Class of 2014 Abstract / Specific Aims: The incidence of Clostridium difficile (C. Diff) infections in pediatric patients has continually risen, which could be caused by the emergence of a hyper virulent strain, specifically NAP1/B1/027. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the incidence of strain type, compare treatment(s) prescribed, treatment duration, rate of infection recurrence based on strain and severity, rates of re-infection or recurrence, and treatment failures for patients less than 6 months and up to 18 years of age. Methods: A retrospective study of patients admitted to an academic medical center with detection of C. diff toxin was performed. Data analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics to examine demographics, strain type, infection severity, and treatment failure. Main Results: Fourty-five patients with C. Diff toxin detection were included in study analyses and the median age was 6.2 [0.31- 17.9 years]. Oral or intravenous metronidazole was prescribed as initial therapy in 89% of the patients. Strain type was available in 77% of patients, with NAP1/B1/027 detected in 31% of stool samples tested. Within 21 days after initial toxin detection, there was a 13% rate of clinical failure or death, although none directly associated with C. Diff. Within days 22 - 65 after initial toxin detection, there was a 16% rate of recurrence or reinfection. Initial therapy selection, therapy duration, and rate of recurrence or reinfection were not significantly associated with NAP1/B1/027 strain type. Conclusion: Despite variability in severity of infection, the majority of pediatric patients with C. Diff were treated with metronidazole and were infected with a non-B1/NAP1/027 strain.

Protein kinases play essential roles in orchestrating almost every step during mitosis. Aberrant kinase activity often leads to errors in the cell cycle progression which consequently becomes the underlying cause for developmental defects or abnormal cell proliferation leading to cancer. Tank Binding Kinase 1 (TBK1) is overexpressed in certain cancer types and is activated on the centrosomes during mitosis. Loss of TBK1 impairs cell division resulting in growth defects and the accumulation of multinucleated cells. Therefore, proper activation and localization of TBK1 are essential for mitotic progression. Yet, the upstream regulation of TBK1 and the function of activated TBK1 on the centrosomes is unknown. Also, the cause and consequences of overexpression of TBK1 in cancers remain to be explored. Activation of TBK1 depends on its binding to an adaptor protein which induces a conformational change leading to trans autophoshorylation on serine 172 of its kinase domain. We identified that an established innate immune response protein, NAK Associated Protein1 (NAP1/AZI2), is the adaptor required for binding and activating TBK1 during mitosis. Loss of either NAP1 or TBK1 results in the accumulation of binucleated and multinucleated cells, possibly due to several mitotic and cytokinetic defects seen in these knockout (KO) cells. We establish NAP1 as a cell cycle regulated protein which colocalizes with activated TBK1 on the centrosomes during mitosis. Furthermore, by performing an unbiased quantitative phosphoproteomics analysis during mitosis, the substrates discovered reveal that TBK1 also regulates other known cell cycle regulating kinases such as Aurora A and Aurora B. TBK1 is also an established autophagy protein and since the autophagy machinery is often impaired or remodeled to facilitate rapid cell division, we evaluated the underlying connection between TBK1 activation and autophagy. The data shows that cells lacking the essential autophagy proteins FIP200 or ATG9A exhibit overactivation and mislocalization of TBK1. By using both genetic and pharmacological inhibition of autophagy processes, we found that impaired autophagy leads to a significantly higher number of micronuclei – a hallmark for tumorigenesis that correlates with defects in mitosis and cytokinesis. Taken together our work has uncovered a novel function for the NAP1-TBK1 complex during mitosis and establishes that overactivation and mislocalization of TBK1 is a direct consequence of impaired autophagy which causes micronuclei formation. / Doctor of Philosophy / Defective cell division is the underlying cause for many human health maladies such as birth defects and cancer. Investigation into the proteins that are abnormally expressed in cancer can help us identify their physiological roles in regulating the cell cycle. Tank Binding Kinase 1 (TBK1) is often overexpressed in several types of cancer such as glioblastomas, breast, and lung cancers. It has also been extensively studied in the process of removing damaged cytosolic components from cells called autophagy. During cancer progression, cells often hijack the autophagy machinery to their advantage for abnormal cell proliferation. However, we do not completely understand the role of TBK1 in cancer pathogenesis or during normal cell division. Each cell duplicates its genomic contents and divides its organelles and cytosolic components during cell division. Centrosomes organize microtubules to attach to the duplicated genomic material to equally segregate the DNA between two daughter cells. Previous studies have shown that TBK1 is active on the centrosomes during mitosis, and the loss of TBK1 leads to reduced cell proliferation. However, the function of TBK1 and what regulates its activation on the centrosomes are unknown. Using a combination of genetic, biochemical, and molecular biology techniques, we found that an immune response protein Nak Associated Protein 1 (NAP1/AZI2) binds to TBK1 and activates it on the centrosomes during cell division. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that the loss of either NAP1 or TBK1 exhibits a multitude of different types of defects in the process of cell division. We further identified TBK1 substrates in a phosphoproteomic screen indicating that TBK1 regulates the activity of other major cell division kinases. We show that defects in autophagy machinery result in the mislocalization and overactivation of TBK1 resulting in defects during chromosome segregation, and in the formation of micronuclei. Together our study shows that an established immune response protein NAP1 regulates the function of TBK1 during cell division and there exists a connection between TBK1 activity and disrupted autophagy.

La bactérie Clostridium difficile est maintenant considérée comme un pathogène majeur responsable d'infections nosocomiales en Amérique du Nord et en Europe. De plus, l'émergence de souches hypervirulentes, telle la souche NAP1/027 responsable de récentes épidémies, est un phénomène inquiétant. Un enjeu crucial au cours des prochaines années sera de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de virulence et d'évolution de C. difficile. Les bactériophages (c.-à-d. des virus bactériens, ou phages) sont des joueurs clés dans l'évolution de la plupart des bactéries, pathogènes ou non. Les données concernant l'impact des phages sur C. difficile sont très limitées. Par contre, deux études récentes démontrent que les phages semblent influencer la virulence de C. difficile en altérant la production de toxines TcdA et TcdB. L'objectif de mes travaux de recherche est donc d'étudier au niveau microbiologique et moléculaire les phages de C. difficile et de démontrer leur impact sur l'évolution et la virulence de ce pathogène. Dans ce contexte, plusieurs phages ont été induits à partir d'isolats cliniques de C. difficile. Dans cette collection, un phage en particulier, le (pCD38-2, a été choisi pour la caractérisation subséquente dû à sa divergence génomique par rapport aux autres phages et à sa capacité d'infecter la grande majorité des souches ayant le ribotype hypervirulent (027). Ces caractéristiques uniques ont justifié le séquençage complet de son génome. Par contre, aucun facteur de virulence évident n'a été identifié. À l'opposé, une analyse bio-informatique a permis l'identification d'une région spécifique comportant plusieurs gènes de conversion lysogénique potentiels. L'impact de ces gènes sur la virulence bactérienne reste à être déterminé. De plus, lorsqu'on introduit le phage cpCD38-2 dans la souche sensible CD274, on observe une accumulation plus rapide et plus grande des toxines après 48h dans le surnageant de la culture. Ce phénomène a été confirmé avec des tests ELISA sur des réplicas biologiques indépendants ainsi que par un immunodosage avec anticorps spécifiques aux deux toxines. Par ailleurs, une étude transcriptionelle par PCR en temps réel a permis de constater que le phage (pCD38-2 influence également l'expression des gènes tcdA et tcdB dans le temps. Par contre, l'effet du phage cpCD38-2 est variable lorsqu'on l'introduit dans d'autres souches de C. difficile. Donc, les résultats de nos travaux indiquent que certains phages auraient un impact sur la virulence de C. difficile en altérant la production et la transcription des gènes de toxines. Nos données laissent toutefois sous-entendre que cet effet peut varier selon les souches de C. difficile. [Symboles non conformes]

Clostridium difficile est la principale cause de diarrhées nosocomiales liées à la prise d'antibiotiques. La souche hypervirulente NAP1/027 est apparue récemment et a causé de nombreuses épidémies en Amérique du Nord et en Europe. On considère généralement que cette souche produit plus de toxines, sporule davantage, provoque des infections plus sévères menant à des complications et est souvent associée aux cas de récurrence. Toutefois, des études récentes ont montré des données contradictoires à ce sujet. L'objectif de mes travaux de recherche est donc de déterminer si l'issue clinique des infections à C. difficile (ICD) peut être prédite en fonction du génotype et de certains phénotypes bactériens associés à la virulence, comme la production de toxines et la sporulation. Pour ce faire, 21 isolats cliniques associés à des ICD de sévérité différente (légère à modérée, sévère, compliquée) ont été caractérisés par des méthodes de typage courantes, incluant le ribotypage par PCR, le typage des répétitions en tandem, l'analyse de loci multiples de répétitions en tandem polymorphe, la détection des toxines A, B et CDT, ainsi que le séquençage du gène tcdC. Les taux de sporulation et la production des toxines A et B ont aussi été évalués in vitro, de même que la résistance des isolats à certains antibiotiques. La mobilité, la sensibilité des isolats à certains bactériophages et leur contenu en prophages ont aussi été étudiés. Les résultats de mes travaux démontrent que les méthodes de typage utilisées ne permettent pas de prévoir avec certitude le phénotype bactérien ni de prédire la sévérité des ICD. En effet, les souches NAP1/027 peuvent autant provoquer des ICD non-sévères que mener à des complications. Le phénotype n'est pas non plus nécessairement un indice de la sévérité. Les souches NAP1/027 produisent généralement plus de toxines, mais ne possèdent pas forcément la capacité de sporulation qu'on leur attribue généralement. Par conséquent, les généralisations à propos des souches NAP1/027 devraient être évitées.

Au sein du noyau, l'ADN est organise en chromatine dont l'unité de base est le nucléosome. La structure de la chromatine est très dynamique, ce qui est nécessaire pour la plupart des opérations qui se produisent dans l'ADN telles que la réplication, la transcription, la réparation et la recombinaison. Le nucléosome est constitué de deux dimères H2A/H2B et deux dimères H3/H4 associés avec 147 paires de bases d'ADN. La protéine Nap1 est un chaperon d'histone H2A/H2B impliquée dans l'assemblage et démontage des nucléosomes. Nap1 protège les interactions non spécifiques entre l'ADN chargé négativement et les dimères H2A/H2B chargés positivement, afin de permettre la formation de la structure ordonnée des nucléosomes. Lors de l'assemblage des nucléosomes, les dimères d'histones H3/H4 sont déposés en premier lieu, suivi par le dépôt de dimères H2A/H2B. Lors du démontage du nucléosome, les dimères H2A/H2B sont retirés avant le retrait des dimères H3/H4. La determination de la structure du complexe Nap1-H2A/H2B pourra permettre une meilleure compréhension du processus d'assemblage du nucléosome. Dans cette étude, nous voulons comprendre comment le chaperon Nap1 cible spécifiquement les dimères d'histones H2A/H2B pour l'assemblage des nucléosomes. Notre objectif est de caractériser la structure et la fonction du complexe de Nap1-H2A/H2B. Ainsi nous nous sommes tout d'abord intéresse à la stoechiometrie de ce complexe. Nous avons trouvé qu'un dimère de Nap1 s'associe à un dimère H2A/H2B (Nap1_2-H2A/H2B). D'autre part, l'analyse par spectrométrie de masse non-dénaturante a montré que ce complexe de base peut s'oligomériser et contenir jusqu'à 6 copies de Nap1_2-H2A/H2B. L'analyse de ce complexe par spectrométrie de masse non-dénaturant a montré que ce complexe peu oligomériser dans un grand complexe contenant jusqu'à 6 copies de Nap1_2-H2A/H2B. Nous avons également obtenu la première structure cristalline à basse résolution de ce complexe. L'analyse du même complexe par microscopie électronique à coloration négative a révélé la présence en solution du même oligomère que dans l'unité asymétrique du cristal, qui contient aussi 6 copies de Nap1_2-H2A/H2B. Ainsi, nous avons pu mettre en évidence de nouvelles interfaces d'interaction entre les différents composants de ce complexe qui nous permettent de mieux comprendre le processus d'assemblage des nucléosomes. Le remodelage de la chromatine permet l'expression des gènes eucaryotes. Ce remodelage nécessite des enzymes telles que des histone acétyltransférases (HAT) et les chaperons d'histones. Les HATs acétylent les chaînes latérales des lysines. Il a été proposé que les HATs et les histones chaperons agissent en synergie pour moduler la structure de la chromatine pendant la transcription. La HAT p300 a été proposé d'interagir avec l'histone chaperon Nap1. Nous avons entrepris de caractériser cette interaction. Malheureusement, nos expériences n'ont pas pu détecter d'interaction directe entre ces protéines. / Assembly of chromatin is an essential process that concerns most DNA transactions in eukaryotic cells. The basic repeating unit of chromatin are nucleosomes, macromolecular complexes that consist of a histone octamer that organizes 147 bp of DNA in two superhelical turns. Although, the structures of nucleosomes are known in detail, their assembly is poorly understood. In vivo, nucleosome assembly is orchestrated by ATP-dependent remodelling enzymes, histone-modifying enzymes and a number of at least partially redundant histone chaperones. Histone chaperons are a structurally diverse class of proteins that direct the productive assembly and disassembly of nucleosomes by facilitating histone deposition and exchange. The currently accepted model is that nucleosome assembly is a sequential process that begins with the interaction of H3/H4 with DNA to form a (H3/H4)2 tetramer-DNA complex. The addition of two H2A/H2B dimers completes a canonical nucleosome. High-resolution structures of histone chaperons in complex with H3/H4 histones have resulted in detailed insights into the process of nucleosome assembly. However, our understanding of the mechanism of nucleosome assembly has been hampered by the as yet limited number of co-crystal structures of histone–chaperone complexes. In particular it remains unclear how histone chaperons mediate H2A/H2B deposition to complete nucleosome assembly. In this work, we have investigated the role of the H2A/H2B chaperon Nap1 (Nucleosome assembly protein 1) in nucleosome assembly. We have determined the crystal structure of the complex between Nap1 and H2A/H2B and analysed the assembly by various biophysical methods. The structure shows that a Nap1 dimer binds to one copy of H2A/H2B (Nap1_2-H2A/H2B). A large ~550 kDa macromolecular assembly containing 6 copies of the Nap12-H2A/H2B complex is seen in the asymmetric crystallographic unit. We confirmed by both non-denaturing mass spectroscopy and negative stain electron microscopy studies that this assembly is the predominant form of the Nap1_2-H2A/H2B complex in solution. We further investigated the potential interplay between p300-mediated histone acetylation and nucleosome assembly. Together, the structure and associated functional analysis provide a detailed mechanism for the Nap1 chaperon activity, its role in H2A/H2B deposition and in nucleosome assembly.

Double stranded RNA (dsRNA), the genomic material of some viruses and a replication intermediate in others, is recognized by multiple signaling receptors that initiate the anti-viral response1. Viruses have developed mechanisms to circumvent the anti-viral response by targeting components of the signaling pathway. An example of one such pathway is the TLR3 signaling pathway, which contains a kinase complex that activates interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), leading to production of type I interferons. The kinase complex consists of a scaffold protein, NAK-associated protein 1 (NAP1), and two kinases, TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK-1) and IκB kinase epsilon (IKKε). A fourty residue sequence in NAP1 was discovered that mediated its interaction with TBK1 and IKKε, termed the kinase binding domain (KBD)1. However, the function of NAP1 in mediating kinase activation is unknown and understanding this is the long-term goal of this project. The goal of this thesis was to test the dependency of NAP1’s dimeric structure on mediating interactions with the kinases. Biochemical characterization of recombinant targets was completed using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and NAP1 KBD WT eluted as a dimeric species. CFP/YFP/Alexa Fluor 546 fusion proteins of the NAP1 KBD and scaffold binding motif (SBM) of the kinases, TBK-1 and IKKε, were generated to assess interactions using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). NAP1 KBD directly interacts with TBK1 and IKKε, with low micromolar affinity in vitro. Mutagenesis was attempted to identify the residues necessary for NAP1 dimerization and any effect dimerization may have on kinase recognition. This thesis shows data to support that NAP1 KBD forms stable homo-oligomers and directly interacts with a small C-terminal portion of TBK1 and IKKε.

A mineração do carvão fóssil gera grandes volumes de rejeitos que podem ser responsáveis por graves danos ambientais, entre os quais a Drenagem Ácida de Minas (DAM) decorrente da oxidação da pirita (FeS2) na presença de água e ar. Este percolado apresenta um baixo pH, rico em íons sulfato e ferro, bem como outros metais solúveis, como alumínio, manganês e zinco. Atualmente, o tratamento mais utilizado para este efluente é a precipitação/neutralização. Contudo, este processo muitas vezes é ineficiente para a remoção de manganês. Assim, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi realizar o tratamento da Drenagem Ácida de Minas, visando à remoção de metais, com foco especial na remoção do íon manganês, utilizando as etapas de precipitação e, após, a troca iônica com zeólitas sintetizadas a partir de cinzas leves de carvão. A metodologia deste trabalho compreendeu duas etapas: 1°) síntese da zeólita NaP1, a partir de cinzas leves de carvão de Candiota por processo hidrotérmico e sua caracterização, 2°) caracterização da DAM, seguido de tratamento por precipitação/neutralização, e por troca iônica - zeólitas. O estudo foi aplicado para uma DAM proveniente da região carbonífera de Santa Catarina. Os resultados dos testes de caracterização do produto da síntese demonstraram a formação da zéolita NaP1, com CTC de 2,3 meq g-1. A DAM apresentou resultados típicos, com pH baixo, elevadas concentrações de Fe e sulfato e valores de manganês de 45,15 mg L-1. Os resultados do tratamento inicial mostraram que o tratamento do efluente por precipitação/neutralização, em pH 6,0, com Ca(OH)2, promove a remoção total de Al, Fe e Zn, contudo a concentração de manganês ainda fica em 28,24 mg L-1. No tratamento por troca iônica, utilizou-se a zeólita NaP1 para a remoção do manganês restante no efluente. O tempo de contato foi de 30 min, a razão S/L de 10 g L-1. O emprego da zeólita promoveu a remoção total do manganês da DAM. O mecanismo de remoção de Mn2+ ocorre por troca iônica na faixa de pH neutra e por precipitação superficial em valores de pH acima de 8,5. Em condições de laboratório, o custo do tratamento com zeólitas foi o dobro do tratamento por precipitação/neutralização. O tratamento com a utilização de zeólitas, seria uma alternativa visando a diminuição do consumo de cal hidratada com elevação do pH e remoção do Mn residual. / The mining of fossil coal generates large volumes of waste that may be responsible for serious environmental damage, including the acid mine drainage (AMD) resulting from oxidation of pyrite (FeS2) in the presence of water and air. This percolated has a low pH, rich in sulphate ions and iron as well as other soluble metals such as aluminum, manganese and zinc. Nowadays the most common treatment for this wastewater, is precipitation/neutralization. However, this process is inefficient for the removal of manganese. Thus the general aim this study was the treatment of acid mine drainage, aiming the removing metals, with special focus on removal of manganese ion, using the steps of precipitation and after the ion exchange with synthesized zeolites from fly ash coal. The methodology of this work included two steps: 1°) synthesis zeolite NAP1 from fly ash coal of Candiota by hydrothermal process and their characterization, 2°) characterization of AMD treatment followed by precipitation/neutralization and ion exchange-zeolite. The study was applied for a AMD from the coalfield of Santa Catarina. The results of the characterization tests of the synthesis product showed the formation of the zeolite NaP1, CEC from 2.3 meq g-1. The AMD showed typical results with low pH, high concentration of Fe and sulfate and manganese values 45.15 mg L-1. The results of the initial treatment from precipitation/neutralization showed that treatment of effluent by precipitation/neutralization at pH 6.0 with Ca(OH)2 promotes complete removal of Al, Fe e Zn, however the concentration is still in the manganese 28.24mg L-1. In the treatment by ion exchange, the zeolite NaP1 was used for the remaining manganese removal in wastewater. The contact time was 30 min, the ratio S/L 10 g L-1. The use of zeolite promoted the complete removal of manganese from AMD. The manganese removal by ion exchange mechanism occurs in the neutral range and surface precipitation in values above 8.5. In laboratory conditions, the cost of treatment with zeolite was double treatment by precipitation/neutralization. The treatment with use of zeolite would be an alternative aiming to decrease consumption of hydrated lime with increased pH and removing the residual Mn.

A mineração do carvão fóssil gera grandes volumes de rejeitos que podem ser responsáveis por graves danos ambientais, entre os quais a Drenagem Ácida de Minas (DAM) decorrente da oxidação da pirita (FeS2) na presença de água e ar. Este percolado apresenta um baixo pH, rico em íons sulfato e ferro, bem como outros metais solúveis, como alumínio, manganês e zinco. Atualmente, o tratamento mais utilizado para este efluente é a precipitação/neutralização. Contudo, este processo muitas vezes é ineficiente para a remoção de manganês. Assim, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi realizar o tratamento da Drenagem Ácida de Minas, visando à remoção de metais, com foco especial na remoção do íon manganês, utilizando as etapas de precipitação e, após, a troca iônica com zeólitas sintetizadas a partir de cinzas leves de carvão. A metodologia deste trabalho compreendeu duas etapas: 1°) síntese da zeólita NaP1, a partir de cinzas leves de carvão de Candiota por processo hidrotérmico e sua caracterização, 2°) caracterização da DAM, seguido de tratamento por precipitação/neutralização, e por troca iônica - zeólitas. O estudo foi aplicado para uma DAM proveniente da região carbonífera de Santa Catarina. Os resultados dos testes de caracterização do produto da síntese demonstraram a formação da zéolita NaP1, com CTC de 2,3 meq g-1. A DAM apresentou resultados típicos, com pH baixo, elevadas concentrações de Fe e sulfato e valores de manganês de 45,15 mg L-1. Os resultados do tratamento inicial mostraram que o tratamento do efluente por precipitação/neutralização, em pH 6,0, com Ca(OH)2, promove a remoção total de Al, Fe e Zn, contudo a concentração de manganês ainda fica em 28,24 mg L-1. No tratamento por troca iônica, utilizou-se a zeólita NaP1 para a remoção do manganês restante no efluente. O tempo de contato foi de 30 min, a razão S/L de 10 g L-1. O emprego da zeólita promoveu a remoção total do manganês da DAM. O mecanismo de remoção de Mn2+ ocorre por troca iônica na faixa de pH neutra e por precipitação superficial em valores de pH acima de 8,5. Em condições de laboratório, o custo do tratamento com zeólitas foi o dobro do tratamento por precipitação/neutralização. O tratamento com a utilização de zeólitas, seria uma alternativa visando a diminuição do consumo de cal hidratada com elevação do pH e remoção do Mn residual. / The mining of fossil coal generates large volumes of waste that may be responsible for serious environmental damage, including the acid mine drainage (AMD) resulting from oxidation of pyrite (FeS2) in the presence of water and air. This percolated has a low pH, rich in sulphate ions and iron as well as other soluble metals such as aluminum, manganese and zinc. Nowadays the most common treatment for this wastewater, is precipitation/neutralization. However, this process is inefficient for the removal of manganese. Thus the general aim this study was the treatment of acid mine drainage, aiming the removing metals, with special focus on removal of manganese ion, using the steps of precipitation and after the ion exchange with synthesized zeolites from fly ash coal. The methodology of this work included two steps: 1°) synthesis zeolite NAP1 from fly ash coal of Candiota by hydrothermal process and their characterization, 2°) characterization of AMD treatment followed by precipitation/neutralization and ion exchange-zeolite. The study was applied for a AMD from the coalfield of Santa Catarina. The results of the characterization tests of the synthesis product showed the formation of the zeolite NaP1, CEC from 2.3 meq g-1. The AMD showed typical results with low pH, high concentration of Fe and sulfate and manganese values 45.15 mg L-1. The results of the initial treatment from precipitation/neutralization showed that treatment of effluent by precipitation/neutralization at pH 6.0 with Ca(OH)2 promotes complete removal of Al, Fe e Zn, however the concentration is still in the manganese 28.24mg L-1. In the treatment by ion exchange, the zeolite NaP1 was used for the remaining manganese removal in wastewater. The contact time was 30 min, the ratio S/L 10 g L-1. The use of zeolite promoted the complete removal of manganese from AMD. The manganese removal by ion exchange mechanism occurs in the neutral range and surface precipitation in values above 8.5. In laboratory conditions, the cost of treatment with zeolite was double treatment by precipitation/neutralization. The treatment with use of zeolite would be an alternative aiming to decrease consumption of hydrated lime with increased pH and removing the residual Mn.

A mineração do carvão fóssil gera grandes volumes de rejeitos que podem ser responsáveis por graves danos ambientais, entre os quais a Drenagem Ácida de Minas (DAM) decorrente da oxidação da pirita (FeS2) na presença de água e ar. Este percolado apresenta um baixo pH, rico em íons sulfato e ferro, bem como outros metais solúveis, como alumínio, manganês e zinco. Atualmente, o tratamento mais utilizado para este efluente é a precipitação/neutralização. Contudo, este processo muitas vezes é ineficiente para a remoção de manganês. Assim, o objetivo geral deste trabalho foi realizar o tratamento da Drenagem Ácida de Minas, visando à remoção de metais, com foco especial na remoção do íon manganês, utilizando as etapas de precipitação e, após, a troca iônica com zeólitas sintetizadas a partir de cinzas leves de carvão. A metodologia deste trabalho compreendeu duas etapas: 1°) síntese da zeólita NaP1, a partir de cinzas leves de carvão de Candiota por processo hidrotérmico e sua caracterização, 2°) caracterização da DAM, seguido de tratamento por precipitação/neutralização, e por troca iônica - zeólitas. O estudo foi aplicado para uma DAM proveniente da região carbonífera de Santa Catarina. Os resultados dos testes de caracterização do produto da síntese demonstraram a formação da zéolita NaP1, com CTC de 2,3 meq g-1. A DAM apresentou resultados típicos, com pH baixo, elevadas concentrações de Fe e sulfato e valores de manganês de 45,15 mg L-1. Os resultados do tratamento inicial mostraram que o tratamento do efluente por precipitação/neutralização, em pH 6,0, com Ca(OH)2, promove a remoção total de Al, Fe e Zn, contudo a concentração de manganês ainda fica em 28,24 mg L-1. No tratamento por troca iônica, utilizou-se a zeólita NaP1 para a remoção do manganês restante no efluente. O tempo de contato foi de 30 min, a razão S/L de 10 g L-1. O emprego da zeólita promoveu a remoção total do manganês da DAM. O mecanismo de remoção de Mn2+ ocorre por troca iônica na faixa de pH neutra e por precipitação superficial em valores de pH acima de 8,5. Em condições de laboratório, o custo do tratamento com zeólitas foi o dobro do tratamento por precipitação/neutralização. O tratamento com a utilização de zeólitas, seria uma alternativa visando a diminuição do consumo de cal hidratada com elevação do pH e remoção do Mn residual. / The mining of fossil coal generates large volumes of waste that may be responsible for serious environmental damage, including the acid mine drainage (AMD) resulting from oxidation of pyrite (FeS2) in the presence of water and air. This percolated has a low pH, rich in sulphate ions and iron as well as other soluble metals such as aluminum, manganese and zinc. Nowadays the most common treatment for this wastewater, is precipitation/neutralization. However, this process is inefficient for the removal of manganese. Thus the general aim this study was the treatment of acid mine drainage, aiming the removing metals, with special focus on removal of manganese ion, using the steps of precipitation and after the ion exchange with synthesized zeolites from fly ash coal. The methodology of this work included two steps: 1°) synthesis zeolite NAP1 from fly ash coal of Candiota by hydrothermal process and their characterization, 2°) characterization of AMD treatment followed by precipitation/neutralization and ion exchange-zeolite. The study was applied for a AMD from the coalfield of Santa Catarina. The results of the characterization tests of the synthesis product showed the formation of the zeolite NaP1, CEC from 2.3 meq g-1. The AMD showed typical results with low pH, high concentration of Fe and sulfate and manganese values 45.15 mg L-1. The results of the initial treatment from precipitation/neutralization showed that treatment of effluent by precipitation/neutralization at pH 6.0 with Ca(OH)2 promotes complete removal of Al, Fe e Zn, however the concentration is still in the manganese 28.24mg L-1. In the treatment by ion exchange, the zeolite NaP1 was used for the remaining manganese removal in wastewater. The contact time was 30 min, the ratio S/L 10 g L-1. The use of zeolite promoted the complete removal of manganese from AMD. The manganese removal by ion exchange mechanism occurs in the neutral range and surface precipitation in values above 8.5. In laboratory conditions, the cost of treatment with zeolite was double treatment by precipitation/neutralization. The treatment with use of zeolite would be an alternative aiming to decrease consumption of hydrated lime with increased pH and removing the residual Mn.

This is a two-part project. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been associated with increased risk of C. difficile infections and increased toxin production when combined with antimicrobial therapy. The first part of this project involved characterization of a hypervirulent NAP1 C. difficile strain, including genome sequencing and assembly, and the development of methods to study its transcriptomics using RNA-Seq, which will enable future researchers to study different expression patterns when toxigenic C. difficile is challenged with PPIs and/or antimicrobials in vitro. The second part of this project involved characterizing a clinical isolate of a NAP1 C. difficile displaying a markedly elevated MIC to metronidazole (MIC = 16 mg/mL), which initially exhibited MIC of 32 mg/mL. A method of obtaining a metronidazole-susceptible revertant from this isolate was developed and a revertant was obtained. The genomes of both isolates were sequenced, assembled, and aligned, then compared to each other for polymorphisms.