Biogenic amines in wine: gene transcription as a tool for selection of Oenococcus oeni starter strains

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

Molybdenum Induces the expression of a protein containing a new heterometallic Mo-Fe cluster in desulfoVibrio alaskensis

Biochemistry. 2009 Feb 10;48(5):873-82. doi: 10.1021/bi801773t.

Integrated study by NMR and X-ray Crystallography on the analysis of the molecular interactions in heme-binding proteins

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Bioquímica, Especialidade Bioquímica Estrutural

Calcinose Cutis, Insuficiência Renal e Heparinas de Baixo Peso Molecular Contendo Cálcio

Foi solicitada observação por Dermatologia de uma doente de 35 anos de idade, de raça negra, por 2 nódulos subcutâneos localizados na região paraumbilical direita e flanco direito com 2 semanas de evolução. Da história prévia, destaque para doença renal crónica em programa de hemodiálise e infeção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (VIH-1). Ao exame objetivo observaram-se 2 nódulos bem delimitados, subcutâneos, sem alteração da coloração; à palpação, estes eram dolorosos, de consistência pétrea e não aderentes aos planos profundos. Foi realizada biópsia incisional para exame histopatológico, que confirmou a hipótese diagnóstica de calcinose cutis. Uma revisão cuidadosa de toda a medicação realizada permitiu estabelecer a relação entre este achado e a administração subcutânea de nadroparina cálcica nessa localização, umas semanas antes. A dermatose regrediu espontaneamente em 2 meses após a suspensão das injeções subcutâneas de nadroparina cálcica. A calcinose cutis devida à administração de heparinas de baixo peso molecular contendo cálcio é rara, admitindo-se que elevação do produto fósforo-cálcio possa ser determinante na sua fisiopatologia. É geralmente autolimitada, resolvendo espontaneamente.

Adult B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells Display Decreased PTEN Activity and Constitutive Hyperactivation of PI3K/Akt Pathway Despite High PTEN Protein Levels

Adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia remains a major therapeutic challenge, requiring a better characterization of the molecular determinants underlying disease progression and resistance to treatment. Here, using a phospho-flow cytometry approach we show that adult diagnostic B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia specimens display PI3K/Akt pathway hyperactivation, irrespective of their BCR-ABL status and despite paradoxically high basal expression of PTEN, the major negative regulator of the pathway. Protein kinase CK2 is known to phosphorylate PTEN thereby driving PTEN protein stabilization and concomitant PTEN functional inactivation. In agreement, we found that adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia samples show significantly higher CK2 kinase activity and lower PTEN lipid phosphatase activity than healthy controls. Moreover, the clinical-grade CK2 inhibitor CX-4945 (Silmitasertib) reversed PTEN levels in leukemia cells to those observed in healthy controls, and promoted leukemia cell death without significantly affecting normal bone marrow cells. Our studies indicate that CK2-mediated PTEN posttranslational inactivation, associated with PI3K/Akt pathway hyperactivation, are a common event in adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and suggest that CK2 inhibition may constitute a valid, novel therapeutic tool in this malignancy.

Trypanosoma (herpetosoma) Rangeli tejera, 1920: influence of host weight, size of inoculum, and route of infection upon experimental parasitemia

To study the influence of host age, inoculum size, and route of infection on Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) rangeli, 12 lots of 6.0 g albino mice (NMRI strain) were infected up. with from 25x10¹ to 25x10(6) trypomastigotes/gram body weight harvested from LIT medium. The lower inocula produced low but persistent parasitemias, while the higher inocula produced high levels of parasitemia that fell quickly, suggesting the mobilization of resistance mechanisms. In other experiments, i.p. inoculation produced higher parasitemias than s.c. inoculation, and 6.0 g mice had higher parasitemias than 16.0 or 26.0 g mice. Thus, a standard methodology would seem to be necessary in the study of the various strains and/or species that may make up the T. rangeli complex.

Preparation and characterization of microfiltration flat polymeric membranes for biomedical applications

Dissertation presented to Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa for obtaining the master degree in Membrane Engineering

Study of multi-component systems in polybenzimidazole membrane formation and their impact on membrane performance

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Effect of surfactant on PDLC films with and without permanent memory effect

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Peptidoglycan assembly machines: The Staphylococcus aureus Penicillin-Binding Proteins

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

Molecular tools to dissect the role of Dmrt2a and Dmrt2b in the left-right axis formation in zebrafish

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Genética Molecular e Biomedicina

Molecular evidence of mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-IIc in the Kararao Village (Kayapo) in the Amazon Region of Brazil

Blood samples from native Indians in the Kararao village (Kayapo), were analysed using serological and molecular methods to characterize infection and analyse transmission of HTLV-II. Specific reactivity was observed in 3/26 individuals, of which two samples were from a mother and child. RFLP analysis of the pX and env regions confirmed HTLV-II infection. Nucleotide sequence of the 5' LTR segment and phylogenetic analysis showed a high similarity (98%) between the three samples and prototype HTLV-IIa (Mot), and confirmed the occurrence of the HTLV-IIc subtype. There was a high genetic similarity (99.9%) between the mother and child samples and the only difference was a deletion of two nucleotides (TC) in the mother sequence. Previous epidemiological studies among native Indians from Brazil have provided evidence of intrafamilial and vertical transmission of HTLV-IIc. The present study now provides molecular evidence of mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-IIc, a mechanism that is in large part responsible for the endemicity of HTLV in these relatively closed populations. Although the actual route of transmission is unknown, breast feeding would appear to be most likely.

Genetic parameters and mapping quantitative trait loci associated with tibia traits in broilers.

Abstract: Selection among broilers for performance traits is resulting in locomotion problems and bone disorders, once skeletal structure is not strong enough to support body weight in broilers with high growth rates. In this study, genetic parameters were estimated for body weight at 42 days of age (BW42), and tibia traits (length, width, and weight) in a population of broiler chickens. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified for tibia traits to expand our knowledge of the genetic architecture of the broiler population. Genetic correlations ranged from 0.56 +/- 0.18 (between tibia length and BW42) to 0.89 +/- 0.06 (between tibia width and weight), suggesting that these traits are either controlled by pleiotropic genes or by genes that are in linkage disequilibrium. For QTL mapping, the genome was scanned with 127 microsatellites, representing a coverage of 2630 cM. Eight QTL were mapped on Gallus gallus chromosomes (GGA): GGA1, GGA4, GGA6, GGA13, and GGA24. The QTL regions for tibia length and weight were mapped on GGA1, between LEI0079 and MCW145 markers. The gene DACH1 is located in this region; this gene acts to form the apical ectodermal ridge, responsible for limb development. Body weight at 42 days of age was included in the model as a covariate for selection effect of bone traits. Two QTL were found for tibia weight on GGA2 and GGA4, and one for tibia width on GGA3. Information originating from these QTL will assist in the search for candidate genes for these bone traits in future studies.

Structural changes in the jejunal mucosa of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni, fed low or high protein diets

The effects of high and low-protein diets on the structure of the jejunal mucosa were studied in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice (morphology and histomorphometry). Weaning male albino mice were infected with 80 cercariae, fed with high (20%) or low-protein (5%) diets and compared to uninfected controls under the same conditions. Mice were sacrificed 12 weeks after infection. Animals submitted to a low-protein diet showed lower weight curves, mainly when infected. In the jejunal mucosa, finger-like villi were the predominant pattern among uninfected high-protein fed animals, while the infected ones showed leaf-shaped and flattened villi in most cases. Undernourished infected mice had 65.7% leaf-shaped villi. A significant increase in the number of goblet cells was seen in infected mice. A decrease in the number of absorptive cells was detected in undernourished mice, particularly in infected ones.

Microbiology of membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment: a molecular approach

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Engineering and Technology Sciences, Biotechnology.