Au cours de son cycle de vie, le principe actif se retrouve en solution dans différentes situations : dans desformes pharmaceutiques liquides, dans l’organisme et dans les eaux usées. Or, par rapport à l’état solide, lamise en solution du principe actif l’expose davantage à des facteurs susceptibles de conduire à sa dégradation.Les transformations modifient sa structure chimique et donc potentiellement ses activités pharmacologiques ettoxicologiques.L’objectif de ce travail de thèse est de présenter une méthodologie et des études visant à prédire le devenir ensolution de principes actifs et les impacts potentiels consécutifs à leur dégradation.Trois principes actifs ont été sélectionnés pour la réalisation de ce travail. Ils ont en commun de présenter,d’une part, une activité pharmacologique élevée corrélée à une toxicité potentielle de leurs produits dedégradation et, d’autre part, l'absence de données sur leurs comportements en solution. Dans tous les cas,bien que le contexte soit singulier pour chaque molécule, l’approche méthodologique suivie intègre aussi biendes travaux expérimentaux que des études ab initio et in silico.La première étude porte sur le devenir de l’apixaban, principe actif actuellement commercialisé sous formeorale solide, en solution aqueuse. Les données expérimentales ont mis en évidence des groupementschimiques du principe actif pouvant contribuer à son instabilité. L’approche ab initio a permis d’expliquer larégio-spécificité de la réaction d’hydrolyse dépendamment du pH. À partir de la structure des produits dedégradation caractérisés, l’étude de leur potentiel toxique a été réalisée par approche in silico. Ces donnéesconcourent à la démarche d'analyse et évaluation des risques déployée lors de développements de formespharmaceutiques liquides ou des situations particulières impliquant la mise en solution de l'apixaban aumoment de l'administration.De telles approches ont également été employées pour caractériser les mécanismes de photodégradation del’argatroban et évaluer le potentiel toxique des produits de dégradation. Les processus initiant laphotodégradation ont fait l’objet d’études complémentaires reposant sur des calculs d’énergies. Cesconnaissances pourront apporter le rationnel nécessaire au choix de procédés capables de réduire laphotodégradation de l’argatroban et son impact sur les patients. Elles pourront également servir à anticiper lessituations d’écarts pouvant mettre en jeu le rapport bénéfice risque du médicament telles que le mésusage oula modification de la forme pharmaceutique administrée.Enfin, dans un contexte autre que le contexte pharmaceutique, une étude de dégradation du pémétrexed parphotocatalyse via un procédé d'oxydation avancée a été réalisée. Il s'agit d'un procédé particulièrement étudiépour sa capacité à réduire l’empreinte environnementale de composés organiques en accélérant leurdégradation. Le choix de ce principe actif utilisé comme anticancéreux a été justifié par son caractère toxiqueet rémanent dans les eaux de surface, ce qui en fait un produit à haut risque environnemental. Ce travail amontré que des produits de plus faible masse résultant de la transformation photocatalytique du pémétrexedsont malheureusement plus toxiques et encore plus rémanents que la molécule mère elle-même. Ces résultatscontribuent donc à souligner que les procédés d'oxydation avancée, bien qu'efficaces pour l'élimination despolluants médicamenteux, sont à évaluer au regard de l'existence d'un risque accru pour l'environnementavant toute perspective d'utilisation à grande échelle.Les approches et les résultats présentés dans cette thèse pourront être employés pour d’autres études visant àprédire, prévenir et réduire l’impact de la dégradation du principe actif sur le patient et l’environnement. / During its life cycle, an active substance is in solution for various reasons: in a liquid pharmaceutical form, in the body and in wastewater. However, compared to the solid state, the active substance in solution exposes it more to factors likely to cause its degradation. The transformations modify its chemical structure and thus potentially its pharmacological and toxicological activities.The objective of this thesis is to present a methodology and studies aiming to predict the fate in solution of active substances and the potential impacts following their degradation.Three active ingredients have been selected for this work. They have in common, on the one hand, a high pharmacological activity correlated to a potential toxicity of their degradation products and, on the other hand, the fact that there is little information on their behaviour in solution. In all cases, although the context is specific to each molecule, the methodological approach followed integrates both experimental work and ab initio and in silico studies.The first study concerns the fate of apixaban, an active substance currently marketed in solid oral form, in aqueous solutions. The experimental data made it possible to highlight chemical groups of the active ingredient that could contribute to its own instability. The ab initio approach explained the regio-specificity of the hydrolysis reaction as a function of pH. Based on the structure of the characterized degradation products, their toxic potential was studied using an in silico approach. These data contribute to the risk analysis and evaluation process deployed at different stages of development of liquid pharmaceutical forms or in particular situations involving the solution of apixaban at the time of administration.Such approaches have also been used to characterize the photodegradation mechanisms of argatroban and assess the toxic potential of degradation products. The processes that initiate photodegradation were also addressed by calculating the energies potentially involved. This knowledge provides a rational basis for the choice of processes and formulations to limit photodegradation of argatroban and its impact on patients. They also make it possible to anticipate situations where the benefit/risk ratio of the medicinal product may be modified, such as incorrect handling or modification of the pharmaceutical form administered.Finally, in a context other than the pharmaceutical context, a study of degradation of pemetrexed by photocatalysis via an advanced oxidation process was carried out. This process is particularly studied for its ability to reduce the environmental footprint of organic compounds by accelerating their degradation. The choice of this active substance as an anti-cancer agent was justified by its toxic and persistent nature in surface waters, making it a product with a high environmental risk. This work has shown that products of lower mass produced by photocatalytic transformation of pemetrexed are unfortunately more toxic and even more persistent than the parent molecule itself. These results underline the fact that advanced oxidation processes, although effective in removing drug pollutants, must be evaluated because of an increased risk to the environment before any prospect of large-scale use.The approaches and results presented in this thesis can be used for other studies to predict, prevent and reduce the impact of active ingredient degradation on the patient and the environment.

<p>  This dissertation focuses on the examination of the influence of sample storage conditions on the accuracy and precision of hydrocarbon composition measurements of Jet A made with GC×GC/FID and the accuracy and precision of flash point measurements of Jet A made with a Tag closed cup flash point tester. Areas of focus also include the influence of the column load value used, the S/N threshold value used, and the number of measurements made for a single sample vial on the accuracy and precision of the GC×GC/FID results. This dissertation also describes the development of an analytical method for the identification and quantitation of alkylphenols in Jet A (which are the most abundant heteroatom containing compounds in jet fuel) by using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) and two-dimensional gas chromatography with electron ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/(+)EI TOF MS).</p>

Orientador: Carlos Kenichi Suzuki / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-03T17:29:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mendes_Wanderley_D.pdf: 7898803 bytes, checksum: a3cfeddad1f4454d1be226768affcb5b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003 / Resumo: O silício grau metalúrgico (SiGM) é largamente produzido através da carboredução do quartzo (Si02) a altas temperaturas, em processo sob fomo de arco submerso. Entretanto, para se obter uma composição química de 98% a 99,5% em. peso, toma-se necessário submeter a uma ou mais etapas de refino através da injeção de nitrogênio e/ou oxigênio ao silício em estado fundente. Desta forma, conduz-se a reações entre estas impurezas presentes no material fundido e os gases, originando as denominadas escórias, que correspondem ao volume de ~10% do volume total de SiGM produzido. No Brasil, a geração anual destas escórias é de ~20,000 toneladas. Normalmente, estas escórias contêm 50% de silício total e 25-30% de Si livre (sendo o restante encontrado disperso sob a forma de óxidos, carbetos, silicatos e silicetos, tais como: SiO2, CaSiO4, SiC, CaSi, CaO, e FeO). A caracterização da composição química e da estrutura cristalina da escória de silício foi realizada aplicando-se as técnicas de espectroscopia de fluorescência de raios-X (FRX) e difração de raios-X (DRX). Observou-se que os elementos majoritários são Si (39-45%), Ca (5-11%), Fe (1-2%), e Al (1-8%). As principais fases cristalinas detectadas foram: silício, siliceto de ferro e silicato de cálcio. As concentrações destas fases foram determinadas por DRX usando o método de padrão interno. Outra contribuição relevante desta pesquisa foi o desenvolvimento de um processo de extração do silício metálico a partir das escorias por plasma térmico, que resulta na obtenção de um silício com pureza equivalente ao silício grau metalúrgico (SiGM) / Abstract: Metallurgieal Grade Silicon (MGSi) is produced by a well-established industrial process that consists of the carbo-reduction of quartz in a submerged are fumace under high temperature. The process is an intensive energy consumption method (13 - 15 kWh to each kilogram of produced MGSi). After tapered, the MGSi is submitted to some purification stages in order to archive the commereial chemieal purity (98% to 99.5% of silicon). These purification stages consist of the injection of reactive gases, mostly nitrogen or oxygen, in order to remove the most reactive impurities like aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and with minor effectiveness iron. The material formed on these chemical reactions involving the impurities and the gas-stream constitutes the slag. The total slag amount formed in the silicon process ranges from 7% to 10% of the total silicon produced. In Brazil, the amount of produced slag ranges about 20,000 t/y. Afier the refining stage, the silicon is left to cooling, being mechanically separated from slag. These slags usually have about 50% of total silicon and 25% to 30% of free-silicon. Silicon is presented in other forms mainly oxides, carbides, silicates and silicides like SiO2, CaSiO4, SiC, CaSi, and FeSi. The chemical composition and the crystalline structure of silicon slag were characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), respectively. It was observed that the major elements of silicon slags are: Si (39-45%), Ca (5-11%), Fe (1-2%), and Al (1-8%) and the main crystalline phases are: silicon, iron silicide and calcium silicate. Their concentrations were determined by XRD with the internal standard method in several samples. This research work presents also the results of a thermal plasma process employed to recover the free-silicon present in the process slag. The process consists of a laboratory-scale closed reactor, lined with refractory and insulating materials, a cooled anode at the fumace bottom and a DC arc-transferred plasma torch. The furnace feed could be continuous or in batch mode. The overall recovering of silicon and the material's quality presented here points to a very promising technology that could help to avoid wasting non-renewable raw materials (like quartz), charcoal and energy / Doutorado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica

Programmed cell death in animals, plants and protists is in part regulated by a variety of proteases, including cysteine aspartyl proteases, (caspases, paracaspases and metacaspases), cathepsins, subtilisin-like serine proteases, vacuolar processing enzymes and the proteasome. The role of different proteases in the cell death responses of the fungi is however largely unknown. A greater understanding of the fungal cell death machinery may provide new insights into the mechanisms and evolution of PCD and potentially reveal novel targets for a new generation of antifungal drugs. The role of a metacaspase encoding gene, MCA1, in the cell death response of the human pathogen Candida albicans pathogen has been investigated by functional analysis. MCA1 deletion not only alters the sensitivity of cells to a number of cell death stimuli, it also enhances virulence in an insect model. C. albicans shows altered cell and colony morphology on Lee’s medium. Evidence is presented to suggest that these functions appear to be dependent upon active mitochondria. In this study it has also been shown that key caspase substrates may be conserved between humans and the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. Many substrates, particularly those which are essential, have retained their caspase cleavage motifs. 14 protease mutants displayed altered activity against caspase 1, 3, 6 or 8 substrates during acetic acid-induced PCD and caspase 1-like activity appeared to be particularly associated with PCD. Using a novel bioinformatic analysis of experimental LC-MS/MS data, changes in the degradation patterns of the proteome (destructome) following acetic acid-induced cell death have been investigated in wild-type yeast. In addition, potential native substrates of the yeast Mca1 have also been identified. The future challenge is to characterise the destructome of different proteases under a range of cell death conditions. In this way it may be possible to identify key components of the cell death machinery and their substrates and so reveal the most promising targets for future therapeutics.

Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire concernent l’étude des plasmas d’argon créés dans une cavité résonnante micro-ondes fonctionnant à la pression atmosphérique et leur application au nettoyage de surface. Tout d’abord, une étude des enjeux du nettoyage de surfaces industrielles est présentée ainsi qu’un état de l’art des solutions existantes et leurs limitations, mettant en évidence l’intérêt des plasmas comme alternative, notamment ceux fonctionnant en cavité résonnante micro-ondes à pression atmosphérique dont les particularités sont présentées. Dans le cas de l’argon, ces décharges présentent la particularité de ne pas être homogènes mais constituées de un ou plusieurs filaments de faibles diamètres, dépendant des conditions expérimentales. L’étude de la filamentation de ces décharges est l’objet du second chapitre où il a été mis en évidence les corrélations, dans le cas d’un filament unique, entre ses dimensions, sa température et la puissance dissipée et qu’il existait un seuil de puissance au-delà duquel la filamentation apparaissait. Une modélisation électromagnétique simple a été réalisée permettant de décrire l’influence des paramètres principaux de la décharge sur la filamentation. Le troisième chapitre présente les résultats de la caractérisation d’un filament d’argon par absorption laser en plasma continu et pulsé. L’effet de l’addition d’oxygène y est également présenté. Le dernier chapitre concerne l’étude de l’application des post-décharges micro-ondes à la pression atmosphérique créées dans des mélanges argon-azote et argon-oxygène au nettoyage de surface. On y étudie notamment l’interaction de ces post-décharges avec des molécules organiques modèles (acide stéarique et 1-octadécène). L’analyse de surface avec des techniques d’analyse d’extrême surface par spectrométrie de masse (ToF-SIMS et FTMS) a permis d’améliorer notre compréhension des mécanismes de nettoyage / The present work deals with the study of argon microwave plasmas generated in resonant cavity at atmospheric pressure and their application to surface cleaning. First, a study of the aim of surface cleaning of industrial surfaces is presented, followed by a state of the art of existing solutions and their limitations, showing the interest of plasmas as an alternative, especially atmospheric pressure microwave resonant cavity plasmas. In the case of argon, these plasmas have the particularity to be inhomogeneous and constituted of one or many small diameter filaments, depending on experimental conditions. The study of the filamentation of these discharges is the subject of the second chapter. In the case of one filament, correlations have been evidenced between its size, its temperature and the dissipated power. A simple electromagnetic simulation allowed us to describe the influence of the main plasmas parameters on the filamentation process. The third chapter presents results from the characterisation of a single argon filament by the mean of diode laser absorption in continuous and pulsed plasma mode. The effect of oxygen addition is also studied. The last chapter deals with the study of the use of atmospheric pressure microwave post-discharges in argon-nitrogen or argon-oxygen mixtures for surface cleaning application. We studied the interaction of such post-discharges with model organic molecules (stearic acid and 1-octadecene). Surface analyses by the mean of extreme surface analysis techniques based on mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS and FTMS) allow us to improve our understanding of cleaning mechanisms

Neospora caninum (filo Apicomplexa) é um parasita obrigatório intracelular como todos os membros deste filo, alguns reconhecidos por causarem doenças com impacto relevante na saúde humana (Plasmodium e Toxoplasma) e veterinária (Babesia, Eimeria e Cryptosporidium). Causador da neosporose, N. caninum vem emergindo como um dos maiores causadores de abortos infecciosos em bovinos, levando a consideráveis perdas econômicas na bovinocultura mundial. Devido à sua recente descoberta, o conhecimento sobre diversos processos bioquímicos de N.caninum ainda é limitado, demandando novas pesquisas para a compreensão de seus mecanismos de sobrevivência e consequente identificação de alvos para intervenção terapêutica. O processo de invasão celular é bastante investigado em pesquisas envolvendo apicomplexas, uma vez que a sobrevivência desses parasitas depende do sucesso de sua entrada na célula hospedeira. Proteínas secretadas de organelas filo-específicas (micronemas, roptrias e grânulos densos) estão intimamente envolvidas com a invasão celular. Elas são responsáveis pela interação inicial com a célula hospedeira, participam da junção de movimento formada no momento da invasão, e contribuem para a estabilização do vacúolo parasitóforo. Neste trabalho as proteínas secretadas por taquizoítas de N. caninum foram investigadas de duas formas: (1) por caracterização molecular de proteínas com domínio Apple; e (2) por estudo do secretoma do parasita. Os domínios proteicos do tipo Apple são caracterizados pela capacidade de interação proteína-proteína e proteína-carboidrato, e estão presentes em algumas proteínas micronêmicas com propriedades adesivas. Neste trabalho três proteínas de N. caninum contendo domínios Apple foram caracterizadas: MIC17A, MIC17B e MIC17C. A análise das sequências proteicas e das estruturas dos domínios Apple, obtidas por modelagem molecular, mostraram alta identidade sequencial e estrutural entre MIC17A e MIC17C. Apesar de ser paráloga às outras duas, MIC17B apresenta diferenças importantes em sua sequência e estrutura. Para MIC17B e MIC17C foram realizados experimentos de detecção das proteínas nativas nos extratos total e secretado do taquizoíta que sugerem diferentes formas de processamento entre essas proteínas no parasita. Para MIC17B foi confirmada a localização em micronemas, num padrão diferente do observado para MIC17C. Os ensaios de invasão combinados aos de localização indicam que estas proteínas estejam relacionadas ao processo de invasão celular, porém, suas funções permanecem desconhecidas. O secretoma é o conjunto de proteínas secretadas pelo parasita e, para explorar a composição deste extrato (ESA) no taquizoíta de N. caninum, duas abordagens complementares foram utilizadas. Na primeira abordagem foram identificadas as proteínas presentes no ESA por espectrometria de massas. Na segunda abordagem realizou-se uma ii quantificação relativa das proteínas, marcadas por dois isótopos, nos extratos totais de taquizoítas submetidos ou não ao estímulo secretório. O resultado esperado seria com as proteínas secretadas diminuídas no parasita estimulado. Em ambas as abordagens foram utilizadas técnicas de espectrometria de massas de alta resolução (nanoLC-MS/MS), o que resultou num alto número de identificações; 615 proteínas no ESA e 2011 proteínas quantificadas. A comparação das duas abordagens permitiu o reconhecimento de proteínas com maior probabilidade de secreção. Uma rede de interação entre as proteínas diferencialmente expressas foi predita, gerando resultados que, associados às informações sobre as proteínas aumentadas, permitiram uma investigação sobre proteínas potencialmente envolvidas com a regulação do metabolismo relacionado à secreção. Os resultados obtidos por ambos os estudos aqui demonstrados somam conhecimento acerca do parasita N. caninum e demonstram ser úteis para guiar a busca e seleção de alvos a serem investigados para o desenvolvimento de terapêutica contra a neosporose. / Neospora caninum (Apicomplexa phylum) is an obligatory intracellular parasite like all members from this phylum, some causing diseases with relevant impact on human (Plasmodium and Toxoplasma) and veterinary (Babesia, Eimeria and Cryptosporidium) health. Causative agent of neosporosis, N. caninum has emerged as one of the leading causes of infectious abortion in cattle, generating huge economical losses in worldwide livestock. Due to its recent discovery, knowledge of N. caninum biochemical processes remains scarce, demanding new research for comprehending its survival mechanisms and, consequently, identifying new targets for therapeutic intervention. The invasion process has often been investigated in apicomplexans since their survival depends on the success of their entry into the host cell. Proteins secreted from phylum-specific organelles (micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules) are deeply involved with invasion. They are responsible for the initial interaction with the host cell; participate of the moving junction formed in the moment of invasion; and contribute for the stabilization of the parasitophorus vacuole. In this study, the proteins secreted by N. caninum tachyzoites were investigated in two ways: (1) the molecular characterization of Apple domaincontaining proteins; and (2) exploring the parasite secretome. The Apple protein domains are characterized by the ability to interact as protein-protein and proteincarbohydrate, and are present in some microneme proteins with adhesive properties. Here three N. caninum proteins containing Apple domains were characterized: MIC17A, MIC17B and MIC17C. Analyses of the Apple domains sequences and structures, obtained by molecular modeling, revealed high sequential and structural identities between MIC17A and MIC17C. Although being a paralog of the other two proteins, MIC17B presents significant differences in its sequence and structure. Experiments were performed for native MIC17B and MIC17C detection in the total and secreted tachyzoite extracts, suggesting different processing forms for these proteins in the parasite. For MIC17B, the microneme localization was confirmed, differently from the pattern observed for MIC17C. Invasion and localization assays indicated that these proteins are related to the cell invasion process; nevertheless, their functions remain unknown. The secretome is the set of proteins secreted by the parasite and, to explore this extract (ESA) composition in N. caninum, two complementary approaches were used. Firstly proteins present in ESA were identified by mass spectrometry. In the second approach, a relative quantification was performed on the proteomes of ethanol stimulated/non stimulated tachyzoites, expecting that the secreted proteins would be down regulated at the stimulated parasite. Both approaches were performed with high resolution mass spectrometry techniques (nanoLC-MS/MS), reaching a high number of identifications: 615 proteins iv in ESA and 2011 quantified proteins. The comparison between both approaches allowed the recognition of the most likely secreted proteins. An interaction network was predicted, involving the differentially expressed proteins. These results, associated with the information of up regulated proteins, allowed the investigation of proteins potentially involved with the secretion metabolism regulation. The findings from our two studies add up knowledge about N. caninum and demonstrate to be useful in guiding the search and selection for new targets for therapeutic development against neosporosis.

Neospora caninum (filo Apicomplexa) é um parasita obrigatório intracelular como todos os membros deste filo, alguns reconhecidos por causarem doenças com impacto relevante na saúde humana (Plasmodium e Toxoplasma) e veterinária (Babesia, Eimeria e Cryptosporidium). Causador da neosporose, N. caninum vem emergindo como um dos maiores causadores de abortos infecciosos em bovinos, levando a consideráveis perdas econômicas na bovinocultura mundial. Devido à sua recente descoberta, o conhecimento sobre diversos processos bioquímicos de N.caninum ainda é limitado, demandando novas pesquisas para a compreensão de seus mecanismos de sobrevivência e consequente identificação de alvos para intervenção terapêutica. O processo de invasão celular é bastante investigado em pesquisas envolvendo apicomplexas, uma vez que a sobrevivência desses parasitas depende do sucesso de sua entrada na célula hospedeira. Proteínas secretadas de organelas filo-específicas (micronemas, roptrias e grânulos densos) estão intimamente envolvidas com a invasão celular. Elas são responsáveis pela interação inicial com a célula hospedeira, participam da junção de movimento formada no momento da invasão, e contribuem para a estabilização do vacúolo parasitóforo. Neste trabalho as proteínas secretadas por taquizoítas de N. caninum foram investigadas de duas formas: (1) por caracterização molecular de proteínas com domínio Apple; e (2) por estudo do secretoma do parasita. Os domínios proteicos do tipo Apple são caracterizados pela capacidade de interação proteína-proteína e proteína-carboidrato, e estão presentes em algumas proteínas micronêmicas com propriedades adesivas. Neste trabalho três proteínas de N. caninum contendo domínios Apple foram caracterizadas: MIC17A, MIC17B e MIC17C. A análise das sequências proteicas e das estruturas dos domínios Apple, obtidas por modelagem molecular, mostraram alta identidade sequencial e estrutural entre MIC17A e MIC17C. Apesar de ser paráloga às outras duas, MIC17B apresenta diferenças importantes em sua sequência e estrutura. Para MIC17B e MIC17C foram realizados experimentos de detecção das proteínas nativas nos extratos total e secretado do taquizoíta que sugerem diferentes formas de processamento entre essas proteínas no parasita. Para MIC17B foi confirmada a localização em micronemas, num padrão diferente do observado para MIC17C. Os ensaios de invasão combinados aos de localização indicam que estas proteínas estejam relacionadas ao processo de invasão celular, porém, suas funções permanecem desconhecidas. O secretoma é o conjunto de proteínas secretadas pelo parasita e, para explorar a composição deste extrato (ESA) no taquizoíta de N. caninum, duas abordagens complementares foram utilizadas. Na primeira abordagem foram identificadas as proteínas presentes no ESA por espectrometria de massas. Na segunda abordagem realizou-se uma ii quantificação relativa das proteínas, marcadas por dois isótopos, nos extratos totais de taquizoítas submetidos ou não ao estímulo secretório. O resultado esperado seria com as proteínas secretadas diminuídas no parasita estimulado. Em ambas as abordagens foram utilizadas técnicas de espectrometria de massas de alta resolução (nanoLC-MS/MS), o que resultou num alto número de identificações; 615 proteínas no ESA e 2011 proteínas quantificadas. A comparação das duas abordagens permitiu o reconhecimento de proteínas com maior probabilidade de secreção. Uma rede de interação entre as proteínas diferencialmente expressas foi predita, gerando resultados que, associados às informações sobre as proteínas aumentadas, permitiram uma investigação sobre proteínas potencialmente envolvidas com a regulação do metabolismo relacionado à secreção. Os resultados obtidos por ambos os estudos aqui demonstrados somam conhecimento acerca do parasita N. caninum e demonstram ser úteis para guiar a busca e seleção de alvos a serem investigados para o desenvolvimento de terapêutica contra a neosporose. / Neospora caninum (Apicomplexa phylum) is an obligatory intracellular parasite like all members from this phylum, some causing diseases with relevant impact on human (Plasmodium and Toxoplasma) and veterinary (Babesia, Eimeria and Cryptosporidium) health. Causative agent of neosporosis, N. caninum has emerged as one of the leading causes of infectious abortion in cattle, generating huge economical losses in worldwide livestock. Due to its recent discovery, knowledge of N. caninum biochemical processes remains scarce, demanding new research for comprehending its survival mechanisms and, consequently, identifying new targets for therapeutic intervention. The invasion process has often been investigated in apicomplexans since their survival depends on the success of their entry into the host cell. Proteins secreted from phylum-specific organelles (micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules) are deeply involved with invasion. They are responsible for the initial interaction with the host cell; participate of the moving junction formed in the moment of invasion; and contribute for the stabilization of the parasitophorus vacuole. In this study, the proteins secreted by N. caninum tachyzoites were investigated in two ways: (1) the molecular characterization of Apple domaincontaining proteins; and (2) exploring the parasite secretome. The Apple protein domains are characterized by the ability to interact as protein-protein and proteincarbohydrate, and are present in some microneme proteins with adhesive properties. Here three N. caninum proteins containing Apple domains were characterized: MIC17A, MIC17B and MIC17C. Analyses of the Apple domains sequences and structures, obtained by molecular modeling, revealed high sequential and structural identities between MIC17A and MIC17C. Although being a paralog of the other two proteins, MIC17B presents significant differences in its sequence and structure. Experiments were performed for native MIC17B and MIC17C detection in the total and secreted tachyzoite extracts, suggesting different processing forms for these proteins in the parasite. For MIC17B, the microneme localization was confirmed, differently from the pattern observed for MIC17C. Invasion and localization assays indicated that these proteins are related to the cell invasion process; nevertheless, their functions remain unknown. The secretome is the set of proteins secreted by the parasite and, to explore this extract (ESA) composition in N. caninum, two complementary approaches were used. Firstly proteins present in ESA were identified by mass spectrometry. In the second approach, a relative quantification was performed on the proteomes of ethanol stimulated/non stimulated tachyzoites, expecting that the secreted proteins would be down regulated at the stimulated parasite. Both approaches were performed with high resolution mass spectrometry techniques (nanoLC-MS/MS), reaching a high number of identifications: 615 proteins iv in ESA and 2011 quantified proteins. The comparison between both approaches allowed the recognition of the most likely secreted proteins. An interaction network was predicted, involving the differentially expressed proteins. These results, associated with the information of up regulated proteins, allowed the investigation of proteins potentially involved with the secretion metabolism regulation. The findings from our two studies add up knowledge about N. caninum and demonstrate to be useful in guiding the search and selection for new targets for therapeutic development against neosporosis.

SWIFTS (Stationary Wave Integrated Fourier Transform Spectrometer) est une nouvelle technologie innovante de spectrométrie qui permet une réduction radicale de la taille des spectromètres à Transformée de Fourier, tout en conservant, et même en améliorant leurs performances. Grâce aux avancées de l'optique intégrée et des nanotechnologies, SWIFTS repose sur une méthode de détection optique originale, sans aucune partie mobile, où des nanoplots métalliques échantillonnent directement le champ évanescent d'une onde stationnaire dans un guide d'onde.Dans cette thèse, nous proposons de présenter le cheminement complet qui a mené, en partant du concept original, au développement puis à la mise en pratique de la technologie SWIFTS. Le document illustre notamment les caractérisations optiques, les choix technologiques et les optimisations entrepris pour la réalisation de spectromètres fonctionnels dans le domaine visible et proche-infrarouge. Des procédures de calibrages novatrices et complémentaires, basées sur du multiplexage fréquentiel et sur de l'interférométrie à faible cohérence temporelle, ont été développées pour déterminer avec précision les différentes irrégularités de fabrication et de comportement de l'appareil complètement intégré. Les spectromètres calibrés permettent à présent d'aborder des applications diverses en industrie et en recherche, de la caractérisation hautes performances de lasers, à l'interrogation de capteurs fibrés à réseaux de Bragg, aux techniques de spectrométries Raman et LIBS, et de tomographie optique OCT, jusqu'aux sciences de l'Univers (géophysique, astrophysique).SWIFTS est une innovation de rupture qui, de part sa miniaturisation obtenue sans compromis avec de hautes performances d'analyse spectrale, a la capacité de faire passer la spectrométrie du stade de la mesure complexe en laboratoire à celle d'un simple composant intégré pour des applications exigeantes. / SWIFTS (Stationary Wave Integrated Fourier Transform Spectrometer) is a new innovative technology of spectrometry that allows a drastic reduction of the size of Fourier transform spectrometers, while maintaining, and even improving their performance. With advances in integrated optics and nanotechnology, SWIFTS is based on an original method of optical detection, without any moving part, where metallic nanodots directly sample the evanescent field of a standing wave in a waveguide.In this thesis, we propose to present the complete process that led, starting from the original concept, to the development and the applications of the technology. The document illustrates the optical characterizations, the technological choices and the optimizations made for the realization of functional spectrometers in the visible and near-infrared range. Innovative and complementary procedures of calibrations, based on frequency multiplexing and low coherence interferometry, have been developed to accurately determine the various irregularities of the manufacturing and of the behavior of the integrated device. The calibrated spectrometers allow to address various applications in industry and research, such as high performance characterization of lasers, interrogation of fiber Bragg gratings sensors, Raman and LIBS spectrometry, optical coherence tomography OCT, and sciences of the Universe (geophysics, astrophysics).SWIFTS is a breakthrough innovation in spectrometry, without trade-off between miniaturization and high performance, that opens the way for product development based on the most demanding applications currently performed in research laboratories.

This diploma work is aimed at the use of infrared spectrometry by Fire Brigade Units of the Czech Republic. A new portable instrument True Defender FT produced by Ahura was used for this purpose. It was lent by the Institute of Citizens´Protection in Lázně Bohdaneč. The goal of this work is to get acquainted with this instrument and to evaluate its ability to identify unknown substances. Experimental part was aimed at the testing of this spectrometer with the help of model sample set, containing samples from real situations solved by members of Fire Brigade Units of the Czech Republic. Possibilities of mobile infrared spectometer True Defender FT and mobile Raman spectometer First Defender are finally compared.

This study was conducted to identify and characterize rumen bacteria that are able to degrade the toxic compound, 3-hydroxy-4(lH)-pyridone (3,4 DHP), that is produced in the rumen from mimosine. Mimosine is a non-protein amino acid that is found in leaves and seeds of Leucaena leucocephala, a leguminous tree used as a forage crop for ruminants in the tropics, and degradation of 3,4 DHP by ruminal microbes is critical for protection of animals from leucaena toxicity. Microbes with this capacity are, however, not ubiquitous and microbial populations in the rumens of animals in some parts of the world are unable to metabolize 3,4 DHP. Four strains of obligately anaerobic, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria that degrade 3,4 DHP were isolated from rumen contents from a goat in Hawaii. The isolates do not ferment carbohydrates, but are able to use both 3,4 DHP and its isomer, 3-hydroxy-2(lH)-pyridone (2,3 DHP), as well as arginine and histidine as substrates for growth. Comparisons of the 16S rRNA sequence from one of these isolates with sequences from a widely diverse group of bacteria agree with other information indicating that these isolates do not fit into any existing taxon. Thus, we are hereby proposing a new genus and species designation, Synergistes jonesii, for these organisms.