<p>The intricate interplay of biomolecules acting together, rather than alone, provides insight into the most basic of cellular functions, such as cell signaling, metabolism, defense, and, ultimately, the creation of life. Inherent in each of these processes is an evolutionary tendency towards increased efficiency by means of biolgocial synergy-- the ability of individual elements of a system to produce a combined effect that is different and often greater than the sum of the effects of the parts. Modern biochemists are challenged to find model systems to characterize biological synergy.</p><p>We discuss the multicomponent, enzyme complex the cellulosome as a model system of biological synergy. Native cellulosomes comprise numerous carbohydrate-active binding proteins and enzymes designed for the efficient degradation of plant cell wall matrix polysaccharides, namely cellulose. Cellulosomes are modular enzyme complexes, comparable to enzyme "legos" that may be readily constructed into multiple geometries by synthetic design. Cellulosomal enzymes provide means to measure protein efficiency with altered complex geometry through assay of enzymatic activity as a function of geometry.</p><p>Cellulosomes are known to be highly efficient at cellulose depolymerization, and current debates on the molecular origins of this efficiency suggest two related effects provide this efficiency: i) substrate targeting, which argues that the localization of the enzyme complex at the interface of insoluble cell wall polysaccharides facilitates substrate depolymerization; and ii) proximity effects, which describe the implicit benefit for co-localizing multiple enzymes with divergent substrate preferences on the activity of the whole complex.</p><p>Substrate targeting can be traced to the activity of a single protein, the cellulosomal scaffoldin cellulose binding module CBM3a that is thought to uniquely bind highly crystalline, insoluble cellulose. We introduce methods to develop a molecular understanding of the substrate preferences for CBM3a on soluble and insoluble cellulosic substrates. Using pivaloylysis of cellulose triacetate, we obtain multiple soluble cello-oligosaccharides with increasing degree of glucose polymerization (DP) from glucose (DP1) to cellodecaose (DP10) in high yield. Using calorimetry and centrifugal titrations, cello-oligosacharides were shown to not bind Clostridial cellulolyticum CMB3a. We developed AFM cantilever functionalization protocols to immobilize CBM3a and then probe the interfacial binding between CBM3a and a cellulose nanocrystal thin film using force spectroscopy. Specific binding at the interface was demonstrated in reference to a control protein that does not bind cellulose. The results indicate that i) CBM3a specifically binds nanocrystalline cellulose and ii) specific interfacial binding may be probed by force spectroscopy with the proper introduction of controls and blocking agents.</p><p>The question of enzyme proximity effects in the cellulosome must be answered by assaying the activity of cellulosomal cellulases in response to cellulosome geometry. The kinetic characterization of cellulases requires robust and reproducible assays to quantify functional cellulase content of from recombinant enzyme preparations. To facilitate the real-time routine assay of cellulase activity, we developed a custom synthesis of a fluorogenic cellulase substrate based on the cellohexaoside of Driguez and co-workers (vide infra). Two routes to synthesize a key thiophenyl glycoside building block were presented, with the more concise route providing the disaccharide in four steps from a commercial starting material. The disaccharide building blocks were coupled by chemical activation to yield the fully protected cellohexaoside over additional six steps. Future work will include the elaboration of this compound into an underivatized FRET-paired hexasaccharide and its subsequent use in cellulase activity assays.</p><p>This dissertation also covers an experimental system for the evaluation of methonium desolvation thermodynamics. Methonium (-N+Me3, Am) is an organic cation widely distributed in biological systems. The appearance of methonium in biological transmitters and receptors seems at odds with the large unfavorable desolvation free energy reported for tetramethylammonium (TMA+), a frequently utilized surrogate of methonium. We report an experimental system that facilitates incremental internalization of methonium within the molecular cavity of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]).</p><p>Using a combination of experimental and computational studies we show that the transfer of methonium from bulk water to the CB[7] cavity is accompanied by a remarkably small desolvation enthalpy of just 0.5±0.3 kcal*mol-1, a value significantly less endothermic than those values suggested from gas-phase model studies (+49.3 kcal*mol-1). More surprisingly, the incremental withdrawal of methonium surface from water produces a non- monotonic response in desolvation enthalpy. A partially desolvated state exists, in which a portion of the methonium group remains exposed to solvent. This structure incurs an increased enthalpic penalty of ~3 kcal*mol-1 compared to other solvation states. We attribute this observation to the pre- encapsulation de-wetting of the methonium surface. Together, our results offer a rationale for the wide biological distribution of methonium and suggest limitations to computational estimates of binding affinities based on simple parameterization of solvent-accessible surface area.</p> / Dissertation

Invasive fungal infections are prevalent and often deadly in immunocompromised patients. There continues to be a pressing need for the development of novel antifungal compounds since there are currently only 13 compounds licensed for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and antibiotic-resistant strains have been emerging. CAY-1 is an antifungal steroidal saponin which was isolated from the fruit of the cayenne pepper plant in 0.1% yield. In Vitro studies of CAY-1 have shown it to be an effective antifungal agent against sixteen pathogenic fungal strains and it showed no cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells up to 100 ìg/mL. The development of a practical synthesis of CAY-1 will potentially allow for further exploration of its medicinal utility and provide the opportunity to synthesize derivatives of CAY-1 which could be investigated in structure-activity relationship studies. To this end, methods for the preparation of they CAY-1 aglycone and pentasaccharide moieties have been investigated. Through this work, several partially protected stereoisomers of the CAY-1 aglycone have been prepared which can be used for the synthesis of saponin derivatives of CAY-1 for structure-activity relationship studies. Definitive characterization of one of these isomers, 3á-hydroxy-(22S, 25R)-5á-spirostan-2â-yl acetate, was achieved by X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, a quantitative inversion of the C-3 stereochemical configuration of this compound was achieved via an acetate group migration of the corresponding mesylate. The possibility of competition between the acetate migration and substitution mechanisms with various nucleophiles was explored. The results, however, indicate that this inversion only occurs via the acetate migration. Additionally, the CAY-1 pentasaccharide synthesis poses two significant challenges. First, these results demonstrate that the central 2, 3-branched portion can be synthesized efficiently from a partially protected glucopyranosyl acceptor since the C-2 and C-3 alcohols differ in their reactivity in glycosylation reactions. The second challenge is the ƒÀ-(1¨4) linkage to the galactosyl acceptor which significantly increases the complexity of the synthesis as compared to literature reported syntheses of other branched oligosaccharides. Nonetheless, this ƒÀ-(1¨4) linkage was achieved using a disarmed trichloroacetimidate glucosyl donor.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de leveduras, na forma de parede celular e hidrolisada, na dieta de poedeiras sobre o desempenho produtivo, qualidade dos ovos e viabilidade econômica da suplementação destes aditivos. Dois experimentos foram realizados, para cada um deles foram alojadas 256 poedeiras distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em 8 repetições com 8 aves. Foram avaliados os níveis de 0, 225, 450 e 900 g/t de parede celular de levedura na dieta das aves durante o período de 21 a 67 semanas de idade. Os resultados demonstraram um aumento no consumo de ração, produção e massa de ovos, além de uma maior altura do albúmen e unidade Haugh. A espessura da casca e a cor da gema também foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos. A análise da viabilidade econômica demonstrou que mesmo despendendo mais com a alimentação houve um aumento da margem bruta média, devido ao aumento da produção de ovos. Portanto, o uso da parede celular de levedura apresentou efeitos benéficos sobre o desempenho produtivo das poedeiras, como uma melhora na qualidade interna e externa dos ovos, aliado a uma maior rentabilidade da atividade. Para a levedura hidrolisada foram avaliados os níveis de 0, 1, 2 e 4 kg/t. Dois períodos foram analisados, 21 a 40 e 48 a 67 semanas de idade. A adição de levedura hidrolisada na dieta de poedeiras não apresentou melhoria das características analisadas no primeiro período, porém os benefícios surgiram a partir do segundo período. O uso da levedura além de gerar uma menor quantidade de ovos não comerciais, promoveu o aumento do consumo de ração, produção, massa e peso dos ovos, melhoria na qualidade dos ovos em relação a unidade Haugh, altura do albúmen, espessura e resistência da casca; e ainda melhorou a conversão alimentar por massa e dúzia de ovos. A suplementação de levedura hidrolisada para poedeiras proporcionou incremento da margem bruta total média em todos os níveis testados, demonstrando-se viável economicamente. A inclusão de levedura hidrolisada na dieta de poedeiras de 48 a 67 semanas de idade exerceu efeito maximizador do desempenho produtivo e qualidade de ovos, sendo economicamente viável seu uso. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of including yeast in the form of cell wall and hydrolyzed, in the diet of laying hens on production performance, egg quality and economic viability of these feed additives. Two experiments were conducted, for each of them 256 laying hens were housed and distributed in a completely randomized design with 8 repetitions of 8 birds. The level of 0, 225, 450 and 900 g/t of yeast cell wall were evaluated in the diet of birds from 21 to 67 weeks of age. The results showed an increase in feed intake, egg production and mass as well as a higher albumen height and Haugh unit. The shell thickness and yolk color were also affected by treatments. The economic viability analysis demonstrated that even spending more on feed an increase in the average gross margin due to increased egg production was observed. Therefore, the cell wall yeast showed a beneficial effect on production performance of laying hens, represented by an improvement of internal and external egg quality, combined with higher profitability. Hydrolyzed yeast was evaluated at the levels of 0, 1, 2 and 4 kg/t. Two periods were analyzed, 21-40 and 48-67 weeks of age. The addition of hydrolyzed yeast in the diet of laying hens did not show improvement of the analyzed characteristics in the first period, however the benefits occurred in the second period. The use of yeast although generate a minor amount of non-commercial eggs, promoted an increase in feed consumption, production, egg mass and weight, improving quality of eggs in relation to Haugh unit, albumen height, shell thickness and resistance; and also improves the feed conversion by eggs mass and dozen. The supplementation of hydrolyzed yeast for laying hens provided increase overall average gross margin on all tested levels, demonstrating to be economically viable. The inclusion of hydrolyzed yeast in the diet of laying hens from 48-67 weeks of age maximized production performance and egg quality, being its use economically viable.

Shigella flexneri est une entérobactérie Gram négatif responsable de la forme endémique de la shigellose, l’une des quatre causes majeures d’infection diarrhéique chez les jeunes enfants. La cible majeure de la réponse immunitaire lors d’une infection naturelle est le polysaccharide de surface (PS). Chez S. flexneri 1b, l’un des sérotypes prévalents dans les pays en voie de développement, le PS est défini par le pentasaccharide ramifié α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-[α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranoside [I] di-O-acétylé. Ces travaux s’intègrent dans un projet visant le développement d’un vaccin basé sur des sucres synthétiques à couverture large contre les infections par Shigella. Afin de concevoir des glycoconjugués efficaces et induisant une bonne réponse immunitaire chez les enfants, des synthèses multi-grammes des précurseurs mono- à pentasaccharidiques ont été optimisées permettant une stratégie par blocs en vue de l’obtention d’oligosaccharides de grande taille. Au cours de ces synthèses, l’obtention du trisaccharide ramifié C(E)D clé a nécessité de nombreuses optimisations, permettant la conception de synthons tri- à pentasaccharides. Un choix des groupements protecteurs orthogonaux nous a permis d’investiguer les différentes conditions de couplages nous donnant accès à 28 oligosaccharides déprotégés courts diversement acétylés. La validation de ces condensations avec des partenaires plus complexes a permis d’accéder à un large panel d’une cinquantaine d’oligosaccharides de di- à pentadécasaccharides sous leur forme libre, ou encore protégés avec divers degrés d’acétylation. / 700,000 children die each year due to diarrheal diseases, making it the second cause of death among this population. Shigella flexneri is a Gram negative enterobacterium responsible of the endemic form of shigellosis in developing countries. The O-antigen part of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide is the major target of the immune system during natural infection. The O-antigen of S. flexeni 1b, one of the prevalent serotypes, is defined by a ramified pentasaccharide made of three L-rhamnose, one D-glucosamine and one D-glucose with two non-stoichiometric sites for acetylation (I). This work is part of the project aimed at the development of a synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccine against Shigella infections. In order to obtain suitable glyconjugates inducing a high level of protection especially in children, the synthesis of mono- to pentasaccharide precursors was optimized, allowing a convergent synthesis of oligosaccharides with different acetylation patterns. Optimization of the glycosylation conditions, acetylations and protecting group manipulations enable the access to fragments from di to pentadecasaccharides representing S. flexneri type I O-antigen.

This thesis covers different topics in the field of synthetic organic chemistry combined with the field of surface science and glycobiology. First, the text presents a series of orthogonally protected oligosaccharides (tri-, penta-, and heptasaccharides) of varying length and structures, which are synthesized with the aim of developing novel heterobifunctional biocompatible cross-linkers. Successful conjugation with different chemical handles is also described and used to illustrate the potential implementation of defined carbohydrate based compounds have potential use in biosensing applications. The results of incubation experiments using living cells indicate that the linker is incorporated into cell surfaces and enriched in microdomains. Second, synthesis of various saccharide-terminated alkane thiols immobilized on gold surfaces is reported. The protein adsorption and antifouling characteristics of these surfaces were investigated using model proteins and the common fouling organisms, Ulva linza and Balanus amphitrite. Further, oligo(lactose)-based thiols (di-, tetra-, and hexasaccharides) were synthesized and immobilized on gold nanoparticles to investigate how well these rigid, rod-like oligosaccharides can stabilize such nanoparticles for future use in constructing hybrid nanoparticles. Finally, the thesis describes synthesis of a systematic series of oligo(ethylene) glycols possessing either hydrogen- or methyl-terminated groups. Investigation of the fundamental characteristics of self-assembled monolayers, will give important insights into the design of protein repellant surfaces.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de leveduras, na forma de parede celular e hidrolisada, na dieta de poedeiras sobre o desempenho produtivo, qualidade dos ovos e viabilidade econômica da suplementação destes aditivos. Dois experimentos foram realizados, para cada um deles foram alojadas 256 poedeiras distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em 8 repetições com 8 aves. Foram avaliados os níveis de 0, 225, 450 e 900 g/t de parede celular de levedura na dieta das aves durante o período de 21 a 67 semanas de idade. Os resultados demonstraram um aumento no consumo de ração, produção e massa de ovos, além de uma maior altura do albúmen e unidade Haugh. A espessura da casca e a cor da gema também foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos. A análise da viabilidade econômica demonstrou que mesmo despendendo mais com a alimentação houve um aumento da margem bruta média, devido ao aumento da produção de ovos. Portanto, o uso da parede celular de levedura apresentou efeitos benéficos sobre o desempenho produtivo das poedeiras, como uma melhora na qualidade interna e externa dos ovos, aliado a uma maior rentabilidade da atividade. Para a levedura hidrolisada foram avaliados os níveis de 0, 1, 2 e 4 kg/t. Dois períodos foram analisados, 21 a 40 e 48 a 67 semanas de idade. A adição de levedura hidrolisada na dieta de poedeiras não apresentou melhoria das características analisadas no primeiro período, porém os benefícios surgiram a partir do segundo período. O uso da levedura além de gerar uma menor quantidade de ovos não comerciais, promoveu o aumento do consumo de ração, produção, massa e peso dos ovos, melhoria na qualidade dos ovos em relação a unidade Haugh, altura do albúmen, espessura e resistência da casca; e ainda melhorou a conversão alimentar por massa e dúzia de ovos. A suplementação de levedura hidrolisada para poedeiras proporcionou incremento da margem bruta total média em todos os níveis testados, demonstrando-se viável economicamente. A inclusão de levedura hidrolisada na dieta de poedeiras de 48 a 67 semanas de idade exerceu efeito maximizador do desempenho produtivo e qualidade de ovos, sendo economicamente viável seu uso. / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of including yeast in the form of cell wall and hydrolyzed, in the diet of laying hens on production performance, egg quality and economic viability of these feed additives. Two experiments were conducted, for each of them 256 laying hens were housed and distributed in a completely randomized design with 8 repetitions of 8 birds. The level of 0, 225, 450 and 900 g/t of yeast cell wall were evaluated in the diet of birds from 21 to 67 weeks of age. The results showed an increase in feed intake, egg production and mass as well as a higher albumen height and Haugh unit. The shell thickness and yolk color were also affected by treatments. The economic viability analysis demonstrated that even spending more on feed an increase in the average gross margin due to increased egg production was observed. Therefore, the cell wall yeast showed a beneficial effect on production performance of laying hens, represented by an improvement of internal and external egg quality, combined with higher profitability. Hydrolyzed yeast was evaluated at the levels of 0, 1, 2 and 4 kg/t. Two periods were analyzed, 21-40 and 48-67 weeks of age. The addition of hydrolyzed yeast in the diet of laying hens did not show improvement of the analyzed characteristics in the first period, however the benefits occurred in the second period. The use of yeast although generate a minor amount of non-commercial eggs, promoted an increase in feed consumption, production, egg mass and weight, improving quality of eggs in relation to Haugh unit, albumen height, shell thickness and resistance; and also improves the feed conversion by eggs mass and dozen. The supplementation of hydrolyzed yeast for laying hens provided increase overall average gross margin on all tested levels, demonstrating to be economically viable. The inclusion of hydrolyzed yeast in the diet of laying hens from 48-67 weeks of age maximized production performance and egg quality, being its use economically viable.

Le xyloglucane issu de la graine de tamarin (XG) est un polysaccharide provenant de la biomasse. Son association à un bloc vinylique dans une architecture de copolymères à blocs « hybrides » naturels/synthétique permet d'envisager des applications de par leur auto-assemblage en solution aqueuse. Afin d'obtenir de tels copolymères à blocs, deux stratégies de synthèse sont proposées, basées sur la modification chimio-enzymatique du xyloglucane et la polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée MADIX de monomères vinyliques : acrylamide (Am), acétate de vinyle (AcV), N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP). La stratégie « starting from » consiste en la polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée MADIX d'un monomère vinylique à partir de l'oligosaccharide du xyloglucane modifié par une ou plusieurs fonctions polymérisantes. La stratégie « coupling onto » consiste en un couplage par « chimie click » entre un polymère vinylique issu de la polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée MADIX à partir d'un agent de transfert de chaîne porteur d'une fonction azoture, et l'oligosaccharide modifié par une fonction alcyne. Ainsi, quatre familles de copolymères à blocs « hybrides » ont été obtenus (XG-b-PAm, PAm-b-XG-b-PAm, XG-b-PAcV, XG-b-PNVP). Une étude physico-chimique en solution préliminaire des copolymères XG-b-PAcV et XG-b-PNVP a également été réalisée indiquant la formation de polymersomes.

Orientador: Aulus Cavalieri Carciofi / Banca: Helio Jose Montassier / Banca: Iracilda Zeppone Carlos / Resumo: Vários derivados da parede celular da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae conhecidamente agem sobre a imunidade, no entanto a ação, especialmente da fração beta-glucano, foi pouco demonstrada em cães. Para o estudo dos possíveis efeitos sobre a imunidade na espécie canina foram empregadas quatro dietas isonutrientes, contendo uma fonte de parede celular de levedura (PCL), duas fontes de beta-glucano (BG1 e BG2) e uma dieta controle (CT). Foram utilizados 24 cães da raça beagle, adultos, divididos em quatro grupos de seis animais. As dietas foram fornecidas por um período total de 126 dias e as avaliações incluíram hemograma e avaliações bioquímicas, dosagem de anticorpos anti-Leptospira, imunofenotipagem de linfócitos sanguíneos, avaliação da concentração de IgA em fezes, teste de hipersensibilidade cutânea tardia e dosagens de citocinas em sobrenadante de cultura celular. Os animais foram submetidos a desafio antigênico com vacina contra leptospirose no dia 42. Os dados foram avaliados pelo procedimento GLM do SAS, sendo as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (p≤0,1). Nos exames bioquímicos houve discreta variação entre os tratamentos e ao longo dos dias. No hemograma notou-se aumento dos linfócitos para BG2. A dosagem de anticorpos anti-Leptospira, mostrou baixos títulos, não havendo boa resposta à vacinação. A imunofenotipagem revelou um aumento dos linfócitos T totais, T helper, T citotóxicos e linfócitos B no grupo BG2 e de linfócitos T citotóxicos e linfócitos B para o grupo PCL. Apesar da variação da concentração de IgA fecal ao longo dos dias, os tratamentos não influenciaram tais parâmetros. O teste de hipersensibilidade cutânea tardia mostrou um aumento na resposta à inoculação da vacina, para os grupos PCL e BG2. Na dosagem de citocinas em sobrenadante de cultura celular, apenas foi observada diferença na quantificação de TNF-α, ...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Some products from the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are known to act on the immunity, however this action, especially of the beta-glucan fraction, has never been demonstrated in dogs. To study these effects on the immunity of dogs four isonutrient diets were made, containing one source of yeast cell wall (YCW), two sources of beta-glucan (BG1 and BG2) and a control diet (CT). 24 adult beagle dogs were used, divided in four groups of six animals. Diets were given for a 126 days period. Evaluations included complete blood count and biochemistry profile, quantification of antibodies against Leptospira, immunophenotyping of blood lymphocytes, IgA concentration in feces, delayed-type hypersensitivity test and quantification of cytokines in cell culture supernatant. Animals were exposed to antigen challenge, by the vaccine against leptospirosis on day 42. Data were analyzed by the GLM procedure of the SAS software and the means were compared by the Tukey test (p<0,01). Biochemistry profile showed slight differences among the groups. A increase in lymphocyte count was observed for BG2 treatment. Quantification of antibodies against Leptospira showed low titles, with poor response to vaccination. Immunophenotyping revealed an increase during the time in total T cells, helper and cytotoxic T cells, and B lymphocytes for BG2 and of cytotoxic T cells and B lymphocytes for YCW group. Despite the variation in fecal IgA concentration during the time, treatments did not influence these parameters. Delayed-type hypersensitivity test showed an increased response to the vaccine inoculation, for YCW and BG2 groups. In the quantification of cytokines in cell culture supernatant the only difference observed was in TNF-α concentration, being BG2 higher than CT. We concluded that both yeast cell wall and beta-glucan fraction act on dogs' immunity / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-23Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:11:36Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 zaine_l_me_jabo.pdf: 606188 bytes, checksum: da0b30ee696bae955544945c1be515d9 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Biorigin Sa / Vários derivados da parede celular da levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae conhecidamente agem sobre a imunidade, no entanto a ação, especialmente da fração beta-glucano, foi pouco demonstrada em cães. Para o estudo dos possíveis efeitos sobre a imunidade na espécie canina foram empregadas quatro dietas isonutrientes, contendo uma fonte de parede celular de levedura (PCL), duas fontes de beta-glucano (BG1 e BG2) e uma dieta controle (CT). Foram utilizados 24 cães da raça beagle, adultos, divididos em quatro grupos de seis animais. As dietas foram fornecidas por um período total de 126 dias e as avaliações incluíram hemograma e avaliações bioquímicas, dosagem de anticorpos anti-Leptospira, imunofenotipagem de linfócitos sanguíneos, avaliação da concentração de IgA em fezes, teste de hipersensibilidade cutânea tardia e dosagens de citocinas em sobrenadante de cultura celular. Os animais foram submetidos a desafio antigênico com vacina contra leptospirose no dia 42. Os dados foram avaliados pelo procedimento GLM do SAS, sendo as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (p≤0,1). Nos exames bioquímicos houve discreta variação entre os tratamentos e ao longo dos dias. No hemograma notou-se aumento dos linfócitos para BG2. A dosagem de anticorpos anti-Leptospira, mostrou baixos títulos, não havendo boa resposta à vacinação. A imunofenotipagem revelou um aumento dos linfócitos T totais, T helper, T citotóxicos e linfócitos B no grupo BG2 e de linfócitos T citotóxicos e linfócitos B para o grupo PCL. Apesar da variação da concentração de IgA fecal ao longo dos dias, os tratamentos não influenciaram tais parâmetros. O teste de hipersensibilidade cutânea tardia mostrou um aumento na resposta à inoculação da vacina, para os grupos PCL e BG2. Na dosagem de citocinas em sobrenadante de cultura celular, apenas foi observada diferença na quantificação de TNF-α,... / Some products from the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are known to act on the immunity, however this action, especially of the beta-glucan fraction, has never been demonstrated in dogs. To study these effects on the immunity of dogs four isonutrient diets were made, containing one source of yeast cell wall (YCW), two sources of beta-glucan (BG1 and BG2) and a control diet (CT). 24 adult beagle dogs were used, divided in four groups of six animals. Diets were given for a 126 days period. Evaluations included complete blood count and biochemistry profile, quantification of antibodies against Leptospira, immunophenotyping of blood lymphocytes, IgA concentration in feces, delayed-type hypersensitivity test and quantification of cytokines in cell culture supernatant. Animals were exposed to antigen challenge, by the vaccine against leptospirosis on day 42. Data were analyzed by the GLM procedure of the SAS software and the means were compared by the Tukey test (p<0,01). Biochemistry profile showed slight differences among the groups. A increase in lymphocyte count was observed for BG2 treatment. Quantification of antibodies against Leptospira showed low titles, with poor response to vaccination. Immunophenotyping revealed an increase during the time in total T cells, helper and cytotoxic T cells, and B lymphocytes for BG2 and of cytotoxic T cells and B lymphocytes for YCW group. Despite the variation in fecal IgA concentration during the time, treatments did not influence these parameters. Delayed-type hypersensitivity test showed an increased response to the vaccine inoculation, for YCW and BG2 groups. In the quantification of cytokines in cell culture supernatant the only difference observed was in TNF-α concentration, being BG2 higher than CT. We concluded that both yeast cell wall and beta-glucan fraction act on dogs` immunity

No description available.