vHOG, a multispecies vertebrate ontology of homologous organs groups

Motivation: Most anatomical ontologies are species-specific, whereas a framework for comparative studies is needed. We describe the vertebrate Homologous Organs Groups ontology, vHOG, used to compare expression patterns between species. Results: vHOG is a multispecies anatomical ontology for the vertebrate lineage. It is based on the HOGs used in the Bgee database of gene expression evolution. vHOG version 1.4 includes 1184 terms, follows OBO principles and is based on the Common Anatomy Reference Ontology (CARO). vHOG only describes structures with historical homology relations between model vertebrate species. The mapping to species-specific anatomical ontologies is provided as a separate file, so that no homology hypothesis is stated within the ontology itself. Each mapping has been manually reviewed, and we provide support codes and references when available. Availability and implementation: vHOG is available from the Bgee download site (http://bgee.unil.ch/), as well as from the OBO Foundry and the NCBO Bioportal websites. Contact: [email protected]; [email protected]

Benzo(a)pyrene inhibits the role of the bioturbator Tubifex tubifex in river sediment biogeochemistry

International audienceThe interactions between invertebrates and micro-organisms living in streambed sediments often play key roles in the regulation of nutrient and organic matter fluxes in aquatic ecosystems. However, benthic sedi- ments also constitute a privileged compartment for the accumulation of persistent organic pollutants such as PAHs or PCBs that may affect the diversity, abundance and activity of benthic organisms. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of sediment contamination with the PAH benzo(a)pyrene on the in- teraction between micro-organisms and the tubificid worm, Tubifex tubifex, which has been recognized as a major bioturbator in freshwater sediments. Sedimentary microcosms (slow filtration columns) contaminated or not with benzo(a)pyrene (3 tested concentrations: 0, 1 and 5 mg kg−1) at the sediment surface were in- cubated under laboratory conditions in the presence (100 individuals) or absence of T. tubifex. Although the surface sediment contaminations with 1 mg kg−1 and 5 mg kg−1 of benzo(a)pyrene did not affect tubificid worm survival, these contaminations significantly influenced the role played by T. tubifex in biogeochemical processes. Indeed, tubificid worms stimulated aerobic respiration, denitrification, dehydrogenase and hydrolytic activities of micro-organisms in uncontaminated sediments whereas such effects were inhibited in sediments polluted with benzo(a)pyrene. This inhibition was due to contaminant-induced changes in bioturbation (and especially bio-irrigation) activities of worms and their resulting effects on microbial processes. This study reveals the importance of sublethal concentrations of a contaminant on ecological processes in river sediments through affecting bioturbator-microbe interactions. Since they affect microbial processes involved in water purification processes, such impacts of sublethal concentrations of pollutants should be more often considered in ecosystem health assessment

Impact of Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN on Grapevine Phenolic Metabolism

Phenolic compounds are implied in plant-microorganisms interaction and may be induced in response to plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs). Among PGPR, the beneficial bacterium Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN was previously described to stimulate the growth of plants and to induce a better adaptation to both abiotic and biotic stresses. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PsJN on grapevine secondary metabolism. For this purpose, gene expression (qRT-PCR) and profiling of plant secondary metabolites (UHPLC-UV/DAD-MS QTOF) from both grapevine root and leaves were compared between non-bacterized and PsJN-bacterized grapevine plantlets. Our results showed that PsJN induced locally (roots) and systemically (leaves) an overexpression of PAL and STS and specifically in leaves the overexpression of all the genes implied in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways. Moreover, the metabolomic approach revealed that relative amounts of 32 and 17 compounds in roots and leaves, respectively, were significantly modified by PsJN. Once identified to be accumulated in response to PsJN by the metabolomic approach, antifungal properties of purified molecules were validated in vitro for their antifungal effect on Botrytis cinerea spore germination. Taking together, our findings on the impact of PsJN on phenolic metabolism allowed us to identify a supplementary biocontrol mechanism developed by this PGPR to induce plant resistance against pathogens

Un espace de formation francophone dédié à l'apprentissage de l'informatique

National audienceL’introduction de l’enseignement de l’informatique au lycée va permettre aux prochaines générations de maîtriser et participer au développement du numérique. Le principal enjeu est alors la formation des enseignantes et des enseignants. Comment relever un tel défi ?D’abord en faisant communauté d’apprentissage et de pratique : depuis des semaines déjà en 2021 l’AEIF et le projet CAI contribuent à l’accueil et l’entraide de centaines de collègues en activité ou en formation, discutant de tous les sujets, partageant des ressources sur un forum dédié et des listes de discussions.Puis, depuis début 2022, en offrant deux formations en ligne :- Une formation aux fondamentaux de l’informatique, avec un ordre de grandeur de 200 heures de travail, avec les ressources de formation d’initiation et de perfectionnement. Plus qu’un simple "MOOC", ce sont les ressources d’une formation complète, et un accompagnement prévu pour permettre de bien les utiliser.- Une formation pour apprendre à enseigner… par la pratique, en co-préparant les activités pédagogiques des cours à venir, en partageant des pratiques didactiques et en prenant un recul pédagogique, y compris du point de vue de la pédagogie de l’égalité.Les personnes désireuses de se préparer au CAPES y trouveront aussi des conseils et des pistes de travail.Si vous n’avez pas envie d’être seul·e relativement à cet enseignement de l’informatique et être accompagné dans les trois ans qui viennent, passez nous voir ce jour-là

The SuperCam Instrument Suite on the Mars 2020 Rover: Science Objectives and Mast-Unit Description

On the NASA 2020 rover mission to Jezero crater, the remote determination of the texture, mineralogy and chemistry of rocks is essential to quickly and thoroughly characterize an area and to optimize the selection of samples for return to Earth. As part of the Perseverance payload, SuperCam is a suite of five techniques that provide critical and complementary observations via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Time-Resolved Raman and Luminescence (TRR/L), visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (VISIR), high-resolution color imaging (RMI), and acoustic recording (MIC). SuperCam operates at remote distances, primarily 2-7 m, while providing data at sub-mm to mm scales. We report on SuperCam's science objectives in the context of the Mars 2020 mission goals and ways the different techniques can address these questions. The instrument is made up of three separate subsystems: the Mast Unit is designed and built in France; the Body Unit is provided by the United States; the calibration target holder is contributed by Spain, and the targets themselves by the entire science team. This publication focuses on the design, development, and tests of the Mast Unit; companion papers describe the other units. The goal of this work is to provide an understanding of the technical choices made, the constraints that were imposed, and ultimately the validated performance of the flight model as it leaves Earth, and it will serve as the foundation for Mars operations and future processing of the data.In France was provided by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). Human resources were provided in part by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and universities. Funding was provided in the US by NASA's Mars Exploration Program. Some funding of data analyses at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was provided by laboratory-directed research and development funds

Interactions entre des exopolymères extraits de biomasses épuratoires et les métaux

Le procédé par boues activées est couramment utilisé dans le traitement des eaux usées. La présence d éléments traces métalliques a été mise en évidence dans les boues. L élimination des boues par épandage agricole peut entraîner une pollution des sols Les boues contiennent majoritairement des exopolymères (PEC) qui jouent un rôle dans la sorption d ions métalliques. L objectif de cette thèse est d approfondir nos connaissances sur les interactions PEC/métaux et d identifier des fonctions chimiques mises en cause dans la biosorption des métaux par les PEC à pH 7. Pour ce faire, des liens entre caractérisation et capacités de biosorption des PEC ont pu être faits et ont donné lieu à la rédaction de sept articles. Parmi les résultats obtenus, on retiendra que la caractérisation des PEC a permis de déterminer deux valeurs de pKa apparents. Les fonctions carboxyliques et phosphoriques ont été identifiées comme ayant une implication importante dans les capacités de biosorption des PEC.The activated sludge process is commonly used for wastewater treatment. Since the presence of metals has been highlighted in the sludges, their elimination by land treatment can provocate soil pollution...The sludges are mainly composed of extracellular substances (EPS) which play a key role in the ionic metallic sorption. The objective of this work is to better understand the interactions EPS/metals and thus to identify what chemical groups are implied in metal biosorption by EPS at pH 7. Relations between characterization and the biosorption capacities of EPS have been done and have led to the redaction of seven articles. Among the results obtained, we notice that the EPS characterization has allowed two apparent pKa values to be determined. The carboxylic and phosphoric groups have been identified as having an implication in the biosorption capacities of EPS.LIMOGES-BU Sciences (870852109) / SudocSudocFranceF

Biosorption properties of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) towards Cd, Cu and Pb for different pH values.

International audienceThe aim of this study was to assess the influence of pH on the metal biosorption of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from two different activated sludges called A and B. The composition and physico-chemical characteristics of EPS were determined. The biosorption capacities of the EPS were examined at pH 4, 6, 7 and 8 successively with three metals Cu, Pb and Cd using differential pulse polarography (DPP) as an investigation tool and Ruzic's model was used to produce polarographic titration curves. Two apparent pKa were obtained, the first were 6.6 (EPS A) and 5.7 (EPS B), attributed to carboxylic and phosphoric groups whereas the second was 8.7 for EPS A and 9.4 for B and these were attributed to phenolic and amino functional groups. Whatever the EPS and the metal considered, the conditional binding constant did not show significant differences in the strength of complex formed between the EPS and metals. But for all metals, the number of EPS binding sites was significantly lowered by a decrease in the pH of the medium. At pH 4, the metal biosorption capacity of EPS is very low. At pH 6, the number of EPS binding sites increased in the following order: Pb>Cu>Cd whereas at pH 7 and 8, this order changed and was: Cu>Pb>>Cd. Simulations of the speciation states of Cu, Pb and Cd at the different pH values in ultra-pure water (25 degrees C, ionic strength 0.045 M) were performed with MINEQL 4.5 software and indicated the presence of hydroxylated forms and sometimes solid forms for Pb and Cu. But the polarographic titration curves revealed precipitation of Cu only at the end of the experiments at pH 8

Mécanismes moléculaires de la spécificité de la symbiose Frankia-Myrica gale (nature et rôles des métabolites secondaires de la plante-hôtes)

The molecular mechanisms involved in the establishment and the specificity of the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis associating Frankia genus bacteria and actinorhizal plants are still unknown. The plant model chosen, Myrica gale, allows, due to its original symbiotic specificity compared to other Myricaceae species, to compare compatible and incompatible interactions. This work focused on the role of the host plant secondary metabolites in the symbiotic specificity. Two approaches were developed in this work: 1 the purification, identification and study of the effect of seed-exudated compounds on the physiology of compatible and incompatible Frankia strains (growth, nitrogen fixation and gene expression) and 2 the effect of the inoculation of compatible and incompatible Frankia strains on the root phenolic metabolism of the host-plant. The results of this work show the involvement of the host-plant secondary metabolites and particularly dihydrochalcones, in the symbiotic interaction with FrankiaLes mécanismes moléculaires impliqués dans la mise en place et la spécificité de la symbiose fixatrice d azote associant des bactéries du genre Frankia aux plantes dites actinorhiziennes ne sont toujours pas connus. Le modèle végétal choisi, Myrica gale, permet, grâce à sa spécificité d interaction originale par rapport aux autres Myricaceae, de comparer des interactions compatibles et incompatibles. Ce travail de thèse a porté sur le rôle des métabolites secondaires de la plante-hôte dans la spécificité de l interaction. Deux approches sont développées dans ce travail : 1 la purification, l identification et l étude de l effet des molécules exsudées des graines de la plante sur la physiologie de souches compatibles et incompatibles de Frankia (croissance, fixation d azote et transcriptome) et 2 l effet de l inoculation de souches compatibles et incompatibles sur le métabolisme phénolique racinaire de la plante-hôte. Les résultats de travail montrent l implication des métabolites secondaires de la plante, en particulier des dihydrochalcones, dans l interaction symbiotique avec FrankiaLYON1-BU.Sciences (692662101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Démission de M. Grimberg de Belleau, lors de la séance du 9 juillet 1790

Graimberg de Belleau Gilles-François, comte de. Démission de M. Grimberg de Belleau, lors de la séance du 9 juillet 1790. In: Archives Parlementaires de 1787 à 1860 - Première série (1787-1799) Tome XVII - Du 9 juillet au 12 aout 1790. Paris : Librairie Administrative P. Dupont, 1884. p. 3