Islamisation – désislamisation. Les contrastes de l’Égypte des années 1990

2000 restera une année faste pour les amateurs d’études sur l’islamisme. Après Gilles Kepel et et Antoine Basbous annonçant avec fracas respectivement le déclin et l’avortement de l’islamisme, voici que Genieve Abdo annonce le « triomphe de l’islam » dans l’Égypte des années 1990, « A failed militant movement in no way spells the death of Islamic revivalism » (p. 199), rappelle-t-elle à contre-courant des thèses aux refrains de requiem en vogue dans le milieu académique parisien. L’auteur a ..

Libéralisme et libéralités chez les entrepreneurs égyptiens

L’intégration accrue de l'économie égyptienne au sein du capitalisme international, favorisée par un gouvernement toujours plus orienté vers le credo libéral, n'a pas nécessairement soumis l'imaginaire des entrepreneurs égyptiens aux représentations d'une culture d'affaires transnationale. La relation entre l'extension du capitalisme et les représentations locales est fondamentalement ambivalente : d'une part, des synergies inattendues peuvent se produire entre les imaginaires socio-culturels..

Islamisation – désislamisation. Les contrastes de l’Égypte des années 1990

2000 restera une année faste pour les amateurs d’études sur l’islamisme. Après Gilles Kepel et et Antoine Basbous annonçant avec fracas respectivement le déclin et l’avortement de l’islamisme, voici que Genieve Abdo annonce le « triomphe de l’islam » dans l’Égypte des années 1990, « A failed militant movement in no way spells the death of Islamic revivalism » (p. 199), rappelle-t-elle à contre-courant des thèses aux refrains de requiem en vogue dans le milieu académique parisien. L’auteur a ..

Coming up through the cracks : the Islamic State's resurgence in Syria and Iraq

The Islamic State’s attack, 20 January 2022, on al-Sina’a prison (al-Hasaka city) took both the international Coalition and the Syrian Democratic Forces by surprise. The Islamic State remains, on the evidence of this raid, a centralised organisation, coordinating efficiently at the regional level. The Islamic State is seizing the opportunities for action left to it by various local military forces. It is still taking advantage of the tensions from counterinsurgency strategies led by Western countries. The success of the war on terror will depend on the capacity of the Coalition to manage the new political landscape that this war helped create in Syria and Iraq

Métamorphoses du voile « islamique » et distinctions sociales

Toujours plus présent sur la scène sociale en Égypte, le voile ne cesse de nourrir les polémiques. Sur les bords du Nil comme ailleurs dans le monde musulman, celles-ci expriment des antagonismes politiques et des choix de société. Deux paradigmes explicatifs se disputent l'interprétation du port du voile et se distribuent de façon complexe au sein du paysage idéologique égyptien. Le premier appréhende cette pratique en termes de « régression », de « retour en arrière »; pour le second, il s'..

Libéralité prétorienne et État minimum au Soudan

«°On ne commence à parler d'État que lorsque des hommes ou des organismes qui assurent plusieurs services publics commencent à être réunis entre eux et par là à faire masse.°» Paul Veyne, Le pain et le cirque. Sociologie d'un pluralisme politique. Au Soudan, comme ailleurs, l'édification de l'espace public n'a suivi que marginalement la voie royale de l'administration exclusive par l'État. S'appuyant largement sur la philanthropie et le civisme de ses gouvernés, le régime islamique, comme se..

Combining Conservation & Development

Madagascar is a land of contrasts, from the every day humid rainforest on the Masoala Peninsula, to the rough and sharp peaks of the Tsingy de Bemaraha, to the marshes of Lake Tsimanampetsotsa. And its people are equally divers, from Zebu keeper of Morondave, to the fisherman of the Lake Alaotra, to the rice cultivators of the Fianarantsoa. An even more impressive diversity can be found in the rich wildlife with its unique endemic features. Nevertheless, all these peculiarities are under enormous pressure. Human needs for natural resources such as wood for charcoal, bushmeat for protein supply or land for crop cultivations and cattle farming are putting deep, unsustainable impacts on the Malagasy environment. Conservation and development issues are becoming more and more important. Consequently the idea of a forum for the exchange of experiences and knowledge in the respective fields has arisen. Thanks to the positive feedback and the many contributions from researchers and organisations working in Madagascar, Madagascar Wildlife Conservation (MWC) and the Jane Goodall Institute Switzerland (JGI Switzerland) are able and happy to present the first issue of the new journal MADAGASCAR CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT – the MCD journal. The journal’s editorial board is constituted of experts from different disciplines, organizations and universities, which are all involved in conservation or development work in Madagascar.Thanks to the board members voluntary work and extra hours, the professionalism of the numerous reviewers and the many contributions of the authors, this issue has become reality. The editors are proud to present already a broad variety of contributions ranging from scientific articles about reptile conservation, to the presentation of solar ovens as an alternative to charcoal use, to an essay about the fifteen years of NEAP (National Environmental Action Plan). MCD also presents an interview with three Malagasy women involved in different ways in the CPALI (Conservation trough Poverty Alleviation) Wild Silk Project. To keep this journal on a high standard for the future issues MCD encourages all young researchers and development workers, especially Malagasy scientists and conservationists, to contribute to this journal. Further, it is crucial that the readers provide feedback and tell their colleagues in conservation and development fields about this journal. This will give the journal a chance to become a viable forum of exchange of knowledge and technologies for Madagascar. The journal MCD is launched as an open source journal. The limited accessibility of the World Wide Web in Madagascar forces MCD to be also available as printed edition. To cover layout, printing and distribution costs MCD hopes to place in future (more) advertisements and announcements in the journal from the private sector. Sponsorships and funds will be very welcome and necessary. The journal will be distributed to universities, libraries, publishers and other suitable organisations, and of course any individuals interested in the field

Global transmission of extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance in Escherichia coli driven by epidemic plasmids

Background Extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) are third and fourth generation cephalosporin antimicrobials used in humans and animals to treat infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Resistance to ESCs (ESC-R) in Enterobacterales is predominantly due to the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases (AmpCs). The dynamics of ESBLs and AmpCs are changing across countries and host species, the result of global transmission of ESC-R genes. Plasmids are known to play a key role in this dissemination, but the relative importance of different types of plasmids is not fully understood. Methods In this study, Escherichia coli with the major ESC-R genes blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-14 (ESBLs) and blaCMY-2 (AmpC), were selected from diverse host species and other sources across Canada, France and Germany, collected between 2003 and 2017. To examine in detail the vehicles of transmission of the ESC-R genes, long- and short-read sequences were generated to obtain complete contiguous chromosome and plasmid sequences (n = 192 ESC-R E. coli). The types, gene composition and genetic relatedness of these plasmids were investigated, along with association with isolate year, source and geographical origin, and put in context with publicly available plasmid sequences. Findings We identified five epidemic resistance plasmid subtypes with distinct genetic properties that are associated with the global dissemination of ESC-R genes across multiple E. coli lineages and host species. The IncI1 pST3 blaCTX-M-1 plasmid subtype was found in more diverse sources than the other main plasmid subtypes, whereas IncI1 pST12 blaCMY-2 was more frequent in Canadian and German human and chicken isolates. Clonal expansion also contributed to the dissemination of the IncI1 pST12 blaCMY-2 plasmid in ST131 and ST117 E. coli harbouring this plasmid. The IncI1 pST2 blaCMY-2 subtype was predominant in isolates from humans in France, while the IncF F31:A4:B1 blaCTX-M-15 and F2:A-:B- blaCTX-M-14 plasmid subtypes were frequent in human and cattle isolates across multiple countries. Beyond their epidemic nature with respect to ESC-R genes, in our collection almost all IncI1 pST3 blaCTX-M-1 and IncF F31:A4:B1 blaCTX-M-15 epidemic plasmids also carried multiple antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes conferring resistance to other antimicrobial classes. Finally, we found genetic signatures in the regions surrounding specific ESC-R genes, identifying the predominant mechanisms of ESC-R gene movement, and using publicly available databases, we identified these epidemic plasmids from widespread bacterial species, host species, countries and continents. Interpretation We provide evidence that epidemic resistance plasmid subtypes contribute to the global dissemination of ESC-R genes, and in addition, some of these epidemic plasmids confer resistance to multiple other antimicrobial classes. The success of these plasmids suggests that they may have a fitness advantage over other plasmid types and subtypes. Identification and understanding of the vehicles of AMR transmission are crucial to develop and target strategies and interventions to reduce the spread of AMR

Global transmission of extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance in Escherichia coli driven by epidemic plasmids

Background: Extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) are third and fourth generation cephalosporin antimicrobials used in humans and animals to treat infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Resistance to ESCs (ESC-R) in Enterobacterales is predominantly due to the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases (AmpCs). The dynamics of ESBLs and AmpCs are changing across countries and host species, the result of global transmission of ESC-R genes. Plasmids are known to play a key role in this dissemination, but the relative importance of different types of plasmids is not fully understood. Methods: In this study, Escherichia coli with the major ESC-R genes bla CTX-M-1, bla CTX-M-15, bla CTX-M-14 (ESBLs) and bla CMY-2 (AmpC), were selected from diverse host species and other sources across Canada, France and Germany, collected between 2003 and 2017. To examine in detail the vehicles of transmission of the ESC-R genes, long- and short-read sequences were generated to obtain complete contiguous chromosome and plasmid sequences (n = 192 ESC-R E. coli). The types, gene composition and genetic relatedness of these plasmids were investigated, along with association with isolate year, source and geographical origin, and put in context with publicly available plasmid sequences. Findings: We identified five epidemic resistance plasmid subtypes with distinct genetic properties that are associated with the global dissemination of ESC-R genes across multiple E. coli lineages and host species. The IncI1 pST3 bla CTX-M-1 plasmid subtype was found in more diverse sources than the other main plasmid subtypes, whereas IncI1 pST12 bla CMY-2 was more frequent in Canadian and German human and chicken isolates. Clonal expansion also contributed to the dissemination of the IncI1 pST12 bla CMY-2 plasmid in ST131 and ST117 E. coli harbouring this plasmid. The IncI1 pST2 bla CMY-2 subtype was predominant in isolates from humans in France, while the IncF F31:A4:B1 bla CTX-M-15 and F2:A-:B- bla CTX-M-14 plasmid subtypes were frequent in human and cattle isolates across multiple countries. Beyond their epidemic nature with respect to ESC-R genes, in our collection almost all IncI1 pST3 bla CTX-M-1 and IncF F31:A4:B1 bla CTX-M-15 epidemic plasmids also carried multiple antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes conferring resistance to other antimicrobial classes. Finally, we found genetic signatures in the regions surrounding specific ESC-R genes, identifying the predominant mechanisms of ESC-R gene movement, and using publicly available databases, we identified these epidemic plasmids from widespread bacterial species, host species, countries and continents. Interpretation: We provide evidence that epidemic resistance plasmid subtypes contribute to the global dissemination of ESC-R genes, and in addition, some of these epidemic plasmids confer resistance to multiple other antimicrobial classes. The success of these plasmids suggests that they may have a fitness advantage over other plasmid types and subtypes. Identification and understanding of the vehicles of AMR transmission are crucial to develop and target strategies and interventions to reduce the spread of AMR. Funding: This project was supported by the (Theme 1, Epidemiology and Evolution of Pathogens in the Food Chain)

NMD3 regulates both mRNA and rRNA nuclear export in African trypanosomes via an XPOI-linked pathway

Trypanosomes mostly regulate gene expression through post-transcriptional mechanisms, particularly mRNA stability. However, much mRNA degradation is cytoplasmic such that mRNA nuclear export must represent an important level of regulation. Ribosomal RNAs must also be exported from the nucleus and the trypanosome orthologue of NMD3 has been confirmed to be involved in rRNA processing and export, matching its function in other organisms. Surprisingly, we found that TbNMD3 depletion also generates mRNA accumulation of procyclin-associated genes (PAGs), these being co-transcribed by RNA polymerase I with the procyclin surface antigen genes expressed on trypanosome insect forms. By whole transcriptome RNA-seq analysis of TbNMD3-depleted cells we confirm the regulation of the PAG transcripts by TbNMD3 and using reporter constructs reveal that PAG1 regulation is mediated by its 5'UTR. Dissection of the mechanism of regulation demonstrates that it is not dependent upon translational inhibition mediated by TbNMD3 depletion nor enhanced transcription. However, depletion of the nuclear export factors XPO1 or MEX67 recapitulates the effects of TbNMD3 depletion on PAG mRNAs and mRNAs accumulated in the nucleus of TbNMD3-depleted cells. These results invoke a novel RNA regulatory mechanism involving the NMD3-dependent nuclear export of mRNA cargos, suggesting a shared platform for mRNA and rRNA export