Many pathogenic bacteria use their iron acquisition mechanisms to live inside hosts. Streptococcus pyogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that uses streptococcal iron acquisition ABC transporter to obtain heme. SiaA (HtsA, spy1795), a lipoprotein located on the cell surface, serves as a heme binding protein. To understand the iron-uptake mechanism, histidine 229, one of the two proposed axial ligands in SiaA, was mutated to alanine. SiaA H229A was expressed in E. coli, lysed by French Press, and purified by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). SDS-PAGE indicated that pure protein was isolated. Nickel affinity FPLC gave purer H229A when 0.5 M imidazole was added to the binding buffer. Overall, histidine 229 is likely to be an axial ligand in wild type SiaA, as shown by the fact the mutant readily lost heme as evidenced by UV-vis spectra.

<p>This study reports on a proteomic analysis of sorghum proteomes in response to salt and hyperosmotic stresses. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) in combination with mass spectrometry (MS) was used to separate, visualise and identify sorghum proteins using both sorghum cell suspension cultures and whole plants. The sorghum cell suspension culture system was used as a source of culture filtrate (CF) proteins. Of the 25 visualised CBB stained CF spots, 15 abundant and well-resolved spots were selected for identification using a combination of MALDI-TOF and MALDI-TOFTOF MS, and database searching. Of these spots, 14 were positively identified as peroxidases, germin proteins, oxalate oxidases and alpha-galactosidases with known functions in signalling processes, defense mechanisms and cell wall metabolism.</p>

<p>This study reports on a proteomic analysis of sorghum proteomes in response to salt and hyperosmotic stresses. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) in combination with mass spectrometry (MS) was used to separate, visualise and identify sorghum proteins using both sorghum cell suspension cultures and whole plants. The sorghum cell suspension culture system was used as a source of culture filtrate (CF) proteins. Of the 25 visualised CBB stained CF spots, 15 abundant and well-resolved spots were selected for identification using a combination of MALDI-TOF and MALDI-TOFTOF MS, and database searching. Of these spots, 14 were positively identified as peroxidases, germin proteins, oxalate oxidases and alpha-galactosidases with known functions in signalling processes, defense mechanisms and cell wall metabolism.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-05-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:16:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 franco_hbj_me_jabo.pdf: 828158 bytes, checksum: 3da61c47398d1434dae4fea307ba8e5b (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Objetivou-se estudar diferentes metodologias de inoculação de Fusarium tucumaniae em folhas destacadas e em plântulas de soja, visando à caracterização da reação de resistência de cultivares de soja à F. tucumaniae. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em diferentes etapas relacionadas a seguir: obtenção e manutenção do inóculo; avaliação do desenvolvimento do patógeno em diferentes meios de cultura e diferentes luminosidades; avaliação de diferentes métodos de inoculação em folhas destacadas acondicionadas em papel de filtro e em solo, incubadas em duas temperaturas; avaliação de métodos de inoculação em plântulas cultivadas em casa de vegetação (primavera/verão e outono/inverno), reação de cultivares de soja a F. tucumaniae avaliadas em folhas destacadas, reação de cultivares de soja a F. tucumaniae avaliadas em plântulas (outono/inverno). As análises dos resultados permitiram concluir maior esporulação do fungo em meio de grãos de sorgo. As metodologias de inoculação de plântulas foram bem sucedidas na época de outono/inverno 2005, observando-se infecção das plântulas, principalmente de variedades suscetíveis, e os sintomas típicos da doença ocorreram em todos os métodos utilizados. FT-Cristalina apresentou maior nível de infecção da planta, para o método de grãos de sorgo (GS). O método de inoculação, em folhas destacadas, com grãos de aveia, promoveu maior infecção nas folhas e, o ambiente mais propício ao desenvolvimento dos sintomas da doença foi o solo a 23ºC. A cultivar FT-Estrela apresentou 90,2% de plântulas mortas, e CAC-1 46,9% (método GS). No método da folha destacada não foi possível caracterizar a reação das cultivares estudadas. / Detached leaves and seedlings of some cultivars were inoculated with F. tucumaniae using different methodologies in order to evaluated their resistance reaction. The conduction of the research work consisted of the following phases: obtainment and maintenance the isolate, evaluation of the pathogen growth and sporulation in different cultura media and luminosity; evaluation of different inoculation methods in detached leaves conditioned either in filter paper and soil being, incubated under two temperatures; evaluation of inoculation methods in soybean seedlings developed in greenhouse (Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter); reaction of soybean cultivars to F. tucumaniae evaluated in detached leaves; reaction of soybean cultivars to F. tucumaniae evaluated in seedling (Autumn/Winter). The obtained results showed that the fungus sporulation was more intense when grown in a sorghum grain medium. Inoculation methodologies in seedlings showed best results when carried out during the 2005 Autumn/Winter period, because seedlings infection was observed, mainly in the susceptible cultivars, and all the employed methods allowed observation of the disease typical symptoms. FT-Cristalina was the cultivar in which the highest level of plant infection was observed, when the sorghum grain method (GS) was employed. The oat grain inoculation method in detached leaves, led to the highest leaf infection index, and the environmental condition which allowed the highest degree of leaf infection was in the soil under 23oC. FT-Estrela cultivar had 90.2% of their seedlings dead whereas for the CAC-1 cultivar that value was of 46.9% (method GS). Cultivars reaction could not be evaluated by means of the detached leaf method.

Resumo: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a transferência de imunidade passiva (TIP) de vacas Canchim aos seus bezerros. Um grupo experimental foi constituído por 13 vacas primíparas e seus bezerros, e o outro por 13 vacas pluríparas e seus bezerros. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue venoso dos bezerros e secreções lácteas das vacas até 1 hora e 1, 2, 7, 15 e 30 dias após o nascimento/parto. No hemograma, notaram-se alterações características do período neonatal, como redução na contagem de hemácias, teor de hemoglobina e volume globular após a ingestão do colostro, além de aumento na contagem de linfócitos e redução da contagem de neutrófilos segmentados. Os exames bioquímicos séricos revelaram aumento nas atividades de GGT (até 3.746 U/L) e ALP (até 1.030 U/L) e nos teores de proteína total (até 7,77 g/dL), globulinas (até 6,01 g/dL), IgA (até 322 mg/dL) e IgG (até 2.918 mg/dL) após a ingestão do colostro, seguidos por redução gradual nestes parâmetros até os 30 dias de idade. As avaliações bioquímicas das secreções lácteas revelaram alta concentração de todos os componentes colostrais analisados, com redução gradual nos seus teores no decorrer do período experimental, à exceção dos minerais, cujas concentrações oscilaram pouco entre os momentos. A TIP foi eficiente em ambos os grupos de bezerros, e a qualidade das secreções lácteas, embora diferentes entre vacas primíparas e pluríparas, não interferiu na passagem de imunoglobulinas da vaca para o bezerro. / Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the passive immunity transfer from Canchim cows to its calves. One experimental group comprised 13 primiparous cows and its calves and the other group, 13 multiparous cows and its calves. Samples of calves' venous blood and cow's lacteal secretions were collected until 1 hour and 1, 2, 7, 15 and 30 days after birth/parturition. In the hemogram, characteristic alterations of this period, such as reduction in the erytocyte count, hemoglobin concentration and corpuscular volume after colostrum intake and rise in the lymphocyte count and reduction in the neutrophil count were noticed. The serum biochemistry revealed augmentation in the GGT (up to 3,746 U/L) and ALP (up to 1,030 U/L) activities and in the total protein (up to 7.77 g/dL), globulin (up to 6.01 g/dL), IgA (up to 322 mg/dL) and IgG (up to 2,918 mg/dL) concentrations after colostrum intake, followed by a gradual reduction in these parameters until 30 days of age. The biochemical evaluation of the lacteal secretions revealed high concentrations of all the colostral components analysed, with gradual reduction in their concentrations along the experimental period, except for the minerals, which showed little oscillation between the moments. The passive immunity transfer was efficient in both groups of calves, and the quality of the lacteal secretions, although different between primiparous and multiparous cows, did not interfere in the transference of immunoglobulins from the cows to the calves. / Orientador: José Jurandir Fagliari / Coorientador: Alexandre Amstalden Moraes Sampaio / Banca: Eduardo Harry Birgel Júnior / Banca: Daniela Gomes da Silva / Mestre

Orientador: Maria Aparecida Pessoa da Cruz Centurion / Banca: Vanoli Fronza / Banca: Antonio Orlando Di Mauro / Resumo: Objetivou-se estudar diferentes metodologias de inoculação de Fusarium tucumaniae em folhas destacadas e em plântulas de soja, visando à caracterização da reação de resistência de cultivares de soja à F. tucumaniae. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em diferentes etapas relacionadas a seguir: obtenção e manutenção do inóculo; avaliação do desenvolvimento do patógeno em diferentes meios de cultura e diferentes luminosidades; avaliação de diferentes métodos de inoculação em folhas destacadas acondicionadas em papel de filtro e em solo, incubadas em duas temperaturas; avaliação de métodos de inoculação em plântulas cultivadas em casa de vegetação (primavera/verão e outono/inverno), reação de cultivares de soja a F. tucumaniae avaliadas em folhas destacadas, reação de cultivares de soja a F. tucumaniae avaliadas em plântulas (outono/inverno). As análises dos resultados permitiram concluir maior esporulação do fungo em meio de grãos de sorgo. As metodologias de inoculação de plântulas foram bem sucedidas na época de outono/inverno 2005, observando-se infecção das plântulas, principalmente de variedades suscetíveis, e os sintomas típicos da doença ocorreram em todos os métodos utilizados. FT-Cristalina apresentou maior nível de infecção da planta, para o método de grãos de sorgo (GS). O método de inoculação, em folhas destacadas, com grãos de aveia, promoveu maior infecção nas folhas e, o ambiente mais propício ao desenvolvimento dos sintomas da doença foi o solo a 23ºC. A cultivar FT-Estrela apresentou 90,2% de plântulas mortas, e CAC-1 46,9% (método GS). No método da folha destacada não foi possível caracterizar a reação das cultivares estudadas. / Abstract: Detached leaves and seedlings of some cultivars were inoculated with F. tucumaniae using different methodologies in order to evaluated their resistance reaction. The conduction of the research work consisted of the following phases: obtainment and maintenance the isolate, evaluation of the pathogen growth and sporulation in different cultura media and luminosity; evaluation of different inoculation methods in detached leaves conditioned either in filter paper and soil being, incubated under two temperatures; evaluation of inoculation methods in soybean seedlings developed in greenhouse (Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter); reaction of soybean cultivars to F. tucumaniae evaluated in detached leaves; reaction of soybean cultivars to F. tucumaniae evaluated in seedling (Autumn/Winter). The obtained results showed that the fungus sporulation was more intense when grown in a sorghum grain medium. Inoculation methodologies in seedlings showed best results when carried out during the 2005 Autumn/Winter period, because seedlings infection was observed, mainly in the susceptible cultivars, and all the employed methods allowed observation of the disease typical symptoms. FT-Cristalina was the cultivar in which the highest level of plant infection was observed, when the sorghum grain method (GS) was employed. The oat grain inoculation method in detached leaves, led to the highest leaf infection index, and the environmental condition which allowed the highest degree of leaf infection was in the soil under 23oC. FT-Estrela cultivar had 90.2% of their seedlings dead whereas for the CAC-1 cultivar that value was of 46.9% (method GS). Cultivars reaction could not be evaluated by means of the detached leaf method. / Mestre

Les Systèmes de Systèmes (SdSs) sont des grands systèmes dont les composants sont eux-mêmes des systèmes qui interagissent en vue de la réalisation de certaines fonctions, et pour lesquels le dysfonctionnement d'un seul système peut avoir des conséquences graves sur le fonctionnement du SdS entier. Il est donc important que la conception de ces SdSs tienne compte des exigences de Sûreté de Fonctionnement (SdF) et notamment de leur fiabilité et leur disponibilité quand ils sont sollicités. Par ailleurs, il est nécessaire qu'elle s'assure, par le biais d'analyses quantitatives, du respect de ces exigences. L'incertitude est également une partie importante de la thèse, parce qu'il y a toujours des différences entre un système et sa représentation par un modèle. L’objectif de cette thèse est de proposer une méthodologie de conception sûre des SdSs. Il s'agit dans un premier temps de proposer un modèle dysfonctionnel du SdS global intégrant les aspects matériels, les aspects réseaux ainsi que le facteur humain. Dans un second temps, il s'agit d'évaluer des exigences de SdF. Dans un troisième temps, il s'agit de prendre en compte de différents types d'incertitudes dans les modèles. Concernant la partie applicative, le sujet s'articulerait autour de la conception sûre d'un système ferroviaire. La contribution principale de cette thèse réside dans trois aspects. Premièrement, on propose une méthodologie générale pour modéliser des SdSs. Deuxièmement, on considère l'ERTMS Niveau 2 comme un SdS et évalue ses exigences de SdF en tenant compte de l'indisponibilité du SdS comme une propriété émergente. Troisièmement, on modélise quantitativement différents types d'incertitudes dans les modèles proposés en utilisant les théories probabilistes et non probabilistes. / Systems of Systems (SoS) are large systems whose components are themselves systems which interact to realize a common goal, and for which the malfunction of a single system can have some serious consequences on the performance of the whole SoS. So it’s important that the design of these SoSs takes into account the dependability requirements of safety standard. In this thesis, our interests concern the modeling of SoS and the reliability analysis of SoS under uncertainty which is due to the lack of knowledge related to failure data and model. Therefore, two modeling methods which deal with different issues are applied to model SoSs and the corresponding quantitative reliability analysis is proposed. The objective of this thesis is to propose graphical models for dependability assessment and risk analysis of SoSs under uncertainty. Firstly, it will propose a dysfunctional model of the ERTMS which is considered as an SoS. The model will integrate the hardware aspect, the network aspect and the human factors. Then, it will evaluate some dependability attributes of the whole SoS. Later, it will take different kinds of uncertainties into account quantitatively. The proposed methodology is applied on the ERTMS Level 2. The main contribution of this thesis lies in three aspects. First, we propose a methodology to model and evaluate SoSs. Second, we consider ERTMS Level 2 as an SoS and seek to evaluate its dependability parameters by considering the unavailability of the whole SoS as an emergent property. Third, we model quantitatively different kinds of uncertainties in the proposed models.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study reports on a proteomic analysis of sorghum proteomes in response to salt and hyperosmotic stresses. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) in combination with mass spectrometry (MS) was used to separate, visualise and identify sorghum proteins using both sorghum cell suspension cultures and whole plants. The sorghum cell suspension culture system was used as a source of culture filtrate (CF) proteins. Of the 25 visualised CBB stained CF spots, 15 abundant and well-resolved spots were selected for identification using a combination of MALDI-TOF and MALDI-TOFTOF MS, and database searching. Of these spots, 14 were positively identified as peroxidases, germin proteins, oxalate oxidases and alpha-galactosidases with known functions in signalling processes, defense mechanisms and cell wall metabolism. / South Africa

Today, over 15,000 Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) analyzers are employed at worldwide security checkpoints to detect explosives and illicit drugs. Current portal IMS instruments and other electronic nose technologies detect explosives and drugs by analyzing samples containing the headspace air and loose particles residing on a surface. Canines can outperform these systems at sampling and detecting the low vapor pressure explosives and drugs, such as RDX, PETN, cocaine, and MDMA, because these biological detectors target the volatile signature compounds available in the headspace rather than the non-volatile parent compounds of explosives and drugs. In this dissertation research volatile signature compounds available in the headspace over explosive and drug samples were detected using SPME as a headspace sampling tool coupled to an IMS analyzer. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) technique was developed to optimize the operating conditions of a commercial IMS (GE Itemizer 2), leading to the successful detection of plastic explosives (Detasheet, Semtex H, and C-4) and illicit drugs (cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana). Short sampling times (between 10 sec to 5 min) were adequate to extract and preconcentrate sufficient analytes (> 20 ng) representing the volatile signatures in the headspace of a 15 mL glass vial or a quart-sized can containing ≤ 1 g of the bulk explosive or drug. Furthermore, a research grade IMS with flexibility for changing operating conditions and physical configurations was designed and fabricated to accommodate future research into different analytes or physical configurations. The design and construction of the FIU-IMS were facilitated by computer modeling and simulation of ion’s behavior within an IMS. The simulation method developed uses SIMION/SDS and was evaluated with experimental data collected using a commercial IMS (PCP Phemto Chem 110). The FIU-IMS instrument has comparable performance to the GE Itemizer 2 (average resolving power of 14, resolution of 3 between two drugs and two explosives, and LODs range from 0.7 to 9 ng). The results from this dissertation further advance the concept of targeting volatile components to presumptively detect the presence of concealed bulk explosives and drugs by SPME-IMS, and the new FIU-IMS provides a flexible platform for future IMS research projects.

Thesis have quantified the total number of students from 1999 until 3th March, 2015 who graduated within the excess year after the standard length of study (SDS). During the reporting period, the total number of finished studies in SDS plus anadditional semester totalled nearly 130,000 students, in SDS plus an additional one year were then finished 117,000 studies. The total number of failed studies, which ended up in the additional extra year in period is 40,000, of which 28,000 in SDS plus one semester and 12,000 in SDS increased by one year. Direct costs of the prolonged studies were estimated at 1.1 billion Kč for 2014. Of which 200 million are sunk costs to studies that have not been completed successfully. The work also calculated the opportunity costs in terms of revenue that could have Czech Republic earned, if the student have finished in SDS and have worked which was estimated at 4.7 billion Kč including both direct and indirect taxes.