TOPAZ1, a Novel Germ Cell-Specific Expressed Gene Conserved during Evolution across Vertebrates

BACKGROUND: We had previously reported that the Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) approach was relevant for the isolation of new mammalian genes involved in oogenesis and early follicle development. Some of these transcripts might be potential new oocyte and granulosa cell markers. We have now characterized one of them, named TOPAZ1 for the Testis and Ovary-specific PAZ domain gene. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Sheep and mouse TOPAZ1 mRNA have 4,803 bp and 4,962 bp open reading frames (20 exons), respectively, and encode putative TOPAZ1 proteins containing 1,600 and 1653 amino acids. They possess PAZ and CCCH domains. In sheep, TOPAZ1 mRNA is preferentially expressed in females during fetal life with a peak during prophase I of meiosis, and in males during adulthood. In the mouse, Topaz1 is a germ cell-specific gene. TOPAZ1 protein is highly conserved in vertebrates and specifically expressed in mouse and sheep gonads. It is localized in the cytoplasm of germ cells from the sheep fetal ovary and mouse adult testis. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a novel PAZ-domain protein that is abundantly expressed in the gonads during germ cell meiosis. The expression pattern of TOPAZ1, and its high degree of conservation, suggests that it may play an important role in germ cell development. Further characterization of TOPAZ1 may elucidate the mechanisms involved in gametogenesis, and particularly in the RNA silencing process in the germ lin

Is cohorting the only solution to control carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae outbreaks? A single-centre experience

International audienceBACKGROUND: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are a major health issue. Cohorting may help to control spread of CPEs in hospitals, but is expensive and hard to implement.AIM: To identify ward variables associated with CPE in-hospital transmission in a hospital where cohorting has never been implemented.METHODS: Cohort prospective study, comparing 14-consecutive-day periods regarding in-hospital transmission. Each period met the two following conditions: (i) CPE carriers/infected admitted for ≥48&nbsp;h; (ii) 80% of relative contact patients were screened at least twice. Periods (a) with no acquired CPE case among relative contact patients were compared to periods (b) during which one or more CPE case acquisition was identified. Variables potentially associated with CPE transmission were assessed: colonization pressure, caregiver:patient ratio, hand hygiene compliance, hydro-alcoholic product consumption, antibiotic consumption, and infection control team (ICT) involvement on the ward.FINDINGS: Sixty-eight periods of two consecutive weeks were included, 18 (26.5%) included at least one CPE case acquisition. By multivariate analysis, colonization pressure (odds ratio: 1.12; 95% confidence interval: 1.0-1.25; P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.042) and antibiotic consumption (2.41; 1.02-5.66; P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.044) were associated with CPE in-hospital transmission. Caregiver:patient ratio potentiated both these variables, suggesting a role for understaffing in CPE transmission.CONCLUSION: Understanding ward variables associated with CPE spread can help design suitable solutions. Colonization pressure and antibiotic consumption seems to be driving in-hospital transmission, along with caregiver:patient ratio. In presence of high colonization pressure, dedicated healthcare workers for managing CPE patients should be implemented. Co-ordination between ICT and antimicrobial stewardship team is also crucial to prevent CPE spread.</p

Targeted disruption of the murine junD gene results in multiple defects in male reproductive function

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The deleterious effects of human erythropoietin gene driven by the rabbit whey acidic protein gene promoter in transgenic rabbits

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Impacts du changement climatique sur la ressource en eau et la gestion des lacs-réservoirs du bassin de la Seine (France)

National audienceThe Seine River basin is characterized by high stakes on water resources due to a variety of uses and increasing pressure. Satisfying these water needs is a huge challenge on this basin hosting the most urbanized and densely populated area in France: more than 6.5 million inhabitants in the Paris region are supplied with drinkable water coming from rivers while one nuclear power plant and two coal fired plants ensure power generation in the region. Furthermore several large wastewater treatment plants (incl. the largest one in Europe) release their waters into the Seine, with possible consequences on the quality of water during low flows. The Seine Grands Lacs basin authority owns and manages four large artificial reservoirs on the river Seine and its tributaries (totaling a capacity of 800 hm3) with two main goals: flood alleviation and low-flow augmentation. The CLIMAWARE research project (2010-2014) characterized the impacts of climate change on flows of the Seine River basin and on reservoir management by mid-21st century. Performance indicators representative of the tension on water resources were calculated to assess the impact of climate change. Various adaptation measures were tested including the modification of the objective seasonal filling curves, as well as modifications of the real-time management techniques. Adaptation measures can bring some improvements, but even with this adaptive management, the indicators show that the impacts of climate change on low flows will be major on the basin.Impacts du changement climatique sur la ressource en eau et la gestion des lacs-réservoirs du bassin de la Seine (France) Le bassin-versant de la Seine à Paris est caractérisé par de forts enjeux sur la ressource en eau. Les prélèvements y sont considérables : plus de 6,5 millions d'habitants en Ile-de-France sont alimentés en eau potable à partir des eaux de surface, tandis qu'une centrale nucléaire et deux centrales thermiques assurent la production électrique sur le bassin. Par ailleurs, la Seine est le milieu récepteur de plusieurs stations d'épuration (incluant la plus grande d'Europe), impliquant des enjeux pour la qualité de l'eau en période d'étiage. L'EPTB Seine Grands Lacs soutient ces enjeux avec quatre lacs-réservoirs d'une capacité de 800 millions de m3, chargés de soutenir les étiages et écrêter les crues. Le projet CLIMAWARE (2010-2014) a étudié les impacts du changement climatique sur l'hydrologie du bassin et la gestion des lacs-réservoirs à l'horizon du milieu du 21ème siècle, en proposant et évaluant des stratégies d'adaptation de la gestion des lacs-réservoirs. Des indicateurs de performance représentatifs de la tension sur les usages (limitation des autorisations des débits prélevés, risque sur la qualité des eaux...) ont été calculés afin d'évaluer l'impact du changement climatique pour différents scénarios de gestion des réservoirs. Les mesures envisagées d'adaptation des règles de gestion des lacs-réservoirs permettent une légère amélioration des performances, mais même avec cette gestion adaptée, les indicateurs montrent un impact significatif sur les étiages

Impacts du changement climatique sur la gestion multi-objectif de réservoirs : cas d'étude sur le bassin versant de la Seine, France

International audienceAdaptation strategies will be needed to cope with the hydrological consequences of projected climate change. In this perspective, the management of many artificial reservoirs will have to be adapted to continue to fulfil downstream objectives (e.g. flow regulation). This study evaluates the sustainability of the management rules of the artificial reservoirs on the Seine River basin, France, under climate change scenarios. The Seine River basin at Paris (43,800 km2) has major socio-economic stakes for France, and the consequences of droughts and floods may be dramatic. In this context, four large multi-purpose reservoirs were built on the basin during the twentieth century for low-flow augmentation and flood alleviation. A hydrological modelling chain was designed to explicitly account for reservoir management rules. It was calibrated in current conditions and then fed by the outputs of seven climate models in present and future conditions, forced by the A1B IPCC scenario, downscaled using a weather-type method and statistically bias-corrected. The results show that the hydrological model performs quite well in current conditions. The simulations made in present and future conditions indicate a decrease in water availability and summer low flows, but no significant trends in high flows. Simulations also indicate that there is room for progress in the current multi-purpose management of reservoirs and that it would be useful to define proper adaptation strategies

Linear TMC-95-based proteasome inhibitors.

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