Microorganisms from aphid honeydew attract and enhance the efficacy of natural enemies

Aphids are one of the most serious pests of crops worldwide, causing major yield and economic losses. To control aphids, natural enemies could be an option but their efficacy is sometimes limited by their dispersal in natural environment. Here we report the first isolation of a bacterium from the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum honeydew, Staphylococcus sciuri, which acts as a kairomone enhancing the efficiency of aphid natural enemies. Our findings represent the first case of a host-associated bacterium driving prey location and ovipositional preference for the natural enemy. We show that this bacterium has a key role in tritrophic interactions because it is the direct source of volatiles used to locate prey. Some specific semiochemicals produced by S. sciuri were also identified as significant attractants and ovipositional stimulants. The use of this host-associated bacterium could certainly provide a novel approach to control aphids in field and greenhouse systems

Mutation of Ser172 in Yeast β Tubulin Induces Defects in Microtubule Dynamics and Cell Division

Ser172 of β tubulin is an important residue that is mutated in a human brain disease and phosphorylated by the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk1 in mammalian cells. To examine the role of this residue, we used the yeast S. cerevisiae as a model and produced two different mutations (S172A and S172E) of the conserved Ser172 in the yeast β tubulin Tub2p. The two mutants showed impaired cell growth on benomyl-containing medium and at cold temperatures, altered microtubule (MT) dynamics, and altered nucleus positioning and segregation. When cytoplasmic MT effectors Dyn1p or Kar9p were deleted in S172A and S172E mutants, cells were viable but presented increased ploidy. Furthermore, the two β tubulin mutations exhibited synthetic lethal interactions with Bik1p, Bim1p or Kar3p, which are effectors of cytoplasmic and spindle MTs. In the absence of Mad2p-dependent spindle checkpoint, both mutations are deleterious. These findings show the importance of Ser172 for the correct function of both cytoplasmic and spindle MTs and for normal cell division

NOV/CCN3 attenuates inflammatory pain through regulation of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sustained neuroinflammation strongly contributes to the pathogenesis of pain. The clinical challenge of chronic pain relief led to the identification of molecules such as cytokines, chemokines and more recently matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as putative therapeutic targets. Evidence points to a founder member of the matricial CCN family, NOV/CCN3, as a modulator of these inflammatory mediators. We thus investigated the possible involvement of NOV in a preclinical model of persistent inflammatory pain.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced model of persistent inflammatory pain and cultured primary sensory neurons for <it>in vitro </it>experiments. The mRNA expression of NOV and pro-inflammatory factors were measured with real-time quantitative PCR, CCL2 protein expression was assessed using ELISA, MMP-2 and -9 activities using zymography. The effect of drugs on tactile allodynia was evaluated by the von Frey test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>NOV was expressed in neurons of both dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and dorsal horn of the spinal cord (DHSC). After intraplantar CFA injection, NOV levels were transiently and persistently down-regulated in the DRG and DHSC, respectively, occurring at the maintenance phase of pain (15 days). NOV-reduced expression was restored after treatment of CFA rats with dexamethasone. <it>In vitro</it>, results based on cultured DRG neurons showed that siRNA-mediated inhibition of NOV enhanced IL-1β- and TNF-α-induced MMP-2, MMP-9 and CCL2 expression whereas NOV addition inhibited TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression through β₁integrin engagement. <it>In vivo</it>, the intrathecal delivery of MMP-9 inhibitor attenuated mechanical allodynia of CFA rats. Importantly, intrathecal administration of NOV siRNA specifically led to an up-regulation of MMP-9 in the DRG and MMP-2 in the DHSC concomitant with increased mechanical allodynia. Finally, NOV intrathecal treatment specifically abolished the induction of MMP-9 in the DRG and, MMP-9 and MMP-2 in the DHSC of CFA rats. This inhibitory effect on MMP is associated with reduced mechanical allodynia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study identifies NOV as a new actor against inflammatory pain through regulation of MMPs thus uncovering NOV as an attractive candidate for therapeutic improvement in pain relief.</p

Les substances végétales non volatiles et leur effet phagostimulant sur les larves de cinquième stade de la teigne du poireau, Acrolepiopsis assectella (Lep.)

International audienc

Réfractomètre : référence de longueur d'onde dans l'air

L'une des principales sources d'incertitudes limitant la précision des mesures dimensionnelles dans l'air par méthode interférométrique est liée à l'incertitude de mesure de l'indice de réfraction et à celle de ses fluctuations. A ce jour les meilleurs réfractomètres n'atteignent que des incertitudes à l'échelle des 10-7, et leurs temps de réponse relativement grands ne permettent pas d'effectuer des mesures en temps réel. Dans cet article, nous présentons le principe d'un nouveau type de réfractomètre, en développement à l'INM, pour la mesure en temps réel de l'indice de l'air avec une précision d'environ 10-9, ainsi que quelques résultats préliminaires

Measuring patients&rsquo; satisfaction with their anti-TNF treatment in severe Crohn&rsquo;s disease: scoring and psychometric validation of the Satisfaction for PAtients in Crohn&rsquo;s diseasE Questionnaire (SPACE-Q&copy;)

H&eacute;l&egrave;ne Gilet,1 Benoit Arnould,1 Fatoumata Fofana,1 Pierre Clerson,2 Jean-Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Colombel,10 Olivier D&rsquo;Hondt,2 Patrick Faure,4 Herv&eacute; Hag&egrave;ge,5 Maria Nachury,3 St&eacute;phane Nahon,6 Gilbert Tucat,7 Luc Vandromme,8 Ines Cazala-Telinge,9 Emmanuel Thibout9 1HEOR and Strategic Market Access, Mapi, Lyon, France; 2Orgam&eacute;trie, Roubaix, France; 3H&ocirc;pital Claude Huriez, Lille, France; 4Clinique Saint-Jean du Languedoc, Toulouse, France; 5Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal, Cr&eacute;teil, France; 6Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal, Le Raincy Montfermeil, France; 7Gastroenterologist, Private Clinical Practice, Paris, France; 8Gastroenterologist, Private Clinical Practice, Reims, France; 9Abbvie France, Rungis, France; 10Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA Background: Severe Crohn&rsquo;s disease management includes anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs that differ from early-stage treatments regarding efficacy, safety, and convenience. This study aimed to finalize and psychometrically validate the Satisfaction for PAtients in Crohn&rsquo;s diseasE Questionnaire (SPACE-Q&copy;), developed to measure satisfaction with anti-TNF treatment in patients with severe Crohn&rsquo;s disease. Methods: A total of 279 patients with severe Crohn&rsquo;s disease receiving anti-TNF therapy completed the SPACE-Q 62-item pilot version at inclusion and 12 and 13 weeks after first anti-TNF injection. The final SPACE-Q scoring was defined using multitrait and regression analyses and clinical relevance considerations. Psychometric validation included clinical validity against Harvey&ndash;Bradshaw score, concurrent validity against Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), internal consistency reliability, test&ndash;retest reliability, and responsiveness against the patient global impression of change (PGIC).Results: Quality of completion was good (55%&ndash;67% of patients completed all items). Four items were removed from the questionnaire. Eleven scores were defined within the final 58-item SPACE-Q: disease control; symptoms, anal symptoms, and quality of life transition scales; tolerability; convenience; expectation confirmation toward efficacy, side effects, and convenience; satisfaction with treatment; and motivation. Scores met standards for concurrent validity (correlation between SPACE-Q satisfaction with treatment and TSQM satisfaction scores =0.59), internal consistency reliability (Cronbach&rsquo;s &alpha;=0.67&ndash;0.93), test&ndash;retest reliability (intraclass correlations =0.62&ndash;0.91), and responsiveness (improvement in treatment experience assessed by the SPACE-Q for patients reporting improvement on the PGIC). Significantly different mean scores were observed between groups of patients with different Harvey&ndash;Bradshaw disease severity scores.Conclusion: The SPACE-Q is a valid, reliable, and responsive instrument to measure satisfaction with anti-TNF treatment in patients with severe Crohn&rsquo;s disease and for use in future studies. Keywords: Crohn&rsquo;s disease, satisfaction, anti-TNF treatment, questionnair