1st INEXO Symposium: Alternative models in vitro, ex ovo and organisms: From research to applications in pathologies and aging

International audience123 gation and subsequent differentiation into complex tissue-like structures with reproducible ratios of neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The generated neurons elicit spontaneous calcium transients and stimuli-induced neurotransmitter release. Whole-cell current-and-voltage clamp recordings show polarized neurons and voltage-dependent ion currents. Differentiated glial cells present astrocytic functions. Moreover, expression of genes involved in synaptic and ion transport machinery and the accumulation of neural proteoglycans suggests that this 3D differentiation strategy mimics the neural tissue microenvironment better than other differentiation methods. These models have applications as tools for preclinical assessment and in disease modelling. In the next session on reconstituted tissues and 3D bioprint-ing, Dr Christian Pellevoisin (Episkin Academy, Lyon, France) spoke about reconstructed skin, which is a powerful and highly versatile technology already used at all stages of cosmetic product development (toxicology, UV sensitivity, skin allergy, skin aging, skin microbiome, etc). The ability to reproduce several functions of human skin in vitro broadens the scope for industrial applications. He demonstrated that it is now possible to predict positive or negative effects of cosmetics early in their development process using in vitro skin models instead of animal testing. Reconstructed human skin is also used for screening and assessing the efficacy of new active ingredients, deciphering their mechanism of action, and optimizing the composition of formulations

Pressure tolerance of Artemia cysts compressed in water medium

The high pressure tolerance of cysts of Artemia salina was investigated up to several GPa in water. No survival was observed after exposure to 1.0 GPa for 15 min. After exposure to 2.0 GPa for the same time duration, the hatching rate had recovered to 33%, but decreased to 8% following compression at 7.5 GPa. This contrasts with results using Fluorinert™ as the pressure-transmitting medium where 80–88% recovery was observed. The lower survival rate in water is accompanied by swelling of the eggs, indicating that liquid H2O close to the ice-VI crystallization pressure penetrated inside the eggs. This pressure exceeds the stability limit for proteins and other key biomolecules components within the embryos that could not be resuscitated. Rehydration takes several minutes and so was not completed for all samples compressed to higher pressures, prior to ice-VI formation, resulting in renewed survival. However H2O penetration inside the shell resulted in increased mortalit

Modèles intégrés de mécanistique et de résistance en oncopharmacologie-sénescence : Caenorhabditis elegans et Hypsibius dujardini

Biological models are necessary to understand how organisms works, how evolution of living run, to test new treatments or to perform toxicological assessments as well. Cellular culture is one of the methods employed because it is easy to use. However, working on isolated cells doesn’t always allow to challenge of the results with more complex conditions as found in full organisms. Biologist needs to develop new biological models for new assessments but the new model choice can be a problem. Murine model, frog, drosophila, yeast, zebrafish,… have each other some benefits and limits. Their choice is directly linked with their use and with the type of research we intend to make.The aim of our work was to develop biological models to oncopharmacology and aging studies.The nematode model with Caenorhabditis elegans was used in several projects. One study was made on gases. They were tested in terms of toxicity, mutagenicity and cancerogenicity. On the other hand, a new tool was developed for prospective studies on either toxicology or mechanistic with the mitochondrial respiration measure with the Seahorse XF24 Analyzer device.The second biological model studied is the tardigrade and more exactly Hypsibius dujardini. Tardigrades are extremely resistant organisms to harshest conditions. They can resist to desiccation. To gain insights on tardigrade resistance, we have choice to analyze the mitochondrial dynamics in the course of anhydrobiosis exit by using mitochondrial dyes and respiration measurements.Comprendre les mécanismes de sénescence ou développer de nouveaux anti-cancéreux impose d’utiliser des modèles biologiques divers et complémentaires. De par sa facilité de mise en œuvre, la culture cellulaire est une des méthodes les plus employées. Cependant, travailler sur des cellules isolées ne permet pas toujours d’extrapoler les résultats à des conditions plus complexes comme un organisme entier. Les biologistes disposent alors de modèles intégrés plus ou moins évolués : levures, poissons (zebrafish …), grenouille (xénope …), insectes (drosophile …), rongeurs (souris, rats …), chien, primates, etc. Cependant leur mise en œuvre est souvent difficile, tant d’un point de vue administratif que technologique.L’objectif de notre travail a été d’initier le développement de deux nouveaux modèles biologiques intégrés (Caenorhabditis elegans et Hypsibius dujardini), beaucoup plus facilement manipulables, pour des études en oncopharmacologie et sénescence.Le potentiel de Caenorhabditis elegans a été évalué au travers de deux axes : (i) nous avons utilisé le nématode pour déterminer les potentiels toxiques, mutagènes et cancérogènes de gaz candidats au remplacement du gaz SF6 (ii) à l’aide du Seahorse XF24 Analyzer, nous avons mis au point un test fonctionnel original : la mesure de la respiration mitochondriale du nématode entier.Nous avons choisi de développer comme second modèle, Hypsibius dujardini, beaucoup moins travaillé que C. elegans. C’est un tardigrade connu pour sa résistance aux conditions extrêmes, notamment à la dessication. Afin de mieux comprendre cette résistance, nous avons choisi d’analyser le fonctionnement mitochondrial de cet organisme en sortie d’anhydrobiose, en utilisant des marquages mitochondriaux et en mesurant sa respiration à l’aide du Seahorse XF24 Analyzer

Integrated models for assessment of significant biological resistance mechanisms in oncopharmacology and aging : C. elegans and H. dujardini.

Comprendre les mécanismes de sénescence ou développer de nouveaux anti-cancéreux impose d’utiliser des modèles biologiques divers et complémentaires. De par sa facilité de mise en œuvre, la culture cellulaire est une des méthodes les plus employées. Cependant, travailler sur des cellules isolées ne permet pas toujours d’extrapoler les résultats à des conditions plus complexes comme un organisme entier. Les biologistes disposent alors de modèles intégrés plus ou moins évolués : levures, poissons (zebrafish …), grenouille (xénope …), insectes (drosophile …), rongeurs (souris, rats …), chien, primates, etc. Cependant leur mise en œuvre est souvent difficile, tant d’un point de vue administratif que technologique.L’objectif de notre travail a été d’initier le développement de deux nouveaux modèles biologiques intégrés (Caenorhabditis elegans et Hypsibius dujardini), beaucoup plus facilement manipulables, pour des études en oncopharmacologie et sénescence.Le potentiel de Caenorhabditis elegans a été évalué au travers de deux axes : (i) nous avons utilisé le nématode pour déterminer les potentiels toxiques, mutagènes et cancérogènes de gaz candidats au remplacement du gaz SF6 (ii) à l’aide du Seahorse XF24 Analyzer, nous avons mis au point un test fonctionnel original : la mesure de la respiration mitochondriale du nématode entier.Nous avons choisi de développer comme second modèle, Hypsibius dujardini, beaucoup moins travaillé que C. elegans. C’est un tardigrade connu pour sa résistance aux conditions extrêmes, notamment à la dessication. Afin de mieux comprendre cette résistance, nous avons choisi d’analyser le fonctionnement mitochondrial de cet organisme en sortie d’anhydrobiose, en utilisant des marquages mitochondriaux et en mesurant sa respiration à l’aide du Seahorse XF24 Analyzer.Biological models are necessary to understand how organisms works, how evolution of living run, to test new treatments or to perform toxicological assessments as well. Cellular culture is one of the methods employed because it is easy to use. However, working on isolated cells doesn’t always allow to challenge of the results with more complex conditions as found in full organisms. Biologist needs to develop new biological models for new assessments but the new model choice can be a problem. Murine model, frog, drosophila, yeast, zebrafish,… have each other some benefits and limits. Their choice is directly linked with their use and with the type of research we intend to make.The aim of our work was to develop biological models to oncopharmacology and aging studies.The nematode model with Caenorhabditis elegans was used in several projects. One study was made on gases. They were tested in terms of toxicity, mutagenicity and cancerogenicity. On the other hand, a new tool was developed for prospective studies on either toxicology or mechanistic with the mitochondrial respiration measure with the Seahorse XF24 Analyzer device.The second biological model studied is the tardigrade and more exactly Hypsibius dujardini. Tardigrades are extremely resistant organisms to harshest conditions. They can resist to desiccation. To gain insights on tardigrade resistance, we have choice to analyze the mitochondrial dynamics in the course of anhydrobiosis exit by using mitochondrial dyes and respiration measurements

Isolation of microsatellites from an enriched genomic library of the plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita and their detection in other root-knot nematode species

International audienceThe root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita is a polyphagous pest distributed from temperate to tropical regions. However, the lack of suitable markers leads to a poor knowledge of its population genetic structure and colonization process. Here we describe the first characterization of 15 microsatellite loci from this nematode, that were developed from an enriched genomic library. Although the variability of these microsatellites was generally low, three of them exhibited a significant level of intrapopulation polymorphism, with three to seven alleles detected. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.025 to 0.385 and from 0.024 to 0.779, respectively. Thus, these new microsatellite markers have potential value for the implementation of genotyping experiments in this nematode. Furthermore, successful cross-amplification of the variable microsatellite loci in seven other Meloidogyne species provides the opportunity of using these markers for population genetic studies in these damaging plant-parasitic nematodes

Influence of Oleacein, an Olive Oil and Olive Mill Wastewater Phenolic Compound, on Caenorhabditis elegans Longevity and Stress Resistance

International audienceOleacein, a bioactive compound of olive oil and olive mill wastewater, has one of the strongest antioxidant activities among olive phenolics. However, few reports explore the in vivo antioxidant activity of oleacein, with no clear identification of the biological pathway involved. Earlier studies have demonstrated a link between stress resistance, such as oxidative stress, and longevity. This study presents the effects of oleacein on Caenorhabditis elegans mean lifespan and stress resistance. A significant lifespan extension was observed with an increase of 20% mean lifespan at 5 µg/mL with a hormetic-like dose-dependent effect. DAF-16 and SIR-2.1 were involved in the effects of oleacein on the longevity of C. elegans, while the DAF-2 receptor was not involved. This study also shows the capacity of oleacein to significantly enhance C. elegans resistance to oxidative and thermal stress and allows a better understanding of the positive effects of olive phenolics on health

Hazard study of MV switchgear with SF6 alternative gas in electrical room

International audienceThis study presents the risks generated by the use of the alternative gases to SF 6 for people working on medium voltage electrical equipment or close to these apparatus and the precautions to be taken in order to ensure the safety of people. The acute toxicity of fluoronitrile and fluoroketone being more important than the SF 6, more precautions must be taken in order to ensure the safety of people in case of gas leakage. On the other hand, the level of toxicity of HFO1234zeE is similar to SF6 and precautions to be taken are then same as for SF6

Crosses prior to parthenogenesis explain the current genetic diversity of tropical plant-parasitic Meloidogyne species (Nematoda: Tylenchida)

9th International Congress on Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics of Infectious Diseases OCT 30-NOV 01, 2008 Irvine, CAInternational audienceThe tropical and subtropical parthenogenetic plant-parasitic nematodes Meloidogyne are polyphagous major agricultural pests. Implementing proper pest management approaches requires a good understanding of mechanisms, population structure, evolutionary patterns and species identification. A comparative analysis of the mitochondrial vs nuclear diversity was conducted on a selected set of Meloidogyne lines from various geographic origins. Mitochondrial co2-16S sequences and AFLP markers of total DNA were applied because of their ability to evidence discrete genetic variation between closely related isolates. Several distinct maternal lineages were present, now associated with different genetic backgrounds. Relative discordances were found when comparing mitochondrial and nuclear diversity patterns. These patterns are most likely related to crosses within one ancestral genetic pool, followed by the establishment of parthenogenesis. In this case, they mirror the genetic backgrounds of the original individuals. Another aspect could be that species emergence was recent or on process from this original genetic pool and that the relatively short time elapsed since then and before parthenogenesis settlement did not allow for lineage sorting. This could also be compatible with the hypothesis of hybrids between closely related species. This genetic pool would correspond to a species as defined by the species interbreeding concept, but also including the grey area of species boundaries. This complex process has implications on the way genotypic and phenotypic diversity should be addressed. The phenotype of parthenogenetic lines is at least for part determined by the ancestral amphimictic genetic background. A direct consequence is, therefore, in terms of risk management, the limited confidence one can have on the direct association of an agronomic threat to a simple typing or species delineation. Risk management strategies and tools must thus consider this complexity when designing quarantine implementation, resistance breeding programmes or molecular diagnosti

Deciphering Differential Life Stage Radioinduced Reproductive Decline in Caenorhabditis elegans through Lipid Analysis

International audienceWildlife is chronically exposed to various sources of ionizing radiations, both environmental or anthropic, due to nuclear energy use, which can induce several defects in organisms. In invertebrates, reproduction, which directly impacts population dynamics, has been found to be the most radiosensitive endpoint. Understanding the underlying molecular pathways inducing this reproduction decrease can help in predicting the effects at larger scales (i.e., population). In this study, we used a life stage dependent approach in order to better understand the molecular determinants of reproduction decrease in the roundworm C. elegans. Worms were chronically exposed to 50 mGy/h external gamma ionizing radiations throughout different developmental periods (namely embryogenesis, gametogenesis, and full development). Then, in addition to reproduction parameters, we performed a wide analysis of lipids (different class and fatty acid via FAMES), which are both important signaling molecules for reproduction and molecular targets of oxidative stress. Our results showed that reproductive defects are life stage dependent, that lipids are differently misregulated according to the considered exposure (e.g., upon embryogenesis and full development) and do not fully explain radiation induced reproductive defects. Finally, our results enable us to propose a conceptual model of lipid signaling after radiation stress in which both the soma and the germline participate