A criptococose é uma doença fúngica invasiva causada majoritariamente pelas espécies patogênicas Cryptococcus neoformans e Cryptococcus gattii. Estudos epidemiológicos recentes sugerem que a infecção causada por C. gattii desenvolve mais frequentemente criptococomas pulmonares, enquanto que C. neoformans estabelece principalmente quadros de meningoencefalite. Embora ocorra essa associação, o mecanismo de disseminação dessas espécies não está completamente elucidado, instigando a utilização de diferentes abordagens na caracterização da infecção. O desenvolvimento de microrganismos bioluminescentes tem permitido o monitoramento em tempo real da infecção em modelos animais. No presente trabalho, diferentes estratégias foram utilizadas para a construção de linhagens de C. neoformans e de C. gattii expressando o gene repórter luciferase Renilla, sem sucesso. Paralelamente, em uma segunda abordagem, bactérias bioluminescentes (BL) foram isoladas de amostras de água marinha coletadas nas adjacências da zona estuarina do rio Tramandaí, com o objetivo de selecionar o cassete lux (CDABE) para a utilização como gene repórter. Todos os isolados apresentaram luminescência a 28°C, mas, quando incubados a 37°C, somente o isolado BL6 permaneceu com uma atividade luminescente consideravelmente reduzida. Portanto as bactérias bioluminescentes pertencentes aos gêneros Vibrio, Photobacterium e Enterovibrio isoladas do rio Tramandaí não apresentaram níveis de emissão de luminescência adequados à temperatura fisiológica humana para a utilização do cassete lux como gene repórter para monitoramento de infecções in vivo. / Cryptococcosis is an invasive fungal disease caused mainly by pathogenic species Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that infection with C. gattii develops more frequently pulmonary cryptococcomas, while C. neoformans establishes mainly neurological damages. Although exists this association, the mechanism of dissemination of these species is not completely understood, instigating the use of different approaches for the characterization of the infections. Alternatively, the development of bioluminescent organisms has allowed the real-time monitoring of infection in animal models. In this study, different strategies were used to construct strains of C. neoformans and C. gattii expressing Renilla luciferase reporter gene without success. In a second approach, bioluminescent bacteria (BL) were isolated from seawater samples collected in the vicinity of the river Tramandaí estuarine zone, in order to select the lux cassette (CDABE) for use as a reporter gene. All isolates showed luminescence at 28°C, but when incubated at 37°C, only the isolate BL6 remained with a considerably reduced luminescent activity. Thus, bioluminescent bacteria belonging to the genera Vibrio, Photobacterium and Enterovibrio isolated from Tramandaí river estuary zone presented unsuitable luminescence emission levels at human physiological temperature, preventing the use of lux cassette as a reporter gene in experiments to monitoring cryptococcosis infection.

A criptococose é uma doença invasiva capaz de apresentar-se de forma fatal podendo acometer pacientes imunocompetentes e imunocomprometidos. Os agentes etiológicos Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii e C. neoformans var. neoformans apresentam distribuição cosmopolita, sendo as excretas de pombos o seu principal reservatório. Com o advento de terapias imunossupressoras e a pandemia de HIV, observou-se o aumento significativo de casos de pacientes com criptococose. Atualmente, o diagnóstico é baseado na apresentação clínica, na observação microscópica de líquor corado com tinta da Índia e/ou no isolamento em cultura. Neste trabalho desenvolveu-se um ELISA para detecção de anticorpos contra C. neoformans var. grubii em soro de pacientes utilizando como antígeno um extrato protéico total de uma linhagem clínica isolada de um paciente com criptococose (HC6). Foram testados através de ELISA 40 amostras de soros de pacientes com criptococose, sendo 67,5% positivos e 32,5% falsos negativos. Como controles negativos foram testados 82 amostras de soros de indivíduos hígidos, dos quais 26,82% apresentaram resultados positivos para os testes realizados. Para testar a reatividade cruzada, foram utilizadas 10 amostras de pacientes com histoplasmose (20% de reatividade cruzada), 9 amostras de pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose (66,6% de reatividade cruzada), 9 amostras de pacientes com candidose (13,3% de reatividade cruzada) e 7 amostras de pacientes com aspergilose (14,28% de reatividade cruzada). Visando solucionar o problema da reatividade cruzada, identificamos proteínas antigênicas de C. neoformans var. grubii por eletroforese bidimensional seguida por western blot e espectrometria de massa (MALDI-TOF MS). Das 75 amostras analisadas, quatro foram identificadas: uma proteína hipotética, 2 isoformas de HSPs 70 e uma catalase-2. As proteínas identificadas apresentaram baixa similaridade com ortólogas de outros fungos patogênicos, sendo, dessa forma, possíveis alvos para a padronização do ELISA e diagnóstico da criptococose. / Cryptococosis is an invasive and potentially fatal disease. Cryptococcus neoformans is the etiological agent, which can affect both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. C. neoformans var. grubii and C. neoformans var. neoformans are cosmopolitan and their major natural reservoir is the excrement from pigeons. With the advent of immunosupressor therapies and the pandemic HIV infection, a significant augmentation of cryptococosis cases in humans was observed. Nowadays cryptococcosis diagnosis is based on the clinical presentation, India ink sample preparation methods and/or in vitro culture isolation. In this work we had developed an ELISA to detect antibodies against C. neoformans var. grubii in serum from patients with cryptococcosis using as antigens a whole cell protein extract from a clinical cell line isolate (HC6). Sera from 40 patients with cryptococcosis were tested by ELISA. From these, 67.5% were positives and 32.5% were false-negatives. As a negative control 82 samples from health subjects were also tested, from these 26.82% were positives. To test cross-reactivity, samples from 10 patients with histoplasmosis (20% cross-reactivity), 9 from patients with paracoccidioidomicosis (66.6% cross-reactivity), 9 from patients with candidosis (13.3% cross-reactivity) and 7 from patients with aspergilosis (14.28% cross-reactivity) were tested. To solve the cross-reactivity problem, we searched immunogenic proteins which were specific to C. neoformans var. grubii applying two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2DE-PAGE) followed by western blot and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). From the 75 sample analyzed, four were identified: one as a hypothetic protein, two HSPs 70 isoforms and the protein catalase 2. These proteins showed low similarity with orthologues from other pathogenic fungi, and are potential targets to further of the standardizing cryptococosis diagnosis by ELISA.

Cryptococcus neoformans e Cryptococcus gattii são leveduras encapsuladas e agentes etiológicos da criptococose. Estes microrganismos são patogénos intracelulares facultativos os quais interagem com macrófagos do hospedeiro durante o processo de infecção. C. neoformans é capaz de se replicar no interior de células fagocíticas utilizando uma estratégia única que envolve permeabilização do fagolisossoma e produção de polissacarídeos. No presente trabalho, a metodolologia da Análise da Diferença Representacional (RDA) foi aplicada para identificar genes diferencialmente expressos por C. neoformans e C. gattii durante o desenvolvimento intracelular em macrófagos peritoneais de ratos. C. neoformans internalizados por macrófagos expressaram genes relacionados ao tráfego vesicular, transporte de membrana, atividade de chaperona, regulação da meiose, metabolismo de monossacarídeo e resposta ao estresse. Em C. gattii, foram induzidos transcritos relacionados à respiração aeróbica, endocitose, tráfego vesicular, metabolismo de monossacarídeo e nitrogênio, sinalização celular e resposta ao estresse. Nossos resultados revelaram novos genes envolvidos no parasitismo intracelular de C. neoformans e C. gattii.

Orientador: Liliana Scorzoni / Banca: Luciane Dias de Oliveira / Banca: Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira / Resumo: Cryptococcus neoformans são leveduras que acometem principalmente indivíduos imunocomprometidos, podendo causar a meningoencefalite dependendo do estado imunológico do hospedeiro. Os tratamentos convencionais têm enfrentado grandes desafios. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos antifúngicos dos fármacos cloridrato de verapamil (CV), cloridrato de fluoxetina (CF) e cloridrato de paroxetina (CP) isolados e combinados com anfotericina B (AmB) contra C. neoformans. Foram determinados os valores de Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e Concentração Fungicida Mínima (CFM) de acordo com a técnica de microdiluição em caldo proposta pelo Comitê Europeu de Teste de Susceptibilidade Antimicrobiana (EUCAST). Posteriormente, foi avaliada a atividade sinérgica dos fármacos combinados com AmB (EUCAST). Os efeitos das CIMs e das concentrações sinérgicas selecionadas foram avaliados em biofilmes, quantificando a biomassa por cristal violeta e sua viabilidade por contagem de colônias (UFC/mL). Além disso, foram analisados os efeitos dos mesmos na cápsula induzida desta levedura. Os ensaios in vivo foram realizados em Galleria mellonella avaliando a toxicidade dos compostos e a eficácia por análise de curva de sobrevivência e também o efeito em concentração de hemócitos. Os fármacos CV, CF e CP apresentaram valores de CIM de 113, 9,6 e 41µg/mL, respectivamente, e quando combinados com AmB resultaram em vinte concentrações sinérgicas, e uma concentração de cada combinação... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans are yeasts that mainly affect immunocompromised individuals, and may cause meningoencephalitis depending on the immunological state of the host. Conventional treatments have faced major challenges. Verapamil hydrochloride (CV), fluoxetine hydrochloride (CF) and paroxetine hydrochloride (CP) were isolated and combined with amphotericin B (AmB) against C. neoformans. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and minimum Fungicidal Concentration (CFM) values were determined according to the broth microdilution technique proposed by the European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). Subsequently, the synergistic activity of drugs combined with AmB (EUCAST) was evaluated. The effects of MICs and selected synergistic concentrations were evaluated in biofilms, quantifying the biomass by violet crystal and its viability by colony-forming unit analysis (CFU / mL). In addition, the effects of the same in the induced capsule of this yeast were evaluated. In vivo assays were performed in Galleria mellonella evaluating the toxicity of the compounds and the efficacy by analysis of survival curve and also the effect on hemocyte concentration. The CV, CF and CP drugs had MIC values of 113, 9.6 and 41 μg / mL, respectively, and when combined with AmB resulted in twenty synergistic concentrations, and a concentration of each combination was chosen for the following trials. CV reduced biofilm biomass to 38%, while CF and CP reduced biomass to 22-30% w... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Microbial infections are a major threat to public health particularly in developing countries due to the relative unavailability of medicine and the emergence of widespread drug resistance. Serious invasive fungal infections caused by Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus spp. represents an increasing threat to human health. They have increased significantly during the past decade, especially in immunocompromised individuals, due to the increased occurrence of HIV infections and resistance development. The toxicity of available antifungal drugs/agents has contributed greatly to the need for new antifungal drugs. Cryptococcus neoformans is a yeast organism that causes cryptococcosis in both humans and animals. This disease develops following inhalation and dissemination of the organism from the lungs to the central nervous system. Infection with C. neoformans often produces pneumonia and cryptococcal meningitis in HIV-infected patients. The problem with this fungus is that AIDS patients respond poorly to treatment and need lifelong therapy to suppress the infection and the drug treatment may be expensive in developing countries. This indicates an urgent need to develop new specific fungicidal antimicrobial agents for the treatment of cryptococcosis. Plants synthesize a large number of secondary metabolites for protecting themselves against microbe infections caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses. These substances may be useful in the treatment of microbial infections in humans and animals. Plants can be considered as potential sources of therapeutic extracts or active pure chemical compounds for the development of medicines. During this project, ten plant species (Zanthoxylum capenses, Morus mesozygia, Calodendron capenses, Catha transvaalensis, Cussonia zuluensis, Ochna natalitia, Croton sylvaticus, Maytenus undata, Celtis africana and Cassine aethiopica) were screened for activity against C. neoformans using both bioautography and the microdilution assay. The most active plant species was selected for the isolation of active metabolites. The selection of plant species was based on the lowest MIC value, presence of clear zones on bioautograms indicating antifungal activity, and high total activity against C. neoformans. M. undata indicated the presence of clear zones on bioautograms, a low average MIC value of 0.09 mg/ml and high total activity. C. sylvaticus and C. transvaalensis had lower or equal average MIC values to M. undata of 0.07 mg/ml and 0.09 mg/ml respectively. However a lack of clear bands to identify the position of active compounds on bioautography plates disqualified them for further analysis in this study. The leaves of M. undatawere exhaustively extracted with hexane, dichloromethane, acetone and methanol respectively. The hexane extract indicated the lowest MIC value of 0.02 mg/ml and was used for isolation of the active constituents. Column chromatography and bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of six triterpene-like compounds.The structure of the isolated compounds was elucidated using the NMR and MS techniques and the compounds were identified as friedelin (1), epifriedelanol (2), taraxerol (3), 3-oxo-11á-methoxyolean-12-ene-30-oic acid (4), 3-oxo-11á-hydroxyolean-12-ene-30-oic acid (5)&3,11-dihydroxyolean-12-ene-30-oic acid (6). Friedelin (1) and epifriedelanol (2) belong to the friedelane group of triterpenoids, taraxerol (3) belongs to the taraxerane group and 3-oxo-11á-methoxyolean-12-ene-30-oic acid (4), 3-oxo-11á-hydroxyolean-12-ene-30-oic acid (5)&3,11-dihydroxyolean-12-ene-30-oic acid (6) belong to the 12-oleanene group. These groups have been isolated previously from plants that belong to the Celastraceae family. Four of the six isolated compounds 1,3,5 and 6 were isolated in sufficient quantity to be assayed against two fungal species (Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans), two Gram-positive bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, ATCC 29213 and Enterococcus faecalis, ATCC 29212) and two Gram-negative bacterial species (Escherichia coli, ATCC 27853 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ATCC 25922).Two of the compounds, 3-oxo-11á-hydroxyolean-12-ene-30-oic acid (5)&3,11-dihydroxyolean-12-ene-30-oic acid (6), showed clear bands against all the tested organisms on bioautograms indicating microbial growth inhibition. MIC values ranged from 24 µg/ml to 63 µg/ml except for S. a ureus which was resistant. All the tested microorganisms showed resistance against friedelin (1) and taraxerol (3) with MIC values of >250 µg/ml, except for E. faecalis with an MIC value of 130 µg/ml for taraxerol. The cytotoxicity of the hexane extract and the isolated compounds were investigated using the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT) using Vero monkey kidney cells and the hemagglutination assay using formaldehyde-fixed erythrocytes (RBCs). The hexane plant extract indicated toxicity towards the Vero monkey cells with an LC50 of 0.076 mg/ml. Compounds 1 and 3 indicated no toxicity against the cells with an LC50 greater than 200 µg/ml. However compounds 5 and 6 indicated toxicity with an LC50 of 6.16 µg/ml and 3.36 /ml, respectively. Also the hemagglutination assay indicates that hexane extract is toxic towards the RBCs with a HA titer value of 1.6. Both compounds 1 and 3 indicated no agglutination and compounds 5 and 6 indicated HA titer values of 1.33 and 0.67, respectively. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Paraclinical Sciences / unrestricted

The human pathogenic Cryptococcus neoformans species complex are agents of a common AIDS-defining disease, which causes about 181,000 deaths each year. There are several specific features distinguishing this species from other fungi, including the presence of a polysaccharide capsule and melanin pigment production, both of which contribute to its virulence. A large number of studies about this pathogen used two model strains JEC20 and JEC21. In these studies, these two strains are assumed to be “isogenic”, differ only at the mating type region. Consequently, their phenotypic differences, including virulence, have been attributed to this region. Here, we applied second-generation sequencing and bioinformatics tools to identify sequence polymorphisms between the two genomes. Beside the Mating Type locus, two other regions were found to contain high frequencies of SNPs. To further understand the effects of these loci on the phenotypic differences, four phenotyping assays (mating ability, melanin pigment production, capsule formation, and high temperature growth ability) were conducted on the recombinant progeny obtained from the cross between JEC20 and JEC21. In addition, genomic sequences of these progeny were obtained to identify the complete distributions of other SNPs among the strains. Finally, we identified several novel SNPs contributing to virulence-related traits in this species, which suggest that caution should be placed in attributing phenotypic differences to specific genomic regions in “isogenic” strains derived from classical breeding experiments. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Cryptococcosis is a globally distributed infection that is prevalent among immune-compromised individuals, such as HIV/AIDS patients. This disease can be attributed to a group of opportunistic fungal pathogens – Cryptococcus neoformans species complex. During the past century, significant resources have been put in an effort to understand its ecology, evolution, life cycle, pathogenesis and virulence factors, and molecular and cellular processes. Most of the laboratory-based studies have relied on two model strains assumed to differ only at the mating type locus. My thesis investigated this assumption and found there are several additional significant genetic differences between these two strains and that such differences contribute to the observed phenotypic differences between them. My results highlight the complexity of genotype-phenotype relationships and the continued evolution of strains even in lab environments in C. neoformans.

Objetivando estudar o perfil fenotípico de leveduras mantidas em banco de microrganismos de Cryptococcus neoformans, 40 cepas de origem clínica e 44 de origem ambiental foram escolhidas aleatoriamente. As cepas passaram por tipagem bioquímica para diferenciação em C. neoformans e C. gattii, e dentre as cepas clínicas 90% foram tipadas como C. neoformans e 10% como C. gattii, já dentre as cepas ambientais 95,5% foram C. neoformans e 4,5% C. gattii. As cepas cepas que foram positivas no teste bioquímico para C. gattii passaram por tipagem molecular (PCR-RFLP) e verificou-se que apenas quatro cepas eram realmente C. gattii (VGII), e duas outras C. neoformans (VNI e VNIII). Quando estudado os fatores relacionados a virulência, todas as cepas tanto clínicas quanto ambientais foram produtoras de fosfolipase, sendo que cepas de origem clínica produziram essa enzima em maior quantidade. Todas as cepas tanto clínicas quanto ambientais foram produtoras da enzima protease e todas também apresentaram intensidade de cor da colônia ( melanização). Quando avaliado a espessura capsular in vitro todas apresentaram cápsula, das cepas clínicas, 67% apresentaram cápsula média e das ambientais 70%. Quando avaliado a sensibilidade aos antifúngicos pelo métodos E-test todas as cepas clínicas e ambientais foram sensíveis aos antifúngicos anfotericina B, cetoconazol, fluconazol, voriconazol e posoconazol. O itraconazol também foi testado e apresentou cepas sensíveis à droga, porém uma cepa clínica e duas ambientais tiveram classificação dose dependente. Destacamos que a fosfolipase poderia ser usada como um marcador fenotípico para o complexo Cryptococcus neoformans e uma correta identificação das culturas mantidas em banco de microrganismos é necessário. / Aiming to study the phenotypic profile of yeasts maintened in stock culture identified as Cryptococcus neoformans, 40 clinical and 44 environmental strains, were chosen ran domly. The strains had undergone biochemical typing for differentiation as C. neoformans and C. gattii. Among the clinical strains 90% were typed as C. neoformans and 10% as C. gattii, already among the environmental strains were 95,5% C. neoformans and 4,5% C. gattii. The strains thah were positive in biochemical test for C. gattii underwent molecular typing (PCR-RFLP) and found that only four strain were actually C. gattii (VGII) and two other C. neoformans (VNI and VNII). When the factors related to virulence were studied, both the clinical and environmental strains were phospholipase positive but the clinical strains produced a greater amount of this enzyme. All strains were both clinical and environmental production of protease and also showed an intensity colony color (melanization). When the thickness of the capsule was evaluated, all of it showed a capsule, from the clinical strains 67% had an average capsule and from environmental strains 70% had an average capsule. When assessed by sensitivity to antifungal by E-test method all clinical and environmental strains were sensitive to the anphotericine B, ketoconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole and posoconazole. Itraconazole was tested and the samples showed drug sensitive-strains. We point out that phospholipase production would be used as marked to C. neoformans complex and a correct identification of strains maintened in stock culture is necessary.

Criptococose é uma doença causada pelo fungo C. neoformans que têm grande importância atualmente, devido ao aumento da população imunocomprometida,. Além disso, existem poucas opções terapêuticas contra micoses profundas. Neste trabalho foi avaliado se a via de biossíntese do triptofano seria um bom alvo para o desenvolvimento de novos antifúngicos. Com o uso da tecnologia de RNA de interferência, concluiu-se que esta via de síntese é essencial para a sobrevivência desta levedura, sendo, portanto, um ótimo alvo. Ainda neste estudo, demonstrou-se que a letalidade decorre da baixa captação de triptofano pelas permeases de aminoácidos, as quais sofrem repressão catabólica pela fonte de nitrogênio e efeito negativo da temperatura. Foram testados dois inibidores específicos que atuam sobre a antranilato sintase e a triptofano sintase, duas enzimas cruciais para a conversão do corismato em triptofano. Ambos compostos causaram inibição do crescimento de C. neoformans e C. gattii. / Cryptococcosis is a disease caused by C. neoformans, currently of great importance due to the increase in immunocompromised population. Furthermore, there are few therapeutic options for treating this disease. This study evaluated the tryptophan biosynthetic pathway as a possible target for the antifungal development. By using RNA interference technology we concluded that this metabolic pathway is essential for the survival of this yeast, and, therefore, it is a good target. In the same study, it was demonstrated that lethality results from the low uptake of the tryptophan amino acid by permeases, which undergo nitrogen catabolite repression and negative effect of temperature. Two specific inhibitors acting on the anthranilate synthase and tryptophan synthase, two key enzymes for the conversion of chorismate into tryptophan were tested. Both compounds caused growth inhibition of C. neoformans and C. gattii.

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No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Thaísa Cristina Silva - 2017.pdf: 8533061 bytes, checksum: 987601f85d9b8f33eb97a24c3e474df3 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-12 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Introduction: the high incidence and mortality rate due to fungal infections arouse interest in the search for more effective and less toxic drugs for the treatment of these infections. Medicinal plants represent a promising source of discovery of antifungal agents. Among the medicinal plants, Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil (Lythraceae), plant of the cerrado, stands out for having medicinal properties popularly known in Brazil. Punicalagina, a secondary metabolite extracted from L. pacari leaf, has proven biological activities. Objective: in this work the biological activity of punicalagin on yeasts belonging to the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex and Candida species was evaluated. Methods: the in vitro susceptibility of the yeast to the compound punicalagin was verified using the broth microdilution method. The possible mechanism of action was verified by different methods such as: ergosterol assay of the fungal cell membrane, by morphological and ultrastructural analyzes of the yeasts, by flow cytometry (cell cycle, cytoplasmic membrane injury, reactive oxygen species production and loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential). The in vitro cytotoxicity of punicalagin was verified using Balb/c 3T3 cells, A549 lung carcinoma cells and sheep erythrocytes. Results: the punicalagin was able to inhibit yeast growth at concentrations ≤4 μg/mL with minimum fungicidal concentration (CFM) of >256 μg/mL. The punicalagin reduced the ergosterol synthesis of the fungal cell membrane and promoted alterations in the morphology and the cellular arrangement of the yeasts. The action mechanism analyzed by flow cytometry showed alteration of the cell cycle with increase of the G0/G1 phases and reduction of the G2/M phases, interfering in the cellular division of the DNA of the fungal cells. The compound showed low toxicity on the Balb/c cells 3T3, A549 and sheep erythrocytes. Conclusion: the results presented by punicalagin showed that this compound presents low cytotoxicity to the animal cells, with important antifungal activity against the yeasts of the Cryptococcus neoformans species complex and Candida species. / Introdução: a elevada incidência e taxa de mortalidade por infecções fúngicas despertam o interesse pela busca por fármacos mais eficazes e menos tóxicos para o tratamento dessas infecções. Plantas medicinais representam uma promissora fonte de descoberta de agentes antifúngicos. Dentre as plantas medicinais, a Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil (Lythraceae), planta do cerrado, destaca-se por apresentar propriedades medicinais conhecidas popularmente no Brasil. A punicalagina, um metabólito secundário extraído da folha da L. pacari, apresenta comprovadas atividades biológicas. Objetivo: neste trabalho foi avaliada a atividade biológica de punicalagina sobre leveduras pertencentes ao complexo Cryptococcus neoformans e espécies de Candida. Métodos: a suscetibilidade in vitro das leveduras ao composto punicalagina, foi verificada usando-se o método de microdiluição em caldo. O possível mecanismo de ação foi verificado por diferentes métodos como: doseamento de ergosterol da membrana da célula fúngica, por análises morfológicas e ultraestruturais das leveduras, por citometria de fluxo (ciclo celular, lesão da membrana citoplasmática, produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio e perda do potencial da membrana mitocondrial). A citotoxicidade in vitro de punicalagina foi verificada utilizando-se células Balb/c 3T3, células de carcinoma pulmonar A549 e eritrócitos de carneiro. Resultados: a punicalagina foi capaz de inibir o crescimento das leveduras em concentrações ≤ 4 µg/mL com concentração fungicida mínima (CFM) de > 256 µg/mL. A punicalagina reduziu a síntese de ergosterol da membrana celular fúngica e promoveu alterações na morfologia e no arranjo celular das leveduras. O mecanismo de ação analisado por citometria de fluxo mostrou alteração do ciclo celular com aumento das fases G0/G1 e redução das fases G2/M, interferindo na divisão celular do DNA das células fúngicas. O composto mostrou baixa toxicidade sobre as células Balb/c 3T3, A549 e eritrócitos de carneiro. Conclusão: os resultados apresentados pela ação da punicalagina mostraram que este composto apresenta baixa citotoxicidade para as células animais, com importante atividade antifúngica para as leveduras do complexo Cryptococcus neoformans e Candida.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:17:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2006-Juan Rojas Pereira.pdf: 760746 bytes, checksum: 1798bbe7196bc85bf9d9b42cb797bfc4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-03-17 / The aim of this work was to verify the isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans from bird droppings at some petshops trading in Rio de Janeiro borough-RJ, as well as to perform biochemical serogruping and to evaluate the virulence in vitro . 1268 samples from several birds at 25 commercial establishments distributed on 16 neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro Borough-RJ were collected.The biochemical serogrouping was carried out in CGB culture medium plates while protease and phospholipase production indicating virulence factors through specific media containing bovine soralbumin and yolk were performed in vitro respectively. Both virulence and serogrouping assays for 64 strains were carried out. From the total of samples, 85 (6,7%) were considered positive. Positivity feature was verified for birds, as well as Melopsittacus undulatus birds droppings, Serinus canaria and other sort of birds showed a greater member of seedlings. According to serogrouping, from the total of 56 samples, 54 were classified as serogrouping AD (Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans) and just two of them to serogrouping BC (Cryptococcus neoformans var gattii) possibly.All the strains showed to be protease and phospholipase producers and most as hard ones. Of the isolated 56 all were fit in the biotypes "Killer" I and II (var neoformans). Talking into account the possibility of high level infection for human and animal helth, the presence of this ethiological agent on such kind of establishments, it might be a great concern to sanitary surveillance policy for controllling the infection, furthermore. / O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar o isolamento de Cryptococcus neoformans em excretas de aves comercializadas em pet-shops localizados no Munic?pio do Rio de Janeiro RJ, realizar a sorogrupagem bioqu?mica e avaliar a virul?ncia in vitro . Foram colhidas 1268 amostras de diversas aves em 25 estabelecimentos distribu?dos em 16 bairros do referido munic?pio. A sorogrupagem bioqu?mica foi realizada em meio CGB, enquanto a determina??o da produ??o de protease e de fosfolipase como fatores de virul?ncia, foi realizada in vitro pelo emprego de meios espec?ficos contendo respectivamente soroalbumina bovina e gema de ovo. Do total de amostras avi?rias coletadas, 85 (6,70%) mostraram-se positivas. A positividade foi verificada isoladamente para as aves, sendo que as excretas de Melopsittacus undulatus, Serinus canaria e outras aves de maior procura destacaram-se pelo maior n?mero de isolados. A sorogrupagem realizada para 56 cepas revelou que 54 amostras pertencem ao sorogrupo AD (Cryptococcus neoformans variedade neoformans) e duas, possivelmente ao sorogrupo BC (C. neoformans var gattii). Todas as cepas mostraram-se produtoras de protease e de fosfolipase e a maioria revelou-se forte produtora destas enzimas. Dos 56 isolados todos se encaixaram nos bi?tipos Killer I e II (var neoformans). A presen?a deste agente em tais estabelecimentos comerciais deve ser motivo de preocupa??o para as autoridades sanit?rias, considerando-se a possibilidade de infec??o para o homem e para outros animais ali comercializados.