Influenza A virus (IAV) replication and transcription occur in the host cell nucleus; a feature which means both the viral genome (vRNA) and mRNA must be exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The mechanism by which vRNA nuclear export is achieved has been well characterised, but how viral mRNAs are exported is poorly understood. The cellular NXF1-dependent mRNA export pathway has been shown to be involved in the export of some viral mRNAs, but how they are recruited to this pathway is unknown. Prior work from our laboratory showed that segment 7 mRNA was inefficiently exported to the cytoplasm in a sub-viral ‘minireplicon’ system, providing the first indication that there were viral requirements for IAV mRNA nuclear export. Further addition of individual viral polypeptides was tested and the effect on segment 7 mRNA export was analysed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and confocal microscopy. This identified the NS1 protein as the viral factor required for efficient segment 7 nuclear export. Mutational studies on NS1 were carried out to unveil the mechanistic role of this protein in viral mRNA nuclear export, by plasmid transfection as well as in the context of recombinant viruses. These approaches indicated that both functional domains of NS1 were necessary to preserve the mRNA export function. Furthermore, these mutant proteins were used to examine the association between NS1 and the NXF1-dependent pathway in the context of mRNA nuclear export. Protein-protein and protein-RNA binding assays indicated that interactions between NXF1 and NS1, and NXF1 and segment 7 mRNA were necessary, but not sufficient to promote segment 7 viral mRNA export. Lastly, the role of NS1 protein in the nuclear export of viral mRNAs from other genome segments was studied. The intracellular localisation of most viral mRNAs was not affected by the absence of NS1 or the presence of an export-incompetent NS1 mutant protein. However, segment 4 mRNA exhibited a similar phenotype to segment 7 mRNA in showing a dependence on NS1 for efficient nuclear export. Overall, the results presented in this dissertation suggest that NS1 acts as an adaptor protein between the viral RNA synthesis machinery and cellular export pathway. This provides deeper insights for the characterization of a recently identified function of the IAV NS1 protein, of being required for the efficient nuclear export of mRNA from “late” kinetic class viral genes.

The diagnosis of dengue cases in Central Laboratories of Public Health (LACEN) of the country includes the research of NS1 protein and only in positive cases, diagnostic confirmation occurs by identifying the serotype. Data provided by the Epidemiological Surveillance of Sergipe revealed that the first half of 2016 all suspected cases that reached the LACEN / SE were negative on screening tests, even in the thirty-first epidemiological week of the same year, Sergipe has reached the seventh place in the racking of dengue cases in the Northeast region and the third in the Quick Survey Infestation Index by Aedes aegypti. This study aimed to identify the serotypes and the epidemiological profile of suspected dengue cases in the first half of 2016. The 437 suspected dengue patients from January to June of this year were registered in LACEN / SE. After exclusion criteria, 382 serum samples of these patients diagnosed and negative for dengue by ELISA NS1 Antigen Platelia kit method were analyzed by RT-PCR in real time on the multiplex system for confirmation of suspected cases of dengue. The distribution of patients according to epidemiological and demographic variables revealed that there was a predominance of cases in the south central region of the state and large Aracaju (53.5%) inferring the ease in access to outpatient and laboratory service in the region the most affected gender was female (62.8%) and the age group of highest incidence was 20-59 years (59.3%). The highest rate was in urban areas (84.9%) and the first three days of symptoms (63.9%) with higher sampling rate. The prevalence of dengue in cases initially presented as a suspect was 22.5% (86) distributed among serotypes DENV4 82.5% (71), DENV1 9.3% (8) and DENV3 8.1% (7). Compared to official data reported that there were no cases of dengue in the period, this study reveals the positive for dengue with cocirculation of three distinct serotypes being DEV4 the predominant. As also, reports the first evidence of the last ten years of DENV3 serotype circulating in the state. Data analysis enabled to view an underreporting of cases screened and thus suggest a reassessment of the methods used as diagnostic screening so that they can take control measures to the potential for severe disease in a population. / O diagnóstico de casos de dengue nos Laboratórios Centrais de Saúde Pública (LACEN) do país contempla a pesquisa da proteína NS1 e, somente em casos positivos, a confirmação diagnóstica ocorre pela identificação do sorotipo. Dados disponibilizados pela Vigilância epidemiológica de Sergipe revelaram que no primeiro semestre de 2016 todos os casos suspeitos que chegaram ao LACEN/SE foram considerados negativos nos testes de triagem, ainda que na trigésima primeira semana epidemiológica do mesmo ano, Sergipe tenha alcançado o sétimo lugar no racking de casos de dengue da região Nordeste e o terceiro no Levantamento Rápido do Índice de Infestação por Aedes aegypti. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo conhecer da dengue no estado de Sergipe no primeiro semestre de 2016 relacionando-os com alguns parâmetros epidemiológicos. Os 437 pacientes suspeitos de dengue, de janeiro a junho do presente ano, foram cadastrados no LACEN/SE. Após critérios de exclusão, 382 amostras séricas destes pacientes com diagnóstico e resultado negativo para dengue através da metodologia ELISA NS1 Antígeno do kit Platelia foram analisadas pela técnica de RT-PCR em tempo real no sistema multiplex para a confirmação dos casos suspeitos de dengue. A distribuição dos pacientes de acordo com as variáveis epidemiológicas e demográficas revelou que houve predominância dos casos na região centro-sul do estado e da grande Aracaju (53,5%) podendo-se inferir a facilidade no acesso ao atendimento ambulatorial e laboratorial nessa região, o gênero mais acometido foi o feminino (62,8%) e a faixa etária de maior incidência foi 20 a 59 anos (59,3%). A maior frequência foi na zona urbana (84,9%) e os três primeiros dias dos sintomas (63,9%) com maior índice de coletas. A incidência de dengue nos casos que incialmente se apresentaram como suspeita foi de 22,5% (86) distribuídas entre os sorotipos DENV4 82,5% (71), DENV1 9,3% (8) e DENV3 8,1% (7). Em comparação aos dados oficias que informavam que não houve casos de dengue no referido período, este estudo revela a positividade para dengue com co-circulação de três sorotipos distintos sendo o DENV4 o predominante. Ademias, relata a primeira evidência, dos últimos dez anos, de circulação do sorotipo DENV3 no estado. A análise dos dados permitiu visualizar uma subnotificação dos casos triados e, assim, sugerir uma reavaliação dos métodos utilizados como triagem diagnóstica para que se possam tomar medidas de controle para riscos potenciais de formas graves da doença numa população. / Lagarto, SE

Non-structural protein, NS1 of African horse sickness virus is a hydrophobic protein of 63 kDa that spontaneously assembles into highly distinct tubular structures when expressed in mammalian or insect cells. The spontaneous assembly of these proteins into a predictable multimeric structure, high levels of expression and ease of purification make this protein an ideal candidate for the immune display of foreign peptides. The potential of such a display system has been investigated for BTV NS1 that is able to successfully elicit both a humoral and a cellular immune response against inserted peptides. The aims of this study were to investigate both the stability of the AHSV NS1 particulate structure after insertion of peptides as well as the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the peptides presented in this system. Two overlapping regions consisting of 40 and 150 amino acids, and which correspond to a neutralising region identified within the AHSV major neutralising protein VP2, were inserted into an internal site in NS1. This site offered the best surface display of inserted peptides on the tubular structures. An enhanced green fluorescent protein, 240 amino acids long, was also inserted into the NS1 protein. Sucrose gradient analysis of the recombinant proteins indicated that the majority of the baculovirus expressed chimeric proteins formed particulate structures with a sedimentation value similar to that of the native NS1 protein. This was confirmed by transmission electron microscopic analysis, which clearly showed that all the chimeric proteins assembled into tubular structures similar to those observed for AHSV NS1 proteins. Furthermore, fluorescence analysis of sucrose gradients of NS1/eGFP also showed high levels of fluorescence that corresponded directly to particle formation. Not only do the inserts remain functional but are also presented successfully on the surface of the intact NS1 tubule structure. The potential of the NS1 vector to efficiently present peptides to the immune system was subsequently investigated. The serums generated against these chimeric proteins in guinea pigs were tested against chimeric constructs, the baculovirus expressed inserts (for eGFP) and the inserts presented on other presentation vectors. Western blot analysis showed that most of the serums generated against the chimeric proteins contained antibodies not only against the chimeric proteins but antibodies that reacted specifically with the inserted peptides on their own or on another presentation system. Preliminary immune studies seem to indicate that the humoral immune response elicited by the chimeric NS1 proteins is predominantly against the inserts. The inserts are successfully presented to the immune system on the surface of the NS1 vector and are able to elicit the production of antibodies with the potential to provide a protective immune response. / Dissertation (MSc (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Genetics / unrestricted

Influenza virus A and B are common pathogens that cause respiratory disease in humans. Recently, a highly virulent H5N1 subtype avian influenza virus caused disease outbreaks in poultry around the world. Drug resistant type A viruses rapidly emerged, and the recent H5N1 viruses were reported to be resistant to all current antiviral drugs. There is an urgent need for the development of new antiviral drugs target against both influenza A and B viruses. This dissertation describes work to identify small molecule inhibitors of influenza protein NS1 by a high throughput fluorescence polarization assay. The N-terminal GST fusion of NS1A (residue 1-215) and NS1B (residue 1-145) were chosen to be the NS1A and NS1B targets respectively for HT screening. In developing the assay, the concentrations of fluorophore and protein, and chemical additives were optimized. A total of 17,969 single chemicals from four compound libraries were screened using the optimized assay. Six true hits with dose-response activity were identified. Four of them show an IC₅₀ less than 1 [micromolar]. In addition, one compound, EGCG, has proven to reduce influenza virus replication in a cell based assay, presumably by interacting with the RNA binding domain of NS1. High throughput, computer based, virtual screenings were also performed using four docking programs. In terms of enrichment rate, ICM was the best program for virtual screening inhibitors against NS1-RBD. The compound ZINC0096886 was identified as an inhibitor showing an IC₅₀ around 19 [micromolars] against NS1A, and 13.8 [micromolars] against NS1B. In addition, the crystallographic structures of the NS1A effector domain (wild type, W187A, and W187Y mutants) of influenza A/Udorn/72 virus are presented. A hypothetical model of the intact NS1 dimer is also presented. Unlike the wild type dimer, the W187Y mutant behaved as a monomer in solution, but still was able to binding its target protein, CPSF30, with wild type binding affinity. This mutant may be a better target for the development of new antiviral drugs, as the CPSF30 binding pocket is more accessible to potential inhibitors. The structural information of those proteins would be very helpful for virtual screening and rational lead optimization. / text

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-07-14T14:18:26Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese de Doutorado - Ana Carolina M.S. Dias.pdf: 7391913 bytes, checksum: 55ab68bd39f956f754684f4b795a7baa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-14T14:18:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese de Doutorado - Ana Carolina M.S. Dias.pdf: 7391913 bytes, checksum: 55ab68bd39f956f754684f4b795a7baa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-06 / FACEPE / A infecção pelo vírus dengue (DENV) é uma das doenças tropicais mais negligenciadas e de maior importância de saúde pública no mundo. Novos métodos de diagnóstico da doença têm sido estudados através da detecção da proteína NS1 do DENV. O antígeno NS1 é um importante marcador precoce da fase aguda da dengue, secretado em altas concentrações pelo vírus no sangue de pessoas infectadas logo nos primeiros dias, porém, não é muito utilizado na rotina laboratorial para diagnóstico da doença devido ao alto custo dos ensaios. A presente tese descreve o desenvolvimento de duas plataformas sensoras eletroquímicas baseadas em eletrodos impressos (EIs) modificados com nanomateriais para detecção do antígeno NS1 do DENV. Os EIs foram confeccionados utilizando-se a impressão de tinta de carbono sobre o polietileno tereftalato (PET), suporte para impressão dos moldes. Inicialmente, foram estudados os efeitos de nanotubos de carbono e sua contribuição na transferência de elétrons, condutividade e aumento de área eletroativa da plataforma sensora. O estudo foi baseado na incorporação de nanotubos de carbono funcionalizados com grupos carboxílicos à tinta de carbono. Para detecção do NS1, um imunoensaio do tipo “sanduíche” foi realizado, no qual a captura específica do NS1 pôde ser avaliada através das reações redox da enzima peroxidase conjugada ao anticorpo. Uma faixa linear entre 0,04 g/mL e 2 g/mL de NS1 foi obtida, indicando boa performance analítica do imunossensor, com coeficiente de correlação linear de 0,996 (p<0.0001, n=8) e limite de detecção de 0,012 g/mL de NS1. Posteriormente, foi investigada a contribuição de nanopartículas metálicas no desenvolvimento de sensores eletroquímicos livres de marcação. Foram utilizadas nanopartículas de ouro (NPsAu) funcionalizadas com grupos amina para a imobilização covalente de anticorpos. Na síntese das NPsAu, foi utilizado o polietilenoimina como agente redutor e funcionalizante para promover uma ligação amida com o anticorpo anti-NS1. O imunossensor desenvolvido mostrou curva de calibração com faixa de concentração linear entre 0,1 g/mL e 2 g/mL de NS1 (r = 0,995, p<0.0001, n=7) e limite de detecção de 0,03 g/mL de NS1. A contribuição dos nanomateriais para as plataformas sensoras desenvolvidas mostrou-se efetiva na sensibilidade analítica, devido ao aumento de área eletroativa e maior quantidade de anticorpos imobilizados. A aplicação destes nanomateriais nos imunossensores proporciona novas alternativas de diagnóstico para detecção da proteína NS1 do DENV. / Infection by Dengue Virus (DENV) is one of the most neglected tropical diseases and of higher importance of public health worldwide. New methods of diagnosis of the disease have been studied through the detection of NS1 protein of DENV. NS1 antigen is an important early marker of acute dengue infection secreted in high concentrations by the virus in the blood of infected people in first days, however it is not widely used in the laboratory routine for diagnosis of the disease due to high cost of assays. The present thesis describes the development of two electrochemical sensor platforms based on screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) modified with nanomaterials for detection of NS1 antigen of DENV. SPEs were prepared using carbon ink printing on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET), support for molds printing. Initially, the effects of carbon nanotubes and their contribution to the electron transfer, conductivity and increase of electroactive area of the sensor platform were studied. The study was based on the incorporation of carbon nanotubes functionalized with carboxylic groups to the carbon ink. For NS1 detection, a sandwich-type immunoassay was carried out, wherein the specific capture of NS1 may be assessed by redox reactions of peroxidase enzyme conjugated to the antibody. A linear range between 0.04 g/mL and 2 g/mL NS1 was obtained, indicating good analytical performance of the immunosensor, with linear correlation coefficient of 0.996 (p<0.0001, n=8) and limit of detection of 0.012 g/mL NS1. Subsequently, the contribution of metal nanoparticles in the development of label-free electrochemical sensors was investigated. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with amine groups were used for covalent immobilization of antibodies. In the synthesis of AuNPs, polyethyleneimine was used as a reducing and functionalizing agent to promote an amide bond with anti-NS1 antibody. The developed immunosensor showed calibration curve with linear concentration range between 0.1 g/mL and 2 g/mL NS1 (r = 0.995, p<0.0001, n = 7) and limit of detection of 0.03 g/mL NS1. The contribution of nanomaterials for the sensor platforms developed proved effective in the analytical sensitivity due to the increase of electroactive area and larger amount of immobilized biomolecules. The application of these nanomaterials in immunosensors provides new alternatives of diagnosis for detection of NS1 protein of DENV.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-11-12T11:15:03Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Vivaldo Gomes da Costa - 2015.pdf: 2069412 bytes, checksum: 8451333c0969ae734748f50c7e57e0f3 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-11-12T11:16:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Vivaldo Gomes da Costa - 2015.pdf: 2069412 bytes, checksum: 8451333c0969ae734748f50c7e57e0f3 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-11-12T11:16:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Vivaldo Gomes da Costa - 2015.pdf: 2069412 bytes, checksum: 8451333c0969ae734748f50c7e57e0f3 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-01-12 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / The diagnosis of dengue virus (DENV) infection still remains a challenge, due to cross-reactivity between serological tests and to traditional methods that capture IgM, which is a late marker of infection. However, NS1 antigen is an early marker. Accordingly, several studies have evaluated the performance of tests that utilize NS1 capture, but the results of individual studies may be limited due to the restricted sample size of the patients recruited. Therefore, our objective was to perform a meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of two commercial NS1 ELISAs (Panbio® and Platelia™). Methods and Results: Studies of interest were found in PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar databases using defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. A total of 30 studies containing 12.105 total enrolled patients were included. The overall estimated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio were as follows: 66% (95% confidence interval (CI) 61-71), 99% (95% CI 96 -100), 98 (95% CI 20-464) 0.3 (95% CI 0.2-0.4) and 289 (95% CI 59-1412), respectively, for Panbio®, and 74% (95% CI 63-82 ), 99% (95% CI 97-100), 175 (95% CI 28-1099), 0.3 (95% CI 0.2-0.4) and 663 (95% CI 98-4478), respectively, for Platelia™. The lowest sensitivity values were for secondary infections (57% [95% CI 47-67] and 66% [95% CI 53-77] for Panbio® and Platelia™, respectively) and for the detection of DENV4. Regarding clinical manifestations, the sensitivity of Platelia™ was 69% (95% CI 43-86) and 60% (95% CI 48-70) for fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever, respectively. In addition, the sensitivity of both tests was slightly lower for samples from Southeast Asia and Oceania. Conclusion: DENV1 samples gave higher sensitivity results for both tests. We observed that factors negatively influencing the tests, such as the type of infection and viral serotype, require further investigation to optimize the diagnostic accuracy. / O diagnóstico das infecções pelo dengue vírus (DENV) continua um desafio, principalmente devido a ocorrência de reações cruzadas entre os testes sorológicos e devido aos tradicionais métodos para captura de IgM constituírem marcadores tardio da infecção. Todavia, o antígeno NS1 é um marcador precoce. Nesse contexto vários estudos tem avaliado a performance dos testes para a captura do NS1, porém os resultados dos estudos individuais podem ser limitados, por causa do restrito tamanho amostral dos pacientes recrutados. Portanto, nosso objetivo foi realizar uma meta-análise da acurácia diagnóstica de dois ensaios comerciais ELISA NS1 (Panbio® e Platelia™). Métodos e Resultados: Os estudos de interesse foram extraídos das bases de dados PubMed, Embase e Google Acadêmico, com definidos critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Um total de 30 estudos, perfazendo 12.105 pacientes recrutados, foram incluídos na análise estatística. A estimativa global da sensibilidade, especificidade, razão de verossimilhança positiva e negativa, razão de chance diagnóstica foram: 66% (95% intervalo de confiança (CI) 61-71), 99% (95% CI 96-100), 98 (95% CI 20-464), 0.3 (95% CI 0.2-0.4) e 289 (95% CI 59-1412), respectivamente para o kit da Panbio®. Enquanto para o kit da Platelia™, os resultados obtidos foram, respectivamente: 74% (95% CI 63-82), 99% (95% CI 97-100), 175 (95% CI 28-1099), 0.3 (95% CI 0.2-0.4) e 663 (95% CI 98-4478). A menor performance dos testes ocorreram nas infecções secundárias e na detecção do DENV4. Quanto às formas clínicas da dengue, a sensibilidade do Platelia™ foi de 69% (95% CI 43-86) e 60% (95% CI 48-70), para a febre da dengue e febre hemorrágica, respetivamente. A sensibilidade de ambos os testes foram discretamente menores para as amostras provenientes da Ásia e Oceania. Conclusão: As amostras de DENV1 forneceram maior sensibilidade para ambos os testes. Observamos que os fatores influenciando negativamente os testes, tais como o tipo de infecção e o sorotipo viral necessitam de maiores investigações no intuito de melhor aperfeiçoamento da acurácia diagnóstica

As principais matérias primas necessárias para a preparação de testes diagnósticos são as proteínas dos patógenos que necessariamente apresentem as estruturas nativas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi a obtenção das proteínas não estruturais 1 (NS1) dos vírus da dengue (DENV) e da zika (ZIKV) a partir dos corpúsculos de inclusão (CI) produzidos em bactérias Escherichia coli. Mostramos que a combinação de alta pressão hidrostática (APH) e pH alcalino é eficiente para a solubilização de NS1-CI. A incubação em 2,4 kbar das suspensões de NS1-CI em pH alcalino mostrou-se eficiente para a solubilização da NS1. A presença de Arg promove a dissociação de oligômeros. A aplicação de 2,4 kbar às suspensões de NS1-CI em pH de 10,5 (DENV) e de 11,5 (ZIKV) na presença de Arg e um par redox, seguida de diálise em tampão em pH 8,5, foram as condições escolhidas para o reenovelamento de NS1. Obtivemos ambas NS1 com rendimentos entre 75% e 90% em relação às quantidades totais das proteínas presente nos correspondentes CI de NS1. As NS1 reenoveladas apresentaram reatividade comparável às proteínas obtidas utilizando um protocolo convencional estabelecido, com rendimentos mais de 25 vezes superiores. Foi obtido um processo altamente eficiente para o reenovelamento de NS1 apresentando características biológicas preservadas em relação a reatividade com anticorpos específicos de antígeno, incluindo soro de paciente infectado com zikv e que, portanto, podem ser usados como antígeno para o desenvolvimento de vacinas ou testes de diagnóstico. Além disso, este estudo descreve a criação de um processo inovador, que é a utilização concomitante de APH e pH alcalino, para solubilização e posterior reenovelamento de NS1-CI que podem ser utilizados para outras proteínas relevantes. / The main products for the preparation of diagnostic tests are as proteins of the pathogens that necessarily present as the native structures. The objective of the present study was to obtain non-structural proteins 1 (NS1) from dengue virus (DENV) and zika virus (ZIKV) from the inclusion bodies (IBs) produced in Escherichia coli bacteria. We show that it is a combination of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and alkaline pH is efficient for a solubilization of NS1-IB. A 2.4 kbar incubation of NS1-IB suspensions at alkaline pH proved to be efficient for NS1 solubilization. The presence of Arg promotes the dissociation of oligomers. The application of 2.4 kbar to the suspensions of NS1-IB at pH 10.5 (DENV) and 11.5 (ZIKV) in the presence of Arg and a redox pair, dialysis in pH 8.5 buffer were as conditions chosen for the refolding of NS1. We obtained both NS1 at yields between 75% and 90% relative to the total amounts of the proteins present in the corresponding NS1 IB. Refolded NS1 showed similar to proteins obtained using an established standard protocol, with yields more than 25 times higher. A highly efficient process for the refolding of NS1 was obtained with preserved biological features regarding reactivity with antigen-specific antibodies, including sera of zikv-infected patients and that can be used as antigen for the development of vaccines or diagnostic tests. In addition, this study describes the creation of an innovative process, which is a concomitant use of HHP and alkaline pH, for solubilization and subsequent refolding of NS1-IB that can be used for other relevant proteins.

As principais matérias primas necessárias para a preparação de testes diagnósticos são as proteínas dos patógenos que necessariamente apresentem as estruturas nativas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi a obtenção das proteínas não estruturais 1 (NS1) dos vírus da dengue (DENV) e da zika (ZIKV) a partir dos corpúsculos de inclusão (CI) produzidos em bactérias Escherichia coli. Mostramos que a combinação de alta pressão hidrostática (APH) e pH alcalino é eficiente para a solubilização de NS1-CI. A incubação em 2,4 kbar das suspensões de NS1-CI em pH alcalino mostrou-se eficiente para a solubilização da NS1. A presença de Arg promove a dissociação de oligômeros. A aplicação de 2,4 kbar às suspensões de NS1-CI em pH de 10,5 (DENV) e de 11,5 (ZIKV) na presença de Arg e um par redox, seguida de diálise em tampão em pH 8,5, foram as condições escolhidas para o reenovelamento de NS1. Obtivemos ambas NS1 com rendimentos entre 75% e 90% em relação às quantidades totais das proteínas presente nos correspondentes CI de NS1. As NS1 reenoveladas apresentaram reatividade comparável às proteínas obtidas utilizando um protocolo convencional estabelecido, com rendimentos mais de 25 vezes superiores. Foi obtido um processo altamente eficiente para o reenovelamento de NS1 apresentando características biológicas preservadas em relação a reatividade com anticorpos específicos de antígeno, incluindo soro de paciente infectado com zikv e que, portanto, podem ser usados como antígeno para o desenvolvimento de vacinas ou testes de diagnóstico. Além disso, este estudo descreve a criação de um processo inovador, que é a utilização concomitante de APH e pH alcalino, para solubilização e posterior reenovelamento de NS1-CI que podem ser utilizados para outras proteínas relevantes. / The main products for the preparation of diagnostic tests are as proteins of the pathogens that necessarily present as the native structures. The objective of the present study was to obtain non-structural proteins 1 (NS1) from dengue virus (DENV) and zika virus (ZIKV) from the inclusion bodies (IBs) produced in Escherichia coli bacteria. We show that it is a combination of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and alkaline pH is efficient for a solubilization of NS1-IB. A 2.4 kbar incubation of NS1-IB suspensions at alkaline pH proved to be efficient for NS1 solubilization. The presence of Arg promotes the dissociation of oligomers. The application of 2.4 kbar to the suspensions of NS1-IB at pH 10.5 (DENV) and 11.5 (ZIKV) in the presence of Arg and a redox pair, dialysis in pH 8.5 buffer were as conditions chosen for the refolding of NS1. We obtained both NS1 at yields between 75% and 90% relative to the total amounts of the proteins present in the corresponding NS1 IB. Refolded NS1 showed similar to proteins obtained using an established standard protocol, with yields more than 25 times higher. A highly efficient process for the refolding of NS1 was obtained with preserved biological features regarding reactivity with antigen-specific antibodies, including sera of zikv-infected patients and that can be used as antigen for the development of vaccines or diagnostic tests. In addition, this study describes the creation of an innovative process, which is a concomitant use of HHP and alkaline pH, for solubilization and subsequent refolding of NS1-IB that can be used for other relevant proteins.

Submitted by Veronica Neshmi Salaues Mendoza (neshmi_salaues@hotmail.com) on 2018-04-18T15:18:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Salaues_M_Dissert_Araraiq.pdf: 2461056 bytes, checksum: b0790442c72a5c574565c09b578075df (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Carolina Gonçalves Bet null (abet@iq.unesp.br) on 2018-04-18T19:43:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 mendonza_vns_me_araiq_int.pdf: 2392917 bytes, checksum: 3697fdc59d96b5ae59f7207b7abe76e6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-18T19:43:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 mendonza_vns_me_araiq_int.pdf: 2392917 bytes, checksum: 3697fdc59d96b5ae59f7207b7abe76e6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-13 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / O sucesso no tratamento de muitos tipos doenças passa pela detecção seletiva e sensível de biomarcadores proteicos que permitam um diagnóstico precoce. A dengue é uma doença infecciosa de diagnóstico clínico impreciso e diagnóstico laboratorial demorado e custoso, a qual não possui tratamento ou vacina efetivos. Portanto se requer de ferramentas diagnósticas precisas, baratas e portáveis que permitam o diagnóstico rápido para realizar um tratamento adequado de sintomas e identificar os focos infecciosos para prevenir o espalhamento da doença. Um biomarcador útil na detecção da dengue, é a proteína NS1 que vem sendo utilizada com sucesso em diferentes plataformas de diagnóstico. Porém, nenhuma das plataformas oferecidas a nível comercial, consegue combinar a precisão, portabilidade, baixo custo e facilidade de manuseio. Portanto, o melhoramento de ditas ferramentas é o foco de bastantes pesquisas. Neste trabalho se apresenta uma plataforma que se amostra útil para a detecção de diferentes biomarcadores, incluindo a proteína NS1. Esta plataforma combina o uso de uma técnica eletroquímica como é a Espectroscopia de Capacitância Eletroquímica (ECE), com o uso de peptídeos redox e está baseada na funcionalização de eletrodos de ouro mediante formação de monocamadas auto-organizadas (SAM) confeccionadas com um peptídeo redox (Fc-Glu-Gli-Ser-Gli-Ser-Cys) desenhado para ser ancorado em superfícies metálicas, ao mesmo tempo que tem capacidade de ancorar uma sonda redox e um bioreceptor na mesma estrutura/molécula, com a vantagem adicional que a SAM obtida tem propriedades anti-incrustantes desejáveis em biossensoriamento. Ensaios realizados com a proteína NS1 permitiram a detecção de esta proteína em concentrações de 2 µg/ml. / Success in the treatment of many kinds of illnesses depends on the selective and sensitive detection of protein biomarkers that allow an early diagnosis. Dengue is and infectious disease of imprecise clinical diagnostic and delayed and expensive laboratorial diagnostic. This disease does not have an effective vaccine or treatment. Therefore, precise, cheap and portable diagnostic tools are necessary to allow a fast diagnostic in order to treat the symptoms, identify focuses of infection, and thus prevent the spreading of the disease. A useful biomarker in the detection of dengue is the protein NS1, which has been successfully used in different diagnostic platforms. However, none of the commercially available platforms combines precision, portability, low cost and user friendliness. Consequently, the improvement of such tools is object of ample research. This work, introduces a platform, which is useful for the detection of various biomarkers, including the protein NS1. This platform combines the usage of an electrochemical technique such as Electrochemical Capacitance Spectroscopy (ECS) and the use of redox peptides. It is based in the functionalization of gold electrodes through formation of Self Assembled Monolayers (SAM) formed by a redox peptide (Fc-Glu-Gli-Ser-Gli-Ser-Cys) designed to bind to metallic surfaces as well as to anchor a redox probe and a bioreceptor in the same structure/molecule. It presents the additional advantage of forming anti-fowling SAMs, which is a highly desirable property for biosensing. Tests made with NS1 protein allowed the detection of this protein in concentrations as low as 2 µg/ml. / 190233/2015-0

Parmi les virus émergents transmis par des moustiques (arbovirus), le genre flavivirus est fortement représenté avec les virus Dengue, Zika, et le virus West Nile (WNV). Le WNV est responsable de nombreux cas de maladies neuroinvasives sévères, parfois mortelles, chez l'humain et les chevaux. Ce virus représente donc un problème de santé publique humaine et animale. Il n'existe pour le moment aucun vaccin humain ni aucun traitement spécifique anti-WNV.Parmi les déterminants viraux essentiels à l'infection par les flavivirus, la glycoprotéine non-structurale NS1 possède des propriétés multifonctionnelles. La forme sNS1, sécrétée dans le milieu extracellulaire, est fortement impliquée dans la dérégulation du système immunitaire de l'hôte. Ces mécanismes participent à l'évasion du virus à la réponse antivirale et, paradoxalement, à la pathogenèse observée dans les formes sévères de la maladie. L'essentiel de ces données concernant le virus de la Dengue, nous souhaitions étudier les propriétés fonctionnelles, in vitro, de la protéine sNS1WNV au cours de l'infection de cellules épithéliales, gliales et neuronales de mammifères. En effet, la structure des protéines sNS1 de flavivirus étant très similaire, notre hypothèse suppose un rôle de sNS1WNV dans les infections neuroinvasives.Si la protéine sNS1WNV ne semble pas moduler les étapes de l'infection virale, elle est cependant à l'origine d'un remodelage du cytosquelette d'actine dans les cellules épithéliales. Elle est aussi impliquée dans l'activation de voies antivirales chez les cellules neuronales non infectées. D'autre part, en ciblant sNS1 et la protéine d'enveloppe E du WNV, nous avons pu isoler, par criblage de molécules aRep (protéines artificielles à motifs répétés), des ligands de haute affinité pour ces déterminants viraux. Ces nouvelles molécules, capables de se lier spécifiquement aux protéines sNS1 et E, ont le potentiel pour servir de base au développement de nouveaux outils de diagnostics et d'agents thérapeutiques antiviraux / Among emerging mosquito-borne viruses (arboviruses), flaviviruses like Dengue, Zika and West Nile virus (WNV) are very often involved in outbreaks. WNV causes several neuroinvasive diseases, which can be lethal, in humans and horses each year. This virus is a threat for both, human and animal public health. Furthermore, there is no human vaccine currently or any specific antiviral treatments against WNV.Among viral factors which are essential for flavivirus infection, the nonstructural glycoprotein NS1 is a multifunctional protein. The secreted form sNS1, is released in the extracellular medium from infected cells and is strongly involved in immune system dysregulation. The functions of sNS1 play roles in immune escape and, paradoxically, in pathogenesis which is observed in severe forms of the disease. Because most of this data are about Dengue Virus, we would like to study, in vitro, functional properties of the sNS1WNV during infection of epithelial, glial and neuronal mammalian cells. Based on the high sNS1 protein structure similarities among flaviviruses, our hypothesis suggests a role of sNS1WNV in neuroinvasive infections.The sNS1WNV protein doesn’t seem to modulate viral infection steps. However, it is involved in actin cytoskeleton remodeling in epithelial cells. sNS1WNV is also involved in the activation of antiviral response pathways in non-infected neuronal cells. On the other hand, by targeting sNS1 and envelope protein E of WNV, we performed a screening of aRep molecules (artificial proteins with alphahelicoïdal repeats) and isolated ligands with high affinity for these viral factors. Because this new type of molecules is able to specifically bind to sNS1 and E, they have potential to be used for the development of new diagnostic tools and antiviral therapeutic agents