Physical and Biochemical Characterization of Sweet Corn Ears of Four Varieties Grown in Senegal

Sweet corn is an underutilized crop for human consumption in Senegal. In this study, physical and biochemical characterization were performed on four sweet corn ear varieties grown at three different fertilization rate of 15N-15-P-15K. Treatment F1 was 40 tons/Ha horse-dung + 200 kg/Ha of 15N-15P-15K, treatment F2 was 30 tons/Ha horse-dung + 150 kg/Ha of 15N-15P-15K) and treatment F3 was 50 tons/Ha horse-dung + 250 kg/Ha of 15N-15P-15K. Results showed that Yosemite cultivar gave the highest number of kernels/ear (672.3), followed respectively by Legacy (642), Excellis Garrison (585.6) and Infinity (573). Furthermore, treatments using fertilizer 3 (F3: 50 tons/Ha horse-dung + 250 kg/Ha of 15N-15P-15K) led to the highest number of kernels/ear in all cultivars used. Interestingly, Legacy cultivar gave more reducing sugars (5.1 ± 0.8 g.100g -1 ) with treatment F1; treatment F3 provided less reducing sugars (2.1 ± 0.6 g.100g -1 ) and more starch (14.4 ± 0.5 g.100g -1 ). Overall, physical and biochemical characteristics were influenced to at least some extent by fertilization treatments related to the cultivar used. Yosemite and Legacy cultivars would be more suitable for canned sweet corn production in the conditions studied. Sangalkam seems to be more suitable for sweet corn production

Bacterial Vaginosis: What Do We Currently Know?

International audienceThe vaginal microbiome is a well-defined compartment of the human microbiome. It has unique conditions, characterized by the dominance of one bacterial species, the Lactobacilli. This microbiota manifests itself by a low degree of diversity and by a strong dynamic of change in its composition under the influence of various exogenous and endogenous factors. The increase in diversity may paradoxically be associated with dysbiosis, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is the result of a disturbance in the vaginal ecosystem; i.e., a sudden replacement of Lactobacilli by anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis , and others. It is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women of childbearing age, approximately 30% of all causes. The etiology of this dysbiosis remains unknown, but its health consequences are significant, including obstetrical complications, increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and urogenital infections. Its diagnosis is based on Amsel’s clinical criteria and/or a gram stain based on the Nugent score. While both of these methods have been widely applied worldwide for approximately three decades, Nugent score are still considered the “gold standard” of BV diagnostic tools. Given the limitations of these tools, methods based on molecular biology have been developed as alternative rational strategies for the diagnosis of BV. The treatment of BV aims at restoring the balance of the vaginal flora to stop the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. Prescription of antibiotics such as metronidazole, clindamycin, etc. is recommended. Faced with the considerable uncertainty about the cause of BV, the high rate of recurrence, the unacceptable treatment options, and clinical management which is often insensitive and inconsistent, research on this topic is intensifying. Knowledge of its composition and its associated variations represents the key element in improving the therapeutic management of patients with the most suitable treatments possible

Role of Indian fluxes in the intraseasonal 10-30 days variability of the African monsoon.

12 pagesInternational audienceThis study focused on the influence of Indian monsoon on the 10-30 days variability of the West African monsoon. One relies on the 500-300 hPa moisture fluxes calculated from specific wind and moisture fields from the ERAInterim reanalysis over the 1998-2008 period. These fluxes carry a signal of a spatio-temporal Rossby wave structure propagating westward from India. In the active phase of high convection of this wave, 500-300 hPa fluxes are Easterly. This high-tropospheric Rossby wave signal from the Indian monsoon area would modulate the dynamics over the Sahel

The impact of culturomics on taxonomy in clinical microbiology

International audienceOver the past decade, new culture methods coupled to genome and metagenome sequencing have enabled the number of isolated bacterial species with standing in nomenclature to rise to more than 15,000 whereas it was only 1791 in 1980. `Culturomics', a new approach based on the diversification of culture conditions, has enabled the isolation of more than 1000 distinct human-associated bacterial species since 2012, including 247 new species. This strategy was demonstrated to be complementary to metagenome sequencing for the exhaustive study of the human microbiota and its roles in health and diseases. However, by identifying a large number of new bacterial species in a short time, culturomics has highlighted a need for taxonomic approaches adapted to clinical microbiology that would include the use of modern and reproducible tools, including high throughput genomic and proteomic analyses. Herein, we review the development of culturomics and genomics in the clinical microbiology field and their impact on bacterial taxonomy

Outil d'aide à la prise de décisions pour la gestion des pêcheries dans la zone CSRP : Système d'Information Halieutique et Écosystémique (SIHE)

International audienceThe oceans provide numerous services and goods, beyond fishing activities, the blue economy opens up new opportunities for sustainable economic development, in a context of restrictive global change. The management of fishery resources and marine and coastal ecosystems requires efficient databases because the information collected is heterogeneous and sometimes massive (fishery acoustics). It requires grouping together different data formats and types of continuous and discrete, qualitative and quantitative variables within a Fisheries and Ecosystem Information System (SIHE), secure and of sub-regional interest, and even beyond. Data validation control procedures, and the implementation of automated applications for appropriate analyses, are all key elements to guarantee the accessibility of the quality of information necessary for the formulation of opinions and assistance. decision-making in the ecosystem management of fisheries and the marine environment (EAMME). Our work is focused on an analysis of fishing databases in West Africa which will lead to a proposal for the centralization of all of these databases. The objective is to optimize the acquisition and use of “marine” research data within institutions in the CSRP sub-region. A systematic reflection will be carried out for all SIHE datasets, in order to propose monitoring of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable). In this sense, data and metadata from fishing will be easier to acquire and their use less complex and more democratized. The methods to be implemented will be those adopted by the international community or that of the international scientific community (e.g. standardized NetCDF “network Common Data Form” format). Analysis methods adopted and shared in “open access” by the international scientific community, which adapt to SIHE datasets, will be directly associated. Finally, with a prospective view of the application of analysis of artificial intelligence and big data methods, which will allow the SIHE set up to move from centralization and standardized storage to an analysis tool. All of these developments will provide support for decision-making; they are desired and often recommended by the scientific community.Les océans procurent de nombreux services et des biens, au-delà des activités halieutiques, l’économie bleue ouvre de nouvelle opportunité de développement économique durable, dans un contexte de changement global contraignant. La gestion des ressources halieutique et des écosystèmes marins et côtiers requiert des bases de données performantes car les informations recueillies sont hétérogènes et parfois massives (acoustique halieutique). Elle demande de regrouper différents formats de données et type de variables continue et discrète, qualitative et quantitative au sein d’un Système d’Information Halieutique et Écosystémique (SIHE), sécurisé et d’intérêt sous régional, voir au-delà. Les procédures de contrôle de validation des données, et la mise en place d’application automatisées d’analyses adaptées, sont autant d’élément clés pour garantir l’accessibilité de la qualité des informations nécessaire à la formulation d’avis et d’aide à la décision dans la gestion écosystémique des pêches et de l’environnement marin (EAMME). Nos travaux sont axés sur une analyse des bases de données de la pêche en Afrique de l’ouest qui aboutira à une proposition de centralisation de l’ensemble de ces bases de données. L’objectif est d’optimiser l’acquisition et l’utilisation des données de la recherche « marine » au sein des institutions de la sous-région CSRP. Une réflexion systématique sera menée pour l’ensemble des jeux de données du SIHE, afin de proposer le suivi des principes FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable et Reusable). En ce sens les données et les métadonnées issues de la pêche seront plus faciles à acquérir et leur utilisation moins complexe et plus démocratisée. Les méthodes à mettre en oeuvre seront celles adopter par la communauté internationale ou celle de la communauté scientifique internationale (e.g. format normalisé NetCDF « network Common Data Form »). Des méthodes d’analyses adoptées et partagées en « open access » par la communauté scientifique internationale, qui s’adapte aux jeux de données du SIHE seront directement associé. Enfin, avec une vue prospective d’application d’analyse des méthodes de l’intelligence artificielle et du big data, ce qui permettra au SIHE mis en place de passer de la centralisation et du stockage normalisé a un outil d’analyse. L’ensemble de ces développements permettront un appui aux prises de décisions, ils sont souhaités et souvent recommandés par la communauté scientifique

Outil d'aide à la prise de décisions pour la gestion des pêcheries dans la zone CSRP : Système d'Information Halieutique et Écosystémique (SIHE)

International audienceThe oceans provide numerous services and goods, beyond fishing activities, the blue economy opens up new opportunities for sustainable economic development, in a context of restrictive global change. The management of fishery resources and marine and coastal ecosystems requires efficient databases because the information collected is heterogeneous and sometimes massive (fishery acoustics). It requires grouping together different data formats and types of continuous and discrete, qualitative and quantitative variables within a Fisheries and Ecosystem Information System (SIHE), secure and of sub-regional interest, and even beyond. Data validation control procedures, and the implementation of automated applications for appropriate analyses, are all key elements to guarantee the accessibility of the quality of information necessary for the formulation of opinions and assistance. decision-making in the ecosystem management of fisheries and the marine environment (EAMME). Our work is focused on an analysis of fishing databases in West Africa which will lead to a proposal for the centralization of all of these databases. The objective is to optimize the acquisition and use of “marine” research data within institutions in the CSRP sub-region. A systematic reflection will be carried out for all SIHE datasets, in order to propose monitoring of the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable). In this sense, data and metadata from fishing will be easier to acquire and their use less complex and more democratized. The methods to be implemented will be those adopted by the international community or that of the international scientific community (e.g. standardized NetCDF “network Common Data Form” format). Analysis methods adopted and shared in “open access” by the international scientific community, which adapt to SIHE datasets, will be directly associated. Finally, with a prospective view of the application of analysis of artificial intelligence and big data methods, which will allow the SIHE set up to move from centralization and standardized storage to an analysis tool. All of these developments will provide support for decision-making; they are desired and often recommended by the scientific community.Les océans procurent de nombreux services et des biens, au-delà des activités halieutiques, l’économie bleue ouvre de nouvelle opportunité de développement économique durable, dans un contexte de changement global contraignant. La gestion des ressources halieutique et des écosystèmes marins et côtiers requiert des bases de données performantes car les informations recueillies sont hétérogènes et parfois massives (acoustique halieutique). Elle demande de regrouper différents formats de données et type de variables continue et discrète, qualitative et quantitative au sein d’un Système d’Information Halieutique et Écosystémique (SIHE), sécurisé et d’intérêt sous régional, voir au-delà. Les procédures de contrôle de validation des données, et la mise en place d’application automatisées d’analyses adaptées, sont autant d’élément clés pour garantir l’accessibilité de la qualité des informations nécessaire à la formulation d’avis et d’aide à la décision dans la gestion écosystémique des pêches et de l’environnement marin (EAMME). Nos travaux sont axés sur une analyse des bases de données de la pêche en Afrique de l’ouest qui aboutira à une proposition de centralisation de l’ensemble de ces bases de données. L’objectif est d’optimiser l’acquisition et l’utilisation des données de la recherche « marine » au sein des institutions de la sous-région CSRP. Une réflexion systématique sera menée pour l’ensemble des jeux de données du SIHE, afin de proposer le suivi des principes FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable et Reusable). En ce sens les données et les métadonnées issues de la pêche seront plus faciles à acquérir et leur utilisation moins complexe et plus démocratisée. Les méthodes à mettre en oeuvre seront celles adopter par la communauté internationale ou celle de la communauté scientifique internationale (e.g. format normalisé NetCDF « network Common Data Form »). Des méthodes d’analyses adoptées et partagées en « open access » par la communauté scientifique internationale, qui s’adapte aux jeux de données du SIHE seront directement associé. Enfin, avec une vue prospective d’application d’analyse des méthodes de l’intelligence artificielle et du big data, ce qui permettra au SIHE mis en place de passer de la centralisation et du stockage normalisé a un outil d’analyse. L’ensemble de ces développements permettront un appui aux prises de décisions, ils sont souhaités et souvent recommandés par la communauté scientifique

An elevated level of interleukin-17A in a Senegalese malaria cohort is associated with rs8193038 IL-17A genetic variant

Abstract Malaria infection is a multifactorial disease partly modulated by host immuno-genetic factors. Recent evidence has demonstrated the importance of Interleukin-17 family proinflammatory cytokines and their genetic variants in host immunity. However, limited knowledge exists about their role in parasitic infections such as malaria. We aimed to investigate IL-17A serum levels in patients with severe and uncomplicated malaria and gene polymorphism’s influence on the IL-17A serum levels. In this research, 125 severe (SM) and uncomplicated (UM) malaria patients and 48 free malaria controls were enrolled. IL-17A serum levels were measured with ELISA. PCR and DNA sequencing were used to assess host genetic polymorphisms in IL-17A. We performed a multivariate regression to estimate the impact of human IL-17A variants on IL-17A serum levels and malaria outcomes. Elevated serum IL-17A levels accompanied by increased parasitemia were found in SM patients compared to UM and controls (P < 0.0001). Also, the IL-17A levels were lower in SM patients who were deceased than in those who survived. In addition, the minor allele frequencies (MAF) of two IL-17A polymorphisms (rs3819024 and rs3748067) were more prevalent in SM patients than UM patients, indicating an essential role in SM. Interestingly, the heterozygous rs8193038 AG genotype was significantly associated with higher levels of IL-17A than the homozygous wild type (AA). According to our results, it can be concluded that the IL-17A gene rs8193038 polymorphism significantly affects IL-17A gene expression. Our results fill a gap in the implication of IL-17A gene polymorphisms on the cytokine level in a malaria cohort. IL-17A gene polymorphisms also may influence cytokine production in response to Plasmodium infections and may contribute to the hyperinflammatory responses during severe malaria outcomes