Persistent anthrax as a major driver of wildlife mortality in a tropical rainforest

Anthrax is a globally important animal disease and zoonosis. Despite this, our current knowledge of anthrax ecology is largely limited to arid ecosystems, where outbreaks are most commonly reported. Here we show that the dynamics of an anthrax-causing agent, Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis, in a tropical rainforest have severe consequences for local wildlife communities. Using data and samples collected over three decades, we show that rainforest anthrax is a persistent and widespread cause of death for a broad range of mammalian hosts. We predict that this pathogen will accelerate the decline and possibly result in the extirpation of local chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) populations. We present the epidemiology of a cryptic pathogen and show that its presence has important implications for conservation

Additions à la Fonge Lichénisée et Non-Lichénisée du Département de l'Aude (Région Occitanie, France).

International audienceThe department of Aude (Occitanie region, France) is one of the most biodiverse in mainland France, yet its land remains largely unexplored, leaving numerous lichen-forming fungi species undocumented. Herein, we document the disco-very of 40 previously unrecorded species within the Aude department: Coniocarpon cinnabarinum, Alyxoria variiformis, Pseudoschismatomma rufescens, Acarospora glaucocarpa, Cladonia cervicornis, C. humilis, C. portentosa, C. squamosa var. subsquamosa, C. subulata, Squamarina gypsacea, S. periculosa, Stereocaulon evolutum, Parmelia omphalodes, Pleurosticta acetabulum, Usnea cornuta, U. esperantiana, U. flammea, U. glabres-cens, U. rubicunda, Xanthoparmelia verruculifera, Psora testacea, Ramalina fraxinea, Thalloidima opuntioides, Sphaerophorus globosus, Romjularia lurida, Leprocaulon quisquiliare, Diploschistes scruposus, Graphis betulina, G. elegans, Scyti-nium lichenoides, Fuscopannaria ignobilis, Nephroma tangeriense, Peltigera canina, Peltigera hymenina, Rhizocarpon lecanorinum, Calogaya decipiens subsp. decipiens, Kuettlingeria teicholy-ta, Polycauliona polycarpa, Umbilicaria polyphylla, Rhytidhysteron hysterinum. Additionally, we report the first occurrence of Usnea fulvoreagens in the Lot department (Occitanie region, France). These findings contribute to our understanding of the remarkable lichen diversity within the Aude department, emphasizing the need for further exploration and conservation efforts in this region.Le département de l’Aude (région Occitanie, France) compte parmi les territoires de France métropolitaine qui abritent le plus de biodiversité, pourtant sa fonge reste largement inexplorée et de nombreuses espèces de lichens et de champignons non-lichénisés restent à inventorier. Le présent article reporte 40 nouvelles espèces pour l’Aude : Coniocarpon cinnabarinum, Alyxoria variiformis, Pseudoschismatomma rufescens, Acarospora glaucocarpa, Cladonia cervicornis, C. humilis, C. portentosa, C. squamosa var. subsquamosa, C. subulata, Squamarina gypsacea, S. periculosa, Stereocaulon evolutum, Parmelia omphalodes, Pleurosticta acetabulum, Usnea cornuta, U. esperantiana, U. flammea, U. glabrescens, U. rubicunda, Xanthoparmelia verruculifera, Psora testacea, Ramalina fraxinea, Thalloidima opuntioides, Sphaerophorus globosus, Romjularia lurida, Leprocaulon quisquiliare, Diploschistes scruposus, Graphis betulina, G. elegans, Scytinium lichenoides, Fuscopannaria ignobi-lis, Nephroma tangeriense, Peltigera canina, Peltigera hymenina, Rhizocarpon lecanorinum, Calogaya decipiens subsp. decipiens, Kuettlingeria teicholyta, Polycauliona polycarpa, Umbilicaria polyphylla, Rhytidhysteron hysterinum. Usnea fulvoreagens est aussi nouvellement reportée pour le département du Lot (région Occitanie, France). Ces résultats contribuent à documenter la remarquable diversité des lichens de l'Aude, et soulignent la nécessité de poursuivre l'exploration et les efforts de conservation dans ce territoire

A new species of Agonimia (Ascomycota, Eurotiomycetes, Verrucariaceae) from Morane atoll (Tuāmotu-Gambier Islands, French Polynesia)

International audienceAgonimia gargominyi (Verrucariaceae, Verrucariales) is described and illustrated from bark samples collected from Morane atoll (Tuāmotu-Gambier Islands, French Polynesia). It is characterized by the large superficial perithecia having a pale brown-colored ostiolar region, the 8-spored asci, and the relatively large lobed squamules. Micromorphology of the ascomata and the thalline squamules matches the genus Agonimia. Additionally, to accommodate the inclusion of this newly identified species, the existing comprehensive key encompassing all known Agonimia species worldwide has been modified and updated accordingly. Detailed illustrations supplement the description of Agonimia gargominyi

Tubedown regulation of retinal endothelial permeability signaling pathways

Tubedown (Tbdn; Naa15), a subunit of the N-terminal acetyltransferase NatA, complexes with the c-Src substrate Cortactin and supports adult retinal homeostasis through regulation of vascular permeability. Here we investigate the role of Tbdn expression on signaling components of retinal endothelial permeability to understand how Tbdn regulates the vasculature and supports retinal homeostasis. Tbdn knockdown-induced hyperpermeability to Albumin in retinal endothelial cells was associated with an increase in the levels of activation of the Src family kinases (SFK) c-Src, Fyn and Lyn and phospho-Cortactin (Tyr421). The knockdown of Cortactin expression reduced Tbdn knockdown-induced permeability to Albumin and the levels of activated SFK. Inhibition of SFK in retinal endothelial cells decreased Tbdn knockdown-induced permeability to Albumin and phospho-Cortactin (Tyr421) levels. Retinal lesions of endothelial-specific Tbdn knockdown mice, with tissue thickening, fibrovascular growth, and hyperpermeable vessels displayed an increase in the levels of activated c-Src. Moreover, the retinal lesions of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) associated with a loss of Tbdn expression and hyperpermeability to Albumin displayed increased levels of activated SFK in retinal blood vessels. Taken together, these results implicate Tbdn as an important regulator of retinal endothelial permeability and homeostasis by modulating a signaling pathway involving c-Src and Cortactin

Correction to: Protocol for a double-blind, randomized controlled trial on the dose-related efficacy of omalizumab in multi-food oral immunotherapy

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article

Role of the fatty pancreatic infiltration in pancreatic oncogenesis

International audienceAbstract Although pancreatic precancerous lesions are known to be related to obesity and fatty pancreatic infiltration, the mechanisms remain unclear. We assessed the role of fatty infiltration in the process of pancreatic oncogenesis and obesity. A combined transcriptomic, lipidomic and pathological approach was used to explore neoplastic transformations. Intralobular (ILF) and extralobular (ELF) lipidomic profiles were analyzed to search for lipids associated with pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanINs) and obesity; the effect of ILF and ELF on acinar tissue and the histopathological aspects of pancreatic parenchyma changes in obese (OB) and non-obese patients. This study showed that the lipid composition of ILF was different from that of ELF. ILF was related to obesity and ELF-specific lipids were correlated to PanINs. Acinar cells were shown to have different phenotypes depending on the presence and proximity to ILF in OB patients. Several lipid metabolic pathways, oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways were upregulated in acinar tissue during ILF infiltration in OB patients. Early acinar transformations, called acinar nodules (AN) were linked to obesity but not ELF or ILF suggesting that they are the first reversible precancerous pancreatic lesions to occur in OB patients. On the other hand, the number of PanINs was higher in OB patients and was positively correlated to ILF and ELF scores as well as to fibrosis. Our study suggests that two types of fat infiltration must be distinguished, ELF and ILF. ILF plays a major role in acinar modifications and the development of precancerous lesions associated with obesity, while ELF may play a role in the progression of PDAC

Protection against Hepatocyte Mitochondrial Dysfunction Delays Fibrosis Progression in Mice

Accumulating evidence indicates that oxidative stress is involved in the physiopathology of liver fibrogenesis. However, amid the global context of hepatic oxidative stress, the specific role of hepatocyte mitochondrial dysfunction in the fibrogenic process is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether a targeted protection of hepatocytes against mitochondrial dysfunction could modulate fibrosis progression. We induced liver fibrogenesis by chronic carbon tetrachloride treatment (3 or 6 weeks of biweekly injections) in transgenic mice expressing Bcl-2 in their hepatocytes or in normal control mice. Analyses of mitochondrial DNA, respiratory chain complexes, and lipid peroxidation showed that Bcl-2 transgenic animals were protected against mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress resulting from carbon tetrachloride injury. Picrosirius red staining, α-smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry, and real-time PCR for transforming growth factor-β and collagen α-I revealed that Bcl-2 transgenic mice presented reduced fibrosis at early stages of fibrogenesis. However, at later stages increased nonmitochondrial/nonhepatocytic oxidative stress eventually overcame the capacity of Bcl-2 overexpression to prevent the fibrotic process. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that specific protection against hepatocyte mitochondrial dysfunction plays a preventive role in early stages of fibrogenesis, delaying its onset. However, with the persistence of the aggression, this protection is no longer sufficient to impede fibrosis progression

Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic HCV-Infected Patients Switching to Pegylated-Interferon-Free Regimens (ANRS CO20 CUPIC Cohort Study and SIRIUS Trial)

International audienceObjective We aimed to compare health-related quality of life (HRQL) during and after HCV treatment in patients receiving pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN)-containing therapy (including boceprevir or telaprevir - ANRS CO20 CUPIC cohort) who subsequently switched to PEG-IFN-free regimens (sofosbuvir + ledipasvir with or without ribavirin (RBV) - SIRIUS trial).Methods Two analyses were performed. The first compared physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) HRQL (MOS SF-12) scores during treatment between CUPIC and SIRIUS. The second compared PCS and MCS scores after treatment end between CUPIC and SIRIUS. The analyses used linear regression mixed models adjusted for pre-treatment HRQL scores, gender and age at each visit.Results Among patients enrolled successively in both studies, 43 (corresponding to 212 HRQL assessments) and 43 (82 HRQL assessments) were eligible for the “during” and “post" treatment analyses, respectively. In the “during-treatment” analysis, we found both significantly higher PCS and MCS values during PEG-IFN-free treatment than for PEG-IFN-containing treatment. In the “post-treatment” analysis, results showed significantly higher MCS values after PEG-IFN-free treatment than after PEG-IFN-containing treatment. No significant difference was found for PCS in “post-treatment analysis”.Conclusions These results highlight an improvement in both physical and mental HRQL during HCV treatment, but no major improvement in physical HRQL after treatment end, when comparing PEG-IFN-free regimens with PEG-IFN-containing regimens. This suggests that in the PEG-IFN-free regimens era, screening and comprehensive care of comorbidities and residual somatic symptoms during treatment, and especially after HCV clearance, are still needed to improve patient outcomes