Feeding mice with diets containing mercury-contaminated fish flesh from French Guiana: a model for the mercurial intoxication of the Wayana Amerindians

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Genetic and Phenotypic Study of the \emphPectobacterium\emph Versatile Beta-Lactamase, the Enzyme Most Similar to the Plasmid-Encoded TEM-1

International audienceThis study aimed to compare the chromosomal beta-lactamase from Pectobacterium versatile , PEC-1, with the well-known and globally distributed TEM-1 in terms of genetic and functional properties. Despite the similarities between the enzymes, we obtained no definitive proof of gene transfer for the emergence of bla PEC-1 from bla TEM-1 . , ABSTRACT Genus Pectobacterium bacteria include important agricultural pathogens. Pectobacterium versatile isolates contain a chromosome-borne beta-lactamase, PEC-1. This enzyme is the closest relative of TEM-1, a plasmid-borne beta-lactamase widespread in the Enterobacterales . We performed bioinformatics and phenotypic analyses to investigate the genetic and phenotypic features of PEC-1 and its frequency and ability to spread within genus Pectobacterium . We also compared the characteristics of PEC-1 and TEM-1 and evaluated the likelihood of transfer. We found that bla PEC-1 was present principally in a small number of genetic environments in P. versatile . Identical bla PEC-1 genetic environments were present in closely related species, consistent with the high frequency of genetic exchange within the genus Pectobacterium . Despite the similarities between PEC-1 and TEM-1, their genetic environments displayed no significant identity, suggesting an absence of recent transfer. Phenotypic analyses on clonal constructs revealed similar hydrolysis spectra. Our results suggest that P. versatile is the main reservoir of PEC-1, which seems to transfer to closely related species. The genetic distance between PEC-1 and TEM-1, and the lack of conserved elements in their genetic environments, suggest that any transfer that may have occurred must have taken place well before the antibiotic era. IMPORTANCE This study aimed to compare the chromosomal beta-lactamase from Pectobacterium versatile , PEC-1, with the well-known and globally distributed TEM-1 in terms of genetic and functional properties. Despite the similarities between the enzymes, we obtained no definitive proof of gene transfer for the emergence of bla PEC-1 from bla TEM-1 . Indeed, given the limited degree of sequence identity and the absence of a common genetic environment, it seems unlikely that any transfer of this gene has occurred recently. However, although bla PEC-1 was found mostly in one specific clade of the P. versatile species, certain isolates from other closely related species, such as Pectobacterium brasiliense and Pectobacterium polaris , may also carry this gene inserted into common genetic environments. This observation suggests that genetic exchanges are frequent, accounting for the diffusion of bla PEC-1 between isolates from different Pectobacterium species and, potentially, to exogenous mobile genetic elements

Genetic and Phenotypic Study of the \emphPectobacterium\emph Versatile Beta-Lactamase, the Enzyme Most Similar to the Plasmid-Encoded TEM-1

International audienceThis study aimed to compare the chromosomal beta-lactamase from Pectobacterium versatile , PEC-1, with the well-known and globally distributed TEM-1 in terms of genetic and functional properties. Despite the similarities between the enzymes, we obtained no definitive proof of gene transfer for the emergence of bla PEC-1 from bla TEM-1 . , ABSTRACT Genus Pectobacterium bacteria include important agricultural pathogens. Pectobacterium versatile isolates contain a chromosome-borne beta-lactamase, PEC-1. This enzyme is the closest relative of TEM-1, a plasmid-borne beta-lactamase widespread in the Enterobacterales . We performed bioinformatics and phenotypic analyses to investigate the genetic and phenotypic features of PEC-1 and its frequency and ability to spread within genus Pectobacterium . We also compared the characteristics of PEC-1 and TEM-1 and evaluated the likelihood of transfer. We found that bla PEC-1 was present principally in a small number of genetic environments in P. versatile . Identical bla PEC-1 genetic environments were present in closely related species, consistent with the high frequency of genetic exchange within the genus Pectobacterium . Despite the similarities between PEC-1 and TEM-1, their genetic environments displayed no significant identity, suggesting an absence of recent transfer. Phenotypic analyses on clonal constructs revealed similar hydrolysis spectra. Our results suggest that P. versatile is the main reservoir of PEC-1, which seems to transfer to closely related species. The genetic distance between PEC-1 and TEM-1, and the lack of conserved elements in their genetic environments, suggest that any transfer that may have occurred must have taken place well before the antibiotic era. IMPORTANCE This study aimed to compare the chromosomal beta-lactamase from Pectobacterium versatile , PEC-1, with the well-known and globally distributed TEM-1 in terms of genetic and functional properties. Despite the similarities between the enzymes, we obtained no definitive proof of gene transfer for the emergence of bla PEC-1 from bla TEM-1 . Indeed, given the limited degree of sequence identity and the absence of a common genetic environment, it seems unlikely that any transfer of this gene has occurred recently. However, although bla PEC-1 was found mostly in one specific clade of the P. versatile species, certain isolates from other closely related species, such as Pectobacterium brasiliense and Pectobacterium polaris , may also carry this gene inserted into common genetic environments. This observation suggests that genetic exchanges are frequent, accounting for the diffusion of bla PEC-1 between isolates from different Pectobacterium species and, potentially, to exogenous mobile genetic elements

Contrasting patterns of energy metabolism in northern vs southern peripheral European flounder populations exposed to temperature rising and hypoxia

WOS:000407981500023A two months common garden experiment was carried out to explore the potential differences of energy metabolism in northern core (France, 50 degrees N and 47 degrees N)vs southern peripheral (Portugal, 41 degrees N) populations of European flounder Platichthys flesus, submitted to cold condition (CC: water temperature = 10 degrees C) and to warm and hypoxic condition (WHC: water temperature = 22 degrees C, and moderate hypoxia with O-2 saturation = 40% during the last 6 days). Convergent growth rates (in length) were observed in the different populations and conditions, when the southern peripheral population of Portugal did not grow under cold conditions. A general reduction in liver lipid storage was observed in all populations subjected to WHC when compared to CC, whereas muscle lipid storage was unaffected. The thermal and hypoxia treatment induced changes in muscle phospholipids (PL) ratios: phosphatidylserine/PL, phosphatidylinositol/PL, between northern and southern populations. Fish from northern estuaries displayed marked anaerobiosis in WHC (increased liver LDH activity) vs marked aerobiosis under CC (higher muscle CS and CCO activities). Contrariwise, fish from the southern estuary displayed equilibrium between anaerobiosis and aerobiosis activities in WHC. Flounders from the southern population exhibited generally lower G6PDH activity (proxy for anabolism and for defense against oxidative damage), tissue-specific anaerobiosis response (muscle LDH activity) and lower CS and CCO muscle activities (aerobiosis markers) when compared to northern populations. Globally, these inter-population differences in bioenergetics suggest that southern peripheral vs northern core populations have developed differential capacity to cope with interacting stressors and that much of this variation is more likely due to local adaptation