Effets de la teneur en poudre de coquilles de bivalves (Corbula trigona) du substrat sur les paramètres de croissance d’Achatina achatina (Linné, 1758) en élevage hors-sol

Les effets de cinq substrats : ST (terreau) substrat témoin, S10 (ST + 10 % poudre de coquilles de bivalves), S20 (ST + 20 % poudre de coquilles de bivalves), S30 (ST + 30 % poudre de coquilles de bivalves), S40 (ST + 40 % poudre de coquilles de bivalves) sur les performances de croissance d’Achatina achatina en élevage horssol ont été étudié. Des juvéniles (450), de deux mois d’âge, de poids vifs moyens et de longueur moyenne de coquille de 3,30 ± 1,00 g et 2,80 ± 0,33 cm, respectivement ont été nourris à un aliment concentré sous forme de farine. Nos résultats ont montré que l’incorporation de la poudre de coquilles de bivalves dans le substrat a une influence considérable sur la croissance des escargots. Les meilleures croissances pondérales et coquillières ont été obtenues sur le substrat S20 (0,60 g/j ; 0,026 cm/j) avec une teneur en calcium du substrat de 6.23 %. Cependant, pour une achatiniculture performante et rentable, toute incorporation de la litière au-delà de 20 % de la poudre de coquilles de bivalves est à déconseiller car entrainant un ralentissement de la croissance chez Achatina achatina.Mots-clés : Achatina achatina, coquilles de bivalves, substrats d’élevage, calcium, croissance.Effects of powder content of bivalvia (Corbula trigona) shells of the substratum on the growth parameters of Achatina achatina (Linné, 1758) under indoor rearingThe effects of five substrata: ST (compost) control substratum, S10 (ST + 10 % powder of bivalvia shells), S20 (ST + 20 % powder of bivalvia shells), S30 (ST + powder of bivalvia shells), S40 (ST + 40 % powder of bivalvia shells) on the growth of Achatina achatina under indoor rearing were studied. 450 Juvenile snails of two month old, with 3,30 ± 1,00 g body weight and 2,80 ± 0,33 cm shell length were subjected to concentrated diets. Our results showed that the improvement of the breeding substratum with powder of bivalvia shells has a signifiant influence on the growth of Achatina achatina. The best growths were obtained on the substratum S20 (0,60 g/j ; 0,026 cm/j) with a calcium content of 6,23 %. However, in order to promote a successful and profitable snails breeding, it is not recommended to improve beyong 20 % the powder of bivalvia shells because it is involving lower growth at Achatina achatina.Keywords : Achatina achatina, bivalvia shells, breeding substratum, calcium, growth

Tolerance study of aqueous extract of Mitracarpus scaber in rabbits

The study was to evaluate the cardiac safety of Mitracarpus scaber  (Rubiaceae) in rabbit. In this study, different batches of rabbits were injected with increasing doses of aqueous extract of Mitracarpus scaber (encoded) and changes in the activities of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), lactate deshydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) measured. The statistical analysis of the serum activities of these enzymes indicate a significant variation (P<0.05) of the serum activity of CPK and LDH. But there is no significant change of serum activity of GOT (P>0.05). In conclusion, the aqueous extract of Misca at dose of 100 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks induces no cardiac dysfunction and is therefore well tolerated by the heart.Key words: Mitracarpus scaber, heart, GOT, LDH, CPK

Developmentally regulated association of plastid division protein FtsZ1 with thylakoid membranes in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>

International audienc

Developmentally regulated association of plastid division protein FtsZ1 to thylakoid membranes in Arabidopsis thaliana

International audienc

Reorienting the HIV response in Niger toward sex work interventions: From better evidence to targeted and expanded practice

Background: Niger's low-burden, sex-work-driven HIV epidemic is situated in a context of high economic and demographic growth. Resource availability of HIV/AIDS has been decreasing recently. In 2007-2012, only 1% of HIV expenditure was for sex work interventions, but an estimated 37% of HIV incidence was directly linked to sex work in 2012. The Government of Niger requested assistance to determine an efficient allocation of its HIV resources and to strengthen HIV programming for sex workers. Methods: Optima, an integrated epidemiologic and optimization tool, was applied using local HIV epidemic, demographic, programmatic, expenditure, and cost data. A mathematical optimization algorithm was used to determine the best resource allocation for minimizing HIV incidence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) over 10 years. Results: Efficient allocation of the available HIV resources, to minimize incidence and DALYs, would increase expenditure for sex work interventions from 1% to 4%-5%, almost double expenditure for antiretroviral treatment and for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and reduce expenditure for HIV programs focusing on the general population. Such an investment could prevent an additional 12% of new infections despite a budget of less than half of the 2012 reference year. Most averted infections would arise from increased funding for sex work interventions. Conclusions: This allocative efficiency analysis makes the case for increased investment in sex work interventions to minimize future HIV incidence and DALYs. Optimal HIV resource allocation combined with improved program implementation could have even greater HIV impact. Technical assistance is being provided to make the money invested in sex work programs work better and help Niger to achieve a cost-effective and sustainable HIV response

Conservation of HIV-1 T cell epitopes across time and clades:validation of immunogenic HLA-A2 epitopes selected for the GAIA HIV vaccine

HIV genomic sequence variability has complicated efforts to generate an effective globally relevant vaccine. Regions of the viral genome conserved in sequence and across time may represent the “Achilles’ heel” of HIV. In this study, highly conserved T-cell epitopes were selected using immunoinformatics tools combining HLA-A2 supertype binding predictions with relative global conservation. Analysis performed in 2002 on 10,803 HIV-1 sequences, and again in 2009, on 43,822 sequences, yielded 38 HLA-A2 epitopes. These epitopes were experimentally validated for HLA binding and immunogenicity with PBMCs from HIV-infected patients in Providence, Rhode Island, and/or Bamako, Mali. Thirty-five (92%) stimulated an IFNγ response in PBMCs from at least one subject. Eleven of fourteen peptides (79%) were confirmed as HLA-A2 epitopes in both locations. Validation of these HLA-A2 epitopes conserved across time, clades, and geography supports the hypothesis that such epitopes could provide effective coverage of virus diversity and would be appropriate for inclusion in a globally relevant HIV vaccine