De l’expérience vécue à l’universel

Albert Memmi a réalisé une œuvre complexe et importante tant sur le plan littéraire que sur le plan philosophique et sociologique. Dans le cadre de cette contribution à l’hommage rendu à son œuvre philosophique, j’ai choisi de développer la méthode et quelques concepts importants tels que la judéité, le racisme, l’hétérophobie et le laïcisme.  Memmi a été un précurseur sur ces questions et son approche est originale.  Il est reconnu comme une des figures incontournables de la lutte anticoloniale et antiraciste. Le portrait du colonisé est un des ouvrages importants qui a marqué la période de la décolonisation. Il est toujours une référence pour les peuples qui revendiquent leur autonomie et pour les pays confrontés à la question de la décolonisation et de ses conséquences. On a récemment redécouvert cet ouvrage à l’occasion de la sortie, en 2004, de l’essai Portrait du décolonisé arabo-musulman et de quelques autres.  En France, le débat public généré par le principe de la laïcité dans la république puis par l’adoption d’une loi mémorielle sur les bienfaits de la colonisation ont contribué à faire émerger une mobilisation sociale sur les sujets sensibles du postcolonialisme. Le Mouvement des Indigènes de la République, créé en 2005, cite Le portrait du colonisé et Le racisme parmi d’autres ouvrages sur la colonisation, le postcolonialisme et le racisme. Enfin dans un ouvrage récent consacré au postcolonialisme, l’historien Yvan Gastaut considère que “sa pensée iconoclaste et complexe a toujours été à l’avant-garde des problèmes contemporains.”

Transcriptome analysis in Coffea arabica, under several abiotic stresses, reveals differentially expressed genes in leaves.

In recent years, Coffea ssp. has become subject of increasing research in gene expression analysis, in the quest to find genetic factors associated to abiotic stress responses with special attention to transcription factors such as the DREB family. This focus was due to their involvement in the regulation of many stress-related genes that play an important role in cascading a response to an environmental stimuli. RNA-seq analysis, creates the possibility to s study the transcriptome and to identify differentially expressed genes upon an abiotic stress or any important agronomic trait. The main objectives of this work were to obtain an overview of the transcriptionally active genes in Arabica coffee leaves when subjected to several abiotic stresses and to analyze specific highly expressed candidate genes for environmental-stresses tolerance

Differential fine-tuning of gene expression regulation in coffee leaves by CcDREB1D promoter haplotypes under water deficit.

Despite the importance of the DREB1D gene (also known as CBF4) in plant responses to water deficit and cold stress, studies analysing its regulation by transgenic approaches are lacking. In the current work, a functional study of three CcDREB1D promoter haplotypes (named HP15, HP16 and HP17) isolated from drought-tolerant and droughtsensitive clones of Coffea canephora was carried out in plants of C. arabica stably transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens by analysing their ability to regulate the expression of the uidA reporter gene in response to water deficit mimicked by polyethylene glycol (−2.0 MPa) and low relative humidity treatments

RNA-Seq em Coffea arabica: genes candidatos em condições de estresse abiótico.

A crescente pesquisa na área de expressão gênica em busca de genes candidatos associados às respostas aos estresses abióticos têm possibilitado estudar o transcriptoma e identificar genes responsivos a esses estresses. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi obter uma visão geral dos genes ativos em folhas de café arábica variedade Caturra quando submetido a vários estresses abióticos e analisar estes genes identificados in silico por meio da técnica de RT-qPCR

Coffee Somatic Embryogenesis: How Did Research, Experience Gained and Innovations Promote the Commercial Propagation of Elite Clones From the Two Cultivated Species?

Since the 1990s, somatic embryogenesis (SE) has enabled the propagation of selected varieties, Arabica F1 hybrid and Robusta clones, originating from the two cultivated coffee species, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, respectively. This paper shows how mostly empirical research has led to successful industrial transfers launched in the 2000s in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Coffee SE can be considered as a model for other woody perennial crops for the following reasons: (i) a high biological efficiency has been demonstrated for propagated varieties at all developmental stages, and (ii) somaclonal variation is understood and mastered thanks to intensive research combining molecular markers and field observations. Coffee SE is also a useful model given the strong economic constraints that are specific to this species. In brief, SE faced four difficulties: (i) the high cost of SE derived plants compared to the cost of seedlings of conventional varieties, (ii) the logistic problems involved in reaching small-scale coffee growers, (iii) the need for certification, and (iv) the lack of solvency among small-scale producers. Nursery activities were professionalized by introducing varietal certification, quality control with regard to horticultural problems and somaclonal variation, and sanitary control for Xylella fastidiosa. In addition, different technology transfers were made to ensure worldwide dissemination of improved F1 Arabica hybrids and Robusta clones. Innovations have been decisive for successful scaling-up and reduction of production costs, such as the development of temporary immersion bioreactors for the mass production of pre-germinated embryos, their direct sowing on horticultural soil, and the propagation of rejuvenated SE plants by rooted mini-cuttings. Today, SE is a powerful tool that is widely used in coffee for biotechnological applications including propagation and genetic transformation. Basic research has recently started taking advantage of optimized SE protocols. Based on -omics methodologies, research aims to decipher the molecular events involved in the key developmental switches of coffee SE. In parallel, a high-throughput screening of active molecules on SE appears to be a promising tool to speed-up the optimization of SE protocols

Modelling the introduction and spread of non-native species: international trade and climate change drive ragweed invasion

Biological invasions are a major driver of global change, for which models can attribute causes, assess impacts and guide management. However, invasion models typically focus on spread from known introduction points or non-native distributions and ignore the transport processes by which species arrive. Here, we developed a simulation model to understand and describe plant invasion at a continental scale, integrating repeated transport through trade pathways, unintentional release events and the population dynamics and local anthropogenic dispersal that drive subsequent spread. We used the model to simulate the invasion of Europe by common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), a globally invasive plant that causes serious harm as an aeroallergen and crop weed. Simulations starting in 1950 accurately reproduced ragweed's current distribution, including the presence of records in climatically unsuitable areas as a result of repeated introduction. Furthermore, the model outputs were strongly correlated with spatial and temporal patterns of ragweed pollen concentrations, which are fully independent of the calibration data. The model suggests that recent trends for warmer summers and increased volumes of international trade have accelerated the ragweed invasion. For the latter, long distance dispersal because of trade within the invaded continent is highlighted as a key invasion process, in addition to import from the native range. Biosecurity simulations, whereby transport through trade pathways is halted, showed that effective control is only achieved by early action targeting all relevant pathways. We conclude that invasion models would benefit from integrating introduction processes (transport and release) with spread dynamics, to better represent propagule pressure from native sources as well as mechanisms for long-distance dispersal within invaded continents. Ultimately, such integration may facilitate better prediction of spatial and temporal variation in invasion risk and provide useful guidance for management strategies to reduce the impacts of invasion

Supplemental Information 4: Text for supplementary tables and files

Invasive allergenic plant species may have severe health-related impacts. In this study we aim to predict the effects of climate change on the distribution of three allergenic ragweed species (Ambrosia spp.) in Europe and discuss the potential associated health impact. We built species distribution models based on presence-only data for three ragweed species, using MAXENT software. Future climatic habitat suitability was modeled under two IPCC climate change scenarios (RCP 6.0 and RCP 8.5). We quantify the extent of the increase in ‘high allergy risk’ (HAR) areas, i.e., parts of Europe with climatic conditions corresponding to the highest quartile (25%) of present day habitat suitability for each of the three species. We estimate that by year 2100, the distribution range of all three ragweed species increases towards Northern and Eastern Europe under all climate scenarios. HAR areas will expand in Europe by 27–100%, depending on species and climate scenario. Novel HAR areas will occur mostly in Denmark, France, Germany, Russia and the Baltic countries, and overlap with densely populated cities such as Paris and St. Petersburg. We conclude that areas in Europe affected by severe ragweed associated allergy problems are likely to increase substantially by year 2100, affecting millions of people. To avoid this, management strategies must be developed that restrict ragweed dispersal and establishment of new populations. Precautionary efforts should limit the spread of ragweed seeds and reduce existing populations. Only by applying cross-countries management plans can managers mitigate future health risks and economical consequences of a ragweed expansion in Europe

L'ambroisie, un nouveau fléau en Rhône-Alpes pour les allergiques

Ragweed, a new plaque for allergy sufferers in the Rhône-Alpes region Différents aspects of ragweed are reviewed, historic, botanical, ecological, fossil remains, medical (epidemiologic, biochemical, treatment). The cost of this new plague for allergy sufferers is passed on to the community at large and official decrees are not strictly observed as they should be. Since 1982, French Asssociation for Ragweed Study has unceasingly informed the general public, the competent authorities and the medical professions about the dangers of this weed and provided proof of how serious the situation is with its pollen counts.L'Ambroisie est étudiée sous différents angles, historique, botanique, écologique, traces fossiles, médical (épidémiologie, biochimie, thérapeutique). Ce nouveau fléau pour les allergiques, dont le coût social est élevé, nécessiterait l'application stricte des nouveaux décrets par les pouvoirs publics, ce qui est actuellement rarement le cas. Depuis 1982, l'Association Française d'Etudes des Ambroisies a informé le public, les décideurs, les professions médicales des dangers de cette plante et prouvé la gravité de la situation par les comptages polliniques.Déchamp Chantal. L'ambroisie, un nouveau fléau en Rhône-Alpes pour les allergiques. In: Bulletin mensuel de la Société linnéenne de Lyon, 65ᵉ année, n°6, juin 1996. pp. 14-16

Entretien avec Albert Memmi

Entretien, Paris, 19 juillet 2007. AISLF = Association Internationale des Sociologues de Langue Française. En ligne à l'adresse suivante : http://w3.aislf.univ-tlse2.fr/spip/IMG/pdf_Lettre_Aislf_no8bis.pdfNational audienc