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Thesis--Københavns universitet. / Bibliography: p. [130]-141.

Thesis--Københavns universitet. / Bibliography: p. [130]-141.

Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides small colony (MmmSC), is a devastating respiratory disease of cattle in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Little investigation has been done on molecular disease pathogenesis and host response beyond soluble cytokine detection. This study developed and characterized models for three strains of MmmSC of varying severity. Strains used were Gladysdale, Ondangwa and Shawawa. Samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, bronchial biopsy, nasal epithelial cells and blood were obtained prior to and at weekly time points post-infection. Microarray analysis of RNA extracted from samples revealed host cellular pathways and genes important in the pathogenesis of CBPP, including multiple immune system and inflammatory response pathways. A number of pathways whose influence on disease pathogenesis was not immediately clear were also activated, including pathways involved in amino acid synthesis, fat metabolism, and endocrine hormone responses. Microarray results were confirmed with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of selected genes. Comparative RT-PCR analysis of selected genes between the three strains of MmmSC revealed genes possibly responsible for differential strain virulence, including interleukins 1B, 6, 8, and 18 and the gene nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells inhibitor, alpha (NFKBIA). A similar analysis of selected genes between survivors and nonsurvivors of the virulent Gladysdale strain of MmmSC suggested genes involved in survival, including interleukin 8, calmodulin 2 (CALM2), and NFKBIA. Avenues of additional study were identified.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2002. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Notre modèle d'étude, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm), est l'agent de la péripneumonie contagieuse bovine (PPCB). Cette maladie fut un des plus grands fléaux de l'élevage bovin au XIXème siècle et sévit encore largement en Afrique. A cause de son impact sur l'économie, elle a bénéficié de grandes attentions dans les pays industrialisés, notamment lors des épisodes de résurgence européens dans les années 1980-90. Inscrite sur les listes de l'OIE, la PPCB est à déclaration obligatoire, ce qui entraine de sévères mesures de restriction sur le commerce des animaux vivants. Plusieurs espèces de mycoplasmes sont phylogénétiquement proches de Mmm. Pour mieux comprendre la pathogénie de cette maladie, il est nécessaire d'analyser les facteurs qui peuvent concourir à la virulence de l'agent pathogène incriminé. Dans ce contexte, nous nous sommes intéressés aux exopolysaccharides (EPS) de Mmm, candidats clés dans la virulence de cette bactérie. Ils ont été caractérisés chimiquement par HPLC et RMN, puis comparés aux polysaccharides capsulaires (CPS) dans le cadre d'une étude sur des variants intraclonaux de Mmm. Ces expériences ont été rendues possibles grâce à l'élaboration d'un protocole offrant une production optimale des EPS pour les analyses et un affranchissement des contaminants du milieu lors de leur isolement à partir des surnageants de culture. Ce protocole a permis, par ailleurs, d'élargir l'étude de caractérisation chimique des EPS au groupe « mycoides » auquel appartient Mmm. La production d'anticorps monoclonaux anti-polysaccharides a offert la possibilité d'étudier les communautés antigéniques au sein du groupe et de caractériser la localisation du polymère sécrété (CPS et/ou EPS). Les génomes séquencés et annotés disponibles ont fait l'objet d'études in silico sur les voies de biosynthèse potentiellement impliquées dans la production des polysaccharides. Les résultats montrent que dans le cas de Mmm, les variants d'un même clone présentent des différences de production de polysaccharides se traduisant par un phénotype opaque/translucide en culture sur milieu solide pouvant être associé à un « switch ON/OFF » du gène qui code un transporteur de glucose. Mmm sécréte du galactane (polymère de β-D-(1-6) galactofuranose) identique au composé associé à la membrane. Au sein du groupe « mycoides », deux espèces sécrètent un β-D-(1-2) glucane dont la structure linéaire est originale. L'analyse des voies de biosynthèse des génomes concernés concorde avec les deux produits mis en évidence. De nombreux gènes impliqués semblent résulter de transferts latéraux venant de mycoplasmes éloignés phylogénétiquement mais qui partagent le même habitat / Our model, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm), is the agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). CBPP is a severe contagious disease currently present in Africa. CBPP is classed as a notifiable disease by the OIE, which implies severe restrictive measures in in the trade of live animals. Because of its economic importance, CBPP has received much attention in indusdrialized country, notabily when the disease had reemerged in Europe in 1980’s and 90’s. To better understand the pathogenesis of this disease, it is necessary to analyze the factors that may contribute to the virulence of this agent. In this context, we were interested in Mmm exopolysaccharides (EPS), potential key molecules in the virulence of this bacterium. First, Mmm EPS were chemically characterized by HPLC and NMR and compared to the capsular polysaccharides (CPS) in a study on intraclonal Mmm variants. To conduct these experiments, a suitable methodology was developed to produce and to purify EPS from culture supernatants by avoiding technical difficulties due to the complexity of the mycoplasma growth medium. Then, this protocol allowed extending the study to the chemical characterization of EPS from mycoplasmas belonging to the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster (MMC) as Mmm. The production of monoclonal antibodies recognizing Mmm and Mccp polysaccharides was used to study the antigenic communities within this group of mycoplasmas and to characterize the location of the secreted polymer (CPS and/or EPS). The sequenced and annotated genomes were used to manage in silico studies of biosynthetic pathways potentially involved in the production of polysaccharides. The results showed that Mmm intraclonal variants resulting in an opaque / translucent phenotype on solid culture may be associated with an “ON/OFF switch" of the gene encoding a glucose transporter and, in turn associated to the production of either CPS or EPS. Mmm secretes a β-(1-6) galactofuranose polymer identical to that of the membrane associated compound, excepted it has no lipid anchor. Within MMC, there are two species that secrete a β -(1-2) glucan, the linear structure of which is original. The analyses of the biosynthetic pathways of the different genomes were consistent with the structure of the related secreted products. Many genes could appear to originate from phylogenetically distant mycoplasmas that share the same habitat

Submitted by Mario BC (mario@bc.ufrpe.br) on 2017-05-29T14:12:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana Florencio Vilaca.pdf: 780940 bytes, checksum: f71ece6a621a081642573fed11311887 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-29T14:12:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana Florencio Vilaca.pdf: 780940 bytes, checksum: f71ece6a621a081642573fed11311887 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The program of selection of goats with milk aptitude has been focused on the increase in milk quantity, neglecting factors related to resistance to diseases and milk composition. This behavior has led to studies aimed at the rapid detection of microorganisms and the identification of genes or chromosomal regions related to infectious diseases of the mammary gland. The objective of the present thesis was to detect Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma) and Mycoplasma mycoides cluster (Mmcluster) in goat milk samples and to evaluate the composition and counting of somatic cells from Ma and Mmcluster positive animals (Experiment 1). In addition, we sought to identify Goat Lymphocyte Antigen (GoLA-DRB.2) gene polymorphisms and to associate them with goat milk characteristics (Experiment 2). To perform the experiment 1, 373 samples of goat milk of different races belonging to herds located in the states of Pernambuco and Paraiba were collected. The genomic DNA of the milk samples was extracted by the silica / guanidine isothiocyanate method, followed by the generic and species-specific amplification by polymerase chain reaction. Identification of the presence or absence of gene products was performed by direct observation of the bands of the PCR products visualized on electrophoresis gel. Analysis of variance and comparison tests of averages were performed to verify the effects of positivity on somatic cell composition and counting characteristics. The frequencies for Ma and Mmcluster were 43.21% and 5.70%, respectively, in the herds evaluated. The breeding system was considered as risk factors (p <0.001) and the racial pattern (p<0.001). Ma positive samples were detected in all genetic groups, with higher occurrence in the and Marota race. Positive samples for Mmcluster were only observed in Moxotó (18.28%), Parda Sertaneja (1.92%) and SPRD (3.12%) rats. In the study of association between positivity and milk composition, a statistical difference was observed for protein, casein and somatic cell counts. The detection of Mycoplasma in samples of goat milk suggests the introduction of infected animals in the evaluated herds, as well as the possible contact with the etiological agents in fairs and exhibitions. In addition, the breeding system adopted on the property influences the spread of the infection in the herd. For the execution of Experiment 2, a total of 181 female goats of different races from the state of Pernambuco and Paraiba were selected. Milk samples were harvested and extracted from genomic DNA as described in Experiment 1. The genotyping of the animals for the 285bp fragment of the GoLA-DRB.2 gene was the result of amplification by PCR-RFLP technique, using the enzymes of Restriction PstI and TaqI. The allelic frequency found for the total population using the PstI enzyme was A equal to 0.7254 and B at 0.2746, with the frequencies of the AA, AB and BB genotypes being 0.6740, 0.0387 and 0, 2873 respectively. The allele frequencies obtained from the digestion with the TaqI enzyme were C = 0.8149 and D = 0.1851, with the frequencies of the genotypes: 0.7403 (CC), 0.1492 (CD) and 0.1105 ( DD), with predominance of the CC genotype in all the racial standards evaluated. The observed Heterozygosity values were lower than those found for expected Heterozygosity in all tested populations with herds out of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was significant genetic variation between races, among individuals of the same race and within the population. There was no significant difference between genotypes and haplotype patterns on the values of fat, protein, lactose, total solids, casein and somatic cell counts. The GoLA-DRB.2 gene was polymorphic in the evaluation with the PstI and TaqI enzymes studied but had no effect on any of the somatic cell composition and counting characteristics evaluated. / O programa de seleção de caprinos com aptidão leiteira tem sido, basicamente, voltado ao aumento na quantidade de leite, negligenciando fatores relacionados à resistência a doenças e à composição do leite. Este comportamento vem ocasionando o direcionamento a estudos voltados à rápida detecção de micro-organismos e à identificação de genes ou regiões cromossômicas relacionadas a doenças infectocontagiosas da glândula mamária. Diante do exposto, a presente tese teve como objetivo inicial, detectar Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma) e Mycoplasma mycoides cluster (Mmcluster) em amostras de leite caprino e avaliar a composição e a contagem de células somáticas provenientes de animais positivos para Ma e Mmcluster (Experimento 1). Além disso, buscou-se identificar os polimorfismos do gene Goat Lymphocyte Antigen (GoLA-DRB.2) e associar com características do leite de cabra (Experimento 2). Para realização do Experimento 1, foram colhidas 373 amostras de leite de caprinos de diferentes raças pertencentes a rebanhos localizados nos estados de Pernambuco e da Paraíba. O DNA genômico das amostras de leite foi extraído pelo método sílica/isotiocianato de guanidina, seguida da amplificação genérica e espécie-específica por reação em cadeia da polimerase. A identificação da presença ou não de produtos gênicos foi realizada através de observação direta das bandas dos produtos de PCR visualizados em gel de eletroforese. Análises de variância e testes de comparação de médias foram realizados para verificar os efeitos da positividade sobre as características de composição e contagem de células somáticas. As frequências para Ma e Mmcluster foram de 43,21% e 5,70%, nos rebanhos avaliados, respectivamente. Foram considerados fatores de risco o sistema de criação (p<0,001) e o padrão racial (p<0,001). Em todos os grupos genéticos foram detectadas amostras positivas para Ma, sendo observada maior ocorrência na raça Marota. Amostras positivas para Mmc só foram observadas em animais das raças Moxotó (18,28%), Parda Sertaneja (1,92%) e SPRD (3,12%). No estudo de associação entre a positividade e composição do leite, observou-se diferença estatística para as médias de proteína, caseína e contagem de células somáticas. A detecção de Mycoplasma em amostras de leite caprino sugere a introdução de animais infectados nos rebanhos avaliados, como também o possível contato com os agentes etiológicos em feiras e exposições. Além disso, o sistema de criação adotado na propriedade influencia a disseminação da infecção no rebanho. Para execução do Experimento 2, um total de 181 fêmeas caprinas de diferentes raças provenientes do estado de Pernambuco e da Paraíba foram selecionadas. Amostras de leite foram colhidas e submetidas à extração do DNA genômico como descrito no Experimento 1. A genotipagem dos animais para o fragmento de 285 pb do gene GoLADRB. 2 foi resultante da amplificação pela técnica de PCR-RFLP, utilizando as enzimas de restrição PstI e TaqI. A frequência alélica encontrada para a população total com a utilização da enzima PstI foi de A igual a 0,7254 e B a 0,2746, sendo as frequências dos genótipos AA, AB e BB de 0,6740, 0,0387 e 0,2873, respectivamente. As frequências alélicas obtidas a partir da digestão com a enzima TaqI foi de C = 0,8149 e D = 0,1851, sendo as frequências dos genótipos: 0,7403 (CC), 0,1492 (CD) e 0,1105 (DD), com predominância do genótipo CC em todos os padrões raciais avaliados. Os valores da Heterozigosidade observada foram menores do que os encontrado para Heterozigosidade esperada em todas as populações testadas, com rebanhos fora do equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg. Houve variação genética significativa entre raças, entre indivíduos da mesma raça e dentro da população. Não houve diferença significativa entre os genótipos e os padrões de haplótipos sobre os valores de gordura, proteína, lactose, sólidos totais, caseína e contagem de células somáticas. O gene GoLA-DRB.2 foi polimórfico na avaliação com as enzimas PstI e TaqI estudadas, mas não desempenhou efeitos sobre nenhumas das características de composição e contagem de células somáticas avaliadas.

Les ATPases F1F0 sont présentes chez la majorité des bactéries, notamment les mycoplasmes qui sont caractérisés par un génome réduit et un mode de vie parasitaire. En plus de l’opéron codant l’ATPase F1F0, des clusters apparentés de sept gènes ont été identifiés dans le génome de nombreux mycoplasmes. Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons cherché à caractériser l’évolution et la fonction de ces clusters supplémentaires. Quatre des protéines codées par ces clusters présentent des similarités structurales avec les sous-unités α, β,  et ε de l’ATPase F1F0, résultant en une potentielle structure F1-like. Les trois autres protéines ne présentent aucune similarité avec des protéines connues. Une localisation transmembranaire est prédite pour deux d’entre elles. Deux types d’ATPase F1-like, Type 2 et Type 3, ont été identifiés. Les clusters de Type 2 et de Type 3 pourraient être originaires du groupe phylogénétique Hominis, les clusters de Type 3 ayant vraisemblablement été disséminés par des transferts horizontaux de gènes entre mycoplasmes colonisant le même hôte. Les gènes du cluster de Type 3 de Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides sont organisés en opéron et exprimés en milieu axénique. Des études de mutagénèse et de complémentation démontrent que le cluster de Type 3 est associé à une activité ATPase majeure des fractions membranaires. Des analyses biochimiques suggèrent que l’activité ATPase du cluster est sensible au ∆pH mais pas au ∆Ψ. Ces analyses suggèrent que le sodium et le potassium ne sont pas impliqués dans le fonctionnement de l’ATPase F1-likeX0. Les sous-unités des ATPases F1-likeX0 et F1F0 présentent un comportement différent en présence de détergents. L’ensemble de ces expériences suggèrent que l’ATPase F1-likeX0 est un complexe plus fragile que l’ATPase F1F0. Nos résultats montrent qu’en dépit d’une tendance à la réduction de génome, les mycoplasmes ont développé et échangé des ATPases sans équivalent chez d’autres bactéries. Nous proposons un modèle dans lequel une structure F1-like est associée avec un domaine hypothétique X0, enchâssé dans la membrane des mycoplasmes. / F1F0 ATPases have been found in most bacteria, including mycoplasmas that are characterized by drastically reduced genomes and a parasitic lifestyle. In addition to the typical operon of eight genes encoding genuine F1F0 ATPase, related clusters of seven genes were identified in many mycoplasmas. In this work, we investigated the evolution and the function of these supplementary clusters. Four proteins encoded by these clusters present structural similarities with subunits α, β,  and ε of F1F0 ATPases, resulting in potential F1-like structures. The three other encoded proteins did not show any similarity to known proteins. Transmembrane helices were predicted for two of them, suggesting a membrane localisation. Two types of F1-like ATPases, Type 2 and Type 3, were identified. Clusters encoding Type 2 and Type 3 ATPases were assumed to originate from the Hominis group of mycoplasmas. Further spreading of Type 3 ATPases towards other phylogenetic groups by horizontal gene transfers in between mycoplasmas sharing a same host was proposed on the basis of phylogenetic trees and genomic context. Functional analyses indicated that genes of Type 3 cluster in the ruminant pathogen Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides were organized as an operon. Proteomic analyses indicated that the seven encoded proteins were produced during growth in axenic media. Mutagenesis and complementation assays demonstrated that Type 3 cluster was associated with a major ATPase activity of membrane fractions. Biochemical analyses indicated that this ATPase activity was sensitive to ΔpH but not to ΔΨ. These analyses suggested that Na+ and K+ were not involved in the F1-likeX0 functioning. Our results indicated a behaviour of F1-likeX0 ATPase subunits that is different to that of F1F0 ATPase subunits in presence of detergents. Altogether, these analyses suggest that the F1-likeX0 complex could be more fragile than the F1F0 complex. Our results showed that despite their tendency to genome reduction, mycoplasmas have evolved and exchanged specific F1-like ATPases with no known equivalent in other bacteria. We propose a model in which the F1-like structure is associated with a hypothetical X0 sector embedded in the membrane of mycoplasmal cells.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a severe infectious disease caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony type (M. mycoides SC) and is a vast problem in Africa. Current CBPP prevention is based on attenuated live strain vaccines, but these are limited by factors such as short-term immunity, cold-chain dependence and retained virulence. CBPP can be diagnosed using post-mortem examination, identification of the agent using culture and PCR based methods as well as serological diagnostic methods, but the latter are generally not sensitive enough and there is also demand for an inexpensive, pen side field test.The research presented in this thesis was focused on using recombinantly expressed surface proteins from M. mycoides SC to characterize humoral immune responses to CBPP. Thereby candidate proteins to be used in development of serological diagnostic methods and possibly subunit vaccines could be identified. As a first step, five putative variable surface proteins of M. mycoides SC were expressed and purified from E. coli in Paper I. These proteins were analyzed using immunoblotting techniques and results showed that one protein, MSC_0364, was variably expressed on the surface of M. mycoides SC in vitro. Paper II presents expanded efforts including cloning and expression of 64 recombinant surface proteins and an assay for high throughput analysis of protein-specific IgG, IgA and IgM titers in hundreds of sera using a bead-based screening assay. The assay was evaluated by protein-specific inhibition experiments, comparisons to Western blotting and monitoring of immune responses over time in a study with sera taken from eight animals over 293 days from a previous vaccine trial.Papers III and IV present applications using the recombinant proteins and bead-based screening assay wherein proteins for diagnostic and vaccine development were identified. In Paper III, the assay was used to screen 61 proteins using well-characterized serum samples from cattle with CBPP and healthy controls, resulting in selection of eight proteins suitable for diagnostic use. These proteins were combined and evaluated in a proof-of-concept ELISA with a discriminative power that enabled 96% correct classification of sera from CBPP-affected and CBPP-free bovines. Paper IV reports the results and protein-specific analyses of a vaccine trial using the recombinant putative variable surface proteins presented in Paper I as a subunit vaccine. The vaccine conferred no protection, but a weak vaccine response could not be excluded as the cause of failure. In an effort to identity other protein candidates to be used in a subunit vaccine, protein-specific analysis of humoral immune responses elicited by the currently approved live strain vaccine, T1/44, were investigated. Here, five proteins with high IgG titers associated to immunity were identified: LppQ, MSC_02714, MSC_0136, MSC_0079 and MSC_0431. These proteins may be important in the development of a novel subunit vaccine against CBPP. / QC 20100719