Pulsed field gradient (PFG) 1H NMR was used to characterize the mobility of ionic liquid cations in porous gas diffusion electrode (GDE) frameworks for metal–air electrochemical systems. The carbon GDE frameworks were produced by electrospinning. It was found that the motion of ionic liquids in the highly porous hosts is more complex than what is commonly exhibited by conventional fluids, which makes a multimodal investigation essential for an adequate description of mobility and wetting of GDEs. Observed NMR diffraction-like patterns cannot be linked to the tortuosity limit but may serve as a proxy for structural features in the fibrous material. While the observed data were interpreted using standard theoretical models, alternative explanations and causes for artifacts are discussed.

Genetic typing of Klebsiella pneumoniae is used for epidemiological referencing. In the clinical setting it can be useful in outbreak investigations, understanding transmission and managing hospital infections. Multi-drug resistant bacteria exist and proliferate either due to natural selection of clonal lineages or the transfer of mobile genetic elements, sometimes in response to antibiotic-use selective pressure. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is highly discriminatory and the gold standard typing method for the characterisation of K. pneumoniae isolates. The aim of the study was to genetically characterise K. pneumoniae isolates by PFGE and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). One hundred unrepeated ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). The PFGE was performed on a Rotaphor VI system (Biometra, Germany). Clonal representatives were further characterised by MLST. All the strains were typeable by PFGE using XbaI, which discerned multiple pulsotypes and MLST identified 10 different STs including a novel sequence type, ST1632. The diverse pulsotypes of K. pneumoniae isolates are not suggestive of clonal spread of particular strains. The MLST results further confirmed the variability among isolates tested and elucidated several STs, some of which have been identified internationally and often associated with carbapenem-resistance. Data on K. pneumoniae STs is still limited in the South African clinical setting, although the close monitoring of resistance profiles and characterisation of isolates is imperative for outbreak analysis, identification of prominent STs in clinical settings as compared to international counterparts and surveillance of expanding resistance. / Dissertation (MSc (Medical Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Medical Microbiology / MSc (Medical Microbiology) / Unrestricted

No description available.

ABSTRACT Few antibiotics are left that are effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and even strains resistant to these agents have been isolated. Previous studies have identified five distinct MRSA clonotypes, which are present globally. No comprehensive national study has previously been undertaken to investigate the MRSA types in South Africa, and this study was aimed at elucidating the genotypic population structure of South African MRSA isolates. SmaI digested genomic DNA, separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, was used to characterise 349 S. aureus isolates, obtained from various state and private diagnostic laboratories. PFGE results were complemented with those of spa typing and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing results. Two-hundred-and-five different PFGE patterns were identified, which were grouped into twenty-four clusters. Three were major lineages, containing more than 20% of the isolates with a similarity cut-off of 70%. Only thirty-seven spa types were identified (fourteen novel spa types), which clustered into six spa-Clonal Complexes after BURP analysis. SCCmec types I-IV were identified, including variants of each type. Data suggest that the Archaic clone (RSA05), oldest of the epidemic clones, represents one of the major clones in South Africa. Strains that were part of this complex (n=98 (28.2%); t064; SCCmec type I-pls) clustered together with strain E2125/ATCC BAA-38 (t051; SCCmec type I). Another major complex, RSA16 (n=90 (25.7%); t012; SCCmec type II/IIB) possessed a single-locus variant (SLV) spa type and the same or a SLV SCCmec types as EMRSA-16 (t018; SCCmec type II). The third major complex, RSA03 (n=74 (21.2%); t037; SCCmec type III/IIIE), had similar spa and SCCmec types to control strainANS46 (t037; SCCmec type III). One MRSA and twelve MSSA isolates were also identified as carrying genes for the toxin Panton-Valentine leukocidin, which was confirmed by DNA nucleotide sequencing.

The pulsed field gradient fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-FTNMR) method to measure translational diffusion coefficients in multicomponent systems has been applied to amphiphilic molecules forming liquid crystalline phases. By analyzing the concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficients of water and amphiphile in a micellar system of N,N-dimethyldodecy lamine oxide (DDAO) in water it was possible to conclude that the micelles formed were polydisperse in size and shape. It was also shown that solubilization of small amounts of hydrophobic molecules into the micelles induces spherical micelles of a narrow size distribution. From the magnitude of the lateral diffusion coefficient in the cubic phase of DDAO/water it was concluded that this phase is built up of bicontinous aggregates. The lipid lateral diffusion in the cubic phase of monooleoylglycerol (MO)/water has been measured. The decrease in the lateral diffusion of MO in this phase, when the water was replaced by glycerol, was ascribed to changes in viscosity in the polar region. Measurements by electron spin resonance and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy showed that changes in viscosity of the solvent also affected the motions in the hydrocarbon region. The diffusion coefficients of all three components in the cubic phase located in the lowwater region of the ternary system of diacylglycerol (DAG)/soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC)/water have been determined. Conclusive evidence was provided for that this cubic phase is built up of reversed micelles containing mainly SPC in a continous matrix of mainly DAG. The effect on the phase properties of DDAO upon incorporation of the peptide gramicidin D has been investigated. It was shown that gramicidin D induces a lamellar phase at all water contents. The change in the order parameter profile of the C-2H bonds in perdeuterated DDAO upon incorporation of gramicidin D is compatible with theoretical calculations for proteins exhibiting a positive hydrophobic mismatch. A method for using the PFG FTNMR technique in measurements of the transmembrane exchange rate of small molecules in vesicular suspensions is discussed and some preliminary data is shown. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1994, härtill 4 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2006. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 117 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Technique of pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has found widespread use in the analysis of the genome of all life organisms. It is applied to the separation of the large DNA molecules above thousands base pairs up to millions of base pairs in size, where using conventional gel electrophoresis techniques are not possible (for instance large bacterial, yeast, fungal or mammalian chromosome). Presented work was realized as a comparative analysis of genome of several carotenogenic yeasts. The conditions of isolation and analysis of chromosomal yeast DNA were optimized. A lysis of yeast cells and deproteination of DNA within agarose chops was shown as the most appropriate method for DNA isolation. Cultivation to late exponential phase (50 hours) is the most suitable to obtaining intact DNA in sufficient amount and quality. Carotenogenic yeasts undergo the random mutagenesis using alkylation reagent ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). Genome of pigment overproducing mutants was analyzed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and amount of carotenoids by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). However, overproduction of beta-carotene was analyzed in mutant strains Rhodotorula glutinis (10.6 g/l of biomass enriched 0,34 mg/g of beta-carotene) and Cystofilobasidium capitatum (8.5 g/l of biomass enriched 0,23 mg/g of beta-carotene). Selection of mutant strains overproducing carotenoid pigments was in presented experiment series successful in almost all analyzed strains except in the case of the strain Rhodotorula aurantiaca.

Les cryo-aimants supraconducteurs sont des sources de champs magnétiques intenses, compactes et peu gourmandes en énergie. Il existe diverses méthodes d’aimantation mais seule l’aimantation par champ magnétique pulsé (PFM) permet d’obtenir des champs excitateurs élevés sans recourir à des bobines supraconductrices refroidies.Basé sur une collaboration industrielle, ce travail a été consacré dans un premier temps à la conception d’un générateur de courant pulsé compact et évolutif générant des rampes de pulse de polarité réglage pouvant atteindre 3000A.Dans un second temps, nous avons mis en place les différents systèmes permettant l’aimantation des cryo-aimants refroidis soit à 77 K, soit dans un cryostat refroidi par un cryo-générateur.Enfin, l’aimantation par pulses de champ des cryo-aimants supraconducteurs a montré la possibilité de piéger un champ magnétique de l’ordre du tesla, réversible et reproductible. Les résultats obtenus répondent aux impératifs industriels de l’étude. Ils sont très encourageants pour le développement d’un dispositif de champ magnétique réversible à base de cryo-aimants supraconducteurs pour l’instrumentation scientifique ou pour les applications électrotechniques. / Superconducting cryomagnets are high magnetic fields sources that are both compact and energy efficient. There are various magnetization technics but only the magnetization by pulsed magnetic field (PFM) results in high excitation fields, that otherwise could only be obtained with large superconducting coils.This work was done in the framework of an industrial collaboration. In a first step, a compact and innovative pulse current generator enabling the generation of pulses with a 3000 Amps maximum intensity was designed and fabricated. Secondly, different systems for the magnetization of cryo-magnets either cooled down to 77 K or cooled in a cryostat by a cryo-generator were implemented. Finally, the pulsed field magnetization of superconducting cryo-magnets has shown that reversible and reproducible magnetic field in the one Tesla range could be generated by the set up.The results obtained are consistent with the industrial goals of this study. They are very encouraging for the development of reversible magnetic field devices based on superconducting cryo-magnets and dedicated to scientific instrumentation or for electrotechnical applications.

Dans ce travail nous avons étudié des réactions chimiques sur la surface de deux métaux : le platine et l'or, en utilisant la microscopie ionique à effet de champ électrique (FIM) et la spectrométrie de masse de désorption par champ pulsé (PFDMS). En complément de ces données expérimentales, nous apportons des résultats obtenus par la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT). La taille et la morphologie de nos échantillons font qu’ils sont de bons modèles de grains de phase active dans un catalyseur réel. Sur le platine nous avons observé l'interaction du monoxyde d'azote. En présence d'un champ électrique, la dissociation du NO est promue, laissant sur la pointe une couche d'oxygène que l'on peut titrer par la suite avec du NO pour former du dioxyde d'azote. L'interaction de l'hydrogène avec une pointe de platine est différente en fonction de la température. A basse température (<200 K), l’hydrogène met en image la pointe avec un assombrissement de petites régions de la pointe. A partir de 200 K, l'hydrogène induit une transformation de la pointe : les faces denses s'élargissent au détriment des faces rugueuses, avec une rangée d'atomes le long des lignes de zone [100] et le pôle central passe d’une forme circulaire à une forme carrée. L'hydrogène est supposé être à l'état atomique sur la surface; sous sa forme moléculaire, il ne contribue qu'à la mise en image. C’est sous sa forme atomique qu’il contribue aux transformations observées. La réaction NO+H2 sur le platine conduit à l'observation d'instabilités cinétiques pour des pressions et températures données. Les régions d'amorçage ont été identifiées comme étant tout ensemble de sites de cran situé le long des lignes de zone [100]. L'observation de phénomènes oscillants n'est pas liée exclusivement à une morphologie de type polyédrique : il est possible d’observer ces instabilités cinétiques sur des pointes de rayon de courbure différent, ces pointes ne subissent pas nécessairement un changement de morphologie. L'analyse chimique au cours de la réaction a révélé la présence d'oxydes de surface ce qui nous a conduit à penser que la surface du catalyseur de platine doit être oxydée plutôt que de rester à l'état métallique. Une étape intermédiaire dans le mécanisme de site vacant a été proposée pour permettre de rendre compte de l'apparition de phénomènes oscillants. L’étape déterminante est la décomposition du monoxyde d’azote adsorbé à la surface. L’apport d’hydrogène atomique nécessaire à la formation d’eau n’est pas une étape lente, au contraire l’hydrogène semble être largement présent sous forme atomique. L’influence du champ électrique reste important, ce qui pourrait expliquer les différences de gammes de température auxquelles d’autres groupes et le nôtre observons des oscillations. L'étude de l'interaction du CO seul sur l'or a été motivée par l'observation de la réaction CO+O2 sur pointe d'or. Sous nos conditions expérimentales, il est possible de former des mono- et dicarbonyles d’or sous forme cationique. En présence d'un champ électrique, la formation de carbonyles d'or est promue au niveau des sites de cran de la surface. Les résultats obtenus par DFT sont concordants avec les résultats expérimentaux. A l'instar du Pt, nous avons étudié l'interaction du monoxyde d'azote sur pointe d'or. Nous avons observé la formation de protoxyde d'azote et d'un dimère de monoxyde d'azote. Le mécanisme de formation de ces espèces reste encore inconnu. Une couche d'oxygène adsorbée à la surface peut être titrée par du NO en formant du dioxyde d'azote. En présence d'oxygène seul sur une pointe d'or sans champ électrique, les spectres de masse ne révèlent que la présence d'oxygène moléculaire. En présence d'un champ électrique, il est possible de détecter de l'oxygène atomique sans toutefois avoir la formation d'un oxyde d'or. Il est possible de former de l'ozone à partir d'une pointe recouverte d'oxygène atomique en présence d'oxygène moléculaire gazeux. Les calculs par DFT nous laissent à penser que la formation du cation O3+ ne se fait pas à la surface mais à proximité. Ils montrent entre autres que le champ électrique déstabilise l'oxygène atomique, ce qui pourrait le pousser vers des régions où l'effet du champ est le moins intense (la tige de la pointe).

Introdução: Enterococcus resistente à vancomicina (VRE do inglês Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus) é uma importante causa de infecção relacionada a assistência à saúde com alta morbidade e mortalidade principalmente nos pacientes imunocomprometidos sendo a segunda causa mais comum de infecções hospitalares nessa população de pacientes em alguns centros. O uso prolongado da terapia antimicrobiana com vancomicina e outras drogas, são fatores de risco associados com a disseminação desse patógeno. Além disso, espécies de enterococos podem apresentar fatores de virulência tais como: substância de agregação (asa1), gelatinase (gelE), citolisina (cylA), proteína de superfície enterococo (esp) e hidrolase glicosil (hylefm). Entretanto, o papel da virulência na colonização e infecção por VRE é controverso. Objetivos: Avaliar o perfil clonal, virulência e resistência de 86 isolados de VRE (80 E. faecium e 06 E. faecalis) de infecção e colonização de 76 pacientes com doenças hematológicas e/ou submetidos a transplante de Medula Óssea (TMO) internados no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP) no período de 10 anos (2005-2014). Material e Métodos: Foram realizadas concentração inibitória mínima para: vancomicina, teicoplanina, linezolida, gentamicina e estreptomicina em alta concentração (HLAR); Avaliação da clonalidade por eletroforese em campo pulsado (PFGE); Detecção dos mecanismos de resistência (vanA e vanB) e de virulência (esp, asa1, gelE, cylA e hylefm) pela técnica de PCR e sequenciamento total do genoma de dezoito isolados selecionados de acordo com a clonalidade. Foi criado um banco de dados no programa Epiinfo (CDC) com variáveis clinicas e demográficas dos pacientes. A proporção de isolados de colonização portadores de genes de virulência foi comparada com os isolados de infecção assim como a proporção de isolados de infecção portadores de genes de virulência que evoluíram para óbito. O valor de p < 0,005 foi considerado significativo. Resultados: Trinta e quatro pacientes eram colonizados e 42 infectados por VRE (28 eram infecção de corrente sanguínea), 48 pacientes eram transplantados dos quais 32 eram alogênicos. A mortalidade em 14 dias foi de 21.0% e durante a hospitalização de 53.9%. Todos os isolados foram resistentes à vancomicina e 87,3% à teicoplanina. Resistência a gentamicina e estreptomicina em alta concentração (HLAR) foi observada em 08 e 59 isolados respectivamente. Um isolado apresentou resistência a linezolida identificado pela primeira vez na unidade. O gene vanA foi detectado em todos os isolados. Quanto aos genes de virulência, 96,5% de isolados foram positivos para o gene esp e 69,8% para os genes gelE e asa1. Isolados de infecção de E. faecium carrearam mais genes de virulência: esp (100%), gelE (80,0%) e asa1 (75,5%) e o gene gelE foi significativamente mais frequente entre isolados de infecção que de colonização (p=0,008). Infecções causadas por isolados de E. faecium positivos para o gene asa1 foram significantemente associadas com maior mortalidade (p < 0,05). Quinze diferentes Pulsed field type (PFT) foram observados entre os isolados de E. faecium e 06 entre os isolados de E. faecalis. Dezessete E. faecium foram sequenciados e diferentes sequencias tipo (ST) foram observadas (ST412, ST478, ST78 e ST896) já descritas em outros estudos no Brasil. O isolado resistente a linezolida apresentou mutação no domínio V do gene 23S rRNA com um perfil alélico diferente, caracterizando um novo ST (ST987) descrito pela primeira vez no Brasil. Todos os ST observados nos isolados de E. faecium pertencem ao complexo clonal 17, dos quais dois STs (ST963, ST792) foram descritos pela primeira vez no país. O isolado de E. faecalis sequenciado pertencia ao ST9 e ao complexo clonal 9 já descrito por outros autores. Conclusão: Nosso estudo observou que E. faecium foi predominante em nosso hospital e os ST circulantes pertenciam ao CC17. Os isolados de infecção foram mais virulentos que os isolados de colonização e o gene gelE foi significativamente mais frequente nos isolados de infecção. Infecções causadas por isolados de E. faecium positivos para o gene asa1 foram associadas com a alta mortalidade. Este achado pode ser útil para controlar a disseminação de E. faecium no ambiente hospitalar e em pacientes hematológicos / Introduction: Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is a important cause of health care-associated infection with high morbidity and mortality, mainly in immunocompromised patients, being the second most common cause of hospital infections in this population of patients in some centers. Prolonged use of antimicrobial therapy with vancomycin and other drugs are risk factors associated with the spread of this pathogen. In addition, enterococcal species may present virulence factors such as: aggregation substance (asa1), gelatinase (gelE), cytolysin (cylA), enterococcal surface protein (esp) and glycosyl hydrolase (hylefm). However, the role of virulence on VRE colonization and infection is controversial. Objectives: To evaluate the clonal profile, virulence and resistance of 86 isolates of VRE (80 E. faecium and 06 E. faecalis) from infection and colonization of 76 patients with hematological diseases and / or submitted to bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at Hospital das Clinics of the Medical School of the University of São Paulo (HC-FMUSP) in the period of 10 years (2005-2014). Material and Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration to vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, gentamicin and streptomycin in high concentration (HLAR) was performed; Clonality of isolates by pulsed field electrophoresis (PFGE) was evaluated; Detection of resistance (vanA and vanB) and virulence (esp, asa1, gelE, cylA and hylefm) genes by PCR technique and whole genome sequencing of eighteen isolates selected based on clonality. Results: All isolates were resistant to vancomycin and 87.3% to teicoplanin. Resistance to gentamicin and streptomycin in high concentration (HLAR) was observed in 08 and 59 isolates respectively. One isolate presented resistance to linezolid observed for the first time in the unit. The vanA gene was detected in all isolates. Regarding virulence genes, 96.5% of isolates were positive for the esp gene and 69.8% for the gelE and asa1 genes. Isolates of E. faecium infection carried more virulence genes: esp (100%), gelE (80.0%) and asa1 (75.5%) and gelE gene was significantly more frequent among infection isolates than colonization (p = 0.008). Infections caused by E. faecium isolates carrying the asa1 gene were significantly associated with higher mortality (p < 0.05). Fifteen different Pulsed field type (PFT) were observed among the isolates of E. faecium and 06 among E. faecalis isolates. Seventeen E. faecium were sequenced and the following sequences type (ST) were observed (ST412, ST478, ST78 and ST896) all of them already described in Brazil. The linezolid-resistant isolate showed the 23S gene Vdomain mutation with a different allelic profile, characterizing a new ST (ST987) described for the first time in our study. All STs observed in E. faecium isolates belong to clonal complex 17. Two other STs (ST963, ST792) were identified for the first time in the country. The E. faecalis isolate belong to ST9 and clonal complex 9 already described by other authors in Brazil. Conclusion: Our study observed that E. faecium was predominant in our hospital and the circulating STs belonged to CC17 a virulent lineage. E. faecium infection isolates were more virulent than colonization isolates and harbored significantly more gelE gene. It appears that infections caused by E. faecium isolates carrying asa1 gene evolved more frequently to death. This finding may be useful to control the spread of E. faecium in the hospital environment and in haematological patients