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2. Efficient Green Light Acclimation of the Green Algae Picochlorum sp. Triggering Geranylgeranylated Chlorophylls

Author

Michael Paper, Matthias Glemser, Martina Haack, Jan Lorenzen, Norbert Mehlmer, Tobias Fuchs, Gerhard Schenk, Daniel Garbe, Dirk Weuster-Botz, Wolfgang Eisenreich, Michael Lakatos, and Thomas B. Brück

Subjects
Histology, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biotechnology, green light, photosynthesis, chlorophyll derivatives, light adaption mechanism, geranylgeranylated, eukaryotic microalgae, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, ddc
Abstract

In analogy to higher plants, eukaryotic microalgae are thought to be incapable of utilizing green light for growth, due to the “green gap” in the absorbance profiles of their photosynthetic pigments. This study demonstrates, that the marine chlorophyte Picochlorum sp. is able to grow efficiently under green light emitting diode (LED) illumination. Picochlorum sp. growth and pigment profiles under blue, red, green and white LED illumination (light intensity: 50–200 μmol m−2 s−1) in bottom-lightened shake flask cultures were evaluated. Green light-treated cultures showed a prolonged initial growth lag phase of one to 2 days, which was subsequently compensated to obtain comparable biomass yields to red and white light controls (approx. 0.8 gDW L−1). Interestingly, growth and final biomass yields of the green light-treated sample were higher than under blue light with equivalent illumination energies. Further, pigment analysis indicated, that during green light illumination, Picochlorum sp. formed unknown pigments (X1-X4). Pigment concentrations increased with illumination intensity and were most abundant during the exponential growth phase. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance data indicated, that pigments X1-X2 and X3-X4 are derivatives of chlorophyll b and a, which harbor C=C bonds in the phytol side chain similar to geranylgeranylated chlorophylls. Thus, for the first time, the natural accumulation of large pools (approx. 12 mg gDW−1) of chlorophyll intermediates with incomplete hydrogenation of their phytyl chains is demonstrated for algae under monochromatic green light (Peak λ 510 nm, full width at half maximum 91 nm). The ability to utilize green light offers competitive advantages for enhancing biomass production, particularly under conditions of dense cultures, long light pathways and high light intensity. Green light acclimation for an eukaryotic microalgae in conjunction with the formation of new aberrant geranylgeranylated chlorophylls and high efficiency of growth rates are novel for eukaryotic microalgae. Illumination with green light could enhance productivity in industrial processes and trigger the formation of new metabolites–thus, underlying mechanisms require further investigation.

Published
2021

4. Stripped: contribution of cyanobacterial extracellular polymeric substances to the adsorption of rare earth elements from aqueous solutions

Author

Michael Paper, Patrick Jung, Max Koch, Michael Lakatos, Tom Nilges, and Thomas B. Brück

Subjects
extracellular polymeric substances, polysaccharides, Komarekiella, Nostoc, Desmonostoc, biosorption, Biotechnology, TP248.13-248.65
Abstract

The transformation of modern industries towards enhanced sustainability is facilitated by green technologies that rely extensively on rare earth elements (REEs) such as cerium (Ce), neodymium (Nd), terbium (Tb), and lanthanum (La). The occurrence of productive mining sites, e.g., is limited, and production is often costly and environmentally harmful. As a consequence of increased utilization, REEs enter our ecosystem as industrial process water or wastewater and become highly diluted. Once diluted, they can hardly be recovered by conventional techniques, but using cyanobacterial biomass in a biosorption-based process is a promising eco-friendly approach. Cyanobacteria can produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that show high affinity to metal cations. However, the adsorption of REEs by EPS has not been part of extensive research. Thus, we evaluated the role of EPS in the biosorption of Ce, Nd, Tb, and La for three terrestrial, heterocystous cyanobacterial strains. We cultivated them under N-limited and non-limited conditions and extracted their EPS for compositional analyses. Subsequently, we investigated the metal uptake of a) the extracted EPS, b) the biomass extracted from EPS, and c) the intact biomass with EPS by comparing the amount of sorbed REEs. Maximum adsorption capacities for the tested REEs of extracted EPS were 123.9–138.2 mg g−1 for Komarekiella sp. 89.12, 133.1–137.4 mg g−1 for Desmonostoc muscorum 90.03, and 103.5–129.3 mg g−1 for Nostoc sp. 20.02. A comparison of extracted biomass with intact biomass showed that 16% (Komarekiella sp. 89.12), 28% (Desmonostoc muscorum 90.03), and 41% (Nostoc sp. 20.02) of REE adsorption was due to the biosorption of the extracellular EPS. The glucose- rich EPS (15%–43% relative concentration) of all three strains grown under nitrogen-limited conditions showed significantly higher biosorption rates for all REEs. We also found a significantly higher maximum adsorption capacity of all REEs for the extracted EPS compared to cells without EPS and untreated biomass, highlighting the important role of the EPS as a binding site for REEs in the biosorption process. EPS from cyanobacteria could thus be used as efficient biosorbents in future applications for REE recycling, e.g., industrial process water and wastewater streams.

Published
2023
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5. Examining the diet quality of Canadian adults and the alignment of Canadian front-of-pack labelling regulations with other front-of-pack labelling systems and dietary guidelines

Author

Jennifer J. Lee, Mavra Ahmed, Chantal Julia, Alena Praneet Ng, Laura Paper, Wendy Y. Lou, and Mary R. L’Abbé

Subjects
front-of-pack, FOPL, dietary patterns, nutrient profiling, HEFI, Nutri-score, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270
Abstract

IntroductionCanada promulgated mandatory front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) regulations in 2022, requiring pre-packaged foods meeting and/or exceeding recommended thresholds for nutrients-of-concern (i.e., saturated fat, sodium, sugars) to display a “high-in” nutrition symbol. However, there is limited evidence on how Canadian FOPL (CAN-FOPL) regulations compare to other FOPL systems and dietary guidelines. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to examine the diet quality of Canadians using the CAN-FOPL dietary index system and its alignment with other FOPL systems and dietary guidelines.MethodsNationally representative dietary data from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition survey (n = 13,495) was assigned dietary index scores that underpin CAN-FOPL, Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice (DCCP) Guidelines, Nutri-score, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Canada’s Food Guide (Healthy Eating Food Index-2019 [HEFI-2019]). Diet quality was examined by assessing linear trends of nutrient intakes across quintile groups of CAN-FOPL dietary index scores. The alignment of CAN-FOPL dietary index system compared with other dietary index systems, with HEFI as the reference standard, was examined using Pearson’s correlations and к statistics.ResultsThe mean [95% CI] dietary index scores (range: 0–100) for CAN-FOPL, DCCP, Nutri-score, DASH, and HEFI-2019 were 73.0 [72.8, 73.2], 64.2 [64.0, 64.3], 54.9 [54.7, 55.1], 51.7 [51.4, 51.9], and 54.3 [54.1, 54.6], respectively. Moving from the “least healthy” to the “most healthy” quintile in the CAN-FOPL dietary index system, intakes of protein, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium increased, while intakes of energy, saturated fat, total and free sugars, and sodium decreased. CAN-FOPL showed moderate association with DCCP (r = 0.545, p

Published
2023
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6. Rare earths stick to rare cyanobacteria: Future potential for bioremediation and recovery of rare earth elements

Author

Michael Paper, Max Koch, Patrick Jung, Michael Lakatos, Tom Nilges, and Thomas B. Brück

Subjects
cyanobacteria, biosorption, mechanism, rare earth elements, ion exchange, Biotechnology, TP248.13-248.65
Abstract

Biosorption of metal ions by phototrophic microorganisms is regarded as a sustainable and alternative method for bioremediation and metal recovery. In this study, 12 cyanobacterial strains, including 7 terrestrial and 5 aquatic cyanobacteria, covering a broad phylogenetic diversity were investigated for their potential application in the enrichment of rare earth elements through biosorption. A screening for the maximum adsorption capacity of cerium, neodymium, terbium, and lanthanum was conducted in which Nostoc sp. 20.02 showed the highest adsorption capacity with 84.2–91.5 mg g-1. Additionally, Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973, Calothrix brevissima SAG 34.79, Desmonostoc muscorum 90.03, and Komarekiella sp. 89.12 were promising candidate strains, with maximum adsorption capacities of 69.5–83.4 mg g-1, 68.6–83.5 mg g-1, 44.7–70.6 mg g-1, and 47.2–67.1 mg g-1 respectively. Experiments with cerium on adsorption properties of the five highest metal adsorbing strains displayed fast adsorption kinetics and a strong influence of the pH value on metal uptake, with an optimum at pH 5 to 6. Studies on binding specificity with mixed-metal solutions strongly indicated an ion-exchange mechanism in which Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ ions are replaced by other metal cations during the biosorption process. Depending on the cyanobacterial strain, FT-IR analysis indicated the involvement different functional groups like hydroxyl and carboxyl groups during the adsorption process. Overall, the application of cyanobacteria as biosorbent in bioremediation and recovery of rare earth elements is a promising method for the development of an industrial process and has to be further optimized and adjusted regarding metal-containing wastewater and adsorption efficiency by cyanobacterial biomass.

Published
2023
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7. Efficient Green Light Acclimation of the Green Algae Picochlorum sp. Triggering Geranylgeranylated Chlorophylls

Author

Michael Paper, Matthias Glemser, Martina Haack, Jan Lorenzen, Norbert Mehlmer, Tobias Fuchs, Gerhard Schenk, Daniel Garbe, Dirk Weuster-Botz, Wolfgang Eisenreich, Michael Lakatos, and Thomas B. Brück

Subjects
green light, photosynthesis, chlorophyll derivatives, light adaption mechanism, geranylgeranylated, eukaryotic microalgae, Biotechnology, TP248.13-248.65
Abstract

In analogy to higher plants, eukaryotic microalgae are thought to be incapable of utilizing green light for growth, due to the “green gap” in the absorbance profiles of their photosynthetic pigments. This study demonstrates, that the marine chlorophyte Picochlorum sp. is able to grow efficiently under green light emitting diode (LED) illumination. Picochlorum sp. growth and pigment profiles under blue, red, green and white LED illumination (light intensity: 50–200 μmol m−2 s−1) in bottom-lightened shake flask cultures were evaluated. Green light-treated cultures showed a prolonged initial growth lag phase of one to 2 days, which was subsequently compensated to obtain comparable biomass yields to red and white light controls (approx. 0.8 gDW L−1). Interestingly, growth and final biomass yields of the green light-treated sample were higher than under blue light with equivalent illumination energies. Further, pigment analysis indicated, that during green light illumination, Picochlorum sp. formed unknown pigments (X1-X4). Pigment concentrations increased with illumination intensity and were most abundant during the exponential growth phase. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance data indicated, that pigments X1-X2 and X3-X4 are derivatives of chlorophyll b and a, which harbor C=C bonds in the phytol side chain similar to geranylgeranylated chlorophylls. Thus, for the first time, the natural accumulation of large pools (approx. 12 mg gDW−1) of chlorophyll intermediates with incomplete hydrogenation of their phytyl chains is demonstrated for algae under monochromatic green light (Peak λ 510 nm, full width at half maximum 91 nm). The ability to utilize green light offers competitive advantages for enhancing biomass production, particularly under conditions of dense cultures, long light pathways and high light intensity. Green light acclimation for an eukaryotic microalgae in conjunction with the formation of new aberrant geranylgeranylated chlorophylls and high efficiency of growth rates are novel for eukaryotic microalgae. Illumination with green light could enhance productivity in industrial processes and trigger the formation of new metabolites–thus, underlying mechanisms require further investigation.

Published
2022
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8. Isolation and Investigation of Natural Rare Earth Metal Chelating Agents From Calothrix brevissima - A Step Towards Unraveling the Mechanisms of Metal Biosorption

Author

Wojciech Jurkowski, Michael Paper, and Thomas B. Brück

Subjects
biosorption, cyanobacteria, rare earth elements, mechanism, calothrix, complexation, Biotechnology, TP248.13-248.65
Abstract

In this study water soluble compounds that form complexes with Rare Earth Elements (REE) and other metals were isolated from Calothrix brevissima biomass with chromatographic methods for the first time. Molecular characterization showed that the isolated compounds are most likely polysaccharides comprised of arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose. FT-IR analysis revealed functional groups involved in the binding mechanism of Tb are likely sulfate- and to a lesser extend hydroxyl-groups. The binding specificity of the isolated compounds was investigated with different metal solutions. Here, ions of the alkali and alkaline earth metals Na, K, Mg and Ca showed no competition for Tb-binding even at 10-fold excess concentration. Ions of the elements Co and Pb on the other hand replaced Tb at higher concentrations. Addition of the isolated compounds significantly reduced the precipitation of Eu at pH-values between 6.7 and 9.5, indicating that the interaction between the isolated chelators and Rare Earth Metals is stable even at high pH-values.

Published
2022
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9. Interdisciplinary Research in Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities

Author

Remy Kusters, Dusan Misevic, Hugues Berry, Antoine Cully, Yann Le Cunff, Loic Dandoy, Natalia Díaz-Rodríguez, Marion Ficher, Jonathan Grizou, Alice Othmani, Themis Palpanas, Matthieu Komorowski, Patrick Loiseau, Clément Moulin Frier, Santino Nanini, Daniele Quercia, Michele Sebag, Françoise Soulié Fogelman, Sofiane Taleb, Liubov Tupikina, Vaibhav Sahu, Jill-Jênn Vie, Fatima Wehbi, Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire / Center for Research and Interdisciplinarity [Paris, France] (CRI), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), Artificial Evolution and Computational Biology (BEAGLE), Laboratoire d'InfoRmatique en Image et Systèmes d'information (LIRIS), Université Lumière - Lyon 2 (UL2)-École Centrale de Lyon (ECL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon), Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Lumière - Lyon 2 (UL2)-École Centrale de Lyon (ECL), Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Inria Grenoble - Rhône-Alpes, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive - UMR 5558 (LBBE), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-VetAgro Sup - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur et de recherche en alimentation, santé animale, sciences agronomiques et de l'environnement (VAS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-VetAgro Sup - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur et de recherche en alimentation, santé animale, sciences agronomiques et de l'environnement (VAS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Imperial College London, Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes (IGDR), Université de Rennes (UR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Structure Fédérative de Recherche en Biologie et Santé de Rennes ( Biosit : Biologie - Santé - Innovation Technologique ), Flowing Epigenetic Robots and Systems (Flowers), Inria Bordeaux - Sud-Ouest, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria), École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées (ENSTA Paris), Laboratoire Images, Signaux et Systèmes Intelligents (LISSI), Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12), Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Ministère de l'Education nationale, de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche (M.E.N.E.S.R.), Performance analysis and optimization of LARge Infrastructures and Systems (POLARIS), Inria Grenoble - Rhône-Alpes, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Laboratoire d'Informatique de Grenoble (LIG), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP ), Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP ), Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Nokia Bell Labs [Cambridge], TAckling the Underspecified (TAU), Inria Saclay - Ile de France, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Laboratoire de Recherche en Informatique (LRI), CentraleSupélec-Université Paris-Saclay-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-CentraleSupélec-Université Paris-Saclay-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Hub France IA, Nokia Bell Labs [Paris-Saclay], Scool (Scool), Inria Lille - Nord Europe, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Centre de Recherche en Informatique, Signal et Automatique de Lille - UMR 9189 (CRIStAL), Centrale Lille-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centrale Lille-Université de Lille-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Thanks to the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation long term partnership, the workshop that gave rise to this paper was partially supported by the funding from CRI Research Collaboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université de Paris (UP), Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive - UMR 5558 (LBBE), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-VetAgro Sup - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur et de recherche en alimentation, santé animale, sciences agronomiques et de l'environnement (VAS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Université de Lyon-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-VetAgro Sup - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur et de recherche en alimentation, santé animale, sciences agronomiques et de l'environnement (VAS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Inria Grenoble - Rhône-Alpes, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Laboratoire d'InfoRmatique en Image et Systèmes d'information (LIRIS), Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon), Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-École Centrale de Lyon (ECL), Université de Lyon-Université Lumière - Lyon 2 (UL2)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon), Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-École Centrale de Lyon (ECL), Université de Lyon-Université Lumière - Lyon 2 (UL2), Structure Fédérative de Recherche en Biologie et Santé de Rennes ( Biosit : Biologie - Santé - Innovation Technologique )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES), Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (Inria)-Unité d'Informatique et d'Ingénierie des Systèmes (U2IS), École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées (ENSTA Paris)-École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées (ENSTA Paris), Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), and Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Structure Fédérative de Recherche en Biologie et Santé de Rennes ( Biosit : Biologie - Santé - Innovation Technologique )

Subjects
Big Data, 0301 basic medicine, [SCCO.COMP]Cognitive science/Computer science, [INFO.INFO-NE]Computer Science [cs]/Neural and Evolutionary Computing [cs.NE], [INFO.INFO-AI]Computer Science [cs]/Artificial Intelligence [cs.AI], 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Political science, Health care, Computer Science (miscellaneous), auditability, education, lcsh:T58.5-58.64, Ai education, business.industry, lcsh:Information technology, interdisciplinary science, Precision medicine, artificial intelligence, Transparency (behavior), ethics, Variety (cybernetics), 030104 developmental biology, [INFO.INFO-MA]Computer Science [cs]/Multiagent Systems [cs.MA], Perspective, Artificial intelligence, business, interpretability, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, Information Systems
Abstract

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in a variety of research fields is speeding up multiple digital revolutions, from shifting paradigms in healthcare, precision medicine and wearable sensing, to public services and education offered to the masses around the world, to future cities made optimally efficient by autonomous driving. When a revolution happens, the consequences are not obvious straight away, and to date, there is no uniformly adapted framework to guide AI research to ensure a sustainable societal transition. To answer this need, here we analyze three key challenges to interdisciplinary AI research, and deliver three broad conclusions: 1) future development of AI should not only impact other scientific domains but should also take inspiration and benefit from other fields of science, 2) AI research must be accompanied by decision explainability, dataset bias transparency as well as development of evaluation methodologies and creation of regulatory agencies to ensure responsibility, and 3) AI education should receive more attention, efforts and innovation from the educational and scientific communities. Our analysis is of interest not only to AI practitioners but also to other researchers and the general public as it offers ways to guide the emerging collaborations and interactions toward the most fruitful outcomes.

Published
2020

10. Study Protocol: A Cross-Sectional Examination of Socio-Demographic and Ecological Determinants of Nutrition and Disease Across Madagascar

Author

Christopher D. Golden, Benjamin L. Rice, Hervet J. Randriamady, Arisoa Miadana Vonona, Jean Frederick Randrianasolo, Ambinintsoa Nirina Tafangy, Mamy Yves Andrianantenaina, Nicholas J. Arisco, Gauthier N. Emile, Faustin Lainandrasana, Robuste Fenoarison Faraniaina Mahonjolaza, Hermann Paratoaly Raelson, Vololoniaina Ravo Rakotoarilalao, Anjaharinony Andry Ny Aina Rakotomalala, Alex Dominique Rasamison, Rebaliha Mahery, M. Luciano Tantely, Romain Girod, Akshaya Annapragada, Amy Wesolowski, Amy Winter, Daniel L. Hartl, James Hazen, C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Madagascar Health and Environmental Research [Maroantsetra, Madagascar] (MAHERY), Princeton University, Unité d'Entomologie Médicale [Antananarivo, Madagascar] (IPM), Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP)-Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur (RIIP), Harvard University [Cambridge], Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health [Baltimore], Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Catholic Relief Services [Antananarivo, Madagascar] (CRS), Catholic Relief Services [Baltimore] (CRS), and We are grateful for the support from the United States Agency for International Development (Grant No. AID-FFP-A-14-00008) implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in consortium with four local implementing partners in Madagascar. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and not necessarily the views and opinions of the United States Agency for International Development. We also thank the Wellcome Trust Our Planet, Our Health program (grant 106866/Z/15/Z) for providing funding to CM for this research.

Subjects
Environmental change, infectious disease, [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio], Population, malaria, Distribution (economics), planetary health, Disease, migration, MESH: Madagascar, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, MESH: Cross-Sectional Studies, Environmental health, MESH: Child, disease ecology, MESH: Family Characteristics, MESH: Ecosystem, 030212 general & internal medicine, Clinical Study Protocol, education, Disease burden, 2. Zero hunger, education.field_of_study, Food security, MESH: Humans, business.industry, seasonality, 030503 health policy & services, lcsh:Public aspects of medicine, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, lcsh:RA1-1270, food security, 15. Life on land, MESH: Nutritional Status, MESH: Male, General Social Survey, Geography, 13. Climate action, micronutrient nutrition, Observational study, Public Health, 0305 other medical science, business, MESH: Female
Abstract

International audience; Madagascar has experienced significant environmental change since 1960, particularly through forest clearing for agricultural expansion. Climatic patterns are undergoing change in Madagascar as well, with increasing temperatures, droughts, and cyclonic activity. The impact of these environmental and climatic changes will pose threats to food availability, income generation, and local ecosystems, with significant potential effects on the spatial and temporal distribution of disease burden. This study seeks to describe the health status of a large sample of geographically and socially diverse Malagasy communities through multiple clinical measurements, detailed social surveys, and paired data on regional variation in local ecologies. With an increased understanding of the current patterns of variation in human health and nutrition, future studies will be better able to identify associations with climate and anticipate and mitigate the burdens expected from larger, longer-term changes. Our mixed-method approach included an observational cross-sectional study. Research subjects were men, women, and children from 1,125 households evenly distributed across 24 communities in four ecologically and socio-demographically distinct regions of Madagascar. For these 1,125 households, all persons of both sexes and all ages therein (for a total of 6,292 individuals) were recruited into the research study and a total of 5,882 individuals were enrolled. Through repeated social survey recalls and focus group meetings, we obtained social and demographic data, including broad categories of seasonal movements, and characterized the fluctuation of income generation, food production and dietary consumption. Through collection of clinical and biological samples for both point-of-care diagnoses and laboratory analyses, we obtained detailed occurrence (and importantly co-occurrence) data on micronutrient nutritional, infectious disease, and non-communicable disease status. Our research highlights the highly variable social, cultural, and environmental contexts of health conditions in Madagascar, and the tremendous inter-regional, inter-community, and intra-community variation in nutritional and disease status. More than 30% of the surveyed population was afflicted by anemia and 14% of the population had a current malaria infection. This type of rich metadata associated with a suite of biological samples and nutritional and disease outcome data should allow disentangling some of the underlying drivers of ill health across the changing landscapes of Madagascar.

Published
2020

11. Purinergic Signaling: A Common Path in the Macrophage Response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Toxoplasma gondii

Author

Laetitia Petit-Jentreau, Ludovic Tailleux, Janine L. Coombes, University of Liverpool, Pathogénomique mycobactérienne intégrée, Institut Pasteur [Paris] (IP), Génétique mycobactérienne - Mycobacterial genetics, The present work was supported by the University of Liverpool. JLC is a lecturer at the University of Liverpool, UK, LT is a researcher at Institut Pasteur, France, and LP-J is a postdoctoral researcher on the JLC's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) grant (BB/M023540/1) at the University of Liverpool, UK., LP-J wrote the paper with input from LT and JLC. All authors revised the manuscript, and approved it for publication., and Institut Pasteur [Paris]

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, Microbiology (medical), Immunology, lcsh:QR1-502, Toxoplasma gondii, Microbiology, lcsh:Microbiology, 03 medical and health sciences, Immune system, Purinergic Agents, Macrophage, innate immunity, Innate immune system, biology, Intracellular parasite, Purinergic receptor, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, biology.organism_classification, purinergic agents, nucleotides, 3. Good health, macrophages, ATP, 030104 developmental biology, Infectious Diseases, [SDV.MP]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology, [SDV.IMM]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Immunology, Intracellular
Abstract

International audience; Immune responses are essential for the protection of the host against external dangers or infections and are normally efficient in the clearance of invading microbes. However, some intracellular pathogens have developed strategies to replicate and survive within host cells resulting in latent infection associated with strong inflammation. This excessive response can cause cell and tissue damage and lead to the release of the intracellular content, in particular the nucleotide pool, into the extracellular space. Over the last decade, new studies have implicated metabolites from the purinergic pathway in shaping the host immune response against intracellular pathogens and proved their importance in the outcome of the infection. This review aims to summarize how the immune system employs the purinergic system either to fight the pathogen, or to control collateral tissue damage. This will be achieved by focusing on the macrophage response against two intracellular pathogens, the human etiologic agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii.

Published
2017
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