Maintenance of Zebrafish Lines at the European Zebrafish Resource Center

We have established a European Zebrafish Resource Center (EZRC) at the KIT. This center not only maintains and distributes a large number of existing mutant and transgenic zebrafish lines but also gives zebrafish researchers access to screening services and technologies such as imaging and high-throughput sequencing, provided by the Institute of Toxicology and Genetics (ITG). The EZRC maintains and distributes the stock collection of the Nüsslein-Volhard laboratory, comprising over 2000 publicly released mutations, as frozen sperm samples. Within the framework of the ZF-HEALTH EU project, the EZRC distributes over 10,000 knockout mutations from the Sanger Institute (United Kingdom), as well as over 100 mutant and transgenic lines from other sources. In this article, we detail the measures we have taken to ensure the health of our fish, including hygiene, quarantine, and veterinary inspections

Les Bouches de Bonifacio à l’époque romaine : approches archéologique et géoarchéologique

Ce projet intitulé « Les Bouches de Bonifacio à l’époque romaine : approches archéologique et géoarchéologique » propose d’étudier les vestiges antiques sur les littoraux corse et sarde (villa de Piantarella, établissement de Cavallo, carrières de granite) (fig. 1). Le cadre chronologique est compris entre la fin du ier s. av. J.‑C. et le ive s. apr. J.‑C. afin d’aborder la phase de stabilisation du territoire après la fondation des colonies de Mariana et d’Aléria. Fondé sur une approche plur..

A Systematic Analysis of Metal and Metalloid Concentrations in Eight Zebrafish Recirculating Water Systems

Metals and metalloids are integral to biological processes and play key roles in physiology and metabolism. Nonetheless, overexposure to some metals or lack of others can lead to serious health consequences. In this study, eight zebrafish facilities collaborated to generate a multielement analysis of their centralized recirculating water systems. We report a first set of average concentrations for 46 elements detected in zebrafish facilities. Our results help to establish an initial baseline for trouble-shooting purposes, and in general for safe ranges of metal concentrations in recirculating water systems, supporting reproducible scientific research outcomes with zebrafish

Selection for tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia suis in treated pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate Chlamydia suis in a pig farm with an outbreak of conjunctivitis and diarrhea. Eye swabs and pooled fecal samples were investigated for the presence of C. suis by real-time PCR and ArrayTube microarray. Samples positive for C. suis by ArrayTube microarray assay were further tested for the presence of the tet(C) resistance gene by PCR. In the first examination, C. suis was identified in 12 six-week-old pigs showing conjunctivitis. Of these, the tet(C) gene-coding region was amplified in one pooled fecal sample and one eye swab, respectively. After oral treatment with tetracycline, clinical symptoms disappeared. Subsequently, all eye swabs investigated from 10 healthy pigs were positive for C. suis and the tet(C) gene-coding region. The present study reports rapid selection for tetracycline-resistant C. suis after antibiotic treatment

Piantarella, une luxueuse villa maritime en Corse?

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Piantarella. Une luxueuse villa maritime ?

National audienceDepuis près d’un siècle, les fascinantes ruines de Piantarella, juchées sur un rocher dans le spectaculaire théâtre naturel des bouches de Bonifacio, attisent la curiosité des chercheurs qui s’interrogent toujours sur l’origine de ce monument. En 2016, un programme collectif de recherche s’est constitué, avec l’aide financière et les autorisations du ministère de la Culture (Drac de Corse et Drassm), le soutien de la mairie de Bonifacio et des laboratoires partenaires. Il apporte aujourd’hui les premiers éléments de réponse

De novo and long-term l-Dopa induce both common and distinct striatal gene profiles in the hemiparkinsonian rat.

International audienceWe compared for the first time the effects of de novo versus long-term l-Dopa treatment inducing abnormal involuntary movement on striatal gene profiles and related bio-associations in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease. We examined the pattern of striatal messenger RNA expression over 4854 genes in hemiparkinsonian rats treated acutely or chronically with l-Dopa, and subsequently verified some of the gene alterations by in situ hybridization or real-time quantitative PCR. We found that de novo and long-term l-Dopa share common gene regulation features involving phosphorylation, signal transduction, secretion, transcription, translation, homeostasis, exocytosis and synaptic transmission processes. We also found that the transcriptomic response is enhanced by long-term l-Dopa and that specific biological alterations are underlying abnormal motor behavior. Processes such as growth, synaptogenesis, neurogenesis and cell proliferation may be particularly relevant to the long-term action of l-Dopa

Piantarella. Une luxueuse villa maritime ?

National audienceDepuis près d’un siècle, les fascinantes ruines de Piantarella, juchées sur un rocher dans le spectaculaire théâtre naturel des bouches de Bonifacio, attisent la curiosité des chercheurs qui s’interrogent toujours sur l’origine de ce monument. En 2016, un programme collectif de recherche s’est constitué, avec l’aide financière et les autorisations du ministère de la Culture (Drac de Corse et Drassm), le soutien de la mairie de Bonifacio et des laboratoires partenaires. Il apporte aujourd’hui les premiers éléments de réponse

Detection of Chlamydiaceae and Chlamydia-like organisms on the ocular surface of children and adults from a trachoma-endemic region

Trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness, is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), a bacterium of the phylum Chlamydiae. Recent investigations revealed the existence of additional families within the phylum Chlamydiae, also termed Chlamydia-like organisms (CLOs). In this study, the frequency of Ct and CLOs was examined in the eyes of healthy Sudanese (control) participants and those with trachoma (case). We tested 96 children (54 cases and 42 controls) and 93 adults (51 cases and 42 controls) using broad-range Chlamydiae and Ct-specific (omcB) real-time PCR. Samples positive by broad-range Chlamydiae testing were subjected to DNA sequencing. Overall Chlamydiae prevalence was 36%. Sequences corresponded to unclassified and classified Chlamydiae. Ct infection rate was significantly higher in children (31.5%) compared to adults (0%) with trachoma (p < 0.0001). In general, 21.5% of adults and 4.2% of children tested positive for CLOs (p = 0.0003). Our findings are consistent with previous investigations describing the central role of Ct in trachoma among children. This is the first study examining human eyes for the presence of CLOs. We found an age-dependent distribution of CLO DNA in human eyes with significantly higher positivity in adults. Further studies are needed to understand the impact of CLOs in trachoma pathogenicity and/or protection