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The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a major global threat to modern medicine. The rapid dissemination of resistant pathogens and the associated loss of efficacy of many important drugs needs to be met with the development of new antibiotics and alternative treatment options. A better understanding of the evolution of resistance could help in developing strategies to slow down the spread of antimicrobial drug resistance. In this thesis we investigated the evolution of resistance to two important antibiotics, rifampicin and ciprofloxacin, paying special attention to the resistance patterns occurring with high frequency in clinical isolates. Rifampicin is a first-line drug in tuberculosis treatment and resistance to this valuable drug limits treatment options. Our work on rifampicin resistance helps to explain the extreme bias seen in the frequency of specific resistance mutations in resistant clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis. We identified an important interplay between the level of resistance, relative fitness and selection of fitness-compensatory mutations among the most common resistant isolates. Fluoroquinlones are widely used to treat infections with Gram-negatives and the frequency of resistance to these important drugs is increasing. Resistance to fluoroquinolones is the result of a multi-step evolutionary process. Our studies on the development of resistance to the fluoroquinolone drug ciprofloxacin provide insights into the evolutionary trajectories and reveal the order in which susceptible wild-type E. coli acquire multiple mutations leading to high level of resistance. We found that the evolution of ciprofloxacin resistance is strongly influenced by the mutation supply rate and by the relative fitness of competing strains at each successive step in the evolution. Our data show that different classes of resistance mutations arise in a particular, predictable order during drug selection. We also uncovered strong evidence for the existence of a novel class of mutations affecting transcription and translation, which contribute to the evolution of resistance to ciprofloxacin.

Ewens sampling formula is the sampling distribution for a population assumed to follow a one parameter Poisson-Dirichlet distribution, where the parameter is fixed. In this project this assumption will be loosened and we will look at the parameter as a function of the sample size. This will result in sampling from a family of Poisson-Dirichlet distributions. Estimators for this new construction will be tested using two different simulation methods. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Evaluating the evolutionary role of mutations depends on an understanding of their major properties, including their rate of origin, U, and the distribution of their fitness effects, f(s). While substantial effort has been put into measuring these properties, most studies have only examined their distributions in a single context. In nature, spontaneous mutations are likely to experience heterogeneity in genetic and environmental context, and this could lead to variation in both U and f(s). My thesis investigates the changes in U and f(s) with different genetic and environmental factors in Drosophila melanogaster, in order to elucidate the nature of context-associated variation in mutational properties. Examination of condition-dependent variation in DNA repair showed that high and low conditioned individuals differ in the use of alternative repair pathways. This could ultimately lead to variance in their heritable mutation rates. However, the assumption that condition dependence in repair arises solely due to a presumed trade-off between accuracy and the energetic costs associated with different repair pathways is too simplistic. Instead, physiological considerations appear to mediate condition-dependent changes in DNA repair. Measurements of selection on individual mutations across different genetic and environment contexts showed that context-associated changes in mutational fitness effects are common. I found that heterogeneity in fitness effects across different environments result in changes to the overall mean and variance of f(s). This does not, however, seem attributable to the degree of ‘adaptedness’ of a population to a particular environment (a prediction generated by previous theoretical analysis). On the other hand, f(s) appears to be relatively robust to differences among genotypes, with epistasis averaging close to zero. This finding suggests that genetic and environmental perturbations may affect mutations differently. Overall, my thesis represents the most rigorous empirical investigation to date of the conceptual and theoretical predictions regarding the nature of context-dependent heterogeneity in U and f(s) for multicellular eukaryotes.

Evaluating the evolutionary role of mutations depends on an understanding of their major properties, including their rate of origin, U, and the distribution of their fitness effects, f(s). While substantial effort has been put into measuring these properties, most studies have only examined their distributions in a single context. In nature, spontaneous mutations are likely to experience heterogeneity in genetic and environmental context, and this could lead to variation in both U and f(s). My thesis investigates the changes in U and f(s) with different genetic and environmental factors in Drosophila melanogaster, in order to elucidate the nature of context-associated variation in mutational properties. Examination of condition-dependent variation in DNA repair showed that high and low conditioned individuals differ in the use of alternative repair pathways. This could ultimately lead to variance in their heritable mutation rates. However, the assumption that condition dependence in repair arises solely due to a presumed trade-off between accuracy and the energetic costs associated with different repair pathways is too simplistic. Instead, physiological considerations appear to mediate condition-dependent changes in DNA repair. Measurements of selection on individual mutations across different genetic and environment contexts showed that context-associated changes in mutational fitness effects are common. I found that heterogeneity in fitness effects across different environments result in changes to the overall mean and variance of f(s). This does not, however, seem attributable to the degree of ‘adaptedness’ of a population to a particular environment (a prediction generated by previous theoretical analysis). On the other hand, f(s) appears to be relatively robust to differences among genotypes, with epistasis averaging close to zero. This finding suggests that genetic and environmental perturbations may affect mutations differently. Overall, my thesis represents the most rigorous empirical investigation to date of the conceptual and theoretical predictions regarding the nature of context-dependent heterogeneity in U and f(s) for multicellular eukaryotes.

Les mutations constituent une des principales sources de variation sur lesquelles agit la sélection naturelle, permettant ainsi l'évolution des organismes vivants. Comprendre la dynamique d'accumulation des mutations, ainsi que les biais pouvant influer leur apparition, est donc indispensable pour mieux appréhender les processus évolutifs. Dans cette thèse, j'ai exploré ces deux aspects dans un contexte évolutif.Dans une première partie, je me suis intéressée à la dynamique des taux de mutation au cours du temps évolutif. En effet, les mutations pouvant être bénéfiques, neutres ou délétères, la dynamique des taux de mutation est régie par deux forces opposées que sont l'adaptabilité (la capacité à évoluer) et la stabilité du génome. Cette dynamique a été très étudiée de façon théorique, mais les études expérimentales sont plus limitées, et surtout à des périodes de temps courtes.Dans une seconde partie, je me suis intéressée aux biais mutationnels. En effet, de précédentes études ont montré que les taux de mutation pouvaient varier au sein d'un même génome. Ainsi, certaines mutations peuvent se produire de façon plus fréquente que d'autres, le taux de mutation d'un nucléotide pouvant par exemple être influencé par les nucléotides avoisinants.Ces analyses ont été réalisées dans le contexte de l'expérience d'évolution à long terme initiée en 1988 par Richard Lenski (Michigan State University, USA). Douze populations ont été initiées à partir d'un ancêtre commun Escherichia coli et sont propagées depuis plus de 25 ans par repiquages quotidiens dans un milieu frais. Des échantillons ont été prélevés et le génome de clones évolués séquencé à différents temps, permettant une étude phénotypique et génomique des taux de mutations sur plus de 50 000 générations.J'ai ainsi pu mettre en évidence une dynamique importante des taux de mutation, avec l'émergence de génotypes hypermutateurs suivie de phénomènes de compensation multiples. D'autre part, j'ai pu observer des biais mutationnels importants dont l'impact des nucléotides avoisinant les mutations silencieuses dans les populations. / Mutations are the ultimate source of variation that allow living organisms to adapt through natural selection. Understanding the dynamics of mutation accumulation and how they are biased stands as a keystone to understand evolutionary processes. In this work, I explored these two aspects of mutation accumulation in an evolutionary framework.First, I studied the dynamics of mutation rates over evolutionary time. As mutations may be beneficial, neutral or deleterious, the dynamics of mutation rates will be a function of two opposite driving forces: evolvability or the ability to evolve and genome stability. The resulting dynamics has been widely studied theoretically but experimental studies are scarce and mostly limited to short periods of time.Second, I focused on mutational biases. Previous studies showed that mutation rates might vary within given genomes, as a function for example of both their localization and neighboring nucleotides.All studies from this Ph.D thesis were performed in the context of the long-term evolution experiment which has been started in 1988 by Richard Lenski (Michigan State University, USA). Twelve populations were initiated from a common ancestor strain of Escherichia coli and have been propagated ever since for more than 25 years by daily transfers in fresh medium. Samples were collected and genomes of evolved clones were sequenced at regular time point intervals, allowing both the phenotypic and genomic studies of the mutation rate for more than 50,000 generations.In this study, I showed that mutation rates are highly dynamic: the emergence of hypermutator genotypes is followed by multiple compensation events. I also observed large mutational biases, including the impact of the neighboring nucleotides on resulting aminoacid changes.

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To further facilitate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence analysis for human identity testing, a better understanding of its mutation rate is needed. Prior to the middle 1990's the mutation rate applied to a forensic or evolutionary analysis was determined by phylogenetic means, This method involved calculating genetic distances as determined by amino acid or DNA sequence variability within or between species. The mutation rate as determined by this method ranged from 0.025-0.26 nucleotide substitutions/ site/ myr (million years). With the recent advent of mtDNA analysis as a tool in human identity testing an increased number of observations have recently come to light calling into question the mutation rate derived from the phylogenetic method. The mutation rate as observed from forensic analysis appears to be much higher than that calculated phylogenetically. This is an area that needs to be resolved in human identity testing. Mutations that occur within a maternal lineage can lead to a possible false exclusion of an individual as belonging to that lineage. A greater understanding of the actual rate of mutation within a given maternal lineage can assist in determining criteria for including or excluding individuals as belonging to that lineage. The method used to assess the mutation rate in this study was to compare mtDNA sequences derived from the HVI and HVII regions of the D-loop from several different maternal lineages. The sequence information was derived from five unrelated families consisting of thirty-five individuals. One intergenerational mutational event was found. This derives to approximately 1.9 nucleotide substitutions/ site/ myr. This mutation rate was very consistent with several other similar studies. This increased mutation rate needs to be considered by forensic testing laboratories performing mtDNA sequence analysis prior to formulating any conclusive results.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:38:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ISABELLA LACERDA FERNANDES.pdf: 1467834 bytes, checksum: 985b4aa7bf961993ef7672d3838bc086 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-31 / Microsatellite markers are short sequences, repetitive, highly polymorphic and hereditary present in the DNA, which follow the Mendelian pattern of segregation. Due to its haplotype heritage has been used to trace the paternal line to be passed from generation to generation without any changes, except in cases of mutation. The stepwise mutation model is more acceptable to mutation in microsatellite markers, assuming that each mutational event the length of a microsatellite changes by one or a few repeating units due to slippage process, which occurs during replication DNA. This study aimed to estimate the rates of change of microsatellite markers of the Y chromosome in a sample of the population and its implications in human identification process. It is a molecular study, which was conducted at Biocroma Laboratory in partnership with LaGene and Replicon in Goiânia-Goiás. Samples of study were selected from 80 cases of investigation of paternity by DNA analysis, undergo mutation analysis in the Y chromosome haplotypes with molecular amplification system PowerPlex® Y23 System - Promega Corporation. Were identified 15 records of germline mutations in the Y chromosome between alleged parents and children related to suspected samples. The results have identified 9 mutations gain and 6 mutations loss of repetitions numbers. The DYS576 marker had the highest number of reported mutations (20%), followed by DYS570, which identified two mutations (13.33%). The markers DYS389 II, DYS391, DYS481, DYS549, DYS438, DYS439, DYS393, DYS458, DYS385 a - b DYS456 showed only 1 (6.66%) mutation record each. In the other markers, DYS389 I, DYS448, DYS19, DYS533, DYS437, DYS635, DYS390, DYS392, DYS643 and Y-GATA-H4 mutations were not identified in the samples analyzed in this study. Thus the identification of mutations increases the tools that are used in genetic analysis link laboratories and can deliver a more reliable result minimizing potential errors in the analyzes. / Os marcadores microssatélites são sequências curtas, repetitivas, altamente polimórficas e hereditárias presentes no DNA, que seguem o padrão mendeliano de segregação. Devido a sua herança haplotípica tem sido utilizado para rastrear a linhagem paterna por ser passado de geração em geração sem nenhuma alteração, exceto em casos de mutação. O modelo step-wise mutation é o mais aceito para mutação nos marcadores microssatélites, admitindo-se que, a cada evento mutacional o comprimento de um microssatélite altera por uma ou poucas unidades de repetição devido ao processo de slippage, que ocorre durante a replicação do DNA. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estimar as taxas de mutações dos marcadores microssatélites do cromossomo Y em uma amostra da população brasileira e suas implicações no processo de identificação humana. Trata-se de um estudo molecular, que foi conduzido no Laboratório Biocroma em parceria com o LaGene e Replicon em Goiânia-Goiás. As amostras de estudo foram selecionadas de 80 casos de investigação de paternidade pela análise do DNA, submetidos a análise de mutações nos haplótipos do cromossomo Y com o sistema de amplificação molecular PowerPlex® Y23 System Promega Corporation. Foram identificados 15 registros de mutações germinativas no cromossomo Y entre supostos pais e supostos filhos referentes às amostras analisadas. Os resultados obtidos permitiram identificar 9 mutações de ganho e 6 mutações de perda de números de repetições. O marcador DYS576 apresentou o maior número de mutações registrados (20%), seguido pelo DYS570, que permitiu identificar 2 mutações (13,33%). Os marcadores DYS389 II, DYS391, DYS481, DYS549, DYS438, DYS439, DYS393, DYS458, DYS385 a-b e DYS456 apresentaram apenas 1 (6,66%) registro de mutação cada. Nos demais marcadores, DYS389 I, DYS448, DYS19, DYS533, DYS437, DYS635, DYS390, DYS392, DYS643 e Y-GATA-H4 não foram identificadas mutações nas amostras analisadas neste estudo. Desta forma a identificação das mutações aumenta as ferramentas que são utilizadas nos laboratórios de análise de vínculo genético e que podem garantir um resultado mais confiável minimizando possíveis erros nas análises.

The rate of DNA mutation is known to fluctuate across the genome but the patterns of mutation rate variation and molecular causes are poorly defined. It is important to understand these patterns of mutation as they influence where deleterious mutations are likely to arise and how rapidly sequences are likely to accumulate change between species, a measure often used as a proxy for functional constraint. In this work I investigate the relationship between DNA replication and apparent mutation hotspots adjacent to transcription factor binding sites. In eukaryotes both DNA strands are replicated simultaneously, the leading strand as a continuous stretch and the lagging strand as a series of discrete Okazaki fragments that are subsequently ligated together. Some transcription factors are able to bind the DNA lagging strand during replication and act as a partial barrier to DNA polymerase, resulting in the accumulation of Okazaki fragment junctions adjacent to these sites. I find that mutation rate is correlated genome wide with Okazaki junction frequency, suggesting that Okazaki junction processing may be error-prone. We present a mechanistic hypothesis to explain this locally elevated mutation rate and propose a role for lagging strand replication and its error-prone Pol α tract retention in the formation of these hotspots. I test this hypothesis using Okazaki fragment sequencing data from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify peaks in Okazaki junctions. When these peaks are aligned and orientated, so that the direction of lagging strand replication is uniform, I find a peak in substitution rate immediately downstream of Okazaki junctions, precisely where Pol α tract retention is predicted to occur. Novel binding motifs are identified within the underlying DNA of these junctions that can be assigned to known strong and fast-binding transcription factors, previously implicated in the phasing of nucleosomes, such as Reb1. I show that mutation hotspots adjacent to transcription factor binding sites are a conserved feature of eukaryotic genomes. In the human genome I predict sites of preferential Pol α retention using DNase I hypersensitivity footprint data. We observe that those footprints predicted as germline-specific manifest an elevated mutation signature. I propose that the rapid binding of some transcription factors to DNA following replication is required for nucleosome positioning or other important functions, however this incurs a cost in terms of locally elevated mutation rate adjacent to and within the sequence specific binding site. As a consequence these binding sites are biologically important mutational hotspots whose functional significance has been systematically underestimated by standard measures of sequence constraint.