32 resultados para fragments
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Dissertao apresentada na Faculdade de Cincias e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obteno do grau de Mestre em Conservao e Restauro,rea de especializao Cermica e Vidro
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Abstract The investigation of the web of relationships between the different elements of the immune system has proven instrumental to better understand this complex biological system. This is particularly true in the case of the interactions between B and T lymphocytes, both during cellular development and at the stage of cellular effectors functions. The understanding of the BT cells interdependency and the possibility to manipulate this relationship may be directly applicable to situations where immunity is deficient, as is the case of cancer or immune suppression after radio and chemotherapy. The work presented here started with the development of a novel and accurate tool to directly assess the diversity of the cellular repertoire (Chapter III). Contractions of T cell receptor diversity have been related with a deficient immune status. This method uses gene chips platforms where nucleic acids coding for lymphocyte receptors are hybridized and is based on the fact that the frequency of hybridization of nucleic acids to the oligonucleotides on a gene chip varies in direct proportion to diversity. Subsequently, and using this new method and other techniques of cell quantification I examined, in an animal model, the role that polyclonal B cells and immunoglobulin exert upon T cell development in the thymus, specifically on the acquisition of a broader repertoire diversity by the T cell receptors (Chapter IV and V). The hypothesis tested was if the presence of more diverse peptides in the thymus, namely polyclonal immunoglobulin, would induce the generation of more diverse T cells precursors. The results obtained demonstrated that the diversity of the T cell compartment is increased by the presence of polyclonal immunoglobulin. Polyclonal immunoglobulin, and particularly the Fab fragments of the molecule, represent the most diverse self-molecules in the body and its peptides are presented by antigen presenting cells to precursor T cells in the thymus during its development. This probably contributes significantly to the generation of receptor diversity. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that a more diverse repertoire of T lymphocytes is associated with a more effective and robust T cell immune function in vivo, as mice with a more diverse T cell receptors reject minor histocompatiblility discordant skin grafts faster than mice with a shrunken T cell receptor repertoire (Chapter V). We believe that a broader T cell receptor diversity allows a more efficient recognition and rejection of a higher range of external and internal aggressions. In this work it is demonstrated that a reduction of TCR diversity by thymectomy in wild type mice significantly increased survival of H-Y incompatible skin grafts, indicating decrease on T cell function. In addiction reconstitution of T-cell diversity in mice with a decreased T cell repertoire diversity with immunoglobulin Fab fragments, lead to a increase on TCR diversity and to a significantly decreased survival of the skin grafts (Chapter V). These results strongly suggest that increases on T cell repertoire diversity contribute to improvement of T cell function. Our results may have important implications on therapy and immune reconstitution in the context of AIDS, cancer, autoimmunity and post myeloablative treatments. Based on the previous results, we tested the clinical hypothesis that patients with haematological malignancies subjected to stem cell transplantation who recovered a robust immune system would have a better survival compared to patients who did not recover such a robust immune system. This study was undertaken by the examination of the progression and overall survival of 42 patients with mantle cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma receiving autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Chapter VI). The results obtained show that patients who recovered higher numbers of lymphocytes soon after autologous transplantation had a statistically significantly longer progression free and overall survivals. These results demonstrate the positive impact that a more robust immune system reconstitution after stem cell transplantation may have upon the survival of patients with haematological malignancies. In a similar clinical research framework, this dissertation also includes the study of the impact of recovering normal serum levels of polyclonal immunoglobulin on the survival of patients with another B cell haematological malignancy, multiple myeloma, after autologous stem cell transplantation (Chapter VII). The relapse free survival of the 110 patients with multiple myeloma analysed was associated with their ability to recover normal serum levels of the polyclonal compartment of immunoglobulin. These results suggest again the important effect of polyclonal immunoglobulin for the (re)generation of the immune competence. We also studied the impact of a robust immunity for the response to treatment with the antibody anti CD20, rituximab, in patients with non- Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) (Chapter VIII). Patients with higher absolute counts of CD4+ T lymphocytes respond better (in terms of longer progression free survival) to rituximab compared to patients with lower number of CD4+ T lymphocytes. These observations highlight again the fact that a competent immune system is required for the clinical benefit of rituximab therapy in NHL patients. In conclusion, the work presented in this dissertation demonstrates, for the first time, that diverse B cells and polyclonal immunoglobulin promote T cell diversification in the thymus and improve T lymphocyte function. Also, it shows that in the setting of immune reconstitution, as after autologous stem cell transplantation for mantle cell lymphoma and in the setting of immune therapy for NHL, the absolute lymphocyte counts are an independent factor predicting progression free and overall survival. These results can have an important application in the clinical practice since the majority of the current treatments for cancer are immunosuppressive and implicate a subsequent immune recovery. Also, the effects of a number of antineoplastic treatments, including biological agents, depend on the immune system activity. In this way, studies similar to the ones presented here, where methods to improve the immune reconstitution are examined, may prove to be instrumental for a better understanding of the immune system and to guide more efficient treatment options and the design of future clinical trials. Resumo O estudo da rede de inter-relaes entre os diversos elementos do sistema immune tem-se mostrado um instrumento essencial para uma melhor compreenso deste complexo sistema biolgico. Tal particularmente verdade no caso das interaces entre os linfcitos B e T, quer durante o desenvolvimento celular, quer ao nvel das funes celulares efectoras. A compreenso da interdependncia entre linfcitos B e T e a possibilidade de manipular esta relao pode ser directamente aplicvel a situaes em que a imunidade est deficiente, como o caso das doenas neoplsicas ou da imunossupresso aps radio ou quimioterapia. O trabalho apresentado nesta dissertao iniciou-se com o desenvolvimento de um novo mtodo laboratorial para medir directamente a diversidade do reportrio celular (Captulo III). Redues da diversidade do reportrio dos receptores de clulas T tm sido relacionadas com um estado de imunodeficincia. O mtodo desenvolvido utiliza gene chips, aos quais hibridizam os cidos nucleicos codificantes das cadeias proteicas dos receptores linfocitrios. A diversidade calculada com base na frequncia de hibridizao do cido nucleico da amostra aos oligonucletidos presentes no gene chip. De seguida, e utilizando este novo mtodo e outras tcnicas de quantificao celular examinei, num modelo animal, o papel que as clulas policlonais B e a imunoglobulina exercem sobre o desenvolvimento linfocitrio T no timo, especificamente na aquisio de um reportrio diverso de receptores T (Captulos IV e V). Testei, ento, a hiptese de que a presena no timo de pptidos mais diversos, como a imunoglobulna policlonal, induzisse a gnese de precursores T mais diversos. Demonstrmos que a diversidade do compartimento T aumentado pela presena de imunoglobulina policlonal. A imunoglobulina policlonal, e particularmente os fragmentos Fab desta molcula, representam as molculas autlogas mais diversas presentes nos organismos vertebrados. Estes pptidos so apresentados por clulas apresentadoras de antignio s clulas precursoras T no timo, durante o desenvolvimento celular T. Tal, provavelmente, contribui para a gnese da diversidade dos receptores. Tambm demonstrmos que a presena de um reportrio mais diverso de linfcitos T se associa a um incremento da funo imunolgica T in vivo. Uma diversidade de receptores T mais extensa parece permitir um reconhecimento e rejeio mais eficientes de um maior nmero de agressores internos e externos. Demonstrmos que ratinhos com receptores de clulas T (RCT) com maior diversidade rejeitam transplantes cutneos discordantes para antignios minor de histocompatibilidade mais rapidamente do que ratinhos com um menor reportrio T (Captulo V). Por outro lado, uma reduo da diversidade do RCT, causada por timectomia de ratinhos de estirpes selvagens, mostrou aumentar significativamente a sobrevivncia de transplantes cutneos incompatveis para o antignio H-Y (antignio minor de histocompatibilidade), indicando uma diminuio da funo linfocitria T. Alm disso, a reconstituio da diversidade dos linfcitos T em ratinhos com uma diversidade de reportrio T diminuda, induzida pela administrao de fragmentos Fab de imunoglobulina, conduz a um aumento da diversidade dos RCT e a uma diminuio significativa da sobrevivncia dos enxertos cutneos (Captulo V). Estes resultados sugerem que o aumento do reportrio de clulas T contribui para uma melhoria das funes celulares T e podero ter implicaes importantes na teraputica e reconstitutio imunolgica em contexto de SIDA, neoplasias, autoimunidade e aps tratamentos mieloablativos. Baseado nos resultados anteriores, decidimos testar a hiptese clnica de que doentes com neoplasias hematolgicas sujeitos a transplantao de precursores hematopoiticos e com recuperao imunolgica precoce aps transplante teriam uma sobrevivncia mais longa do que doentes que no recuperassem to bem a sua imunidade. Analismos a sobrevivncia global e sobrevivncia sem doena de 42 doentes com linfoma no Hodgkin de clulas do manto sujeitos a transplante autlogo de precursores hematopoiticos (Captulo VI). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os doentes que recuperaram contagens mais elevadas de linfcitos imediatamente aps o transplante autlogo, apresentaram uma sobrevivncia global e sem progresso mais longa do que doentes que no recuperaram contagens linfocitrias to precocemente. Estes resultados demonstram o efeito positivo de uma reconstitutio imunolgica robusta aps transplante de presursores hematopoiticos, sobre a sobrevivncia de doentes com neoplasias hematolgicas. Do mesmo modo, estudmos o efeito que a recuperao de nveis sricos normais de imunoglobulina policlonal tem na sobrevivncia de doentes com outras neoplasias hematolgicas de linfcitos B, como o mieloma mltiplo,aps transplante autlogo de precursos hematopoiticos (Captulo VII). A sobrevivncia livre de doena dos 110 doentes com mieloma mltiplo analizados est associada com a sua capacidade de recuperar nveis sricos normais do compartmento policlonal de imunoglobulina. Estes resultados pioneiros indicam a importncia da imunoglobulina policlonal para a gnese de competncia imunolgica. Tambm estudmos o impacto de um sistema imunitrio eficiente sobre a resposta ao tratamento com o anticorpo anti CD20, ituximab, em doentes com linfoma no Hodgkin (LNH) (Captulo VIII). Os resultados mostram que doentes com valores mais elevados de linfcitos T CD4+ respondem melhor (em termos de maior sobrevida livre de doena) ao rituximab, do que doentes com valores mais baixos. Estas observaes ilustram a necessidade de um sistema imunitrio competente para o benefcio clnico da teraputica com rituximab em doentes com LNH. Em concluso, o trabalho apresentado nesta dissertao demonstra que as clulas B e a imunoglobulina policlonal promovem a diversidade das clulas T no timo e melhoram a funo linfocitria T perifrica. Concomitantemente, tambm demonstrmos que, no contexto de reconstituio imune, por exemplo, aps transplante autlogo de precursores hematopoiticos em doentes com linfomas de clulas do manto, o nmero absoluto de linfcitos uma factor independente da sobrevivncia. Os resultados demonstram, tambm, a importncia dos valores de linfocitos T na resposta ao tratamento com rituximab no caso de doentes com LNH. O mesmo princpio se prova pelo facto de que doentes com mieloma mltiplo sujeitos a transplante autlogo de precursores hematopoiticos que recuperam valores normais sricos de imunoglobulinas policlonais, terem melhores taxas de resposta em comparao com doentes que no recuperam valores normais de imunoglobulinas policlonais. Estes resultados podem ter importantes aplicaes na prtica clnica dado que a maioria dos tratamentos de doenas neoplsicas implica imunossupresso e, subsequente, recuperao imunolgica. Estes estudos podem ser um instrumento fundamental para uma melhor compreenso do sistema imune e guiar uma escolha mais eficiente de opes teraputicas bem como contribuir para a concepo de futuros estudos clnicos.
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Work presented in the context of the European Master in Computational Logics, as partial requisit for the graduation as Master in Computational Logics
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Dissertao para obteno do Grau de Mestre em Biotecnologia
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Dissertao para obteno do Grau de Mestre em Biotecnologia
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RESUMO: O Cell Fusing Agent Vrus (CFAV), considerado como o primeiro flavivrus especficos de insectos (ISF), parece estar exclusivamente adaptado aos seus hospedeiros, no replicando em clulas de vertebrados. Apesar de ter sido identificado h mais de trs dcadas (1975), a verdade que muito pouco se conhece sobre a sua biologia. Dado o seu parentesco filogentico com alguns outros flavivrus encontrados naturalmente em mosquitos de diferentes gneros colhidos em diferentes regies do globo, este vrus poder ser usado como modelo para o estudo de ISF. No entanto, necessitam do desenvolvimento de ferramentas bsicas, tais como clones moleculares ou baterias de soros contendo anticorpos que reconheam uma ou mais protenas codificadas pelo genoma viral, produzidas, por exemplo, a partir de antignios virais produzidos de forma recombinante. Com este trabalho pretendeu-se a optimizao de protocolos que permitiram a expresso e purificao parcial de quatro protenas [duas protenas estruturais (C e E) e duas no estruturais (NS3hel e NS5B)] do CFAV em E. coli, todas elas produzidas como protenas de fuso com caudas (tags) de hexahistidina nos seus extremos carboxilo. Para a expanso do CFAV foram utilizadas clulas Aedes albopictus (C6/36). Aps a realizao da extraco do RNA viral e a obteno de cDNA, procedeu-se amplificao, por RT-PCR, das regies codificantes das protenas C, E, NS3hel e NS5B, utilizando primers especficos. Os quatro fragmentos de DNA foram independentemente inseridos no vector pJTE1.2/blunt usando E. coli NovaBlue como hospedeira de clonagem e, posteriormente, inseridos em vectores de expresso pET-28b e pET-29b usando E. coli BL21(DE3)pLysS e Rosetta(DE3)pLysS como hospedeiras de expresso. Aps da induo, expresso e purificao das protenas recombinantes C, E, NS3hel e NS5B, foi confirmada a autenticidade destas protenas produzidas atravs do mtodo Western Blot com um anticorpo anti-histidina. --------- ABSTRACT: The Cell Fusing Agent virus (CFAV) considered as the first "insect- specific flavivirus" (ISF) and seems to be uniquely adapted to their hosts, not replicating in vertebrate cells. Although it has been known for more than three decades (1975), the truth is very little is known about its biology. Given its close phylogenetic relationship with other flavivirus naturally circulating in various genera of mosquitoes collected from different regions of the globe, this virus could be used as a model for the study of ISF. However, such studies require the development of experimental basic tools, such as molecular clones or serum batteries containing antibodies that recognize one or more proteins encoded by the viral genome, produced, for example, from viral antigens recombinant produced. In this work, we carried out the optimization of protocols that allowed the expression and partial purification of four proteins [two structural proteins (C and E) and two nonstructural proteins (NS3hel and NS5B)] CFAV in E. coli as fusion protein for c-terminal hexahistidine tags. For the expansion of the CFAV we used Aedes albopictus (C6/36) cells. After completion of the viral RNA extraction and cDNA obtained, amplification of the coding regions of the C, E, NS5B and NS3hel proteins was carried out by RT-PCR using specific primers. The four DNA fragments were independently inserted into the vector pJTE1.2/blunt using E. coli NovaBlue as cloning host and then inserted into expression vectors pET-28b and pET-29b using E. coli BL21(DE3)pLysS and Rosetta(DE3)pLysS as expression host. After induction, expression and purification of recombinant C, E, NS3hel and NS5B proteins Western Blot analyses with an anti-histidine antibody confirmed the authenticity of these proteins produced.
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Protein Sci. 2009 Mar;18(3):619-28. doi: 10.1002/pro.69.
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Dissertao para obteno do Grau de Doutor em Informtica
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J. Iberian Archaeology 13 (2010), 51-67
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Dissertao apresentada para a obteno do Grau de Mestre em Gentica Molecular e Biomedicina, pela Universidade N ova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Cincias e Tecnologia
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The formulation and use of lime mortars with ceramic particles has, in the past, been a very common technique. Knowledge of such used techniques and materials is fundamental for the successful rehabilitation and conservation of the built heritage. The durability that these mortars have shown encourages the study of the involved mechanisms, so that they may be adapted to the current reality. The considerable amount of waste from old ceramics factories which is sent for disposal might present an opportunity for the production of reliable improved lime mortars. In this paper a number of studies that characterize old building mortars containing ceramic fragments are reviewed. The most important research undertaken on laboratory prepared mortars with several heat treated clays types is presented, specifically with incorporated ceramic waste. Some studies on the pozzolanicity of heat treated clays are examined and the heating temperatures that seem most likely to achieve pozzolanicity are presented. It was verified that some heating temperatures currently used by ceramic industries might correspond to the temperatures that will achieve pozzolanicity.
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RESUMO: O transplante heptico ortotpico uma teraputica aceite para casos selecionados de falncia heptica terminal. O procedimento tem-se aperfeioado, evidenciado pelo aumento da taxa de sobrevida de 30 para 75% aos 5 anos, mas cerca de 13 a 27% dos enxertos desenvolve falncia primria (PNF) ou disfuno primria (DF) aps o transplante. As consequncias so devastadoras para a sobrevida do doente e do enxerto. A sua etiologia multifactorial, incluindo factores relacionados com o dador e o receptor, tempos de isqumia, agresses cirrgicas, bem como caractersticas anatomopatolgicas do enxerto. A leso de isqumia/reperfuso mantem-se como um factor de risco intra operatrio, com implicaes directas sobre toda a evoluo do transplante : existe uma relao ntima entre a PNF e a DF, a preservao do enxerto, a leso de isqumia/reperfuso, e a falncia do transplante. Alm disso, est comprovada evidncia que sugere que a leso de I/R torna um aloenxerto mais vulnervel por aumento da imunogenicidade, aumentando a probabilidade de episdios de rejeio precoce e tardia. Com base na prtica clnica quotidiana do CHBPT HCC, estudaram-se 54 casos de transplante heptico, agrupados segundo grupos por alocao do enxerto respectivo: Grupo 1(n=27): dador cadver para receptor cirrtico, Grupo 2 (n=15): dador cadver para receptor PAF, Grupo 3 (n=12): dador PAF para receptor cirrtico. Observaram-se as alteraes histolgicas e moleculares sobre o enxerto at ao final da operao do receptor, e as suas consequncias clnicas,avaliando: - As diferentes capacidades de resistncia e cada enxerto leso de isqumia/reperfuso. - As situaes em que os factores do receptor se sobrepem s do enxerto na definio do prognstico, e vice versa. - A relevncia das leses histolgicas e moleculares precoces no tecido heptico na evoluo do enxerto e do receptor. Foram colhidas bipsias por agulha dos 54 enxertos hepticos,42 provenientes de cadver com corao batente(morte cerebral) e 12 provenientes de dador vivo com PAF, em trs tempos diferentes do processo de colheita e transplante heptico: A primeira(T0)antes da clampagem da aorta do dador - A segunda (T1) no final da isqumia fria - A terceira (T2) aps a reperfuso do enxerto, durante o encerramento da parede abdominal. A estas amostras foi extrado RNA total, convertido em cDNA por transcrio reversa e feita a anlise da expresso dos genes da CTLA4, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, TNF-, Perforina, Selectina, (SELE), Fas-ligando, Granzima-B, Heme-Oxigenase 1(HO1)e xido Ntrico Sintetase(iNOS2A)por PCR quantitativo segundo o mtodo do Ct comparativo, utilizando como referncia a expresso dos genes da amostra no-isqumica T0. Os fragmentos de todas as bipsias foram seccionados, para envio de amostra comparativa para processamento histolgico habitual, sem qualquer alterao ao protocolo seguido habitualmente na Unidade de Transplantao do Hospital Curry Cabral. A presena de alguns parmetros histolgicos definidos, como esteatose, necrose, vacuolizao, congesto sinusoidal e infiltrao neutroflica, foi registada e contabilizada numa classificao numrica. O seguimento clnico e laboratorial, bem como o acompanhamento de eventuais complicaes, foi registado e correlacionado com os dados das colheitas de rgos e com os dados das bipsias. Foram consideradas as seguintes variveis, como as mais relevantes e objectivas para a interpretao da evoluo clnica, tendo sido comparadas estatisticamente com os dados recolhidos, laboratoriais e clnicos: disfuno do enxerto, 207 ps operatrias, nmero de internamentos igual ou superior a 2 e rejeio crnica e/ou morte do receptor. Foram identificadas caractersticas clnicas menos favorveis, a considerar, nalgumas circunstncias: gnero feminino do receptor (sobretudo associado a enxerto masculino, p=0,077), isqumia fria superior a 500 minutos (p=0,074), isqumia quente superior a 90 minutos (p=0,099). Na anlise laboratorial, distinguiram-se duas caractersticas histolgicas desfavorveis e irreversveis, como ndice de mau prognstico: a necrose e a balonizao (p=0,029); no painel gentico escolhido neste estudo,a expresso basal de IL-1(p=0,028), de SELE p=0,013)e de FAS-L (p=0,079)relacionaram-se com pior prognstico. Algumas caractersticas protectoras intrnsecas dos enxertos s se revelaram indirectamente, como menor infiltrao neutroflica e maior expresso de HO1 e de iNOS nos enxertos PAF, no tendo sido possvel provar uma interferncia directa nos resultados clnicos. No se obteve expresso mensurvel de genes anti- inflamatrios nas biopsias hepticas processadas neste estudo, como a IL13 e a I 4: assim, com a metodologia utilizada, no foi possvel obter um perfil de expresso gentica associado a boa evoluo clnica. O perfil inverso foi sugerido apenas pela expresso basal dos 3 genes mencionados (FAS-L,IL-1 e SELE)no mesmo painel, com o protocolo seguido neste conjunto de 54 doentes. As caractersticas do receptor sobrepuseram-se s do enxerto no caso de: - diagnstico de PAF no receptor, que determinou uma maior predisposio para a disfuno do enxerto, o que, por sua vez, determina uma menor sobrevida. No entanto, o diagnstico de PAF no receptor exibe uma curva de sobrevida mais favorvel. - receptores com um baixo balano de risco (BAR)definiram caractersticas favorveis para enxertos com nveis baixos e moderados de esteatose, fazendo que esta caracterstica, definida como um risco acrescido, no s no se manifestasse clinicamente,como parecesse um factor favorvel. As caractersticas do enxerto sobrepuseram-se s do receptor no caso de: - tempo de isqumia fria superior a 500 minutos - balonizao, necrose, FAS-L,IL-1 e SELE em T0 A integrao dos resultados moleculares e morfolgicos com a evoluo clnica, reala o papel da mobilizao precoce de neutrfilos nos desempenhos menos favorveis do enxerto heptico. -------------ABSTRACT: Orthotopic liver transplantation is na accepted therapeutic procedure for selected cases of terminal liver failure. The procedure has been improved, evidenced by the rise of survival rates from 30 to 70% at 5 years, but 13 to 27% of the liver grafts develops primary non function (PNF) or primary dysfunction (PDF) after transplantation. The consequences are devastating for the survival of the patient and of the graft. Its etiology is multifactorial, including factos related with the donor and with the recipient, ischemic times, surgical aggressions, as well as the histological characteristics of the graft. The ischemia/reperfusion lesion is still an intraoperative risk factor, with direct implications in the whole transplant outcome: there is a close interrelation between PNF and DF, graft preservation, ischemia / reperfusion lesion and graft failure. Beyond his, there is proved evidence that suggests that I/R lesion turns the allograft more vulnerable by increasing its immunogenity, increasing the probability of precocious and late rejection episodes. Based on the daily clinical practice at CHBPT /HCC, 54 cases of hepatic transplantation have been studied, grouped by allocation of each graft: Group (n=27):deceased do nortocirrhotic recipient, Group 2 (n=15): deceased donor to FAP recipient, Group 3 (n=12): FAP living donor to cirrhotic recipient. The histologic and molecular changes in the liver graft were observed until the end of the recipiente operation,together with its clinical consequences, evaluating:-The different capacity of resistance of each graft to the ischemia / reperfusion lesion - The situations where the recipiente factos overlap the ones of the graft, in the definition of prognosis, and vice versa.- The relevance of the precocious histologic and molecular lesions of the hepatic tissue in the clinical outcome of the graft and the recipient. Needle biopsies were obtained from 54 liver grafts, 42 deceased brain dead donors and 12 from FAP living donors, at three diferente times of the harvesting and the hepatic transplantation: The first one (T0) before clamping the donor aorta - The second one (T2) in the end of cold ischemia time - The third one (T) after the reperfusion of the graft, during the closure of the abdominal wall. Total RNAwas extracted to these samples, converted to cDNA by reverse transcription and the analysis of gene expression was made for CTLA4,IL-1,IL-4,IL-6,IL-13,TNF-,Perforin,E Selectin (SELE),Fas-ligand,Granzyme-B,Heme-oxigenase 1 (HO1) and Nitric Oxide Sintetase (iNOS2A) by quantitative PCR, according with the Ct comparative method, using the expression of the non ischemic sample T0. The fragments of all the biopsies were divided, to send a comparative sample to the usual histologic processement, keeping the same usual protocol at the Transplantation Unit of Curry Cabral Hospital. The presence of some defined histologic parameters, such as steatosis, necrosis, vacuolization, sinusoidal congestion and neutrophilic infiltration, was registered and catalogued in a numeric classification. The clinical and laboratory follow-up, as well as the following of eventual complications, was registered and correlated with the data from organ procurement operations and with the data from the biopsies. The following variables were considered as the most relevant and objective ones, to the interpretation of the clinical evolution, being statistically compared with the clinical and laboratorial collected data: graft dysfunction, post-operative complications, number of readmissions of 2 or more and chronic rejection and /or recipiente death. There were identified some unfavorable clinical characteristics, to be considered under certain circumstances: recipiente female gender (specially associated with malegraft, p=0,077), cold ischemia time of more than 500 minutes (p=0,074), warm ischemia time of more than 90 minutes (p=0,099). In the laboratory analysis, two histologic characteristics were identified as unfavorable and irreversible, associated with bad prognosis: necrosis and balonization (p=0,029); in the gene panel selected in this study, the basal expression of IL-1 (p=0,028), SELE (p=0,013) and FAS-L (p=0,079)were related with worse prognosis.Some intrinsic protective characteristics of the grafts were only indirectly revealed, such as less neutrophilic infiltration and bigger expression of HO1 and iNOS in FAP grafts, being impossible to prove any direct inte ference in the clinical results. A relevant and measurable expression of the anti inflammatory genes IL13 and IL4 was not obtained: with the used methodology, it was impossible to obtain a gene expression profile associated with a favorable clinical outcome.The inverse profile was suggested only by the basal expression of the three mentioned genes (FAS-L, IL- 1 e SELE) in the same gene panel, according with the followed protocol in this group of 54 patients. The characteristics of the recipient overlapped those from the graft, in the case of :- FAP diagnosis in the recipient, which determined a bigger predisposition to graft dysfunction, which by itself determines a shorter survival. However, FAP diagnosis in the recipiente depicts a more favorable survival curve. - Recipients with a low balance risk ndex (BAR) defined favorable characteristics to grafts with low and moderate grades of steatosis, making that this characteristic, associated with bad prognosis, looked like a favorable factor, and with no clinical interference. The graft characteristics overlapped those from the receptor in the case of: - Cold ischemic time more than 500 minutes - Balonization, necrosis, FAS-L, IL-1 and SELE at T0. The integration of molecular and morphologic results with the clinical evolution, stresses the role of a precocious neutrophils mobilization in the worse outcomes of liver grafts.
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Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major human pathogen that has acquired resistance to practically all classes of -lactam antibiotics, being responsible of Multidrug resistant S. aureus (MRSA) associated infections both in healthcare (HA-MRSA) and community settings (CA-MRSA). The emergence of laboratory strains with high-resistance (VRSA) to the last resort antibiotic, vancomycin, is a warning of what is to come in clinical strains. Penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) target -lactams and are responsible for catalyzing the last steps of synthesis of the main component of cell wall, peptidoglycan. As in Escherichia coli, it is suggested that S. aureus uses a multi-protein complex that carries out cell wall synthesis. In the presence of -lactams, PBP2A and PBP2 perform a joint action to build the cell wall and allow cell survival. Likewise, PBP2 cooperates with PBP4 in cell wall cross-linking. However, an actual interaction between PBP2 and PBP4 and the location of such interaction has not yet been determined. Therefore, investigation of the existence of a PBP2-PBP4 interaction and its location(s) in vivo is of great interest, as it should provide new insights into the function of the cell wall synthesis machinery in S. aureus. The aim of this work was to develop Split-GFPP7 system to determine interactions between PBP2 and PBP4. GFPP7 was split in a strategic site and fused to proteins of interest. When each GFPP7 fragment, fused to proteins, was expressed alone in staphylococcal cells, no fluorescence was detectable. When GFPP7 fragments fused to different peptidoglycan synthesis (PBP2 and PBP4) or cell division (FtsZ and EzrA) proteins were co-expressed together, fluorescent fusions were localized to the septum. However, further analysis revealed that this positive result is mediated by GFPP7 self-association. We then interpret the results in light of such event and provide insights into ways of improving this system.
Resumo:
The restoration materials currently used to fill gaps in architectural historical azulejos (e.g. lime or organic resin pastes) usually show serious drawbacks in terms of compatibility, effectiveness and durability. The existing solutions do not fully protect azulejos in outdoor conditions and frequently result in further deterioration. Geopolymers can be a potential solution for azulejo lacunae infill given the chemical-mineralogical similitude to the ceramic body, and also the durability and versatile range of physical properties that can be obtained through the manipulation of their formulation and curing conditions. This work presents and discusses the viability of the use of geopolymeric pastes to fill lacunae in azulejos or to act as cold cast ceramic tile surrogates reproducing missing azulejo fragments. The formulation of geopolymers, namely the type of activators, the aluminosilicate source, the amount of water (to meet adequate workability requirements) and curing conditions were studied. The need for post-curing desalination was also considered envisaging their application in the restoration of outdoor architectural historical azulejos frequently exposed to adverse environmental conditions. The possible advantages and disadvantages of the use of geopolymers in the conservation of azulejos are also discussed. Several techniques were used to study the chemical and physical behavior of geopolymers, namely FT-IR, XRD, MIP, SEM-EDS, WDXRF, electrical conductivity, open porosity, bending strength, adhesion strength, water vapour permeability, thermal expansion and hydric expansion. The results indicate that geopolymers are a promising material for restoration of azulejos, exhibiting some properties, such as adhesion to the ceramic substrate, higher than inorganic materials used nowadays, such as aerial lime based pastes.
Resumo:
Notch is a conserved signalling pathway, which plays a crucial role in a multiple cellular processes such as stem cell self-renewal, cell division, proliferation and apoptosis. In mammalian, four Notch receptors and five ligands are described, where interaction is achieved through their extracellular domains, leading to a transcription activation of different target genes. Increased expression of Notch ligands has been detected in several types of cancer, including breast cancer suggesting that these proteins represent possible therapeutic targets. The goal of this work was to generate quality protein targets and, by phage display technology, select function-blocking antibodies specific for Notch ligands. Phage display is a powerful technique that allows the generation of highly specific antibodies to be used for therapeutics, and it has also proved to be a reliable approach in identifying and validating new cancer-related targets. Also, we aimed at solving the tri-dimensional structure of the Notch ligands alone and in complex with selected antibodies. In this work, the initial phase focused on the optimization of the expression and purification of a human Delta-like 1 ligand mutant construct (hDLL1-DE3), by refolding from E. coli inclusion bodies. To confirm the biological activity of the produced recombinant protein cellular functional studies were performed, revealing that treatment with hDLL1-DE3 protein led to a modulation of Notch target genes. In a second stage of this study, Antibody fragments (Fabs) specific for hDLL1-DE3 were generated by phage display, using the produced protein as target, in which one good Fab candidate was selected to determine the best expression conditions. In parallel, multiple crystallization conditions were tested with hDLL1-DE3, but so far none led to positive results.
