Le travail de la soie, une voie pour l’exercice de la liberté individuelle des femmes à Tours au xviiie siècle ?

Dans la ville de Tours, le travail de la soie est quasiment une mono-industrie ; les femmes, et en particulier les ouvrières en soie, peuvent y obtenir, sinon une indépendance, du moins une certaine émancipation. Les preuves de cette émancipation peuvent être de trois ordres : la place tenue par ces femmes aussi bien dans la sphère privée, les ouvrières travaillant souvent à leur domicile, que dans la sphère publique ; le fait que cette émancipation soit au centre des préoccupations juridiques et sociales ; et enfin les traits propres à ces femmes. Pour la plupart elles ont en effet entre vingt et vingt-sept ans et elles sont en majorité célibataires. Enfin, cette émancipation, notamment des femmes seules, favorisée ou encouragée par le travail de la soie, se manifeste par un changement dans la manière dont elles perçoivent le domaine privé et domestique, par leur tendance à développer des formes de solidarité et de sociabilité féminines, qui en retour permettent à ces femmes de garder une forme d’indépendance. Le travail de la soie peut donc bien être considéré comme une voie pour l’exercice de la liberté individuelle des femmes tourangelles au xviiie siècle.In the city of Tours, silk work constituted practically the sole local industry. It was through silk that women, and in particular those who worked in the production of the raw material, were able to achieve, if not independence, at least a certain form of emancipation. Three factors can be put forward as evidence of this new-found emancipation: the role of women both in the private domain, since the workers very often worked in their own homes, and in the public sphere; the fact that this emancipation was to be found at the heart of legal and social preoccupations of the time; and last of all, the very characteristics of these women: most of them were aged between twenty and twenty-seven, and single for the most part. Last of all, this emancipation, in particular of single women, aided or even encouraged by the silk-working industry, was manifested by a change in the way they perceived the private and domestic domain and by their tendency to develop new forms of feminine solidarity and sociability, which in turn enabled these women to maintain this form of independence they had achieved. Silk working can therefore be considered as one of the main means by which the women of Tours in the 18th century were able to exercise their individual liberty

Carbohydrate Metabolism Is Essential for the Colonization of Streptococcus thermophilus in the Digestive Tract of Gnotobiotic Rats

Streptococcus thermophilus is the archetype of lactose-adapted bacterium and so far, its sugar metabolism has been mainly investigated in vitro. The objective of this work was to study the impact of lactose and lactose permease on S. thermophilus physiology in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of gnotobiotic rats. We used rats mono-associated with LMD-9 strain and receiving 4.5% lactose. This model allowed the analysis of colonization curves of LMD-9, its metabolic profile, its production of lactate and its interaction with the colon epithelium. Lactose induced a rapid and high level of S. thermophilus in the GIT, where its activity led to 49 mM of intra-luminal L-lactate that was related to the induction of mono-carboxylic transporter mRNAs (SLC16A1 and SLC5A8) and p27Kip1 cell cycle arrest protein in epithelial cells. In the presence of a continuous lactose supply, S. thermophilus recruited proteins involved in glycolysis and induced the metabolism of alternative sugars as sucrose, galactose, and glycogen. Moreover, inactivation of the lactose transporter, LacS, delayed S. thermophilus colonization. Our results show i/that lactose constitutes a limiting factor for colonization of S. thermophilus, ii/that activation of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism constitutes the metabolic signature of S. thermophilus in the GIT, iii/that the production of lactate settles the dialogue with colon epithelium. We propose a metabolic model of management of carbohydrate resources by S. thermophilus in the GIT. Our results are in accord with the rationale that nutritional allegation via consumption of yogurt alleviates the symptoms of lactose intolerance

PpiA, a Surface PPIase of the Cyclophilin Family in Lactococcus lactis

Background: Protein folding in the envelope is a crucial limiting step of protein export and secretion. In order to better understand this process in Lactococcus lactis, a lactic acid bacterium, genes encoding putative exported folding factors like Peptidyl Prolyl Isomerases (PPIases) were searched for in lactococcal genomes. Results: In L. lactis, a new putative membrane PPIase of the cyclophilin subfamily, PpiA, was identified and characterized. ppiA gene was found to be constitutively expressed under normal and stress (heat shock, H2O2) conditions. Under normal conditions, PpiA protein was synthesized and released from intact cells by an exogenously added protease, showing that it was exposed at the cell surface. No obvious phenotype could be associated to a ppiA mutant strain under several laboratory conditions including stress conditions, except a very low sensitivity to H2O2. Induction of a ppiA copy provided in trans had no effect i) on the thermosensitivity of an mutant strain deficient for the lactococcal surface protease HtrA and ii) on the secretion and stability on four exported proteins (a highly degraded hybrid protein and three heterologous secreted proteins) in an otherwise wild-type strain background. However, a recombinant soluble form of PpiA that had been produced and secreted in L. lactis and purified from a culture supernatant displayed both PPIase and chaperone activities. Conclusions: Although L. lactis PpiA, a protein produced and exposed at the cell surface under normal conditions, displaye

Histamine Derived from Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri Suppresses TNF via Modulation of PKA and ERK Signaling

Beneficial microbes and probiotic species, such as Lactobacillus reuteri, produce biologically active compounds that can modulate host mucosal immunity. Previously, immunomodulatory factors secreted by L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 were unknown. A combined metabolomics and bacterial genetics strategy was utilized to identify small compound(s) produced by L. reuteri that were TNF-inhibitory. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-high performance liquid chromatography (HILIC-HPLC) separation isolated TNF-inhibitory compounds, and HILIC-HPLC fraction composition was determined by NMR and mass spectrometry analyses. Histamine was identified and quantified in TNF-inhibitory HILIC-HPLC fractions. Histamine is produced from L-histidine via histidine decarboxylase by some fermentative bacteria including lactobacilli. Targeted mutagenesis of each gene present in the histidine decarboxylase gene cluster in L. reuteri 6475 demonstrated the involvement of histidine decarboxylase pyruvoyl type A (hdcA), histidine/histamine antiporter (hdcP), and hdcB in production of the TNF-inhibitory factor. The mechanism of TNF inhibition by L. reuteri-derived histamine was investigated using Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-activated human monocytoid cells. Bacterial histamine suppressed TNF production via activation of the H2 receptor. Histamine from L. reuteri 6475 stimulated increased levels of cAMP, which inhibited downstream MEK/ERK MAPK signaling via protein kinase A (PKA) and resulted in suppression of TNF production by transcriptional regulation. In summary, a component of the gut microbiome, L. reuteri, is able to convert a dietary component, L-histidine, into an immunoregulatory signal, histamine, which suppresses pro-inflammatory TNF production. The identification of bacterial bioactive metabolites and their corresponding mechanisms of action with respect to immunomodulation may lead to improved anti-inflammatory strategies for chronic immune-mediated diseases

Characterisation of SEQ0694 (PrsA/PrtM) of Streptococcus equi as a functional peptidyl-prolyl isomerase affecting multiple secreted protein substrates

YesPeptidyl-prolyl isomerase (PPIase) lipoproteins have been shown to influence the virulence of a number of Gram-positive bacterial human and animal pathogens, most likely through facilitating the folding of cell envelope and secreted virulence factors. Here, we used a proteomic approach to demonstrate that the Streptococcus equi PPIase SEQ0694 alters the production of multiple secreted proteins, including at least two putative virulence factors (FNE and IdeE2). We demonstrate also that, despite some unusual sequence features, recombinant SEQ0694 and its central parvulin domain are functional PPIases. These data add to our knowledge of the mechanisms by which lipoprotein PPIases contribute to the virulence of streptococcal pathogens

How Listeria monocytogenes organizes its surface for virulence

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive pathogen responsible for the manifestation of human listeriosis, an opportunistic foodborne disease with an associated high mortality rate. The key to the pathogenesis of listeriosis is the capacity of this bacterium to trigger its internalization by non-phagocytic cells and to survive and even replicate within phagocytes. The arsenal of virulence proteins deployed by L. monocytogenes to successfully promote the invasion and infection of host cells has been progressively unveiled over the past decades. A large majority of them is located at the cell envelope, which provides an interface for the establishment of close interactions between these bacterial factors and their host targets. Along the multistep pathways carrying these virulence proteins from the inner side of the cytoplasmic membrane to their cell envelope destination, a multiplicity of auxiliary proteins must act on the immature polypeptides to ensure that they not only maturate into fully functional effectors but also are placed or guided to their correct position in the bacterial surface. As the major scaffold for surface proteins, the cell wall and its metabolism are critical elements in listerial virulence. Conversely, the crucial physical support and protection provided by this structure make it an ideal target for the host immune system. Therefore, mechanisms involving fine modifications of cell envelope components are activated by L. monocytogenes to render it less recognizable by the innate immunity sensors or more resistant to the activity of antimicrobial effectors. This review provides a state-of-the-art compilation of the mechanisms used by L. monocytogenes to organize its surface for virulence, with special focus on those proteins that work "behind the frontline", either supporting virulence effectors or ensuring the survival of the bacterium within its host.We apologize to authors whose relevant work could not be cited owing to space limitations. Research in the group of Molecular Microbiology is funded by the project "NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000002-Host-Pathogen Interactions" co-funded by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), under the Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional (QREN), through the Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), the Operational Competitiveness Programme (COMPETE) and FCT (Fundacdo para a Ciencia e Tecnologia), and by projects ERANet Pathogenomics LISTRESS ERA-PTG/0003/2010, PTDC/SAU-MIC/111581/2009FCOMP-FEDER, PTDC/BIA-BCM/100088/2008FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-008860 and PTDC/BIA-BCM/111215/2009FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-014178. Filipe Carvalho was supported by FCT doctoral grant SFRH1BD16182512009, and Sandra Sousa by the Ciencia 2008 and FCT-Investigator programs (COMPETE, POPH, and FCT)

La signalisation oestrogénique : effets dans le testicule et perturbation par le bisphénol A et les mycotoxines du genre Fusarium

Estrogen signaling is involved in the establishment and regulation of spermatogenesis. Therefore, xenoestrogens (endocrine disruptors interfering with estrogen signaling) could be associated with the decline in male fertility observed over the past decades. In this context, a previous in vivo study conducted by our team showed that prepubertal exposure (15-30 dpp) to 17β-estradiol (E2; endogenous estrogen) delays spermatogenesis’ establishment whereas bisphenol A (BPA; xenoestrogen) promotes its progression in immature rats. In addition, BPA impairs the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) in prepubertal rats. The work presented here follows on from this study. Pubertal exposure to these compounds does not seem to affect spermatogenesis in adult animals. In addition, E2 and BPA effects during the prepubertal period do not seem to alter spermatogenesis in adult animals. Furthermore, the BPA-induced disruption of the BTB appears to be reversible. Taken together, these results indicate prepubertal period as a window of increased sensitivity to estrogens and xenoestrogens. The development of an organotypic culture model of testicular explants from 15, 20 and 25 dpp rats allowed us to study the direct effects of E2, BPA, and zearalenone (ZEA, xenoestrogen) during the prepubertal period targeted in the in vivo study. These compounds disturb steroidogenesis- and spermatogenesis-related endpoint in testicular explants from immature rats. However, this ex vivo study demonstrates distinct windows of sensitivity to E2, BPA and ZEA during the prepubertal period. ZEA is a mycotoxin produced by fungi of the Fusarium genus. These fungi also produce deoxynivalenol (DON), another one mycotoxin. DON is currently described as a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis, but some data suggest others action mechanisms. We assessed the effect of DON on estrogen signaling through an in vitro study conducted with breast carcinoma cell lines, commonly used for this purpose. This in vitro approach demonstrated that DON activates estrogen signaling in MCF-7 cells through ligand-independent activation of ESR1.La signalisation œstrogénique étant impliquée dans la mise en place et la régulation de la spermatogenèse, les xénœstrogènes (des perturbateurs endocriniens capables d’interférer avec la signalisation œstrogénique) pourraient ainsi être associés au déclin de la fertilité masculine observé ces dernières décennies. Dans ce contexte, une précédente étude in vivo conduite chez le rat par notre équipe indique qu’une exposition en période prépubère (15 à 30 jpp) au 17β-œstradiol (E2 ; œstrogène endogène) retarde la mise en place de la spermatogenèse tandis que le bisphénol A (BPA ; xénœstrogène) promeut sa progression chez les animaux immatures. De plus, le BPA altère l’intégrité de la barrière hémato-testiculaire (BHT) chez le rat prépubère. Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit s’inscrivent dans la continuité de cette étude. Une exposition à ces substances en période pubère ne semble pas affecter le déroulement de la spermatogenèse chez les animaux adultes. De plus, les altérations dans la mise en place de celle-ci en période prépubère ne semblent pas altérer son déroulement chez les animaux adultes, et l’effet délétère du BPA sur l’intégrité de la BHT observé chez les animaux immatures apparait réversible. L’ensemble de ces travaux désigne ainsi la période prépubère comme une fenêtre de sensibilité accrue aux œstrogènes et aux xénœstrogènes. Le développement d’un modèle de culture organotypique d’explants testiculaires de rats de 15, 20 et 25 jpp a permis d’étudier les effets directs de l’E2, du BPA, mais aussi de la zéaralénone (ZEA ; xénœstrogène) au cours de la fenêtre de la période prépubère ciblée lors de l’étude in vivo. Ces trois molécules perturbent de paramètres liés à la stéroïdogenèse et à la spermatogenèse dans les explants testiculaires de rat immature. Cependant, cette étude ex vivo révèle l’existence de fenêtres de sensibilité distinctes à l’E2, au BPA et à la ZEA au cours de la période prépubère. La ZEA est une mycotoxine produite par les champignons du genre Fusarium, également capables de produire une autre mycotoxine, le déoxynivalénol (DON). Le DON est décrit comme un puissant inhibiteur de la synthèse protéique, mais certaines données suggèrent l’existence d’autres mécanismes d’action. Nous avons évalué l’effet du DON sur la signalisation œstrogénique grâce à une approche in vitro conduite dans des cellules de carcinome mammaire, couramment utilisées à cette fin. Cette approche in vitro a mis en évidence que le DON active la signalisation œstrogénique dans les cellules MCF-7 au travers de l’activation du récepteur ESR1 selon la voie indépendante du ligand

Participatory Budgeting: a developing country process?<br />A comparative analysis of the experiences of PB in Brazil, France<br />and Spain.

Janvier à Juin 2006An increased dissatisfaction and disbelief toward modern democracy resulted in the revival of deliberative democracy and of experiments, such as participatory budgeting (PB). PB is a process of conjoint decision making through which citizens and local governments deicide on the final allocation of new public investment budget in their cities. While the Brazilian experiments of PB have been extensively researched, those in Europe have not. Therefore this research project endeavours to fill the gaps of the literature concerning the nature of PB and its applicability to developed countries, particularly in Spain and France. In so doing, it will compare the experience of French, Spanish and Brazilian cities and attempt to determine the influences of the contexts on their PB experiments. The main results from this comparative analysis are that the effects of contextual variables are mediated by the procedural ones. Therefore, PB can be adapted to different contexts by changing the procedural variables. However, five key PB practices have to be respected for PB to keep its essence. Moreover, this research has also focused on the under-researched but crucial links that exists between PB and deliberative theory and the respective insights that they can convey to each other