Recherches sur le bouquet de vieillissement des vins rouges de Bordeaux : Etudes sensorielle et moléculaire d’un concept olfactif complexe

A wine with ageing potential is noticeable by its ability to improve over time, expressing the aromatic complexity particularly expected by wine tasters. The development of wine ageing bouquet, the "signature" of the organoleptic quality of fine wines aged in bottle, is one of the most fascinating but least known phenomena in oenology. Indeed, both its sensory and molecular markers are poorly documented.A three-step holistic approach made it possible to decipher the sensory characteristics of the ageing bouquet of red Bordeaux wines. More precisely, a shared sensory definition emerged among wine professionals, structured around eight main aromatic notes: "undergrowth", "truffle", "fresh red- and black berry fruits", "spicy», "liquorice", "mint», "toasted" and "empyreumatic". Furthermore, the importance of expertise based on oenological knowledge, sensory skills, and lexical capabilities in defining olfactory concepts was highlighted. A molecular study, targeting specific classes of aromatic compounds formed and/or preserved during bottle ageing, identified dimethyl sulphide, 2-furanmethanethiol and 3-sulfanylhexanol as key contributors to the typicality of wine ageing bouquet. These volatile compounds were present in the highest concentrations in all wines with an ageing bouquet and participated more specifically in their undergrowth, truffle, and empyreumatic aromas. Subsequently, wine fractionations and aromatic reconstitutions, analyzed by both GC-O and GC-MS, were used to identify D,L-piperitone, a monoterpene which was shown for the first time to be involved in the typical mint nuances in the ageing bouquet of red Bordeaux wines. Finally, influence of some parameters of “terroir” was highlighted. Isotope ratio measurement (δC13) in ethanol of studied wines was used as an indicator of vine water status and revealed that a moderate to severe water deficit was in favor to the genesis of a wine ageing bouquet. Interestingly, the sensory difference in minty character observed in red Bordeaux wines apparently originated from grapes, as D,L-piperitone levels were significantly higher in wines where Cabernet Sauvignon was dominantUn grand vin de garde se distingue par sa capacité à se bonifier avec le temps, exprimant alors une complexité aromatique particulièrement attendue par les dégustateurs. L’apparition du bouquet de vieillissement, signature de la qualité organoleptique des grands vins vieillis en bouteille, est un des phénomènes les plus impressionnants de l’œnologie mais également l’un des plus mal connus. En effet, ses déterminants sensoriels et moléculaires ont jusqu’à présent été peu étudiés. Grâce à une approche holistique séquencée en trois étapes, nous avons pu décrypter sensoriellement le concept du bouquet de vieillissement des vins rouges de Bordeaux. Une définition sensorielle partagée par des professionnels du vin a pu émerger, s’articulant autour de huit notes aromatiques principales : « sous-bois », « truffe », « fruits frais rouges et noirs », « épicé », « réglisse », « menthe », « grillé » et « empyreumatique ». D’autre part, nous avons pu souligner l’importance de l’expertise dans la définition d’un tel concept olfactif, nécessitant à la fois des connaissances œnologiques, des compétences sensorielles et des ressources lexicales. Par une étude moléculaire ciblée sur certaines classes de molécules aromatiques se formant et/ou conservées au cours du vieillissement en bouteille, nous avons pu identifier que plusieurs composés soufrés volatils tels le sulfure de diméthyle, le 2-furaneméthanethiol et le 3-sulfanylhexanol contribuaient activement à la typicité du bouquet de vieillissement. Présents à des teneurs significativement plus élevées dans les vins rouges exprimant un bouquet de vieillissement, nous avons montré que ces composés volatils participaient plus particulièrement aux notes aromatiques caractéristiques de sous-bois, truffe et empyreumatique. La mise en œuvre de fractionnements d’extraits de vins et de reconstitutions aromatiques, puis l’application de la GC-O et de la GC-MS sur les fractions d’intérêt ont permis par la suite d’identifier la D,L-pipéritone, un monoterpène associé pour la première fois aux nuances de menthe typiques du bouquet de vieillissement des vins rouges de Bordeaux. Enfin, nous avons montré que certains paramètres du terroir pouvaient influencer l’expression aromatique du bouquet de vieillissement. La mesure du rapport isotopique (δC13) de l’éthanol a permis de retracer l’état hydrique des vignes ayant produit les vins étudiés et a montré qu’une contrainte hydrique modérée ou forte de la vigne était favorable à cette typicité. De plus, la différence sensorielle de la note menthe observée entre les vins rouges de Bordeaux semble trouver son origine dans la nature du cépage, avec des teneurs en D,L-pipéritone significativement plus importantes dans les vins pour lesquels le Cabernet Sauvignon est le cépage prédominant

Herpes simplex virus encephalitis in a patient with complete TLR3 deficiency: TLR3 is otherwise redundant in protective immunity

A new autosomal recessive form of complete TLR3 deficiency reveals that human TLR3 is nonredundant in immunity against herpes simplex virus 1 in the central nervous system (CNS) but redundant in host defense against viruses outside the CNS

Gain-of-function human STAT1 mutations impair IL-17 immunity and underlie chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis disease (CMCD) may be caused by autosomal dominant (AD) IL-17F deficiency or autosomal recessive (AR) IL-17RA deficiency. Here, using whole-exome sequencing, we identified heterozygous germline mutations in STAT1 in 47 patients from 20 kindreds with AD CMCD. Previously described heterozygous STAT1 mutant alleles are loss-of-function and cause AD predisposition to mycobacterial disease caused by impaired STAT1-dependent cellular responses to IFN-γ. Other loss-of-function STAT1 alleles cause AR predisposition to intracellular bacterial and viral diseases, caused by impaired STAT1-dependent responses to IFN-α/β, IFN-γ, IFN-λ, and IL-27. In contrast, the 12 AD CMCD-inducing STAT1 mutant alleles described here are gain-of-function and increase STAT1-dependent cellular responses to these cytokines, and to cytokines that predominantly activate STAT3, such as IL-6 and IL-21. All of these mutations affect the coiled-coil domain and impair the nuclear dephosphorylation of activated STAT1, accounting for their gain-of-function and dominance. Stronger cellular responses to the STAT1-dependent IL-17 inhibitors IFN-α/β, IFN-γ, and IL-27, and stronger STAT1 activation in response to the STAT3-dependent IL-17 inducers IL-6 and IL-21, hinder the development of T cells producing IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-22. Gain-of-function STAT1 alleles therefore cause AD CMCD by impairing IL-17 immunity

Evolutionary Dynamics of Human Toll-Like Receptors and Their Different Contributions to Host Defense

Infectious diseases have been paramount among the threats to health and survival throughout human evolutionary history. Natural selection is therefore expected to act strongly on host defense genes, particularly on innate immunity genes whose products mediate the direct interaction between the host and the microbial environment. In insects and mammals, the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) appear to play a major role in initiating innate immune responses against microbes. In humans, however, it has been speculated that the set of TLRs could be redundant for protective immunity. We investigated how natural selection has acted upon human TLRs, as an approach to assess their level of biological redundancy. We sequenced the ten human TLRs in a panel of 158 individuals from various populations worldwide and found that the intracellular TLRs—activated by nucleic acids and particularly specialized in viral recognition—have evolved under strong purifying selection, indicating their essential non-redundant role in host survival. Conversely, the selective constraints on the TLRs expressed on the cell surface—activated by compounds other than nucleic acids—have been much more relaxed, with higher rates of damaging nonsynonymous and stop mutations tolerated, suggesting their higher redundancy. Finally, we tested whether TLRs have experienced spatially-varying selection in human populations and found that the region encompassing TLR10-TLR1-TLR6 has been the target of recent positive selection among non-Africans. Our findings indicate that the different TLRs differ in their immunological redundancy, reflecting their distinct contributions to host defense. The insights gained in this study foster new hypotheses to be tested in clinical and epidemiological genetics of infectious disease

Effect of aliskiren on post-discharge outcomes among diabetic and non-diabetic patients hospitalized for heart failure: insights from the ASTRONAUT trial

Aims The objective of the Aliskiren Trial on Acute Heart Failure Outcomes (ASTRONAUT) was to determine whether aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, would improve post-discharge outcomes in patients with hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) with reduced ejection fraction. Pre-specified subgroup analyses suggested potential heterogeneity in post-discharge outcomes with aliskiren in patients with and without baseline diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods and results ASTRONAUT included 953 patients without DM (aliskiren 489; placebo 464) and 662 patients with DM (aliskiren 319; placebo 343) (as reported by study investigators). Study endpoints included the first occurrence of cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 and 12 months, all-cause death within 6 and 12 months, and change from baseline in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at 1, 6, and 12 months. Data regarding risk of hyperkalaemia, renal impairment, and hypotension, and changes in additional serum biomarkers were collected. The effect of aliskiren on cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 months (primary endpoint) did not significantly differ by baseline DM status (P = 0.08 for interaction), but reached statistical significance at 12 months (non-DM: HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64-0.99; DM: HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.91-1.47; P = 0.03 for interaction). Risk of 12-month all-cause death with aliskiren significantly differed by the presence of baseline DM (non-DM: HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94; DM: HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.15-2.33; P < 0.01 for interaction). Among non-diabetics, aliskiren significantly reduced NT-proBNP through 6 months and plasma troponin I and aldosterone through 12 months, as compared to placebo. Among diabetic patients, aliskiren reduced plasma troponin I and aldosterone relative to placebo through 1 month only. There was a trend towards differing risk of post-baseline potassium ≥6 mmol/L with aliskiren by underlying DM status (non-DM: HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.71-1.93; DM: HR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.30-4.42; P = 0.07 for interaction). Conclusion This pre-specified subgroup analysis from the ASTRONAUT trial generates the hypothesis that the addition of aliskiren to standard HHF therapy in non-diabetic patients is generally well-tolerated and improves post-discharge outcomes and biomarker profiles. In contrast, diabetic patients receiving aliskiren appear to have worse post-discharge outcomes. Future prospective investigations are needed to confirm potential benefits of renin inhibition in a large cohort of HHF patients without D

Research on the ageing bouquet of red Bordeaux wines : Sensory and molecular study of a complex olfactory concept

Un grand vin de garde se distingue par sa capacité à se bonifier avec le temps, exprimant alors une complexité aromatique particulièrement attendue par les dégustateurs. L’apparition du bouquet de vieillissement, signature de la qualité organoleptique des grands vins vieillis en bouteille, est un des phénomènes les plus impressionnants de l’œnologie mais également l’un des plus mal connus. En effet, ses déterminants sensoriels et moléculaires ont jusqu’à présent été peu étudiés. Grâce à une approche holistique séquencée en trois étapes, nous avons pu décrypter sensoriellement le concept du bouquet de vieillissement des vins rouges de Bordeaux. Une définition sensorielle partagée par des professionnels du vin a pu émerger, s’articulant autour de huit notes aromatiques principales : « sous-bois », « truffe », « fruits frais rouges et noirs », « épicé », « réglisse », « menthe », « grillé » et « empyreumatique ». D’autre part, nous avons pu souligner l’importance de l’expertise dans la définition d’un tel concept olfactif, nécessitant à la fois des connaissances œnologiques, des compétences sensorielles et des ressources lexicales. Par une étude moléculaire ciblée sur certaines classes de molécules aromatiques se formant et/ou conservées au cours du vieillissement en bouteille, nous avons pu identifier que plusieurs composés soufrés volatils tels le sulfure de diméthyle, le 2-furaneméthanethiol et le 3-sulfanylhexanol contribuaient activement à la typicité du bouquet de vieillissement. Présents à des teneurs significativement plus élevées dans les vins rouges exprimant un bouquet de vieillissement, nous avons montré que ces composés volatils participaient plus particulièrement aux notes aromatiques caractéristiques de sous-bois, truffe et empyreumatique. La mise en œuvre de fractionnements d’extraits de vins et de reconstitutions aromatiques, puis l’application de la GC-O et de la GC-MS sur les fractions d’intérêt ont permis par la suite d’identifier la D,L-pipéritone, un monoterpène associé pour la première fois aux nuances de menthe typiques du bouquet de vieillissement des vins rouges de Bordeaux. Enfin, nous avons montré que certains paramètres du terroir pouvaient influencer l’expression aromatique du bouquet de vieillissement. La mesure du rapport isotopique (δC13) de l’éthanol a permis de retracer l’état hydrique des vignes ayant produit les vins étudiés et a montré qu’une contrainte hydrique modérée ou forte de la vigne était favorable à cette typicité. De plus, la différence sensorielle de la note menthe observée entre les vins rouges de Bordeaux semble trouver son origine dans la nature du cépage, avec des teneurs en D,L-pipéritone significativement plus importantes dans les vins pour lesquels le Cabernet Sauvignon est le cépage prédominant.A wine with ageing potential is noticeable by its ability to improve over time, expressing the aromatic complexity particularly expected by wine tasters. The development of wine ageing bouquet, the "signature" of the organoleptic quality of fine wines aged in bottle, is one of the most fascinating but least known phenomena in oenology. Indeed, both its sensory and molecular markers are poorly documented.A three-step holistic approach made it possible to decipher the sensory characteristics of the ageing bouquet of red Bordeaux wines. More precisely, a shared sensory definition emerged among wine professionals, structured around eight main aromatic notes: "undergrowth", "truffle", "fresh red- and black berry fruits", "spicy», "liquorice", "mint», "toasted" and "empyreumatic". Furthermore, the importance of expertise based on oenological knowledge, sensory skills, and lexical capabilities in defining olfactory concepts was highlighted. A molecular study, targeting specific classes of aromatic compounds formed and/or preserved during bottle ageing, identified dimethyl sulphide, 2-furanmethanethiol and 3-sulfanylhexanol as key contributors to the typicality of wine ageing bouquet. These volatile compounds were present in the highest concentrations in all wines with an ageing bouquet and participated more specifically in their undergrowth, truffle, and empyreumatic aromas. Subsequently, wine fractionations and aromatic reconstitutions, analyzed by both GC-O and GC-MS, were used to identify D,L-piperitone, a monoterpene which was shown for the first time to be involved in the typical mint nuances in the ageing bouquet of red Bordeaux wines. Finally, influence of some parameters of “terroir” was highlighted. Isotope ratio measurement (δC13) in ethanol of studied wines was used as an indicator of vine water status and revealed that a moderate to severe water deficit was in favor to the genesis of a wine ageing bouquet. Interestingly, the sensory difference in minty character observed in red Bordeaux wines apparently originated from grapes, as D,L-piperitone levels were significantly higher in wines where Cabernet Sauvignon was dominan

First identification of three p -menthane lactones and their potential precursor, menthofuran, in red wines

International audienceThe p-menthane lactones constitute a family of powerful odorants, including the isomers of mintlactone and menthofurolactone that occur naturally in peppermint oil, known for their potent, mint-like olfactory properties. These lactones are closely related to the monoterpene-limonene secondary biotransformation and menthofuran has been identified as their common precursor in Mentha species. Using targeted GC-olfactometry and GC-MS analyses, together with quantification methods, we were able to demonstrate, for the first time, the presence of the diastereoisomers of these p-menthane lactones, as well as their common precursor, menthofuran, in red wines. In addition, we linked the presence of those lactones to interesting odorant zones, reminiscent of mint, detected in the studied wine. Although these p-menthane lactones may contribute individually to mint and coconut odors, sensory studies suggested for the first time that their combination at the levels found in the red wine studied resulted in a significant accentuation of freshness and mint notes

On the influence of polymer surface layer thickness on the adhesion of composite assembly

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On the Influence of Polymer Surface Layer Thickness on the Adhesion of Composite Assembly. Differences between Initial State and Thermal Ageing

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Etude de la durabilité d'assemblages composites collés carbone/epoxyde, lors de vieillissement thermique

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