Transcriptome Analysis of the Desert Locust Central Nervous System: Production and Annotation of a Schistocerca gregaria EST Database

) displays a fascinating type of phenotypic plasticity, designated as ‘phase polyphenism’. Depending on environmental conditions, one genome can be translated into two highly divergent phenotypes, termed the solitarious and gregarious (swarming) phase. Although many of the underlying molecular events remain elusive, the central nervous system (CNS) is expected to play a crucial role in the phase transition process. Locusts have also proven to be interesting model organisms in a physiological and neurobiological research context. However, molecular studies in locusts are hampered by the fact that genome/transcriptome sequence information available for this branch of insects is still limited. EST information is highly complementary to the existing orthopteran transcriptomic data. Since many novel transcripts encode neuronal signaling and signal transduction components, this paper includes an overview of these sequences. Furthermore, several transcripts being differentially represented in solitarious and gregarious locusts were retrieved from this EST database. The findings highlight the involvement of the CNS in the phase transition process and indicate that this novel annotated database may also add to the emerging knowledge of concomitant neuronal signaling and neuroplasticity events. EST data constitute an important new source of information that will be instrumental in further unraveling the molecular principles of phase polyphenism, in further establishing locusts as valuable research model organisms and in molecular evolutionary and comparative entomology

Infestation de populations françaises d’Anguilles (

Des nématodes de l’espèce Anguillicola crassus ont été trouvés en abondance dans la vessie gazeuse d’anguilles argentées capturées dans un étang de la Somme et dans la Seine (à Paris). Par contre des populations provenant de Loire-Atlantique étaient indemnes en mars 1989. Nous avons confirmé l’effet nématocide à court terme du Lévamisole sur les vers présents dans la vessie mais des parasites vivants ont cependant été observés 3 mois après le traitement. L’acclimatation à l’eau de mer d’anguilles infestées semble se faire normalement et sans incidence nette sur la parasitose. Des expériences de compression en caisson hyperbare et d’immersion en profondeur n’ont pas démontré d’effet drastique de la parasitose sur les capacités d’acclimatation des anguilles à l’eau de mer et à la pression hydrostatique au moins jusqu’à 60 atmosphères

Visna virus dUTPase is dispensable for neuropathogenicity

The major part of the dUTPase-encoding region of the visna virus genome was deleted. Intracerebral injection of the mutant virus resulted in a somewhat reduced viral load compared to that resulting from injection of the wild type, especially in the lungs, but the neuropathogenic effects were comparable. The dUTPase gene is dispensable for induction of lesions in the brain

Antiviral activity of [1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-ones against chikungunya virus targeting the viral capping nsP1

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging alphavirus transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes. Since 2005, CHIKV has been spreading worldwide resulting in epidemics in Africa, the Indian Ocean islands, Asia and more recently in the Americas. CHIKV is thus considered as a global health concern. There is no specific vaccine or drug available for the treatment of this incapacitating viral infection. We previously identified 3-aryl-[1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-ones as selective inhibitors of CHIKV replication and proposed the viral capping enzyme nsP1 as a target. This work describes the synthesis of novel series of related compounds carrying at the aryl moiety a methylketone and related oximes combined with an ethyl or an ethyl-mimic at 5-position of the triazolopyrimidinone. These compounds have shown antiviral activity against different CHIKV isolates in the very low μM range based on both virus yield reduction and virus-induced cell-killing inhibition assays. Moreover, these antivirals inhibit the in vitro guanylylation of alphavirus nsP1, as determined by Western blot using an anti-cap antibody. Thus, the data obtained seem to indicate that the anti-CHIKV activity might be related to the inhibition of this crucial step in the viral RNA capping machinery.A. G. has received a JAE-predoctoral fellowship financed by the CSIC and the FSE (Fondo Social Europeo).We thank Caroline Collard and Kim Donckers for their excellent technical assistance in the acquisition of the antiviral data. This work has been supported by grants of the MINECO/FEDER (SAF2015-64629-C2-1-R), BIPEDD-2- CM (S2010/BMD-2457) and by EU F7 projects SILVER and EUVIRNA (grant numbers 260644 and 264286, respectively).Peer Reviewe

Novel Class of Chikungunya Virus Small Molecule Inhibitors That Targets the Viral Capping Machinery

Despite the worldwide reemergence of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and the high morbidity associated with CHIKV infections, there is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment available. Here, we aimed to identify the target of a novel class of CHIKV inhibitors, i.e., the CHVB series. CHVB compounds inhibit the in vitro replication of CHIKV isolates with 50% effective concentrations in the low-micromolar range. A CHVB-resistant variant (CHVBres) was selected that carried two mutations in the gene encoding nsP1 (responsible for viral RNA capping), one mutation in nsP2, and one mutation in nsP3. Reverse genetics studies demonstrated that both nsP1 mutations were necessary and sufficient to achieve similar to 18-fold resistance, suggesting that CHVB targets viral mRNA capping. Interestingly, CHVBres was cross-resistant to the previously described CHIKV capping inhibitors from the MADTP series, suggesting they share a similar mechanism of action. In enzymatic assays, CHVB inhibited the methyltransferase and guanylyltransferase activities of alphavirus nsP1 proteins. To conclude, we identified a class of CHIKV inhibitors that targets the viral capping machinery. The potent anti-CHIKV activity makes this chemical scaffold a potential candidate for CHIKV drug development.Molecular basis of virus replication, viral pathogenesis and antiviral strategie

The viral capping enzyme nsP1: a novel target for the inhibition of chikungunya virus infection

International audienceThe chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has become a substantial global health threat due to its massive re-emergence, the considerable disease burden and the lack of vaccines or therapeutics. We discovered a novel class of small molecules ([1,2,3]triazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-ones) with potent in vitro activity against CHIKV isolates from different geographical regions. Drug-resistant variants were selected and these carried a P34S substitution in non-structural protein 1 (nsP1), the main enzyme involved in alphavirus RNA capping. Biochemical assays using nsP1 of the related Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus revealed that the compounds specifically inhibit the guanylylation of nsP1. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report demonstrating that the alphavirus capping machinery is an excellent antiviral drug target. Considering the lack of options to treat CHIKV infections, this series of compounds with their unique (alphavirus-specific) target offers promise for the development of therapy for CHIKV infections

Front‐Office Jobs in the Age of Soft Skills

International audienceThe interpersonal skills and personalities of the front‐office employees have become key resources in maximizing service quality in hospitality business. This chapter discusses how new human resource practices, resulting from the strategic imperatives of the competitive environment of hotel companies, are changing the perception of front‐office jobs. The question of professionalization is now a central issue in the emergence of soft skills in front‐office jobs. Based on Piot's work, the chapter considers the front‐office jobs as an integral part of the professions of relationship with others whose activities require the subject's support and which aim to transform him, like other professions of human interaction. The hotel service experience that the customer retains comes from the direct interaction between the customer and the front‐line employees. The chapter discusses consequences of professionalization on the work experience of the employees concerned, as well as the recruitment and appraisal practices