Bibliography: leaves 143-172 / vi, 172 leaves, [25] leaves of plates : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, 1989

Includes bibliographical references. / ix, 118, [116] leaves, [5] leaves of plateas : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, 1992

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2008. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 175-194).

No abstract. See Front page / Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

CRISPR-Cas defense systems are employed by their hosts to prevent parasitization by mobile genetic elements. The discovery of nuclease-deficient CRISPR-Cas systems contained within transposon ends suggested a repurposing of the contained defense system. One such Type I-F3 CRISPR-Cas system was found inside Tn6677, a Tn7-like transposon within the genome of a Vibrio cholerae strain. Tn6677 requires coordination between the contained CRISPR-Cas system and the transposition proteins for effective transposition. Isolation of this system, and reduction to its minimal components, enabled RNA-guided integration of donor DNA in Escherichia coli. Base-pairing interactions between the user-specified CRISPR RNA and the target sequence precede the integration of donor DNA approximately 49-bp downstream of the end of the target sequence. This system is specific regardless of the supplied RNA guide, and successfully integrates donors of different lengths. The donor DNA is indicated by flanking cognate transposon end sequences. While clearly functional, the mechanism by which the transposition proteins and the CRISPR-Cas proteins interact remained unclear. To this end we purified the multi-protein RNA-guided DNA binding complex (Cascade) from the transposon-encoded minimal I-F3 CRISPR-Cas system in complex with the transposition protein TniQ. De novo modeling revealed the unexpected dimerization of TniQ, and its location within the complex, bound to the Cas6-end of the transposon-encoded Type I-F3 Cascade. Additional models obtained from DNA-bound structures of the complex demonstrate initial steps in target binding alongside novel conformations of Cascade subunits. This work reveals the mechanism by which the Tn6677 components guide integration and will enable rational engineering of these systems for further experimentation and tool development.

Publicación a texto completo no autorizada por el autor / Presenta a los bacteriófagos que son biocontroladores naturales de las bacterias como una alternativa para el control de las poblaciones de Vibrio cholerae, causantes de la enfermedad de transmisión alimentaria (ETA). El objetivo de este trabajo es aislar y caracterizar bacteriófagos capaces de infectar a Vibrio cholerae. Se toman muestras de aguas residuales de Lima - Perú. Los métodos empleados son para el aislamiento de Vibrio cholerae enriqueciendo, aislando en medio TCBS y bioquímica. Para el aislamiento y purificación del bacteriófago Φ K14 se realiza las pruebas de enfrentamiento en caldo, goteo, propagación y titulación. Para la caracterización microbiológica del bacteriófago Φ K14 se realiza las pruebas de rango de hospedero, multiplicidad de infección y curva de un paso. Para la caracterización fisicoquímica son las pruebas de estabilidad a diferentes condiciones ambientales (temperatura, pH y sensibilidad al cloroformo) y se realiza la microscopía electrónica. El bacteriófago K14 de Vibrio cholerae es caracterizado microbiológica y fisicoquímicamente de un total de 3 bacteriófagos aislados de aguas residuales es caracterizado microbiológica y fisicoquímicamente. Presenta una multiplicidad de infección (MOI) óptima de 0.001. El periodo latente del fago K14 es de 10 a 15 minutos y el tamaño de explosión de 25 UFP por célula infectada. Es estable a temperaturas de 40 oC, 50 oC y 60 oC e inestable a los 70 oC y 80 oC. El bacteriófago K14 no es sensible al cloroformo. Es inestable a pH 3 y estable del pH 7 a pH 9 pero tiene mayor estabilidad a pH 8. Según la micrografía electrónica el bacteriófago Φ K14 pertenece según sus estructuras a la familia Myoviridae. / Tesis

published_or_final_version / Microbiology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Le choléra est une diarrhée hydrique sévère volontiers épidémique causée par des Vibrio cholerae O1 toxinogènes. Ses déterminants environnementaux ont donné naissance à un paradigme influent sur les stratégies de lutte, qui sont se sont avérées peu efficientes en Afrique comme en Haïti. Elles pourraient être améliorées par une meilleure compréhension de la dynamique des épidémies. La synthèse bibliographique des influences de l'environnement sur les épidémies de choléra en Afrique y montre les limites du paradigme environnemental. L'étude multidisciplinaire des origines de l'épidémie de choléra en Guinée en 2012 suggère fortement qu'elle fut importée par voie humaine depuis la Sierra Leone voisine. Une description spatio-temporelle du choléra au Mozambique démontre l'hétérogénéité de sa transmission et amène à questionner le concept d'endémicité du choléra. Depuis son importation en Haïti en octobre 2010, l'épidémie de choléra présente également une répartition spatiale et temporelle très hétérogène. Son importante rétractation en saison sèche et son absence d'enracinement significatif dans l'environnement laissent espérer la possibilité d'une élimination rapide à condition d'apporter une réponse ciblée à tous les foyers épidémiques du pays. Une stratégie d'élimination basée sur nos recommandations y est actuellement menée par le Ministère de la Santé, l'UNICEF et leurs partenaires. Après des résultats spectaculaires en 2013 et au premier semestre 2014, la situation s'est à nouveau dégradée pendant la saison des pluies. Une élimination du choléra dans saison sèche à venir demeure cependant réaliste si nous parvenons à convaincre et remobiliser les acteurs de terrain. / Cholera is an epidemic acute watery diarrhea caused by toxigenic bacteria Vibrio cholerae O1. Its environment determinants have been at the source of a popular paradigm. Many recent control strategies have shown little efficiency in Africa or in Haiti, but they could be improved by a better comprehension of the epidemics dynamic. The bibliographic synthesis of environment influences on cholera in Africa highlights the limits of the environmental paradigm on this continent. A multidisciplinary study of the origin of cholera epidemic in Guinea in 2012 strongly suggests it was humanly imported from nearby Sierra Leone. A space-time description of cholera in Mozambique demonstrates heterogeneous transmission patterns and challenges the concept of cholera endemicity. Since its importation in Haiti in October 2010, cholera transmission also exhibits a marked spatio-temporal heterogeneity. Cholera important retraction during the dry season and its absence of significant establishment in the Haitian environment suggest it may be possible to rapidly eliminate cholera in the country, provided that every outbreak focus receives a targeted response. An elimination strategy based on our recommendations is currently implemented by Haitian Ministry of Health, UNICEF and their partners. After spectacular results in 2013 and during the first half of 2014, the situation has slowly deteriorated during the rainy season. However, cholera elimination during the coming dry season remains realistic provided that we succeed in persuading and remobilizing the partners present on the field.