Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the most prevalent bacterial contaminants of platelet concentrates (PCs), and have been implicated in severe and fatal transfusion reactions. Of this group, Staphylococcus epidermidis is most frequently identified. The preliminary objective of this thesis was to confirm that S. epidermidis could form biofilms under platelet storage conditions. This was achieved using a modified crystal violet staining assay to detect plastic-adherent bacterial cells and examination of attachment processes by scanning electron microscopy. A collection of CoNS isolated from PCs obtained from reportedly healthy donors was then assessed for biofilm-forming potential at the genetic and phenotypic level. Despite the presumable commensal origin of these isolates, a high proportion of S. epidermidis strains displayed a biofilm positive phenotype. The threat of S. epidermidis biofilm formation during platelet storage identified herein signifies that any alterations made to platelet storage protocols should be evaluated with consideration of this risk. The advent of platelet additive solutions (PASs) as an alternative to plasma for PC storage provides a relevant example, since little is known about the effect of PAS on contaminant bacteria, and vice versa. Growth and biofilm formation by S. epidermidis and the Gram-negative bacterium Serratia liquefaciens were measured in PAS- or plasma-PCs over 5 days, simulating standard platelet storage conditions, after initial inoculation with low, clinically relevant bacterial concentrations. Assays for platelet quality were performed simultaneously. Only S. liquefaciens exhibited a slower doubling time in plasma-PCs than in PAS-PCs. Biofilm formation by both species was reduced during storage in PAS-PCs, increasing bacteria availability for detection. Although S. liquefaciens adversely affected platelet quality in both media, S. epidermidis contamination did not. Ultimately, culture-based detection remains the earliest indicator of bacterial presence in PAS-PCs. Lastly, since formation of platelet-bacteria aggregates is largely based on receptor-ligand interactions, it was postulated that biofilm formation by contaminant bacteria could be abrogated by receptor shielding. Methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) was applied to covalently modify the platelet surface using a process termed ‘PEGylation’. It is herein demonstrated that PEGylation of PCs inoculated with S. epidermidis results in significantly reduced bacterial binding and biofilm formation during platelet storage.

Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the most prevalent bacterial contaminants of platelet concentrates (PCs), and have been implicated in severe and fatal transfusion reactions. Of this group, Staphylococcus epidermidis is most frequently identified. The preliminary objective of this thesis was to confirm that S. epidermidis could form biofilms under platelet storage conditions. This was achieved using a modified crystal violet staining assay to detect plastic-adherent bacterial cells and examination of attachment processes by scanning electron microscopy. A collection of CoNS isolated from PCs obtained from reportedly healthy donors was then assessed for biofilm-forming potential at the genetic and phenotypic level. Despite the presumable commensal origin of these isolates, a high proportion of S. epidermidis strains displayed a biofilm positive phenotype. The threat of S. epidermidis biofilm formation during platelet storage identified herein signifies that any alterations made to platelet storage protocols should be evaluated with consideration of this risk. The advent of platelet additive solutions (PASs) as an alternative to plasma for PC storage provides a relevant example, since little is known about the effect of PAS on contaminant bacteria, and vice versa. Growth and biofilm formation by S. epidermidis and the Gram-negative bacterium Serratia liquefaciens were measured in PAS- or plasma-PCs over 5 days, simulating standard platelet storage conditions, after initial inoculation with low, clinically relevant bacterial concentrations. Assays for platelet quality were performed simultaneously. Only S. liquefaciens exhibited a slower doubling time in plasma-PCs than in PAS-PCs. Biofilm formation by both species was reduced during storage in PAS-PCs, increasing bacteria availability for detection. Although S. liquefaciens adversely affected platelet quality in both media, S. epidermidis contamination did not. Ultimately, culture-based detection remains the earliest indicator of bacterial presence in PAS-PCs. Lastly, since formation of platelet-bacteria aggregates is largely based on receptor-ligand interactions, it was postulated that biofilm formation by contaminant bacteria could be abrogated by receptor shielding. Methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) was applied to covalently modify the platelet surface using a process termed ‘PEGylation’. It is herein demonstrated that PEGylation of PCs inoculated with S. epidermidis results in significantly reduced bacterial binding and biofilm formation during platelet storage.

Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the most prevalent bacterial contaminants of platelet concentrates (PCs), and have been implicated in severe and fatal transfusion reactions. Of this group, Staphylococcus epidermidis is most frequently identified. The preliminary objective of this thesis was to confirm that S. epidermidis could form biofilms under platelet storage conditions. This was achieved using a modified crystal violet staining assay to detect plastic-adherent bacterial cells and examination of attachment processes by scanning electron microscopy. A collection of CoNS isolated from PCs obtained from reportedly healthy donors was then assessed for biofilm-forming potential at the genetic and phenotypic level. Despite the presumable commensal origin of these isolates, a high proportion of S. epidermidis strains displayed a biofilm positive phenotype. The threat of S. epidermidis biofilm formation during platelet storage identified herein signifies that any alterations made to platelet storage protocols should be evaluated with consideration of this risk. The advent of platelet additive solutions (PASs) as an alternative to plasma for PC storage provides a relevant example, since little is known about the effect of PAS on contaminant bacteria, and vice versa. Growth and biofilm formation by S. epidermidis and the Gram-negative bacterium Serratia liquefaciens were measured in PAS- or plasma-PCs over 5 days, simulating standard platelet storage conditions, after initial inoculation with low, clinically relevant bacterial concentrations. Assays for platelet quality were performed simultaneously. Only S. liquefaciens exhibited a slower doubling time in plasma-PCs than in PAS-PCs. Biofilm formation by both species was reduced during storage in PAS-PCs, increasing bacteria availability for detection. Although S. liquefaciens adversely affected platelet quality in both media, S. epidermidis contamination did not. Ultimately, culture-based detection remains the earliest indicator of bacterial presence in PAS-PCs. Lastly, since formation of platelet-bacteria aggregates is largely based on receptor-ligand interactions, it was postulated that biofilm formation by contaminant bacteria could be abrogated by receptor shielding. Methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) was applied to covalently modify the platelet surface using a process termed ‘PEGylation’. It is herein demonstrated that PEGylation of PCs inoculated with S. epidermidis results in significantly reduced bacterial binding and biofilm formation during platelet storage.

Orientador: Maria Luiza Moretti / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T06:00:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Menezes_DulcineaBlum_D.pdf: 1620753 bytes, checksum: 0d62ea2ae59bfb2f69d0243a4b9e4be5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: A inserção de cateter venoso central (CVC) representa um importante risco para as infecções sistêmicas nosocomiais, e para estas infecções, Staphylococcus epidermidis é o patógeno mais importante. Com o objetivo de analisar os perfis de DNA genômico, detectar a presença e expressão de gene responsável pela produção de biofilme e estudar a dinâmica da colonização, cepas de S. epidermidis obtidas de episódios de isolamento deste microrganismo em culturas microbiológicas de ponta de CVC e/ou hemoculturas foram comparadas com cepas coletadas da microbiota do paciente hospitalizado no Hospital das Clínicas da UNICAMP. Este estudo também objetivou analisar os procedimentos médico-hospitalares intervencionais destes pacientes. Pacientes com culturas microbiológicas de ponta de CVC (>15 UFC) e/ou hemoculturas positivas para S. epidermidis foram selecionados para a coleta de microbiota presente na pele e mucosa nasal, através de coleta local com zaragatoas umedecidas. As cepas de S. epidermidis foram analisadas através do método de PFGE; teste de sensibilidade a antimicrobianos; detecção da presença do gene ica, através da técnica de PCR e detecção de biofilme, através do método CRA. Fizeram parte deste estudo 247 cepas obtidas de 12 pacientes selecionados em 18 episódios estudados. Foram encontrados 26 distintos perfis genotípicos e 4 perfis fortemente relacionados. Em 10 episódios o mesmo perfil genotípico de DNA foi detectado simultaneamente em cepas clínicas e de microbiota, onde 6 destes episódios ocorreram quando o período de implantação da CVC foi superior a 15 dias. Nos 7 episódios em que não houve concordância entre os perfis genotípico de DNA em cepas clínicas e de microbiota, 5 destes episódios ocorreram igualmente em período inferior a 15 dias, não havendo diferença estatística entre os grupos. Por PFGE foram identificados 6 perfis genotípicos predominantes nas cepas de microbiota. Estes perfis representaram 68% (132/193) das cepas de microbiota, e um destes perfis se mostrou prevalente (77/193) nas cepas de microbiota. Em 10 episódios (8 pacientes), o perfil genotípico prevalente foi identificado compondo a microbiota. Foi comprovado, por comparação da diversidade dos perfis genotípicos, que durante o período de hospitalização o perfil geral da microbiota sofre mudanças de um perfil de diversidade genotípica policlonal para um perfil de diversidade oligoclonal, com predominância de um perfil genotípico. A mudança de diversidade genotípica foi relacionando a administração prévia de ciprofloxacina. As cepas com perfis genotípicos predominantes não apresentaram maior prevalência da presença do gene ica, em relação às cepas não predominantes, o que não foi justificado que cepas potencialmente produtoras de biofilme se sobrepusessem em relação às cepas desprovidas deste gene. Oito dos 12 pacientes apresentaram concomitante ou posterior infecção por bacilos Gram negativos, destes 2 foram a óbito por septicemia. De acordo com os resultados, nós concluímos que pacientes submetidos a longos períodos de hospitalização são colonizados por microbiota de diversidade oligoclonal de S. epidermidis e a colonização ou infecção de CVC por destas cepas, potencialmente produtoras de biofilme em contato com a corrente sanguínea, pode ser uma oportunidade para infecções posteriores por outros microrganismos devido a potencial produção de biofilme inerente a S. epidermidis / Abstract: Central vascular catheters (CVC) represent an important risk for nosocomial bloodstream infections and Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most important pathogen of these systemic infections. To analyze the genomic DNA profiles, to detect the presence and expression of the responsible gene for biofilm production and to study the colonization dynamic, S. epidermidis strains isolated from tip CVC and blood positive cultures were compared with the strains isolated from skin and nasal swab in patients hospitalized in a tertiary care university hospital, the Hospital das Clínicas of UNICAMP. It was analyzed the previous medical care proceedings that the same patients underwent. Patients with microbiologic cultures for S. epidermidis from blood and/or catheter tip (>15 CFU) were selected to have swabs from skin and nasal. S. epidermidis were typed using PFGE, antibiotic susceptibility testing, presence of ica gene detection, by PCR, and biofilm detection, by Congo red method, were performed. Twelve patients with 18 episodes of colonization or catheter-related infection were included in this study and 247 strains were analyzed. It was found 26 distinct genotypic profiles and 4 strongly related genotypic profiles. In 10 episodes, the same DNA profile was detected in clinical and in microbiota strains, 6 of them occurred when the period of catheter implantation were higher than 15 days. In 7 episodes, there was not concordance among genotypic profiles from clinical and microbiota strain, and 5 of them occurred when the period of catheter implantation were lower than 15 days, too. It was not found statistic difference between the groups. PFGE identified six predominant genotypic profiles that were present in 68 % (132/193) of microbiota strain, and one of them was prevalently present (77/193). The prevalent genotypic profile was found compounding the microbiota in 10 episodes (8 patients). It was proofed, by comparison of the diversity of genotypic profiles, that during the hospitalization period the microbiota general profile changes from the diversified genotypic profile (polyclonal) to a poorly diversified genotypic profile (oligoclonal), with a predominant genotypic profile. It found was related with the previous ciprofloxacin administration. The predominant DNA profiles strains did not presented higher prevalence according to the presence of ica gene when comparing to non predominant strains, what it was not justified that potentially biofilm producers can superpose over non ica strains. Eight of 12 patients presented concomitant or posterior infection by negative Gram rots, whose 2 were to obit by sepsis. According to the results, we concluded that patients with long-term hospitalization were previously colonized by oligoclonal-diversified microbiota S. epidermidis and CVC colonization or infection by this agent, potentially biofilm producer present at bloodstream can be an opportunity to other microorganism posterior infections, due to potential biofilm production inherent to S. epidermidis / Doutorado / Ciencias Medicas / Doutor em Clínica Médica

Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) are the most prevalent bacterial contaminants of platelet concentrates (PCs), and have been implicated in severe and fatal transfusion reactions. Of this group, Staphylococcus epidermidis is most frequently identified. The preliminary objective of this thesis was to confirm that S. epidermidis could form biofilms under platelet storage conditions. This was achieved using a modified crystal violet staining assay to detect plastic-adherent bacterial cells and examination of attachment processes by scanning electron microscopy. A collection of CoNS isolated from PCs obtained from reportedly healthy donors was then assessed for biofilm-forming potential at the genetic and phenotypic level. Despite the presumable commensal origin of these isolates, a high proportion of S. epidermidis strains displayed a biofilm positive phenotype. The threat of S. epidermidis biofilm formation during platelet storage identified herein signifies that any alterations made to platelet storage protocols should be evaluated with consideration of this risk. The advent of platelet additive solutions (PASs) as an alternative to plasma for PC storage provides a relevant example, since little is known about the effect of PAS on contaminant bacteria, and vice versa. Growth and biofilm formation by S. epidermidis and the Gram-negative bacterium Serratia liquefaciens were measured in PAS- or plasma-PCs over 5 days, simulating standard platelet storage conditions, after initial inoculation with low, clinically relevant bacterial concentrations. Assays for platelet quality were performed simultaneously. Only S. liquefaciens exhibited a slower doubling time in plasma-PCs than in PAS-PCs. Biofilm formation by both species was reduced during storage in PAS-PCs, increasing bacteria availability for detection. Although S. liquefaciens adversely affected platelet quality in both media, S. epidermidis contamination did not. Ultimately, culture-based detection remains the earliest indicator of bacterial presence in PAS-PCs. Lastly, since formation of platelet-bacteria aggregates is largely based on receptor-ligand interactions, it was postulated that biofilm formation by contaminant bacteria could be abrogated by receptor shielding. Methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) was applied to covalently modify the platelet surface using a process termed ‘PEGylation’. It is herein demonstrated that PEGylation of PCs inoculated with S. epidermidis results in significantly reduced bacterial binding and biofilm formation during platelet storage.

L’exposition aux aérosols microbiologiques présents dans les environnements clos est susceptible de provoquer, chez les occupants, diverses pathologies telles que des infections, des toxi-infections et des allergies. Pour s’en prémunir, diverses stratégies passant notamment par l’emploi de dispositifs épurateurs d’air, ont été développées et commercialisées par les industriels de la ventilation et du traitement de l’air. Cependant, à ce jour, aucune méthodologie d’évaluation y compris normative ne permet d’évaluer la pertinence de ces stratégies. Ce travail de recherche se propose, d’une part, d’appréhender le devenir des aérosols microbiologiques au sein des espaces clos : de la source à l’individu exposé, en explorant le rôle de la ventilation dans ce transport et, d’autre part, d’explorer le gain apporté par les nouvelles technologies de traitement microbiologique de l’air sur l’exposition des occupants. Pour ce dernier point de l’étude, une démarche globale d’évaluation en 3 volets a été adoptée avec l’étude de l’efficacité du ou des principes d’épuration mis en oeuvre, la détermination du rendement intrinsèque en condition dynamique de ces systèmes et l’évaluation du gain apporté par ces derniers sur l’exposition des occupants. Les travaux menés avec les dispositifs épurateurs (filtration et photocatalyse) ont montré que les efficacités intrinsèques des systèmes ne permettent pas de préjuger de leur gain vis-à-vis du niveau de l’exposition des individus lorsqu’ils sont mis en oeuvre en environnement intérieur. Les résultats obtenus ont également mis en évidence que la prise en compte des flux aérauliques et du transport des particules induit par la ventilation et le dispositif épurateur est indispensable à la définition d’une stratégie cohérente de traitement d’air / Exposure to bioaerosols in indoor environments is associated with a wide range of adverse effects on health including infectious diseases, acute toxic effects and allergies. In order to guard against this phenomenon, the ventilation and air treatment industry has developed and marketed many air control strategies. However, at present, there is no methodology adapted to the evaluation of the relevance of these strategies. The aim of this research work was to characterize, in a first time, the progress of microbiological aerosol from the original source, to their eventual inhalation by person exposed, considering their dissemination through the indoor environments. Secondly, the work consisted of determining the efficiency of air cleaner devices applied to control indoor air quality. For this point, a global approach of evaluation in 3 steps was adopted, consisting of studying the efficiency of the epuration principle implemented, determining the intrinsic performance of the systems in dynamic conditions and their impact on the exposure level of the exposed persons. The tests carried out with air cleaner devices (filtration and photocatalysis) have shown that the intrinsic performance wasn’t able to estimate the beneficial impact of these systems on the exposure level of people when there were applied in indoor environments. So the intrinsic performance of devices is not the single impact factor, the airflow promoted by the device is also a factor to consider. Moreover, the characterization of indoor airflows and airborne particles transport is essential to define a coherent strategy of air treatment

The first aim of this study was to detect antiviral activities of substances isolated from natural products against tick-borne encephalitis virus in in vitro model. Resveratrol isolated from plant material and adamantane derivatives were studied in this regard. The maximum tolerated concentrations of the investigated substances were determined for the glioblastoma cell line used in the experiments using flow cytometry and subsequently. Next, the number of viral particles produced by infected cells after incubation with the studied substances was determined using plaque titration. Possible antibacterial effects of the studied materials against standard strains of bacteria Staphyloccocus aureus, Staphyloccocus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and selected strains of Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes were examined.

Glycopeptides are the so-called last-resort antibiotics in clinical practice used to treat heavier, predominantly nosocomial infections caused by multi-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. The origin and genetic basis of resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics has not yet been elucidated within coagulase-negative staphylococci. Research on Staphylococcus aureus has shown, that intermediate resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics is associated with the presence of one or more mutations, rather than being conditioned by the support of a particular genetic element, such as in enterococci. By using various types of in vitro resistant mutant selection, we were able to obtain isogenic pairs of glycopeptide sensitive and resistant strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus. By sequencing the genomes of these pairs, one nucleotide polymorphisms were identified and predominantly found in metabolic and cell wall control systems. Phenotypic analysis did not reveal a direct association of glycopeptide resistance with increased biofilm formation. In clinical practice, the cross-resistance of glycopeptides and other antibiotics is problematic. For the non-glycopeptide antibiotics imipenem and rifampicin, the incidence of cross-resistance with glycopeptide antibiotics in S. aureus...

Increasing interest in industrial and medical applications of carbon nanomaterial leads to the need to examine its interactions with living systems. Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films possess high mechanical and chemical stability which, together with its biocompatibility with human cells, enables applications in human body. Some of carbon nanoparticles possess strong antibacterial activity. In this work the effects of NCD with hydrogen, oxygen and fluorine termination deposited on glass and silicone on adhesion of gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli K-12 in mineral medium is described and the impact of cultivation medium on effects of NCD films is compared. Prior the growth of the E. coli biofilm on NCD films, the method for quantification of biofilm using crystal violet staining and the method for biofilm cultivation in mineral medium were optimised. The properties of NCD film are independent on the base substrate. Hydrogen and fluorine terminated NCD films show antiadhesive properties only in mineral medium but not in complex medium. This is explained by formation of a conditioning film on the surface of the NCD film during cultivation in complex medium. On the other hand, O-NCD film supports bacterial adhesion in both cultivation media. Second part of this thesis is dedicated to carbon...

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