Genetic Structure and TALome Analysis Highlight a High Level of Diversity in Burkinabe Xanthomonas Oryzae pv. oryzae Populations

Bacterial Leaf Blight of rice (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a major threat for food security in many rice growing countries including Burkina Faso, where the disease was first reported in the 1980's. In line with the intensification of rice cultivation in West-Africa, BLB incidence has been rising for the last 15 years. West-African strains of Xoo differ from their Asian counterparts as they (i) are genetically distant, (ii) belong to new races and, (iii) contain reduced repertoires of Transcription Activator Like (TAL) effector genes. In order to investigate the evolutionary dynamics of Xoo populations in Burkina Faso, 177 strains were collected from 2003 to 2018 in three regions where BLB is occurring. Multilocus VNTR Analysis (MLVA-14) targeting 10 polymorphic loci discriminated 24 haplotypes and showed that Xoo populations were structured according to their geographical localization and year of collection. Considering their major role in Xoo pathogenicity, we assessed the TAL effector repertoires of the 177 strains upon RFLP-based profiling. Surprisingly, an important diversity was revealed with up to eight different RFLP patterns. Finally, comparing neutral vs. tal effector gene diversity allowed to suggest scenarios underlying the evolutionary dynamics of Xoo populations in Burkina Faso, which is key to rationally guide the deployment of durably resistant rice varieties against BLB in the country.

Induced ovule-to-flower switch by interfering with SlIMA activity in tomato

The INHIBITOR OF MERISTEM ACTIVITY in tomato (SlIMA) and MINI ZINC FINGER 2 in Arabidopsis (AtMIF2), two members of the MINI ZINC FINGER family (MIF), are involved in the regulation of flower and ovule development. MIF proteins possess a unique non-canonical zinc-finger domain that confers the capacity to interact with other protein partners. The characterization of SlIMA and AtMIF2 gain- and loss-of-function transgenic lines in Solanum lycopersicum and Arabidopsis thaliana respectively, allowed the demonstration of their conserved functional role in the termination of floral stem cell maintenance. During early floral development, the expression of SlIMA and AtMIF2 is induced by the MADS-Box transcription factor AGAMOUS (AG). Then, SlIMA or AtMIF2 protein recruits the C₂H₂ zinc finger KNUCKLES (KNU), in a transcriptional repressor complex together with TOPLESS (TPL) and HISTONE DEACETYLASE19 (HDA19). This complex binds to the WUSCHEL (WUS) locus leading to its repression. To further characterize the role of these interactions in flower development, we have investigated the effects of a dominant negative form of SlIMA, SlIMA^ch that leads to spectacular phenotypes, including ovule conversion into a floral meristem.

Transmission of Xylella fastidiosa to Grapevine by the Meadow Spittlebug

There is little information available on Xylella fastidiosa transmission by spittlebugs (Hemiptera, Cercopoidea). This group of insect vectors may be of epidemiological relevance in certain diseases, so it is important to better understand the basic parameters of X. fastidiosa transmission by spittlebugs. We used grapevines as a host plant and the aphrophorid Philaenus spumarius as a vector to estimate the effect of plant access time on X. fastidiosa transmission to plants; in addition, bacterial population estimates in the heads of vectors were determined and correlated with plant infection status. Results show that transmission efficiency of X. fastidiosa by P. spumarius increased with plant access time, similarly to insect vectors in another family (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae). Furthermore, a positive correlation between pathogen populations in P. spumarius and transmission to plants was observed. Bacterial populations in insects were one to two orders of magnitude lower than those observed in leafhopper vectors, and population size peaked within 3 days of plant access period. These results suggest that P. spumarius has either a limited number of sites in the foregut that may be colonized, or that fluid dynamics in the mouthparts of these insects is different from that in leafhoppers. Altogether our results indicate that X. fastidiosa transmission by spittlebugs is similar to that by leafhoppers. In addition, the relationship between cell numbers in vectors and plant infection may have under-appreciated consequences to pathogen spread.

Outcome of kidney transplantations performed with preformed donor-specific antibodies of unknown etiology

The detection of preformed donor-specific alloantibodies (DSA) with multiplex-bead arrays has led to the common observation that individuals without a history of pregnancy, transfusion or transplantation can have circulating anti-HLA antibodies of unknown etiology. We retrospectively analyzed the risk of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and graft outcome in 41 kidney transplant recipients with DSA of unknown etiology (DSA cause-unk) at the time of transplantation. Twenty-one patients received a posttransplantation desensitization protocol, and 20 received standard immunosuppressive therapy. The mean number of DSA was 1.4 ± 0.8, ranging from 1 to 5. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatches were negative for all the patients. Flow cytometry crossmatches were positive in 47.6% of cases. The incidence of acute AMR was 14.6% at 1 year, regardless of the immunosuppressive regimen. No patients experienced graft loss following AMR. At month 12, across the entire population of patients with DSA cause-unk, the outcomes were favorable: the measured glomerular filtration rate was 63.8 ± 16.4 mL/min/1.73 m(2), the screening biopsies showed low frequencies of microvascular inflammation and no transplant glomerulopathy, and graft and patient survival were 100%. In conclusion, patients with DSA cause-unk are able to mount AMR but have favorable 1-year outcomes.

Adaptive changes of the Insig1/SREBP1/SCD1 set point help adipose tissue to cope with increased storage demands of obesity

The epidemic of obesity imposes unprecedented challenges on human adipose tissue (WAT) storage capacity that may benefit from adaptive mechanisms to maintain adipocyte functionality. Here, we demonstrate that changes in the regulatory feedback set point control of Insig1/SREBP1 represent an adaptive response that preserves WAT lipid homeostasis in obese and insulin-resistant states. In our experiments, we show that Insig1 mRNA expression decreases in WAT from mice with obesity-associated insulin resistance and from morbidly obese humans and in in vitro models of adipocyte insulin resistance. Insig1 downregulation is part of an adaptive response that promotes the maintenance of SREBP1 maturation and facilitates lipogenesis and availability of appropriate levels of fatty acid unsaturation, partially compensating the antilipogenic effect associated with insulin resistance. We describe for the first time the existence of this adaptive mechanism in WAT, which involves Insig1/SREBP1 and preserves the degree of lipid unsaturation under conditions of obesity-induced insulin resistance. These adaptive mechanisms contribute to maintain lipid desaturation through preferential SCD1 regulation and facilitate fat storage in WAT, despite on-going metabolic stress.

Plasmodium falciparum NIMA-related kinase Pfnek-1: sex specificity and assessment of essentiality for the erythrocytic asexual cycle

The Plasmodium falciparum kinome includes a family of four protein kinases (Pfnek-1 to -4) related to the NIMA (never-in-mitosis) family, members of which play important roles in mitosis and meiosis in eukaryotic cells. Only one of these, Pfnek-1, which we previously characterized at the biochemical level, is expressed in asexual parasites. The other three (Pfnek-2, -3 and -4) are expressed predominantly in gametocytes, and a role for nek-2 and nek-4 in meiosis has been documented. Here we show by reverse genetics that Pfnek-1 is required for completion of the asexual cycle in red blood cells and that its expression in gametocytes in detectable by immunofluorescence in male (but not in female) gametocytes, in contrast with Pfnek-2 and Pfnek-4. This indicates that the function of Pfnek-1 is non-redundant with those of the other members of the Pfnek family and identifies Pfnek-1 as a potential target for antimalarial chemotherapy. A medium-throughput screen of a small-molecule library provides proof of concept that recombinant Pfnek-1 can be used as a target in drug discovery.

Activation of a PAK-MEK signalling pathway in malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes

Merozoites of malaria parasites invade red blood cells (RBCs), where they multiply by schizogony, undergoing development through ring, trophozoite and schizont stages that are responsible for malaria pathogenesis. Here, we report that a protein kinase-mediated signalling pathway involving host RBC PAK1 and MEK1, which do not have orthologues in the Plasmodium kinome, is selectively stimulated in Plasmodium falciparum-infected (versus uninfected) RBCs, as determined by the use of phospho-specific antibodies directed against the activated forms of these enzymes. Pharmacological interference with host MEK and PAK function using highly specific allosteric inhibitors in their known cellular IC₅₀ ranges results in parasite death. Furthermore, MEK inhibitors have parasiticidal effects in vitro on hepatocyte and erythrocyte stages of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, indicating conservation of this subversive strategy in malaria parasites. These findings have profound implications for the development of novel strategies for antimalarial chemotherapy.

Malaria: targeting parasite and host cell kinomes

Malaria still remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases, and has a tremendous morbidity and mortality impact in the developing world. The propensity of the parasites to develop drug resistance, and the relative reluctance of the pharmaceutical industry to invest massively in the developments of drugs that would offer only limited marketing prospects, are major issues in antimalarial drug discovery. Protein kinases (PKs) have become a major family of targets for drug discovery research in a number of disease contexts, which has generated considerable resources such as kinase-directed libraries and high throughput kinase inhibition assays. The phylogenetic distance between malaria parasites and their human host translates into important divergences in their respective kinomes, and most Plasmodium kinases display atypical properties (as compared to mammalian PKs) that can be exploited towards selective inhibition. Here, we discuss the taxon-specific kinases possessed by malaria parasites, and give an overview of target PKs that have been validated by reverse genetics, either in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum or in the rodent model Plasmodium berghei. We also briefly allude to the possibility of attacking Plasmodium through the inhibition of human PKs that are required for survival of this obligatory intracellular parasite, and which are targets for other human diseases.

Functional characterization of both MAP kinases of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum by reverse genetics

The kinome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum includes two genes encoding mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) homologues, pfmap-1 and pfmap-2, but no clear orthologue of the MAPK kinase (MAPKK) family, raising the question of the mode of activation and function of the plasmodial MAPKs. Functional studies in the rodent malaria model Plasmodium berghei recently showed the map-2 gene to be dispensable for asexual growth and gametocytogenesis, but essential for male gametogenesis in the mosquito vector. Here, we demonstrate by using a reverse genetics approach that the map-2 gene is essential for completion of the asexual cycle of P. falciparum, an unexpected result in view of the non-essentiality of the orthologous gene for P. berghei erythrocytic schizogony. This validates Pfmap-2 as a potential target for chemotherapeutic intervention. In contrast, the other P. falciparum MAPK, Pfmap-1, is required neither for in vitro schizogony and gametocytogenesis in erythrocytes, nor for gametogenesis and sporogony in the mosquito vector. However, Pfmap-2 protein levels are elevated in pfmap-1(-) parasites, suggesting that Pfmap-1 fulfils an important function in asexual parasites that necessitates compensatory adaptation in parasites lacking this enzyme.

The effects of increasing serum calcitriol on energy and fat metabolism and gene expression

OBJECTIVE

Evidence from a number of investigations indicates that calcium intake could be inversely related to body weight through alterations in the 1,25-OH(2)-D(3) metabolism. The objective of this study was to test whether energy and substrate metabolism and adipose tissue enzyme mRNA expression can be altered by changes in serum 1,25-OH(2)-D(3) through oral cholecalciferol supplementation in non-obese human subjects.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

An intervention study was used with a treatment period of 7 days. During this intervention, energy expenditure (EE) and substrate metabolism were measured using indirect calorimetry at t = 0, 1, 3, and 7 days, and blood samples were obtained at t = -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days. Fat biopsies were obtained at t = 0 and 7 days for determination of expression of genes involved in lipolytic and lipogenic pathways. Subjects from the general community were studied in an ambulatory setting at a university hospital. Ten healthy young men (age, 28 +/- 3 years; BMI, 25.5 +/- 0.5 kg/m(2)) were recruited by local announcement, and all completed the study. All subjects received 2000 IU cholecalciferol/d for 7 days, and they were instructed to consume a low-cholecalciferol, low-calcium diet. EE, fat oxidation, and adipose tissue enzyme mRNA were the main outcome measures.

RESULTS

Despite a significant increase in serum 1,25-OH(2)-D(3) concentration at t = 5 and 7 days, no significant differences in substrate and energy metabolism nor mRNA concentrations of different lipid metabolism-related proteins were observed.

DISCUSSION

Seven-day supplementation with 2000 IU cholecalciferol/d together with a decrease in dietary calcium intake does not affect EE or substrate metabolism nor gene expression of proteins related to fat metabolism, despite a significant increase in serum 1,25-OH(2)-D(3) concentration.

Effects of 3 diets with various calcium contents on 24-h energy expenditure, fat oxidation, and adipose tissue message RNA expression of lipid metabolism-related proteins

BACKGROUND

Evidence from molecular and animal research and epidemiologic investigations indicates that calcium intake may be inversely related to body weight, possibly through alterations in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] metabolism.

OBJECTIVE

We tested whether energy and substrate metabolism and adipose tissue enzyme messenger RNA (mRNA) expression can be altered by dietary calcium intake in healthy, nonobese, human volunteers consuming an isocaloric diet.

DESIGN

Twelve healthy men [age: 28 +/- 2 y; body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)): 25.2 +/- 06] received 3 isocaloric diets [high calcium (1259 +/- 9 mg/d), high dairy (high/high); high calcium (1259 +/- 9 mg/d), low dairy (high/low); and low calcium (349 +/- 8 mg/d), low dairy (low/low)] in a randomized crossover design. At the end of the 7-d dietary periods, 24-h energy expenditure and substrate metabolism were measured, and fat biopsy specimens were obtained to determine mRNA expression in genes involved in the lipolytic and lipogenic pathways.

RESULTS

The 24-h energy expenditure was 11.8 +/- 0.3, 11.6 +/- 0.3, and 11.7 +/- 0.3 MJ/24 h in the high/high, high/low, and low/low conditions, respectively. Fat oxidation in these conditions was 108 +/- 7, 105 +/- 9, and 100 +/- 6 g/24 h. These differences were not statistically significant. mRNA concentrations of UCP2, FAS, GPDH2, HSL, and PPARG did not differ significantly. Serum 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) concentrations changed from 175 +/- 16 to 138 +/- 15, 181 +/- 23 to 159 +/- 19, and 164 +/- 13 to 198 +/- 19 pmol/L in the high/high, high/low, and low/low conditions, respectively, and was significantly different between the high/high and low/low conditions (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Altering the dietary calcium content for 7 d does not influence substrate metabolism, energy metabolism, or gene expression in proteins related to fat metabolism, despite significant changes in 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) concentrations.

Adipocyte lipases and defect of lipolysis in human obesity

The mobilization of fat stored in adipose tissue is mediated by hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and the recently characterized adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), yet their relative importance in lipolysis is unknown. We show that a novel potent inhibitor of HSL does not inhibit other lipases. The compound counteracted catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis in mouse adipocytes and had no effect on residual triglyceride hydrolysis and lipolysis in HSL-null mice. In human adipocytes, catecholamine- and natriuretic peptide-induced lipolysis were completely blunted by the HSL inhibitor. When fat cells were not stimulated, glycerol but not fatty acid release was inhibited. HSL and ATGL mRNA levels increased concomitantly during adipocyte differentiation. Abundance of the two transcripts in human adipose tissue was highly correlated in habitual dietary conditions and during a hypocaloric diet, suggesting common regulatory mechanisms for the two genes. Comparison of obese and nonobese subjects showed that obesity was associated with a decrease in catecholamine-induced lipolysis and HSL expression in mature fat cells and in differentiated preadipocytes. In conclusion, HSL is the major lipase for catecholamine- and natriuretic peptide-stimulated lipolysis, whereas ATGL mediates the hydrolysis of triglycerides during basal lipolysis. Decreased catecholamine-induced lipolysis and low HSL expression constitute a possibly primary defect in obesity.

ALOX5AP expression, but not gene haplotypes, is associated with obesity and insulin resistance

OBJECTIVE

Inflammation in adipose tissue may link obesity to insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (ALOX5AP) gene is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated ALOX5AP expression in adipose tissue, and association of gene polymorphisms with obesity and insulin resistance.

DESIGN

For gene expression analysis in adipose tissue, we studied 12 lean and 36 obese women, eight lean and 13 obese men, and nine women before and 2-4 years after gastric banding surgery. For genetic analysis, we studied 231 nonobese and 350 obese men.

RESULTS

The ALOX5AP protein, 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP), as well as 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) itself, were detected in adipocytes. The mRNA expression of ALOX5AP in subcutaneous adipose tissue was increased in obesity and normalized following weight reduction. High adipose tissue mRNA expression of ALOX5AP is associated with insulin resistance as measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA(IR)). ALOX5AP haplotypes that associate with CVD are not associated with obesity or insulin resistance.

CONCLUSION

ALOX5AP is present in adipose tissue, where its expression is associated with body weight and HOMA(IR), and may provide a link between adipose tissue, inflammation and insulin resistance. Investigated ALOX5AP haplotypes are not major primary risk factors for obesity and insulin resistance.

Cdk4 promotes adipogenesis through PPARgamma activation

Cell cycle regulators such as E2F1 and retinoblastoma (RB) play crucial roles in the control of adipogenesis, mostly by controlling the transition between preadipocyte proliferation and adipocyte differentiation. The serine-threonine kinase cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4) works in a complex with D-type cyclins to phosphorylate RB, mediating the entry of cells into the cell cycle in response to external stimuli. Because cdk4 is an upstream regulator of the E2F-RB pathway, we tested whether cdk4 was a target for new factors that regulate adipogenesis. Here we find that cdk4 inhibition impairs adipocyte differentiation and function. Disruption of cdk4 or activating mutations in cdk4 in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts results in reduced and increased adipogenic potential, respectively, of these cells. We show that the effects of cdk4 are not limited to the control of differentiation; cdk4 also participates in adipocyte function through activation of PPARgamma.

Weight loss regulates inflammation-related genes in white adipose tissue of obese subjects

Adipose tissue produces inflammation and immunity molecules suspected to be involved in obesity-related complications. The pattern of expression and the nutritional regulation of these molecules in humans are poorly understood. We analyzed the gene expression profiles of subcutaneous white adipose tissue from 29 obese subjects during very low calorie diet (VLCD) using cDNA microarray and reverse transcription quantitative PCR. The patterns of expression were compared with that of 17 non-obese subjects. We determined whether the regulated genes were expressed in adipocytes or stromavascular fraction cells. Gene expression profiling identified 100 inflammation-related transcripts that are regulated in obese individuals when eating a 28 day VLCD but not a 2 day VLCD. Cluster analysis showed that the pattern of gene expression in obese subjects after 28 day VLCD was closer to the profile of lean subjects than to the pattern of obese subjects before VLCD. Weight loss improves the inflammatory profile of obese subjects through a decrease of proinflammatory factors and an increase of anti-inflammatory molecules. The genes are expressed mostly in the stromavascular fraction of adipose tissue, which is shown to contain numerous macrophages. The beneficial effect of weight loss on obesity-related complications may be associated with the modification of the inflammatory profile in adipose tissue.

[The transfer of Baron Larrey's ashes from the Père Lachaise cemetery to the Invalides (December 14-15, 1992)]

In its meeting of May 20, 1990, the Société française d'Histoire de la Médecine decided to support Baron Larrey's wish to be buried in the Invalides. Owing to its initiative and efforts this wish is presently fulfilled. The transfer of Baron Larrey's ashes was realized on December 14 and 15, 1992. The authors report this historical event.

[French surgery in the eighteenth century]

The history of surgery in France begins practically during the 18th century which has been with the 20th century the period which has the more contributed to its progress. The 18th century during which have been practiced the first surgical operations has been inceasingly characterized by the dissensions between physicians and surgeons till the creation under the reign of Louis XV of a Royal Academy of Surgery of which the realizations have joined together all the surgical acquisitions of the century.

[Mission to Berlin 1946]

An interallied military delegation went to Spandau, a Berlin suburb, in order to realize the health state of some main Nazis accused of crimes against mankind and waiting to appear before the Nürnberg Court of Justice.

[The origins of the National Academy of Surgery]

The French Academy of Surgery was not created easily largely due to the frequent quarrels between physician and surgeons. Founded in 1731, it experiented many trials and tribulations for three centuries. Disbanded in 1793 by the Convention, it was transformed into Société Nationale in 1843 and only regained the name of Académie in 1935.

[The introduction into France of cervical-vaginal smears]

Cervico-vaginal smears were quite difficult to accept when they were at first introduced in France, during the fifties, probably due to fear that cytology might replace surgical pathology, where as both methods may develop close together. At last, bridging the gap was accomplished by the pathologists and, nowadays, many cytopathologists have been trained and became quite clever. Obviously, clinicians cannot do without the method described by George N. Papanicolaou (the so-called Pap test). Although cervical carcinoma is the very one cancer that should have been eradicated, as complete recovery is the rule when the diagnosis is made in time, at the preinvasive state of the tumor, in France it is still responsible for 2000 annual deaths. Systematical target pollution screening should be organized, as well as in other countries and should become one of the main priorities into health care control

[Introduction of cervico-vaginal smears in France]

Cervico-vaginal smears were quite difficult to accept when they were first introduced in France, during the fifties, probably due to a fear that cytology might replace surgical pathology, whereas both methods may develop close together. At last, bridging the gap was accomplished by the pathologists and, nowadays, a number of cytopathologists have been trained and have become quite clever. Obviously, clinicians cannot do without the method described by George N. Papanicolaou (the so-called Pap test). Although cervical carcinoma is the very one cancer that should have been eradicated, as complete recovery is the rule when the diagnosis is made in time, at the preinvasive stage of the tumor, in France it is still responsible for 2000 annual deaths. Systematical target population screening should be organized, as well as in other countries and should become one of the main priorities of health care control.

[The road accident is not inevitable]

Doctors can play an essential role in the epidemiology of road accidents. Problems of vision are important and require new legislation as a result of recent studies. Fatigue, drowsiness and falling asleep among driver is recognized in approximately 30% of cases. Better information should take into account recent surveys underlining the frequency of this problem. The taking of licit or illicit drugs is a non-negligible factor in the loss of control of a vehicle during prolonged journeys, and is particularly aggravated by alcohol. Users, of whom there are many in France according to statistics, should be better informed about the risks, both by clear warnings on containers and by the prescribing doctors. Of all causes of accidents, those that are about to be discussed are among the most frequent. Their prevention should diminish road mortality, a veritable national scourge.