation of MSCs as an allogeneic cellular therapy

Yeast probiotics and paraprobiotics, live and inactivated yeast cells, respectively, improve health and performance of livestock by stabilizing the intestinal microbial community. They have also been used for infection prevention and treatment. Despite much research already conducted, the mechanism of direct antagonism, or adhesion of bacteria to the probiotic/paraprobiotic, is under characterized. Additionally, it is unknown which probiotic/paraprobiotic is optimal to use for specific infections. The interactions between the yeast and certain pathogens were analyzed qualitatively with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantitatively with membrane filtration assays. Gram-positive bacteria were found to exhibit specificity under SEM. Through membrane filtration, Listeria monocytogenes exhibited binding to all samples (P<0.05), while Salmonella Typhimurium exhibited binding (P<0.001) with all samples except with 2338. Escherichia coli O157:H7 only bound to the probiotics (P<0.001). With a better understanding of how specific yeast probiotics and paraprobiotics interact with bacteria, specific therapies can be administered to combat infections.

Empregando a técnica de biologia molecular Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization e o teste Limulus Amebocyte Lysate, os objetivos do presente estudo clínico randomizado in vivo foram avaliar, em bráquetes ortodônticos metálicos: 1) A presença de 16 espécies de microrganismos periodontopatogênicos Gram-negativos pertencentes aos complexos laranja e vermelho, por meio de sondas de DNA; 2) A quantidade de endotoxina bacteriana presente; e 3) A eficácia da utilização do gluconato de clorexidina a 0,12%, sob a forma de bochechos, na redução da contaminação pelas 16 espécies de microrganismos periodontopatogênicos Gram-negativos e na redução da quantidade de endotoxina bacteriana. Participaram do estudo 33 pacientes de 11 a 33 anos de idade, em tratamento com aparelho ortodôntico fixo, nos quais foram colocados randomicamente 3 bráquetes metálicos novos nos pré-molares. Os pacientes do Grupo Controle (n=17) fizeram 2 bochechos semanais com solução placebo, durante 30 dias. Os pacientes do Grupo Experimental (n=16) fizeram bochechos com solução à base de gluconato de clorexidina a 0,12% (Periogard®), da mesma forma que o grupo Controle. Decorridos 30 dias, os 3 bráquetes foram removidos de cada paciente e processados para a detecção dos microrganismos, pela técnica Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization, e para a quantificação da endotoxina bacteriana por meio do teste Limulus Amebocyte Lysate. Os resultados obtidos foram analisados por meio dos testes não-paramétricos de Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney e pós-teste de Dunn, utilizando os softwares SAS e Graphpad Prism. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, observou-se que todos os bráquetes dos pacientes do Grupo Controle encontravam-se densamente contaminados pelos microrganismos avaliados. Nesse grupo, as espécies bacterianas do complexo laranja apresentaram-se em maiores quantidades, em relação às espécies do complexo vermelho (p<0,01). A mediana da quantidade de endotoxina para este grupo foi de 0,6673 EU/ml. Quando comparado ao grupo Controle, observou-se que o número total de microrganismos no grupo Experimental foi estatisticamente menor, com mediana de 29.150.000 no grupo Controle e de 13.130.000 no grupo Experimental (p=0,01). Quando os microrganismos foram avaliados por complexos, foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos Controle e Experimental para o complexo laranja (p=0,04), com contagens menores de bactérias após os bochechos com clorexidina. Por outro lado, observou-se que a quantidade de endotoxina no grupo Experimental foi maior, com mediana de 1,2199 EU/ml (p=0,02). Concluiu-se que os bochechos com solução de gluconato de clorexidina a 0,12% podem ser úteis, na prática clínica, com a finalidade de reduzir os níveis de microrganismos periodontopatogênicos Gram-negativos, em pacientes portadores de aparelhos ortodônticos fixos. No entanto, em função do aumento da quantidade de endotoxina bacteriana após o uso dos bochechos com clorexidina, estudos adicionais são necessários com a finalidade de desenvolver procedimentos clínicos ou agentes antimicrobianos que tenham ação sobre a endotoxina presente nos bráquetes metálicos. / Using the biomolecular technique Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization and the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay, the purposes of the present randomized clinical study were to evaluate in orthodontic metallic brackets: 1) The presence of 16 Gram-negative periodontopathogenic microbial species of the orange and red complexes by using DNA probes; 2) The amount of bacterial endotoxin; and 3) The efficacy of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwashes in reducing the contamination by the evaluated microbial species and the amount of bacterial endotoxin. Thirty-three 11-33-year-old patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances were enrolled in the study and all subjects had 3 new metallic brackets bonded to different premolars in a randomized manner. The patients in the Control group (n=17) were instructed to use a placebo mouthwash twice a week, while those in the Experimental group (n=16) were instructed to use a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash (Periogard®) in the same way. After 30 days, the 3 brackets were removed from each patient and processed for detection of the microorganisms by the Checkerboard DNADNA hybridization technique, and for quantification of bacterial endotoxin by the LAL assay. The data were analyzed statistically by the non-parametric Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn\'s post tests using SAS and GraphPad Prism softwares. A significance level of 5% was set for all analyses. The brackets of the patients in the Control group were densely contaminated by the evaluated microbial species. In this group, the number of bacterial species of the orange complex was larger compared to the number of bacterial species of the red complex (p<0.01). The median of the amount of bacterial endotoxin for this group was 0.6673 EU/ml. The Experimental group had a significantly smaller number of microorganisms than the Control group (median 13,130,000 versus 29,150,000; p=0.01). When the microorganisms were analyzed by complex, there was statistically significant difference between the Control and Experimental groups for the orange complex (p=0.04) with smaller counts of bacteria after use of chlorhexidine oral rinses. On the other hand, there was a greater amount of bacterial endotoxin in the Experimental (median of 1,2199 EU/ml; p=0.02). In conclusion, 0.12% chlorhexidine oral rinse can be useful in the clinical practice to reduce the levels of Gram-negative periodontopathogenic microorganisms in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Considering the increase in the amount of bacterial endotoxin after use of chlorhexidine oral rinses, further research is necessary to develop clinical procedures or antimicrobial agents with action against the endotoxin in the metallic brackets

Empregando a técnica de biologia molecular Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization e o teste Limulus Amebocyte Lysate, os objetivos do presente estudo clínico randomizado in vivo foram avaliar, em bráquetes ortodônticos metálicos: 1) A presença de 16 espécies de microrganismos periodontopatogênicos Gram-negativos pertencentes aos complexos laranja e vermelho, por meio de sondas de DNA; 2) A quantidade de endotoxina bacteriana presente; e 3) A eficácia da utilização do gluconato de clorexidina a 0,12%, sob a forma de bochechos, na redução da contaminação pelas 16 espécies de microrganismos periodontopatogênicos Gram-negativos e na redução da quantidade de endotoxina bacteriana. Participaram do estudo 33 pacientes de 11 a 33 anos de idade, em tratamento com aparelho ortodôntico fixo, nos quais foram colocados randomicamente 3 bráquetes metálicos novos nos pré-molares. Os pacientes do Grupo Controle (n=17) fizeram 2 bochechos semanais com solução placebo, durante 30 dias. Os pacientes do Grupo Experimental (n=16) fizeram bochechos com solução à base de gluconato de clorexidina a 0,12% (Periogard®), da mesma forma que o grupo Controle. Decorridos 30 dias, os 3 bráquetes foram removidos de cada paciente e processados para a detecção dos microrganismos, pela técnica Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization, e para a quantificação da endotoxina bacteriana por meio do teste Limulus Amebocyte Lysate. Os resultados obtidos foram analisados por meio dos testes não-paramétricos de Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney e pós-teste de Dunn, utilizando os softwares SAS e Graphpad Prism. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, observou-se que todos os bráquetes dos pacientes do Grupo Controle encontravam-se densamente contaminados pelos microrganismos avaliados. Nesse grupo, as espécies bacterianas do complexo laranja apresentaram-se em maiores quantidades, em relação às espécies do complexo vermelho (p<0,01). A mediana da quantidade de endotoxina para este grupo foi de 0,6673 EU/ml. Quando comparado ao grupo Controle, observou-se que o número total de microrganismos no grupo Experimental foi estatisticamente menor, com mediana de 29.150.000 no grupo Controle e de 13.130.000 no grupo Experimental (p=0,01). Quando os microrganismos foram avaliados por complexos, foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos Controle e Experimental para o complexo laranja (p=0,04), com contagens menores de bactérias após os bochechos com clorexidina. Por outro lado, observou-se que a quantidade de endotoxina no grupo Experimental foi maior, com mediana de 1,2199 EU/ml (p=0,02). Concluiu-se que os bochechos com solução de gluconato de clorexidina a 0,12% podem ser úteis, na prática clínica, com a finalidade de reduzir os níveis de microrganismos periodontopatogênicos Gram-negativos, em pacientes portadores de aparelhos ortodônticos fixos. No entanto, em função do aumento da quantidade de endotoxina bacteriana após o uso dos bochechos com clorexidina, estudos adicionais são necessários com a finalidade de desenvolver procedimentos clínicos ou agentes antimicrobianos que tenham ação sobre a endotoxina presente nos bráquetes metálicos. / Using the biomolecular technique Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization and the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay, the purposes of the present randomized clinical study were to evaluate in orthodontic metallic brackets: 1) The presence of 16 Gram-negative periodontopathogenic microbial species of the orange and red complexes by using DNA probes; 2) The amount of bacterial endotoxin; and 3) The efficacy of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwashes in reducing the contamination by the evaluated microbial species and the amount of bacterial endotoxin. Thirty-three 11-33-year-old patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances were enrolled in the study and all subjects had 3 new metallic brackets bonded to different premolars in a randomized manner. The patients in the Control group (n=17) were instructed to use a placebo mouthwash twice a week, while those in the Experimental group (n=16) were instructed to use a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash (Periogard®) in the same way. After 30 days, the 3 brackets were removed from each patient and processed for detection of the microorganisms by the Checkerboard DNADNA hybridization technique, and for quantification of bacterial endotoxin by the LAL assay. The data were analyzed statistically by the non-parametric Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn\'s post tests using SAS and GraphPad Prism softwares. A significance level of 5% was set for all analyses. The brackets of the patients in the Control group were densely contaminated by the evaluated microbial species. In this group, the number of bacterial species of the orange complex was larger compared to the number of bacterial species of the red complex (p<0.01). The median of the amount of bacterial endotoxin for this group was 0.6673 EU/ml. The Experimental group had a significantly smaller number of microorganisms than the Control group (median 13,130,000 versus 29,150,000; p=0.01). When the microorganisms were analyzed by complex, there was statistically significant difference between the Control and Experimental groups for the orange complex (p=0.04) with smaller counts of bacteria after use of chlorhexidine oral rinses. On the other hand, there was a greater amount of bacterial endotoxin in the Experimental (median of 1,2199 EU/ml; p=0.02). In conclusion, 0.12% chlorhexidine oral rinse can be useful in the clinical practice to reduce the levels of Gram-negative periodontopathogenic microorganisms in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Considering the increase in the amount of bacterial endotoxin after use of chlorhexidine oral rinses, further research is necessary to develop clinical procedures or antimicrobial agents with action against the endotoxin in the metallic brackets

Genetic engineering of microbes has developed rapidly along with our ability to synthesize DNA de novo. Yet, even with decreasing DNA synthesis costs there remains a need for inexpensive, rapid and reliable methods for assembling synthetic DNA into larger constructs or combinatorial libraries. While technological advances have resulted in powerful techniques for in vitro and in vivo assembly of DNA, each suffers inherent disadvantages. Here, an ex vivo DNA cloning suite using crude cellular lysates derived from E. coli is demonstrated to amplify and assemble DNA containing small sequence homologies. Further, the advantages of an ex vivo approach are leveraged to rapidly optimize several parameters of the ex vivo DNA assembly methodology testing lysates from different engineered strains of E. coli, with various buffer components and using titrations of purified cloning enzymes. Finally, in order to complete the cloning suite, a vector expressing the Pyrococcus furiosis (Pfu) DNA polymerase was designed, constructed and expressed in E. coli to create a ‘functionalized lysate’ capable of ex vivo PCR. Not only do we demonstrate ex vivo cloning methodology as a complete cloning package capable of replacing the expensive cloning reagents currently required by synthetic biologists, but also establish ex vivo as an overarching approach for conducting molecular biology.

Dissertação(mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia Física, Química e Geológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, 2007. / Submitted by Cristiane Silva (cristiane_gomides@hotmail.com) on 2013-02-18T15:57:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_fabiana_gutierrez.pdf: 651273 bytes, checksum: 521f5497a65fcefafef6ef4795036615 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Bruna Vieira(bruninha_vieira@ibest.com.br) on 2013-06-12T16:59:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_fabiana_gutierrez.pdf: 651273 bytes, checksum: 521f5497a65fcefafef6ef4795036615 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-06-12T16:59:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_fabiana_gutierrez.pdf: 651273 bytes, checksum: 521f5497a65fcefafef6ef4795036615 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Florações de cianobactérias têm sido freqüentemente encontradas nas águas do estuário da Lagoa dos Patos (RS). Um das principais cianobactérias de ocorrência local é o gênero Microcystis. As células de Microcystis têm tolerância a baixas salinidades, porém com o aumento abrupto da salinidade, as células podem sofrer lise. Muitas vezes, em função da hidrodinâmica local, essas florações de cianobactérias podem atingir a região da Praia do Cassino, possibilitando o contato com banhistas. Devido à natureza Gram-negativa da composição da parede celular das cianobactérias, esse contato com as células pode resultar em na ocorrência de casos de irritação epicutânea e reações alérgicas. O agente causador é o lipídeo A (endotoxina), encontrado no lipopolissacarídeo (LPS) da membrana externa das cianobactérias. Com o objetivo de detectar concentrações ambientais de LPS das florações de cianobactérias foi utilizado o método cromogênico cinético de ponto final do teste do Lisado do Amebócito de Limulus polyphemus (teste LAL). O teste LAL foi realizado em amostras de água de superfície coletadas nas regiões de São Lourenço do Sul, Praia do Laranjal (Pelotas), Museu Oceanográfico da FURG, Yacht Club do Rio Grande e Praia do Cassino (Rio Grande), entre os meses de dezembro de 2005 e março de 2006. Nestas amostras também foram estimados a abundância celular dos principais grupos do fitoplâncton, a concentração de clorofila-a, e medida a salinidade local no momento da coleta. Para avaliar a possível interferência dos sais nos resultados do teste LAL, também foram realizados cultivos da cianobactéria Microcystis crescendo em diferentes salinidades, onde também foram estimados a abundância celular, e as concentrações de clorofila-a, LPS e microcistinas. Os ajustes metodológicos realizados no teste LAL durante o trabalho resultaram em uma sensibilidade para sua aplicação nas amostras ambientais. As maiores concentrações de endotoxinas detectadas nas amostras ambientais (109,5 EU.mL-1, 71,8 EU.mL-1 e 93,7 EU.mL-1) se correlacionaram positivamente com as maiores abundâncias celulares (aproximadamente 600.000 células.mL-1, 400.000 células.mL-1 e 300.000 células.mL-1, respectivamente), todas com a presença da cianobactéria Microcystis. / Cyanobacterial blooms have been frequently observed in the waters of the Patos Lagoon estuary (RS). One of the main cyanobacterium of local occurrence is the genus Microcystis. The Microcystis cells present some tolerance to low salinity, but with the rapid salt increase the cells may suffer breakdown. Usually due to the local hydrodynamics these blooms may reach the recreational waters of the Cassino Beach, exposing swimming bathers to its contact. Due to the Gram-negative nature of the cyanobacterial cell membrane, this contact with the cells may result in case occurrences of epicutaneous irritation and allergic reactions. The causing agent is the lipid A (endotoxin), found on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the external membrane of cyanobacteria. With the objective to detect environmental concentrations of LPS from cyanobacterial blooms, it was used the kinetic chromogenic endpoint method of the Limulus polyphemus Amebocyte Lisate test (LAL test). The LAL test was performed in surface water samples collected from the regions of São Lourenço do Sul, Laranjal Beach (Pelotas), FURG’s Oceanographic Museum, Yacht Club Rio Grande, and Cassino Beach (Rio Grande) betwen December 2005 and March 2006. In these samples it was also estimated the cellular abundance of the main phytoplanktonic groups, the chlorophyll-a concentration, and measured the local salinity. To evaluate the possible interference of salinity in the LAL test results, it was also cultivated the cyanobacterium Microcystis growing in different salinities. From these cultures it was estimate the cellular abundance, and chlorophyll-a, LPS and microcystin concentrations.. The methodological adjustments performed in the LAL test during this work resulted in a sensitivity for its application in environmental samples. The highest endotoxin concentrations detected in the environmental samples (109.5 EU.mL-1, 71.8 EU.mL-1 and 93.7 EU.mL-1) have positively correlated with the highest cell abundances (approximately 600,000 cells.mL-1, 400,000 cells.mL-1 and 300,000 cells.mL-1, respectively), all of them with the presence of the cyanobacteria Microcystis.

No description available.