CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- BIOLUMINESCENCE AND APPLICATIONS IN DENTISTRY -- ABSTRACT -- I. INTRODUCTION -- A. ATP-Driven Bioluminescence and Microbiological Detection -- B. Advantages and Limitations in the Use of ATP-Driven Bioluminescence Microbiological Detection -- 1. Simplicity -- 2. Accuracy -- 3. Efficiency -- 4. Specificity -- C. Applications of ATP-Driven Bioluminescence in Medicine -- D. Dental Caries and Use of ATP-Driven Bioluminescence in Dentistry -- E. Biochemical and Microbiological Determinants of Dental Caries -- II. METHODS -- A. Use of ATP-Driven Bioluminescence to Assess Dental Caries Risk in Pediatric Patients -- B. Clinical Observations, Plaque Index Score and Caries Activity -- C. Plaque Specimens Collected from Specific Teeth -- D. Microbiological Identification of Plaque and Saliva Bacteria -- E. ATP-Driven Bioluminescence Determinations from Plaque and Saliva Specimens -- II. RESULTS -- A. Calibration of ATP Standards to Bioluminescence Measurements -- B. Statistical Correlations Linking ATP-Driven Bioluminescence Values to Total Oral Bacteria, Total Oral Streptococci and Total Mutans Streptococc Numbers -- III. DISCUSSION -- A. Criteria Used for Development of OHSU Pediatric Dentistry Caries Risk Index -- B. Quantitative Formulation of OHSU Pediatric Dentistry Caries Risk Index -- C. Relationship between ATP-Driven Bioluminescence, Oral Hygiene and Caries Risk -- CONCLUSION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- REFERENCES -- NEW METHODOLOGIES BASED ON THE COUPLING OF LUCIFERASE WITH NANOMATERIALS -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION -- Basic Concepts about Nanoscience, Nanomaterials, Nanochemistry and Nanotechnology -- Why Nanomaterials-Luciferase Coupling? -- NEW METHODOLOGIES BASED ON THE COUPLING OF LUCIFERASE WITH NANOMATERIALS -- Carbon-Based Nanomaterials -- Carbon Nanotubes -- Nanodiamonds -- Metallic Nanoparticles.

Gold Nanoparticles -- Quantum Dots -- Nanostructured Materials -- Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles -- Nanostructured Film -- CONCLUSION -- REFERENCES -- BIOLUMINESCENCE BIOREPORTER STRAINS FOR THE DETECTION OF QUORUM-SENSING N-ACYL-HOMOSERINE LACTONE SIGNAL MOLECULES -- ABSTRACT -- ABBREVIATIONS -- 1. INTRODUCTION -- 1.1. Non-specific -- 1.2. Semi-specific -- 1.3. Specific -- 1.4. Whole-cell Bioreporters Based on the luxCDABE Bioluminescence Output -- 2. CELL-TO-CELL COMMUNICATIONIN GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA -- 2.1. Gram-negative Bacterian-acyl-homoserine Lactone(acyl-HSL)Signals -- 2.2. LuxR-type acyl-HSL-specific Receptor Proteins -- 3. BIOREPORTERSBASED ON REPORTER GENES luxCDABE FOR ACYL-HSL DETECTION -- 3.1. The Importance of a Control Strain -- 3.2. Detection of Short-chain acyl-HSLs -- 3.3. Detection of Long-chain Acyl-HSLs -- 3.4. Bioluminescent Bioreportersfor Broad Range Detection of Acyl-HSLs -- 3.5. Use of Acyl-HSL-specific Bioluminescent Bioreporters -- 3.6. Design of in vitro Cell-free Bioassay for Acyl-HSLDetection -- 3.7. Design of Portable Bioreporter for Acyl-HSL Detection -- 3.8. Potential Steps in the Detection Pathway to Increase Sensitivity and Future Directions -- Diffusion of Acyl-HSLs -- Use of LuxR Solos asReceptorsin acyl-HSL Biosensors -- Bioengineered LuxR Receptors -- Other than the luxCDABEgenes as the Bioluminescence Reporter -- CONCLUSION -- REFERENCES -- THE USE OF BACTERIAL BIOSENSORS TO DETERMINE THE TOXICTY OF NANOMATERIALS AND OTHER XENOBIOTICS -- ABSTRACT -- 1. INTRODUCTION -- Bacterial Biosensors -- Nanoparticles Toxicity -- Phenol Compounds -- 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS -- 2.1. Chemicals -- Phenol Compounds -- Silver Species -- 2.2. Media and Growth Conditions -- Organism -- 2.3. Biosensor Assay -- 2.4. Calculation of IC50 (IC- Inhibitory Concentration) Values -- 2.5. Data Analysis.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION -- Phenol Compounds -- Silver Materials -- CONCLUSION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- REFERENCES -- BIOLUMINESCENCE: CHARACTERISTICS, ADAPTATIONS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENT -- REFERENCES -- BIOLUMINESCENCE RESONANT ENERGY TRANSFER AS A BASIS FOR A NOVEL HYPOXIA BIOSENSOR FOR IN VIVO FUNCTIONAL IMAGING -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION -- Imaging Techniques in Oncology -- Optical Methods Overview -- Bioluminescence Resonant Energy Transfer (BRET) -- Optical Methods in Clinical Surgery -- Hypoxia as a TumoralAggresivity Marker in Cancer -- RESULTS -- CONCLUSION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- REFERENCES -- KINETICALLY MONITORING THE EXPRESSION OF ALPHA-TOXIN USING AN HLA PROMOTER- LUCIFERASE REPORTER FUSION IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS -- ABSTRACT -- STAPHYLOCOCCAL ALPHA-TOXIN -- BIOLUMINESCENCE REPORTER -- KINETICALLY MONITORING THE EXPRESSION OF ALPHA-TOXIN USING A HLA PROMOTER-LUX REPORTER FUSION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- REFERENCES -- BRET-BASED SCREENING ASSAYS IN SEVEN-TRANSMEMBRANE (7TM) RECEPTOR DRUG DISCOVERY -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION -- 7TMRS AND ARRESTINS -- BRET PRINCIPLE AND TECHNOLOGY -- BRET2 SIGNAL - CLASS A VS. CLASS B 7TMRS -- BRET2 SIGNAL - EFFECT OF ΒETA-ARRESTIN2 MUTANTS -- BRET2 SIGNAL - EFFECT OF CARBOXYL-TAIL SWAPPING -- CONCLUSION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENT -- REFERENCES -- CHARACTERISTICS AND CONTROL OF BACTERIAL BIOLUMINESCENCE -- ABSTRACT -- 1. INTRODUCTION -- 2. BIOLUMINESCENT BACTERIA -- 3. STABILITY OF BIOLUMINESCENCE INTENSITY -- 4. ANALYSIS OF THE STABILITY -- 5. OSCILLATION IN BACTERIAL LUMINESCENCE -- 6. CONTROL OF BACTERIAL LUMINESCENCE -- CONCLUSION -- REFERENCES -- INDEX.