VOCALIM -Mieux valoriser des matières premières métropolitaines dans l'alimentation des poulets de chair pour améliorer l'autonomie protéique française

International audienceThe autonomy for Protein-Rich resources of poultry feed in France is around 40%, due in particular to massive imports of soybean meals, which are economically and nutritionally competitive. The study ofnew French Protein-Rich Feedstuffs (FPRF) within the framework of VOCALIM has shown that technological processes make it possible to better exploit fiber-rich resources (rapeseed and sunflower meals), without affecting the performance or health of the animals. The genetic selection of animals could be a lever to further improve the valuation of these resources. Simulations up to 2023 showed a gain of 17 protein autonomy points in broilers production and a reduction in food costs of 2.8% thanks to these FPRF. Their use allows, according to the scenarios studied, to gain in protein efficiency and to reduce overall environmental impacts.L’autonomie protéique de l’alimentation des volailles est en France d’environ 40%, en raison notamment d’importations massives de tourteau de soja, très concurrentiel sur le plan économique et nutritionnel. L’étude de nouvelles Matières Premières Riches en Protéines françaises (MPRP) dans le cadre du projet VOCALIM a permis de montrer que des procédés technologiques permettent de mieux valoriser des ressources riches en fibres (tourteaux de colza et tournesol), sans altérer les performances ou la santé des animaux. La sélection génétique des animaux pourrait être un levier pour encore améliorer la valorisation de ces ressources. Des simulations à l’horizon 2023 montrent un gain de 17 points d’autonomie protéique dans la filière poulet de chair et une réduction du coût alimentaire de 2,8% grâce à ces MPRP. Leur utilisation permet, selon les scénarios étudiés, de gagner en efficience protéique et de réduire globalement tous les impacts environnementaux

Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with life-threatening COVID-19

BackgroundWe previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15-20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in similar to 80% of cases.MethodsWe report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia. Among the 928 patients tested for autoantibodies against type I IFN, a quarter (234) were positive and were excluded.ResultsNo gene reached genome-wide significance. Under a recessive model, the most significant gene with at-risk variants was TLR7, with an OR of 27.68 (95%CI 1.5-528.7, P=1.1x10(-4)) for biochemically loss-of-function (bLOF) variants. We replicated the enrichment in rare predicted LOF (pLOF) variants at 13 influenza susceptibility loci involved in TLR3-dependent type I IFN immunity (OR=3.70[95%CI 1.3-8.2], P=2.1x10(-4)). This enrichment was further strengthened by (1) adding the recently reported TYK2 and TLR7 COVID-19 loci, particularly under a recessive model (OR=19.65[95%CI 2.1-2635.4], P=3.4x10(-3)), and (2) considering as pLOF branchpoint variants with potentially strong impacts on splicing among the 15 loci (OR=4.40[9%CI 2.3-8.4], P=7.7x10(-8)). Finally, the patients with pLOF/bLOF variants at these 15 loci were significantly younger (mean age [SD]=43.3 [20.3] years) than the other patients (56.0 [17.3] years; P=1.68x10(-5)).ConclusionsRare variants of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I IFN immunity genes can underlie life-threatening COVID-19, particularly with recessive inheritance, in patients under 60 years old