Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin affecting approximately 1% of adult population worldwide. The clinical course of RA is highly variable, ranging from self-limiting to severe disease, with considerable individual and socio-economic implications. It is now well acknowledged that early diagnosis and treatment equates to better long-term outcomes. However, despite major therapeutic advances in recent decades, the management of RA remains challenging as a significant proportion of patients presents with active disease despite maximization of therapy. It is also difficult to predict which patients will respond adequately to various treatment regimens. The identification of biomarkers of clinical outcome capable of stratifying patients into accurate prognostic categories and guide pharmacological intervention is therefore urgently needed. Notably, along with clinical variability, RA is characterised by high biological heterogeneity at the tissue level. The cellular infiltrate of the RA synovium can be distinguished into at least three main patterns according to the degree and organisation of the immune cells: the 'Lymphoid' pattern characterised by predominant B and T lymphocytes which tend to cluster in discrete aggregates resembling ectopic lymphoid structures; the 'Myeloid' pattern characterised by absence of lymphocytic aggregates but significant expression of sublining macrophages; the 'Pauci-immune' pattern, that hardly shows any infiltrating immune cells. The hypothesis of this thesis was to determine whether these distinct synovial pathotypes may define specific disease subsets and predict response to therapy in patients with RA. Specifically, this work aims at: 1. evaluating whether the synovial pathotype associates with the presence of specific clinical, serological, radiological and ultrasonographic findings in an early RA cohort (< 1 year onset); 2. exploring the potential role of the synovial pathotype as a predictor of response to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARD) after 6 months in an early RA cohort; 3. exploring the potential role of the synovial pathotype as a predictor of response to anti-TNFα treatment after 3 months in a csDMARD-failure established RA cohort.

Ralstonia solanacearum est une bactérie vasculaire d'origine tellurique dévastatrice chez les Solanacées maraîchères. L'une des difficultés pour la sélection variétale réside dans le contournement de la résistance, en raison de la grande variabilité et plasticité génotypique du pathogène. Trente accessions de tomate, aubergine et piment (Core-TEP) testées vis-à-vis de 12 souches représentatives des phylotypes I, II et III de R. solanacearum (Core-Rs2) ont été classées de très sensibles à très résistantes. Des groupes de souches définis en fonction de leur virulence et agressivité ont été nommés pathoprofils, d'une part, lorsque établis sur les 3 espèces et pathotypes, d'autre part, lorsque établis sur chacune des trois espèces. Aucune résistance universelle n'a pu être mise en évidence chez aucune des trois espèces. Le déterminisme génétique de la résistance à R. solanacearum chez l'aubergine a été étudié sur une population de lignées recombinantes F6 ainsi que sur les générations issues du croisement intraspécifique S. melongena MM738 (S) x AG91-25 (R), testées vis-à-vis de quatre souches du phylotype I. Une carte génétique composée de 119 marqueurs AFLP, SSR et SRAP, positionnés sur 18 groupes de liaisons, pour une longueur totale de 884 cM, a été construite. Les analyses génétiques montrent que la résistance aux souches CMR134, PSS366, GMI1000 est contrôlée par un même gène majeur expliquant jusqu’à 87% de la variance phénotypique. Celui-ci n'est pas détecté vis-à-vis de la souche virulente PSS4 qui contourne cette résistance. Dans ce cas, seul un QTL à effet intermédiaire expliquant jusqu’à 38 % de la variance phénotypique est trouvé sur un autre groupe de liaison. / The plant pathogenic soil-borne bacteria Ralstonia solanacearum causes heavy damage to solanaceous crops. One of the dilemmas for varietal breeding of solanaceous crops is the circumvention of the resistance to R. solanacearum due to the genotypic variability and plasticity of this pathogen. Thirty accessions of Tomato, Eggplant, and Pepper (Core-TEP), screened with a collection of 12 representatives strains of R. solanacearum phylotype I, II and III (Core-Rs2) within the species complex ranked from highly resistant to highly susceptible. The strains were grouped according to there profile of virulence on all three solanaceous, and by considering each species individually. We refer to these groups respectively, as pathoprofiles and pathotypes. No universal resistance was found for the three host species. Genetic analysis of resistance to R. solanacearum in eggplant was conducted against four strains of phylotype I. We used a population of recombinant lines F6 as well as the generations derived from the intraspecific cross between S. melongena MM738 (S) and AG91-25 (R). A genetic map was built with 119 markers a combination of AFLPs, SSRs and SRAPs positioned on 18 linkage groups, for a total length of 884 cM. The genetic analysis revealed that resistance to strains CMR134, PSS366, and GMI1000 was controlled by one single major gene, which explained up to 87% of the phenotypic variation. When the resistance against the highly virulent PSS4 strain is tested, this gene is not detected. In this case, a significant QTL with intermediate effect that explains up to 38% of phenotypic variation was found on another linkage group for this strain.

No Brasil, os cânceres de cólon e de reto são considerados as neoplasias gastrintestinais mais comumente observadas na população. Nos últimos anos vêm se relatando na literatura nacional e internacional a possível relação da presença de microrganismos com o desenvolvimento de câncer; entretanto, ainda não se observam evidências científicas convincentes dessa interação. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a presença e participação dos diferentes patótipos de Escherichia coli em pacientes com e sem câncer de reto. Foram coletadas amostras fecais de pacientes com neoplasia de reto, e de indivíduos sadios sem sinais de câncer (pólipos e/ou tumor), usadas como controle. Uma porção fecal foi semeada em ágar MacConkey isolando-se aletaoriamente quatro colônias de cada amostra. A identificação em nível de espécie, e dos patótipos, assim como dos fatores de virulência das cepas extra-intestinais de E. coli foi realizada por PCR convencional. Para a caracterização molecular das E. coli foi usada a técnica de ERIC-PCR. Os pacientes com neoplasia de reto apresentaram idade média de 63 anos de idade (P < 0,001). A ocorrência de E. coli extra-intestinal (ExPEC; 44,17%) foi menor que as cepas de E. coli diarreiogênicas (DEC; 49,2%). A presença de E. coli enteroagregativa típica (tEAEC) foi observada em 44,1% das amostras fecais de pacientes com câncer de reto e em indivíduos sadios (12,9%) (P = 0,003); entretanto, as E. coli enteropatogênicas atípicas (aEPEC) foram isoladas em ambos os grupos de pacientes (câncer: 37,3%; sadios: 48,4%). O gene afa/dra da adesina Afa/Dr foi observado em maior prevalência nas ExPEC isoladas de pacientes com câncer (P < 0,001). As cepas de E. coli mostraram combinações gênicas que variaram de 2 a 8 genes, observando-se 39 e 24 combinações gênicas nas cepas de pacientes com câncer e sadios, respectivamente. Pelo ERIC-PCR observou-se elevada diversidade genética em todas as cepas. Foi observada a presença dos oito filogrupos de E. coli, sendo o filogrupo B2 (55,2%) o mais predominante. Os filogrupos D e E não agruparam cepas de indivíduos sadios. Os resultados sugerem maiores estudos para determinar o papel das DEC, particularmente das aEPEC, tEAEC e ExPEC de forma individual ou em associação, avaliando-se o provável sinergismo e/ou a co-infecção de diferentes patótipos nesses processos, assim como sua presença no trato intestinal em pacientes assintomáticos com câncer de reto. / In Brazil, colon and rectal cancer are increasing and they are considered the gastrointestinal neoplasia most commonly observed in the population. In recent years, national and international literatures have shown a possible correlationship among the presence of microorganisms with the development of cancer; however, no convincing scientific evidence of this interaction has been observed. This study aimed to determine the presence and participation of different pathotypes of Escherichia coli isolated from patients with or without rectal cancer. Fecal samples were collected from patients with rectal cancer and healthy individuals with no signs of cancer (polyps and/or tumor) used as a control. Feces were plated onto agar MacConkey and four strains were randomly selected from each sample. Conventional PCR was used for identification of E. coli and pathotypes, as well as to detect virulence genes in extra-intestinal strains. The molecular characterization of E. coli was performed by ERIC-PCR. Patients with rectal cancer were mean age of 63 years old (P < 0.001). Diarrheogenic E. coli (DEC, 49.17%) were more prevalent than extra-intestinal E. coli (ExPEC, 44.17%). The presence of tEAEC was observed in 44.1% of the patients with cancer compared to healthy (12.9%) (P = 0.003). Atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) strains were isolated in both patient groups (cancer: 37.3%; healthy: 48.4%). The gene afa/dra for adhesion Afa/Dr was observed in higher prevalence than in ExPEC strains in patients with cancer and healthy subjects (P < 0.001). E. coli strains showed genetic combinations from 2 to 8 genes, showed 39 and 24 genetic combinations in strains from cancer and healthy patients, respectively. All strains showed high genetic diversity by ERIC-PCR. It was observed presence of eight filogroups and B2 filogroup (55.2%) was the most prevalent. Filogroups D and E were absent in strains from healthy. The results suggest further studies to determine the role of DEC, particularly aEPEC, tEAEC, and ExPEC, individually or in combination, and the synergism and co-infection of different pathotypes in these processes, as well as its presence in the intestinal microbiota in asymptomatic patients with rectal cancer.

Ralstonia solanacearum est une bactérie vasculaire d'origine tellurique dévastatrice chez les Solanacées maraîchères. L'une des difficultés pour la sélection variétale réside dans le contournement de la résistance, en raison de la grande variabilité et plasticité génotypique du pathogène. Trente accessions de tomate, aubergine et piment (Core-TEP) testées vis-à-vis de 12 souches représentatives des phylotypes I, II et III de R. solanacearum (Core-Rs2) ont été classées de très sensibles à très résistantes. Des groupes de souches définis en fonction de leur virulence et agressivité ont été nommés pathoprofils, d'une part, lorsque établis sur les 3 espèces et pathotypes, d'autre part, lorsque établis sur chacune des trois espèces. Aucune résistance universelle n'a pu être mise en évidence chez aucune des trois espèces. Le déterminisme génétique de la résistance à R. solanacearum chez l'aubergine a été étudié sur une population de lignées recombinantes F6 ainsi que sur les générations issues du croisement intraspécifique S. melongena MM738 (S) x AG91-25 (R), testées vis-à-vis de quatre souches du phylotype I. Une carte génétique composée de 119 marqueurs AFLP, SSR et SRAP, positionnés sur 18 groupes de liaisons, pour une longueur totale de 884 cM, a été construite. Les analyses génétiques montrent que la résistance aux souches CMR134, PSS366, GMI1000 est contrôlée par un même gène majeur expliquant jusqu'à 87% de la variance phénotypique. Celui-ci n'est pas détecté vis-à-vis de la souche virulente PSS4 qui contourne cette résistance. Dans ce cas, seul un QTL à effet intermédiaire expliquant jusqu'à 38 % de la variance phénotypique est trouvé sur un autre groupe de liaison.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:42:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1356987 bytes, checksum: 030b61d243d62bcfe2b52e6110cb33b0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-07-31 / The angular leaf spot, incited by the fungus Pseudocercospora griseola (Sacc.) Crous & U. Braun is one of the major diseases that affect the culture of the bean, can be found in all producing regions, especially when the culture is subjected to condition of mild temperatures in irrigated crops. This condition coupled with the use of susceptible cultivars favors the occurrence of the disease causes losses in production reaching 80%. An option to control the disease is the use of resistant cultivars. However, the efficiency in the use of resistance depends on knowledge of pathogenic variability and geographical distribution of the pathogen. Several studies have shown the extensive pathogenic variability of P. griseola and their co-evolution with the Andean and Mesoamerican gene pools of common bean. By the process of co-evolution, populations of P. griseola can also be divided into two gene pools: Andean (P. griseola formae griseola) that had parallel evolution with varieties of Andean origin beans, being able to bring the disease only in Andean beans; and Mesoamerican (P. griseola formae mesoamericana) that had parallel evolution with varieties of Mesoamerican origin beans, being able of inciting disease in Mesoamerican beans and also in some Andean beans. The main objectives of this study were characterized isolates of P. griseola, from nine cities in three regions of Minas Gerais State - Brazil, using the differential varieties; evaluate sources of resistance to the pathogen used by the Beans Improvement Program of BIOAGRO/UFV against these isolates; and, through the ITS region (ITS1-5,8S-ITS2) of the rDNA gene cluster, to characterize the genetic diversity of 48 isolates of P. griseola, using the universal primers ITS1 and ITS4. With the support of differential varieties were characterized 31 isolates monosporic of P. griseola, obtaining 15 distinct pathotypes, which demonstrates the highvariability of this pathogen. The pathotype 63-63 was the most frequent with 12 of the 31 isolates characterized and was detected in seven of the nine cities visited. The pathotype 63-23 occurred in three cities with the frequency of three isolates, the pathotypes 63-7, 15-7 and 47-39 occurred in two cities each with a frequency of two isolates and the other occurred in a single city with the frequency of one isolate. The fact that several isolates were characterized as pathotype 63-63, in other words, which present reaction of compatibility with all differential varieties, suggests that the differential series needs to be revised, possibly with the inclusion of new varieties and/or exclusion of certain vatieties, in order to better discrimination in pathotypes. All isolates showed reaction compatibility with the of Andean and Mesoamerican varieties, which classifies them as belonging to the Mesoamerican group. Varieties Mexico 54, BAT 332, Cornell 49-242, AND 277 and MAR-2, used by the Beans Improvement Program of BIOAGRO/UFV, were resistant, respectively, 11, 10, 11, 10 and 8 of the 15 pathotypes characterized. Nevertheless, none of the sources used was resistant to pathotype 63-63 characterized from isolates identified as A18, A212, AJ12, B146, B750, C11, SM17, SM20 and SM211 showing the need to seek new access that offer resistance to angular leaf spot. Another finding is that some isolates characterized as the same pathotype provided differing responses when inoculated into sources of resistance, showing that there are differences in relation to pathogenicity. The analysis of the inoculations in this differential series also showed that the varieties Don Timoteo, G11796 and Bolón Bayo are not relevant in discrimination of pathotypes. These two findings provide, once again, support for the proposed revision of the genotypes used in the differential series of angular leaf spot. The genetic variability of P. griseola is also examined through several other types of analysis involving morphological and molecular characters. In this work, through analysis of the ITS region (ITS1-5,8S-ITS2) of rDNA, using the universal primers ITS1 and ITS4, held a study on the genetic diversity of isolates of P. griseola, obtained in the State of Minas Gerais (Brazil) and elsewhere in the world, showing the efficiency of the ITS region for this purpose. It was found that there are five different haplotypes, grouped by the existence of five mutations among the sequences studied. These haplotypes formed two haplogroups: one consisting by all isolates ofMesoamerican origin (three haplotypes) and other consisting by isolates of Andean origin and isolates that do not have information about the gene pool (two haplotypes). This result indicates that the isolates that lack the gene pool defined, possibly belonging to the collection of Andean P. griseola. The finding that all isolates obtained in State of Minas Gerais belong to the Mesoamerican gene pool proves the existence of co-evolution between Phaseolus vulgaris and Pseudocercospora griseola, since in Brazil predominate the cultivation of beans Mesoamerican gene pool. / A mancha angular, incitada pelo fungo Pseudocercospora griseola (Sacc.) Crous & U. Braun é uma das principais doenças que acometem a cultura do feijoeiro, podendo ser encontrada em todas as regiões produtoras, principalmente quando a cultura é submetida à condição de temperaturas amenas em cultivos irrigados. Esta condição aliada ao uso de cultivares suscetíveis favorece a ocorrência da doença ocasionando perdas na produção que atingem 80%. Uma opção de controle da enfermidade é o uso de cultivares resistentes. No entanto, a eficiência no uso da resistência depende do conhecimento sobre a variabilidade patogênica e distribuição geográfica do patógeno. Diversos trabalhos têm mostrado a ampla variabilidade patogênica de P. griseola e a sua co-evolução com os pools gênicos Andino e Mesoamericano do feijoeiro. Pelo processo de co-evolução, populações de P. griseola também podem ser divididas em dois pools gênicos: Andino (P. griseola formae griseola) que tiveram evolução paralela com variedades de feijão de origem Andina, sendo capazes de incitar a doença apenas em feijões Andinos; e Mesoamericano (P. griseola formae mesoamericana) que tiveram evolução com variedades de feijão de origem Mesoamericana, sendo capazes de incitar a doença em feijões Mesoamericanos e também em alguns feijões Andinos. Os principais objetivos deste estudo foram: caracterizar isolados de P. griseola, provenientes de nove cidades de três regiões do Estado de Minas Gerais - Brasil, utilizando as variedades diferenciadoras da mancha angular; avaliar fontes de resistência ao patógeno utilizadas pelo Programa de Melhoramento do Feijoeiro do BIOAGRO/UFV frente a estes isolados; e através da região ITS (ITS1-5,8S-ITS2) do cluster gênico do rDNA caracterizar a diversidade genética de 48 isolados de P. griseola, utilizando os primers universais ITS1 e ITS4. Com o auxílio das variedades diferenciadoras, foramcaracterizados 31 isolados monospóricos de P. griseola, obtendo-se 15 patótipos distintos, o que demonstra a alta variabilidade deste patógeno. O patótipo 63-63 foi o mais frequente com 12 dos 31 isolados caracterizados e foi detectado em sete das nove cidades visitadas. O patótipo 63-23 ocorreu em três cidades com a frequência de três isolados; os patótipos 63-7, 47-39 e 15-7 ocorreram em duas cidades cada um, com a frequência de dois isolados e os demais patótipos ocorreram em uma única cidade com a frequência de um isolado. A constatação de que vários isolados foram caracterizados como patótipo 63-63, ou seja, apresentam reação de compatibilidade com todas as variedades diferenciadoras, sugere que a série diferenciadora necessita ser revista, possivelmente, com a inclusão de novas variedades e/ou exclusão de determinadas variedades, visando melhor discriminação em patótipos. Todos os isolados apresentaram reação de compatibilidade com as variedades Andinas e Mesoamericanas, o que os classifica como pertencentes ao grupo Mesoamericano. As variedades México 54, BAT 332, Cornell 49-242, AND 277 e MAR-2, utilizadas pelo Programa de Melhoramento do Feijoeiro do BIOAGRO/UFV, foram resistentes, respectivamente, a 11, 10, 11, 10 e 8 dos 15 patótipos caracterizados. Apesar disso, nenhuma das fontes utilizadas foi resistente ao patótipo 63-63 caracterizado a partir dos isolados identificados como A18, A212, AJ 12, B1 46, B7 50, C11, SM 17, SM 20 e SM211 evidenciando a necessidade de se buscar novos acessos que ofereçam resistência à mancha angular. Outra constatação é que alguns isolados caracterizados como um mesmo patótipo proporcionaram reações diferenciadas quando inoculados nas fontes de resistência, mostrando que existem diferenças em relação à patogenicidade. As análises das inoculações na série diferenciadora ainda evidenciaram que as variedades Don Timóteo, G11796 e Bolón Bayo não estão sendo relevantes na discriminação dos patótipos. Estas duas constatações oferecem, mais uma vez, suporte para a proposta de revisão dos genótipos utilizados na série diferenciadora da mancha angular. A variabilidade genética de P. griseola tem sido examinada também através de diversos outros tipos de análises envolvendo caracteres morfológicos e moleculares. Neste trabalho, através de análises da região ITS (ITS1-5,8S-ITS2) do rDNA, utilizando os primers universais ITS1 e ITS4, realizou-se um estudo acerca da diversidadegenética de isolados de P. griseola, obtidos no Estado de Minas Gerais (Brasil) e em outras localidades do mundo, evidenciando a eficiência da região ITS para este propósito. Verificou-se a existência de cinco haplótipos distintos, agrupados pela existência de cinco mutações entre as sequências estudadas. Estes haplótipos formaram dois haplogrupos: um constituído por todos os isolados de origem Mesoamericana (três haplótipos) e outro constituído por isolados de origem Andina e por isolados que não possuem informações acerca do pool gênico (dois haplótipos). Este resultado indica que os isolados que não possuem o pool gênico definido, possivelmente, pertencem ao acervo Andino de P. griseola. A constatação de que todos os isolados obtidos no Estado de Minas Gerais pertencem ao pool gênico Mesoamericano comprova a existência de co-evolução entre Phaseolus vulgaris e Pseudocercospora griseola, já que no Brasil predomina o cultivo de feijão do pool gênico Mesoamericano.