Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2008. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [115]-121).

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2006. / Embargoed. Vita. Bibliography: 104-116.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:27:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:57:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:27:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:57:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Microsporidia are a unique phylum of ubiquitous fungal pathogens that are able to infect a wide variety of hosts, including economically and ecologically important organisms. Recently, global declines of the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) have been associated with infections of the microsporidian pathogen Nosema ceranae. This species was originally described in the Asiatic honeybee (A. cerana), and its identification in global A. mellifera hives could result from a recent host transfer. Recent genome studies have found that global populations of this parasite from A. mellifera hives are polyploid and that humans may have fueled their global expansion. In this thesis, I investigate the genetic diversity of N. ceranae populations from within their native range (Thailand) and among different hosts (A. mellifera, A. cerana), putting them in context with other previously sequenced global populations. Using both PCR and genome-based methods, my findings reveal that Thai populations of N. ceranae exhibit interesting genetic differences from other global pathogen populations but also have some similarities. Thai N. ceranae populations share many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with other global populations and appear to be clonal. However, in stark contrast with previous studies, these populations carry many SNPs not found in other global populations of this parasite, indicating that these populations have evolved in their current geographic location for some time. This genome analysis also indicates the potential presence of diploidy within Thai populations of N. ceranae and possible host-specific loss of heterozygosity. Overall, my findings begin to reveal interesting patterns of genetic diversity in N. ceranae populations that bring us one step closer to understanding the biology and genetics of this important honeybee pathogen.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio (fiscina@bahia.fiocruz.br) on 2012-08-01T18:14:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Melissa Moura Abbehusen Estudo da imunogenicidade de vacinas de....pdf: 867164 bytes, checksum: 4ef801f12d349f64700eea900fccfc9b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-08-01T18:14:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Melissa Moura Abbehusen Estudo da imunogenicidade de vacinas de....pdf: 867164 bytes, checksum: 4ef801f12d349f64700eea900fccfc9b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, Bahia, Brasil / A Proteína ácida ribossomal de Leishmania infantum (L. infantum) - LiP0 é um componente estrutural da subunidade maior do ribossomo e já foi descrita como um antígeno imunodominante, que participa na síntese de outras proteínas e é capaz de induzir resposta imune humoral específica em soro de pacientes e cães infectados com Leishmania chagasi (L. chagasi). Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis), é uma micobactéria oportunista, que apresenta crescimento rápido e uma poderosa capacidade adjuvante, já sendo utilizado como vetor de expressão para diversos antígenos. Neste trabalho avaliamos a capacidade imunoprotetora do Mycobacterium smegmatis recombinante (rM.smegmatis) expressando o gene que codifica a LiP0, bem como o plasmídeo e/ou proteína LiP0 utilizando estratégia homóloga (composta de plasmídeo de DNA) e heteróloga (composta de plasmídeo de DNA adicionado a proteína recombinante e CpG), contra a infecção causada por L. chagasi em hamsters. Hamsters foram imunizados e posteriormente infectados com L. chagasi por via endovenosa. Os animais imunizados com a micobactéria, apesar de apresentarem resposta imune humoral anti-M. smegmatis, não produziram anticorpo contra LiP0, que só foram detectados no soro dos animais que receberam a estratégia heteróloga de imunização. Na análise de citocinas, observou-se que os animais imunizados com rM.smegmatis LiP0 apresentaram maior concentração de IFN-γ e menor quantidade de TGF-ß e IL-10 quando comparado aos grupos controle, sugerindo uma resposta Th1. Em diferentes momentos após o desafio, o grau de proteção avaliado pela carga parasitária em órgãos alvo, foi estimado por ensaio de diluição limitante. Nenhuma diferença foi observada na carga parasitaria do baço, fígado e linfonodo em hamsters imunizados ou controles em todos os pontos da avaliação, sugerindo que a LiP0, não protegeu hamsters imunizados tanto com o Mycobacterium expressando o gene que codifica a proteína, nem como vacina de DNA utilizando a estratégia homóloga ou heteróloga contra infecção por L.chagasi. / The acid ribosomal protein of Leishmania infantum (L. infantum) - LiP0 is a structural component of the ribosomal subunit and it was described as an immunodominant antigen recognized either by serum of patients and dogs infected by Leishmania chagasi (L. chagasi) and cooperates in the synthesis of other proteins. Mycobacterium smegmatis (M. smegmatis) is a opportunistic bacteria, which presents rapid growth, is a potent adjuvant and has been used as carrier of antigens in several different experimental models of immunoprotection. In this work we evaluate the immunoprotective capacity of recombinant M. smegmatis (rM. smegmatis) carrying the gene of LiP0 and the DNA or protein of LiP0 using homologous strategy (composed of plasmid DNA) and heterologous (consisting of plasmid DNA and recombinant protein more CpG) to immunize hamsters against infection by L. chagasi. The immunized animals produced anti-M.smegmatis antibodies but they did not produce antibody against LiP0, detected only in animals who received the heterologous strategy of vaccination. In the analysis of cytokines, we observed that animals immunized with rM.smegmatis LiP0 had higher concentration of IFN-γ and lower amounts of TGF-ß and IL-10 compared to control groups, suggesting a Th1 response. At different times after challenge, the degree of protection, evaluated by parasite load in the target organs, was estimated by limiting dilution assay. No difference was observed in the parasite load in the spleen, liver and lymph node between immunized hamsters and controls at all points of evaluation. There was no protection in animals immunized with rM. smegmatis expressing the acidic ribosomal protein gene, suggesting that LiP0 did not protect hamsters immunized with either Mycobacterium expressing the gene encoding the protein or DNA as a vaccine strategy using homologous or heterologous against infection L.chagasi.

As dermatofitoses apresentam alta prevalência na população em geral, sendo Trichophyton interdigitale (Trichophyton mentagrophytes) a segunda espécie mais frequentemente relatada como causadora de infecção em humanos. O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar a identidade genética, o perfil enzimático e de assimilação de açúcares e a suscetibilidade a antifúngicos de isolados clínicos do gênero Trichopyton. Os isolados foram avaliados por de ensaios enzimáticos, assimilação de fontes de carbono e da atividade antifúngica in vitro. A caracterização genotípica foi realizada através da amplificação e do sequenciamento da região do gene que codifica a região interna do gene DNA ribossomal dos isolados testados. No estudo, todos os isolados secretaram DNase, mas nenhum deles foi capaz de secretar fosfolipase e proteinase. Por outro lado, urease e lipase foram produzidas pela maioria dos isolados testados. Entre os antifúngicos avaliados, a terbinafina e o itraconazol demonstraram melhores resultados de sensibilidade, enquanto o fluconazol apresentou baixa atividade para as amostras. A anfotericina B, apesar de menos eficaz que a terbinafina e o itraconazol, também demonstrou resultados satisfatórios. A combinação entre os antifúngicos tioconazol e terbinafina demonstrou ter atividade antagônica em todos os isolados. Todos os dermatófitos testados assimilaram inulina, sorbitol, manose, glicose e trealose. Os demais carboidratos tiveram assimilação variável entre os isolados. Genotipicamente, todos os isolados do estudo foram identificados como pertencentes à espécie T. interdigitale. Os ensaios enzimáticos e de assimilação de carboidratos apresentaram resultados variáveis entre os isolados testados, inferindo variação intraespecífica entre as amostras de T. interdigitale. O perfil de sensibilidade aos antimicóticos testados seguiu o padrão de resultados observado em estudos anteriores. A identificação genotípica através da amplificação e do sequenciamento da região ITS permitiu garantir a identidade entre os isolados testados. / The prevalence of dermatophytosis among population is high, and Trichophyton interdigitale (Trichophyton mentagrophytes) is the second most frequently reported species to cause infection in humans. This study objective was to evaluate the genetic identity, the enzymatic profile and the assimilation of carbon sources, as well as the antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates of Trichophyton sp. The isolates were analyzed phenotypically by enzymatic assays, assimilation of carbon sources and antifungal activity in vitro. The genotypic characterization was performed by amplification and sequencing the gene region encoding the internal region of the DNA ribosomal gene of the isolates tested. In our study, all isolates secreted DNase, while none of them was capable of secreting phospholipase, keratinase and proteinase. On the other hand, lipase and urease were secreted by most of the isolates. Of the antifungal agents tested, the best results in terms of sensitivity were found with terbinafine and itraconazole, while the antifungal activity of fluconazole was found to be weak. Amphotericin B, although less effective than terbinafine and itraconazole, also yielded satisfactory results. Evaluation of the drug combination of tioconazole and terbinafine revealed an antagonistic effect for all tested isolates. All isolates assimilated inulin, sorbitol, glucose, trehalose and mannose. Arabinose, dulcitol, galactose and xylose were assimilated by some of the isolates, whereas the most isolates assimilated cellobiose, dulcitol, erytritol and mannitol. Genotypically, all isolates in the study were identified as belonging to Trichophyton interdigitale species. In general, enzyme assays and assimilation of carbohydrates showed variable results among the isolates tested, inferring intraspecific variation between Trichophyton interdigitale samples. The sensitivity profile of the antifungal agents tested in this study was similar to results obtained in previous studies. The genotypic identification, by amplification and sequencing of the ITS region, has ensured the identity of the isolates tested.

SKIP and BIR/Survivin are evolutionarily conserved proteins. SKIP is a known transcription and splicing cofactor while BIR-1/Survivin regulates cell division, gene expression and development. Loss of function of C. elegans SKIP (SKP-1) and BIR-1 induces overlapping developmental phenotypes. In order to uncover the possible interactions of SKP-1 and BIR-1 on the protein level, we screened the complete C. elegans mRNA library using the yeast two-hybrid system. These experiments identified partially overlapping categories of proteins as SKP-1 and BIR-1 interactors. The interacting proteins included ribosomal proteins, transcription factors, translation factors and cytoskeletal and motor proteins suggesting involvement of the two studied proteins in multiple protein complexes. To visualize the effect of BIR-1 on the proteome of C. elegans we induced a short time pulse BIR-1 overexpression in synchronized L1 larvae. This led to a dramatic alteration of the whole proteome pattern indicating that BIR-1 alone has the capacity to alter the chromatographic profile of many target proteins including proteins found to be interactors in yeast two hybrid screens. The results were validated for ribosomal proteins RPS-3, RPL-5, non-muscle myosin and TAC-1, a transcription cofactor and a centrosome associated...