Preparation of lectin-vicilin nanoparticle conjugates using the carbodiimide coupling technique

International audienc

Gliadin nanoparticles for the controlled release of all-trans-retinoic acid

International audienc

Quantification of physiological colour changes in common cuttlefish skin explants as innovative endpoint for contaminant risk assessment

International audienc

Analysis of energy access and impact of modern energy sources in unelectrified villages in Uttar Pradesh

Bringingaccesstomodernenergysourcestothepoorestinsocietyisakeygoalofmanypolicymakers,businesses andcharities,butinorder tobea success projects and schemesmust be foundedonaccuratedata. We undertook a survey of energy demand and usage patterns in households in unelectri fi ed villages in Uttar Pradesh, India to assess access to and utilisation of energy sources for lighting and cooking. The times of usage were recorded and analysed and the effect on usage patterns of transitioning from traditional to modern energy sources is assessed. We quantify the cost and greenhouse gas emissions of current energy use in order to provide a benchmark of potential mitigation through the use of renewable energy technologies: a typical household with kerosene lamps only for lighting spends INR 3243 (US$50.67) and emits 381 kgCO 2eq per year; households withmoderncookingenergyspend17%morethroughincreasedusage,butemit28%lessgreenhousegasescom- pared to those with traditional stoves only. Cell phone ownership was found to be 50% amongst adults. We use demographic and utilisation data to construct an hourly demand pro fi le of basic electricity demand extrapolated to each month of the year, and present an example of aspirational demand assess the impact of desirable appli- ances. A Monte Carlo simulation is used to highlight the daily and seasonal variation in total energy and power demand. A hybrid system, with solar power and battery storage meeting daytime demand and higher-capacity diesel- or biomass-powered generation meeting the remainder during evening peaks and winter months, would satisfy demand most effectively

Multiple I-Type Lysozymes in the Hydrothermal Vent Mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus and Their Role in Symbiotic Plasticity

International audienceThe aim of this study was first to identify lysozymes paralogs in the deep sea mussel Bathy-modiolus azoricus then to measure their relative expression or activity in different tissue or conditions. B. azoricus is a bivalve that lives close to hydrothermal chimney in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). They harbour in specialized gill cells two types of endosymbiont (gram— bacteria): sulphide oxidizing bacteria (SOX) and methanotrophic bacteria (MOX). This association is thought to be ruled by specific mechanism or actors of regulation to deal with the presence of symbiont but these mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here, we focused on the implication of lysozyme, a bactericidal enzyme, in this endosymbiosis. The relative expression of Ba-lysozymes paralogs and the global anti-microbial activity, were measured in natural population (Lucky Strike-1700m, Mid-Atlantic Ridge), and in in situ experimental conditions. B. azoricus individuals were moved away from the hydrothermal fluid to induce a loss of symbiont. Then after 6 days some mussels were brought back to the mussel bed to induce a re-acquisition of symbiotic bacteria. Results show the presence of 6 paralogs in B. azoricus. In absence of symbionts, 3 paralogs are up-regulated while others are not differentially expressed. Moreover the global activity of lysozyme is increasing with the loss of symbiont. All together these results suggest that lysozyme may play a crucial role in symbiont regulation