The identification of a new genotype of avian paramyxoviruses type I in West-Africa provides new outcomes for phylogeny reconstruction

International audienc

Identification of a new reovirus causing tendinitis in broilers in France

Clinical cases of tendinitis have appear sporadically and then more regularly in broilers flocks among different regions in France since 2010. These tendinitis have been identified as a consequence of Reovirus infection despite the vaccination of breeders stock with vaccines containing different strains of Reovirus previously described in the field ; additionnally an horizontal transmission, especially at the time of hatch, has been observed. Virological studies conducted in two laboratories lead to the identification of a new type of Reovirus non described in Europe until now. In addition to genetic differences between this new virus and the vaccine strains used on the field, cross seroneutralisation tests have shown antigenic differences which could explain the inefficacy of the vaccines used in the field. In order to prevent the multiplication of theses viruses it seems usefull to update the composition of vaccines for a better protection of breeders and their progenyDes cas cliniques de tendinite sont apparus sporadiquement, puis plus régulièrement, dans des élevages de poulets de chair dans différentes régions de France depuis 2010. Ces tendinites ont été identifiées comme dues à une réovirose en dépit de la vaccination des poules parentales avec des vaccins contenant différentes valences de réovirus précédemment décrits comme présents sur le terrain ; en outre une transmission horizontale notamment lors de l’éclosion a été observée. Les études virologiques conduites dans deux laboratoires aboutissent à l’identification d’un nouveau réovirus jusqu’à présent non décrit en Europe. Outre des différences au plan génétique entre ce nouveau virus et les souches vaccinales utilisées sur le terrain, des tests de séroneutralisation croisée ont montré des différences antigéniques, ce qui peut expliquer l’inefficacité des vaccins observée sur le terrain. Pour prévenir la multiplication de ces virus il apparait donc utile de réactualiser la composition des vaccins de manière à protéger les poules reproductrices et leur descendanc

New avian paramyxoviruses type I strains identified in Africa provide new outcomes for phylogeny reconstruction and genotype classification

Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the most lethal diseases of poultry worldwide. It is caused by an avian paramyxovirus 1 that has high genomic diversity. In the framework of an international surveillance program launched in 2007, several thousand samples from domestic and wild birds in Africa were collected and analyzed. ND viruses (NDV) were detected and isolated in apparently healthy fowls and wild birds. However, two thirds of the isolates collected in this study were classified as virulent strains of NDV based on the molecular analysis of the fusion protein and experimental in vivo challenges with two representative isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on the F and HN genes showed that isolates recovered from poultry in Mali and Ethiopia form new groups, herein proposed as genotypes XIV and sub-genotype VIf with reference to the new nomenclature described by Diel's group. In Madagascar, the circulation of NDV strains of genotype XI, originally reported elsewhere, is also confirmed. Full genome sequencing of five African isolates was generated and an extensive phylogeny reconstruction was carried out based on the nucleotide sequences. The evolutionary distances between groups and the specific amino acid signatures of each cluster allowed us to refine the genotype nomenclature. (Résumé d'auteur

Newcastle Disease Virus in Madagascar: Identification of an Original Genotype Possibly Deriving from a Died Out Ancestor of Genotype IV

In Madagascar, Newcastle disease (ND) has become enzootic after the first documented epizootics in 1946, with recurrent annual outbreaks causing mortality up to 40%. Four ND viruses recently isolated in Madagascar were genotypically and pathotypically characterised. By phylogenetic inference based on the F and HN genes, and also full-genome sequence analyses, the NDV Malagasy isolates form a cluster distant enough to constitute a new genotype hereby proposed as genotype XI. This new genotype is presumably deriving from an ancestor close to genotype IV introduced in the island probably more than 50 years ago. Our data show also that all the previously described neutralising epitopes are conserved between Malagasy and vaccine strains. However, the potential implication in vaccination failures of specific amino acid substitutions predominantly found on surface-exposed epitopes of F and HN proteins is discussed

Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales : update 2016

In 2016, the order Mononegavirales was emended through the addition of two new families (Mymonaviridae and Sunviridae), the elevation of the paramyxoviral subfamily Pneumovirinae to family status (Pneumoviridae), the addition of five free-floating genera (Anphevirus, Arlivirus, Chengtivirus, Crustavirus, and Wastrivirus), and several other changes at the genus and species levels. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV)

Plasticity matches phenotype to local conditions despite genetic homogeneity across 13 snake populations

In a widespread species, a matching of phenotypic traits to local environmental optima is generally attributed to site-specific adaptation. However, the same matching can occur via adaptive plasticity, without requiring genetic differences among populations. Adult sea kraits (Laticauda saintgironsi) are highly philopatric to small islands, but the entire population within the Neo-Caledonian Lagoon is genetically homogeneous because females migrate to the mainland to lay their eggs at communal sites; recruits disperse before settling, mixing up alleles. Consequently, any matching between local environments (e.g. prey sizes) and snake phenotypes (e.g. body sizes and relative jaw sizes (RJSs)) must be achieved via phenotypic plasticity rather than spatial heterogeneity in gene frequencies. We sampled 13 snake colonies spread along an approximately 200 km northwest–southeast gradient (n > 4500 individuals) to measure two morphological features that affect maximum ingestible prey size in gape-limited predators: body size and RJS. As proxies of habitat quality (HQ), we used protection status, fishing pressure and lagoon characteristics (lagoon width and distance of islands to the barrier reef). In both sexes, spatial variation in body sizes and RJSs was linked to HQ; albeit in different ways, consistent with sex-based divergences in foraging ecology. Strong spatial divergence in morphology among snake colonies, despite genetic homogeneity, supports the idea that phenotypic plasticity can facilitate speciation by creating multiple phenotypically distinct subpopulations shaped by their environment

La restitution 3D, outil de l'archéologie de Reims antique (Durocortorum)

International audienceDuring the Early-Empire, with a surface of 1,500 acres, Reims was one of the largest cities in the Empire and the metropolis of the Belgian Gaul province. The geological substratum of the city, the “campanien” chalk, is very crumbly and is damaged by frost. The hard base construction material needed to be brought from far away, thus it was systematically re-used. Since the eighties, it was brought to light miles and miles of trenches of recycled walls, opening questions about the interpretation of such remains. When the spatial and diachronic study is important in an overall approach of antique town planning, it is too limited to comprehend the volumes, the architecture and the functions of the constructions brought to light. The creation of 3D pictures is more recent and still needs to be included into the “SIGrem” (urban archaeological SIG), running from the principle that three-dimensional modelling of some data will allow to create the virtual representations required for the various scientific approaches.Pendant le Haut-Empire, avec une surface de 600 ha, Reims est l’une des plus grandes villes de l’Empire et métropole de la province de la Gaule belgique. Le substrat géologique de la ville, la craie du campanien, est très friable et gélive. La distalité des matériaux de construction “en dur” a conduit à leur récupération systématique. Depuis les années 1980, ce sont des kilomètres de tranchées de récupération de murs qui ont été mis au jour, posant ainsi des questionnements sur l’interprétation de ces vestiges. Si l’étude spatiale et diachronique est importante pour une approche globale de l’urbanisme antique, elle reste insuffisante pour appréhender les volumes, l’architecture et les fonctions des constructions mises au jour. Le travail des archéologues et des architectes permet maintenant de restituer de façon raisonnée les élévations des bâtiments. L’élaboration d’images 3D est plus récente et reste à intégrer dans le SIGrem (SIG archéologique urbain) en partant du principe que la modélisation tridimensionnelle de certaines données permettra de créer les représentations virtuelles nécessaires aux différentes approches scientifiques

La restitution 3D, outil de l'archéologie de Reims antique (Durocortorum)

International audienceDuring the Early-Empire, with a surface of 1,500 acres, Reims was one of the largest cities in the Empire and the metropolis of the Belgian Gaul province. The geological substratum of the city, the “campanien” chalk, is very crumbly and is damaged by frost. The hard base construction material needed to be brought from far away, thus it was systematically re-used. Since the eighties, it was brought to light miles and miles of trenches of recycled walls, opening questions about the interpretation of such remains. When the spatial and diachronic study is important in an overall approach of antique town planning, it is too limited to comprehend the volumes, the architecture and the functions of the constructions brought to light. The creation of 3D pictures is more recent and still needs to be included into the “SIGrem” (urban archaeological SIG), running from the principle that three-dimensional modelling of some data will allow to create the virtual representations required for the various scientific approaches.Pendant le Haut-Empire, avec une surface de 600 ha, Reims est l’une des plus grandes villes de l’Empire et métropole de la province de la Gaule belgique. Le substrat géologique de la ville, la craie du campanien, est très friable et gélive. La distalité des matériaux de construction “en dur” a conduit à leur récupération systématique. Depuis les années 1980, ce sont des kilomètres de tranchées de récupération de murs qui ont été mis au jour, posant ainsi des questionnements sur l’interprétation de ces vestiges. Si l’étude spatiale et diachronique est importante pour une approche globale de l’urbanisme antique, elle reste insuffisante pour appréhender les volumes, l’architecture et les fonctions des constructions mises au jour. Le travail des archéologues et des architectes permet maintenant de restituer de façon raisonnée les élévations des bâtiments. L’élaboration d’images 3D est plus récente et reste à intégrer dans le SIGrem (SIG archéologique urbain) en partant du principe que la modélisation tridimensionnelle de certaines données permettra de créer les représentations virtuelles nécessaires aux différentes approches scientifiques