Analyse phytosociologique des formations de matorral du massif des Béni-Snasséne (Maroc Oriental)

Phytosociological analysis of Béni-Snassène shrubland (Morocco oriental). The study consists in defining the phytosociological units in which one line up the formings of the Béni-Snassène matorral, to specify their floristiques affinities with the groupings which their are close and their positions in the dynamic series of the region and finally to determine the climatic conditions and edaphic in which they develop. The methodology of approach used for that is known phytosociological or sigmatist. This one allowed the individualization of eight vegetable associations among which each is examined on the plans floristique, biogeographic, ecological and dynamic. These associations are arranged as follows: Classe of Quercetea ilicis with three associations integrated into the order of Pistacio-Rhamnetalia and the alliance of Asparago-Rhamnion; Classe of the Cisto-Lavanduletea with a single association belonging to the order of Halimietalia-riphaeo atlantici; Classe of the Rosmarinetea with four associations being attached to the order of Cisto mauritanici-Thymetalia munbyani

Estimating heating times of frozen and nonfrozen logs using a graphic method.

International audienc

Carcinome muco-épidermoide chez une jeune fille de 21 ans

Les carcinomes muco-épidermoïdes font partie d’un groupe rare de tumeurs pulmonaires malignes. Ces tumeurs sont le plus souvent retrouvées chez lessujets jeunes. La croissance de la tumeur est en général endo-bronchique et concerne les bronches de grande taille. L’aspect histo-pathologique révèle des cellules produisant du mucus, des cellules épithéliales et des cellules mixtes. Dans cet article nous rapportons l’observation d’une jeune fille de 21 ans avec une tumeur de la bronche souche droite, qui après résection endo-bronchique s’est avéré être un carcinome muco-épidermoïde pulmonaire. La patiente a subi une pneumonectomie droite élargie à la carène avec un curage ganglionnaire médiastinale. Elle est actuellement en rémission après un suivi de 7 mois. Aucun traitement standard n’est défini pour ces tumeurs. Le pronostic dépend du grade histologique, et peut, notamment chez les sujets âgés, être très péjoratif

Antagonistic Activity of Trichoderma ISolates against Sclerotium rolfsii : Screening of Efficient Isolates from Morocco Soils for Biological Control

Seventy Trichoderma spp. isolates collected from different regions of Morocco were tested for their capacity to inhibit in vitro mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii, and for their effect on the viability of S. rolfsii sclerotia in the soil. The Trichoderma spp. isolates inhibited mycelial growth of S. rolfsii to various degrees, with 52% of isolates expressing an average inhibition, varying between 45 and 55%. The effect on the viability of sclerotia in the soil also varied between isolates of Trichoderma, with the majority (84%) having a slight effect. A group of twenty isolates identified as Trichoderma harzianum when tested in sterilized soil, significantly reduced sclerotial viability though not in natural soil. Four of these isolates (Nz, Kb2, Kb3 and Kf1) showed good antagonistic activity against S. rolfsii and were also highly competitive in natural soil. These isolates would therefore be candidates for development in biological control program

A gp41 MPER-specific llama VHH requires a hydrophobic CDR3 for neutralization but not for antigen recognition

The membrane proximal external region (MPER) of the HIV-1 glycoprotein gp41 is targeted by the broadly neutralizing antibodies 2F5 and 4E10. To date, no immunization regimen in animals or humans has produced HIV-1 neutralizing MPER-specific antibodies. We immunized llamas with gp41-MPER proteoliposomes and selected a MPER-specific single chain antibody (VHH), 2H10, whose epitope overlaps with that of mAb 2F5. Bi-2H10, a bivalent form of 2H10, which displayed an approximately 20-fold increased affinity compared to the monovalent 2H10, neutralized various sensitive and resistant HIV-1 strains, as well as SHIV strains in TZM-bl cells. X-ray and NMR analyses combined with mutagenesis and modeling revealed that 2H10 recognizes its gp41 epitope in a helical conformation. Notably, tryptophan 100 at the tip of the long CDR3 is not required for gp41 interaction but essential for neutralization. Thus bi-2H10 is an anti-MPER antibody generated by immunization that requires hydrophobic CDR3 determinants in addition to epitope recognition for neutralization similar to the mode of neutralization employed by mAbs 2F5 and 4E10

Scorpion sting: a public health problem in El Kelaa des Sraghna (Morocco)

The present study aimed at verifying the impact of a Moroccan strategy against scorpion stings and specifically at identifying the epidemiological features of patients envenomed or just stung by scorpions. It included 11,907 patients from El Kelaa des Sraghna Province, Morocco, who were evaluated over five years (2001-2005). Most stings occurred during the hot period and mainly at night. The average incidence was 3.2 per 1,000 inhabitants; patients <15 years accounted for 34%, and the envenomation rate was 12%. Average lethality rate was 0.7%. Our work evaluated the efficacy of the adopted strategy based on indicators of follow-up, morbidity and lethality due to scorpion sting and envenomation

Decoding the Folding of Burkholderia glumae Lipase: Folding Intermediates En Route to Kinetic Stability

The lipase produced by Burkholderia glumae folds spontaneously into an inactive near-native state and requires a periplasmic chaperone to reach its final active and secretion-competent fold. The B. glumae lipase-specific foldase (Lif) is classified as a member of the steric-chaperone family of which the propeptides of α-lytic protease and subtilisin are the best known representatives. Steric chaperones play a key role in conferring kinetic stability to proteins. However, until present there was no solid experimental evidence that Lif-dependent lipases are kinetically trapped enzymes. By combining thermal denaturation studies with proteolytic resistance experiments and the description of distinct folding intermediates, we demonstrate that the native lipase has a kinetically stable conformation. We show that a newly discovered molten globule-like conformation has distinct properties that clearly differ from those of the near-native intermediate state. The folding fingerprint of Lif-dependent lipases is put in the context of the protease-prodomain system and the comparison reveals clear differences that render the lipase-Lif systems unique. Limited proteolysis unveils structural differences between the near-native intermediate and the native conformation and sets the stage to shed light onto the nature of the kinetic barrier

A gp41 MPER-specific Llama VHH Requires a Hydrophobic CDR3 for Neutralization but not for Antigen Recognition

The membrane proximal external region (MPER) of the HIV-1 glycoprotein gp41 is targeted by the broadly neutralizing antibodies 2F5 and 4E10. To date, no immunization regimen in animals or humans has produced HIV-1 neutralizing MPER-specific antibodies. We immunized llamas with gp41-MPER proteoliposomes and selected a MPER-specific single chain antibody (VHH), 2H10, whose epitope overlaps with that of mAb 2F5. Bi-2H10, a bivalent form of 2H10, which displayed an approximately 20-fold increased affinity compared to the monovalent 2H10, neutralized various sensitive and resistant HIV-1 strains, as well as SHIV strains in TZM-bl cells. X-ray and NMR analyses combined with mutagenesis and modeling revealed that 2H10 recognizes its gp41 epitope in a helical conformation. Notably, tryptophan 100 at the tip of the long CDR3 is not required for gp41 interaction but essential for neutralization. Thus bi-2H10 is an anti-MPER antibody generated by immunization that requires hydrophobic CDR3 determinants in addition to epitope recognition for neutralization similar to the mode of neutralization employed by mAbs 2F5 and 4E10