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Sex plays a crucial role in shaping the immune response of vertebrates, leading to differing susceptibilities to diseases between females and males. This review explores the observed sexually dimorphic patterns in different pathogenic infections, immune responses, and molecular events. First, a compilation of historical guidelines for incorporating gender/sex as a variable in research studies to enhance scientific rigor, improve research outcomes, and promote better health for both sexes has been carried out. Following this, the study focuses on examining sex-based differences in immune responses across different taxa, with an in-depth review of available studies on fish, particularly regarding the prevalence of sex-related differences in parasites, viruses, and bacteria. Furthermore, the benefits of considering sexual dimorphism when evaluating the prevalence of diseases in fish management in aquaculture and ecological contexts have been discussed. Integrating sex in understanding immune responses will positively influence fish welfare, economic impacts, and policymaking, leading to more tailored and effective treatments.

How could we know if agricultural development interventions make contributions to sustainable development goals (SDGs)? Genetically engineered (GE) crops are celebrated as a class of technological interventions that can realize multiple SDGs. But recent studies have revealed the gap between GE crop program goals and the approaches used to assess their impacts. Using four comprehensive reviews of GE crop socio-economic impacts, we identify common shortcomings across three themes: (a) scope, (b) approaches and (c) heterogeneity. We find that the evaluation sciences literature offers alternative assessment approaches that can enable evaluators to better assess impacts, and inform learning and decision-making. We recommend the use of methods that enable evaluations to look beyond the agronomic and productive effects of individual traits to understand wider socio-economic effects.

Background: Bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas cause economically significant diseases in various crops. Their virulence is dependent on the translocation of type III effectors (T3Es) into plant cells by the type III secretion system (T3SS), a process regulated by the master response regulator HrpG. Although HrpG has been studied for over two decades, its regulon across diverse Xanthomonas species, particularly beyond type III secretion, remains understudied. Results: In this study, we conducted transcriptome sequencing to explore the HrpG regulons of 17 Xanthomonas strains, encompassing six species and nine pathovars, each exhibiting distinct host and tissue specificities. We employed constitutive expression of plasmid-borne hrpG*, which encodes a constitutively active form of HrpG, to induce the regulon. Our findings reveal substantial inter- and intra-specific diversity in the HrpG* regulons across the strains. Besides 21 genes directly involved in the biosynthesis of the T3SS, the core HrpG* regulon is limited to only five additional genes encoding the transcriptional activator HrpX, the two T3E proteins XopR and XopL, a major facility superfamily (MFS) transporter, and the phosphatase PhoC. Interestingly, genes involved in chemotaxis and genes encoding enzymes with carbohydrate-active and proteolytic activities are variably regulated by HrpG*. Conclusions: The diversity in the HrpG* regulon suggests that HrpG-dependent virulence in Xanthomonas might be achieved through several distinct strain-specific strategies, potentially reflecting adaptation to diverse ecological niches. These findings enhance our understanding of the complex role of HrpG in regulating various virulence and adaptive pathways, extending beyond T3Es and the T3SS.

Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) is the causative agent of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a devastating disease listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as a notifiable disease and threatening goat production in Africa and Asia. Although a few commercial inactivated vaccines are available, they do not comply with WOAH standards and there are serious doubts regarding their efficacy. One of the limiting factors to comprehend the molecular pathogenesis of CCPP and develop improved vaccines has been the lack of tools for Mccp genome engineering. In this work, key synthetic biology techniques recently developed for closely related mycoplasmas were adapted to Mccp. CReasPy-Cloning was used to simultaneously clone and engineer the Mccp genome in yeast, prior to whole-genome transplantation into M. capricolum subsp. capricolum recipient cells. This approach was used to knock out an S41 serine protease gene recently identified as a potential virulence factor, leading to the generation of the first site-specific Mccp mutants. The Cre–lox recombination system was then applied to remove all DNA sequences added during genome engineering. Finally, the resulting unmarked S41 serine protease mutants were validated by whole-genome sequencing and their non-caseinolytic phenotype was confirmed by casein digestion assay on milk agar. The synthetic biology tools that have been successfully implemented in Mccp allow the addition and removal of genes and other genetic features for the construction of seamless targeted mutants at ease, which will pave the way for both the identification of key pathogenicity determinants of Mccp and the rational design of novel, improved vaccines for the control of CCPP.

Pyricularia oryzae (syn. Magnaporthe oryzae), is a filamentous ascomycete that causes a major disease called blast on cereal crops, as well as on a wide variety of wild and cultivated grasses. Blast diseases have a tremendous impact worldwide particularly on rice and on wheat, where the disease emerged in South America in the 1980s, before spreading to Asia and Africa. Its economic importance, coupled with its amenability to molecular and genetic manipulation, have inspired extensive research efforts aiming at understanding its biology and evolution. In the past 40 years, this plant-pathogenic fungus has emerged as a major model in molecular plant–microbe interactions. In this review, we focus on the clarification of the taxonomy and genetic structure of the species and its host range determinants. We also discuss recent molecular studies deciphering its lifecycle. Taxonomy: Kingdom: Fungi, phylum: Ascomycota, sub-phylum: Pezizomycotina, class: Sordariomycetes, order: Magnaporthales, family: Pyriculariaceae, genus: Pyricularia. Host range: P. oryzae has the ability to infect a wide range of Poaceae. It is structured into different host-specialized lineages that are each associated with a few host plant genera. The fungus is best known to cause tremendous damage to rice crops, but it can also attack other economically important crops such as wheat, maize, barley, and finger millet. Disease symptoms: P. oryzae can cause necrotic lesions or bleaching on all aerial parts of its host plants, including leaf blades, sheaths, and inflorescences (panicles, spikes, and seeds). Characteristic symptoms on leaves are diamond-shaped silver lesions that often have a brown margin and whose appearance is influenced by numerous factors such as the plant genotype and environmental conditions.

The rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae differentiates specialized cells called appressoria that are required for fungal penetration into host leaves. In this study, we identified the novel basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor BIP1 (B-ZIP Involved in Pathogenesis-1) that is essential for pathogenicity. BIP1 is required for the infection of plant leaves, even if they are wounded, but not for appressorium-mediated penetration of artificial cellophane membranes. This phenotype suggests that BIP1 is not implicated in the differentiation of the penetration peg but is necessary for the initial establishment of the fungus within plant cells. BIP1 expression was restricted to the appressorium by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional control. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis showed that 40 genes were down regulated in a BIP1 deletion mutant. Most of these genes were specifically expressed in the appressorium. They encode proteins with pathogenesis-related functions such as enzymes involved in secondary metabolism including those encoded by the ACE1 gene cluster, small secreted proteins such as SLP2, BAS2, BAS3, and AVR-Pi9 effectors, as well as plant cuticle and cell wall degrading enzymes. Interestingly, this BIP1 network is different from other known infection-related regulatory networks, highlighting the complexity of gene expression control during plant-fungal interactions. Promoters of BIP1-regulated genes shared a GCN4/bZIP-binding DNA motif (TGACTC) binding in vitro to BIP1. Mutation of this motif in the promoter of MGG_08381.7 from the ACE1 gene cluster abolished its appressorium-specific expression, showing that BIP1 behaves as a transcriptional activator. In summary, our findings demonstrate that BIP1 is critical for the expression of early invasion-related genes in appressoria. These genes are likely needed for biotrophic invasion of the first infected host cell, but not for the penetration process itself. Through these mechanisms, the blast

The sterile insect technique (SIT) can be an efficient solution for reducing or eliminating certain insect pest populations. It is widely used in agriculture against fruit flies, including the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata. The re-mating tendency of medfly females and the fact that the released sterile males may have some residual fertility could be a challenge for the successful implementation of the SIT. Obtaining the right balance between sterility level and sterile male quality (competitiveness, longevity, etc) is the key to a cost-efficient program. Since field experimental approaches can be impacted by many environmental variables, it is difficult to get a clear understanding on how specific parameters, alone or in combination, may affect the SIT efficiency. The use of models not only helps to gather knowledge, but it allows the simulation of a wide range of scenarios and can be easily adapted to local populations and sterile male production. In this study, we consider single- and double-mated females. We first show that SIT can be successful only if the residual fertility is less than a threshold value that depends on the basic offspring number of the targeted pest population, the re-mating rates, and the parameters of double-mated females. Then, we show how the sterile male release rate is affected by the parameters of double-mated females and the male residual fertility. Different scenarios are explored with continuous and periodic sterile male releases, with and without ginger aromatherapy, which is known to enhance sterile male competitiveness, and also taking into account some biological parameters related to females that have been mated twice, either first by a wild (sterile) male and then a sterile (wild) male, or by two wild males only. Parameter values were chosen for peach as host fruit to reflect what could be expected in the Corsican context, where SIT against the medfly is under consideration. Our results suggest that ginge

Gene co-option, the redeployment of an existing gene in an unrelated developmental context, is an important mechanism underlying the evolution of morphological novelty. In most cases described to date, novel traits emerged by co-option of a single gene or genetic network. Here, we show that the integration of multiple co-opted genetic elements facilitated the rapid evolution of complex petal spots that mimic female bee-fly pollinators in the sexually deceptive South African daisy Gorteria diffusa. First, co-option of iron homeostasis genes altered petal spot pigmentation, producing a color similar to that of female pollinators. Second, co-option of the root hair gene GdEXPA7 enabled the formation of enlarged papillate petal epidermal cells, eliciting copulation responses from male flies. Third, co-option of the miR156-GdSPL1 transcription factor module altered petal spot placement, resulting in better mimicry of female flies resting on the flower. The three genetic elements were likely co-opted sequentially, and strength of sexual deception in different G. diffusa floral forms strongly correlates with the presence of the three corresponding morphological alterations. Our findings suggest that gene co-options can combine in a modular fashion, enabling rapid evolution of novel complex traits.

Similar to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) produced by classical genetic engineering, gene-edited (GE) organisms and their derived food/feed products commercialized on the European Union market fall within the scope of European Union Directive 2001/18/EC. Consequently, their control in the food/feed chain by GMO enforcement laboratories is required by the competent authorities to guarantee food/feed safety and traceability (2003/1829/EC; 2003/1830/EC). However, their detection is potentially challenging at both the analytical and interpretation levels since this requires methodological approaches that can target and detect a specific single nucleotide variation (SNV) introduced into a GE organism. In this study, we propose a targeted high-throughput sequencing approach, including (i) a prior PCR-based enrichment step to amplify regions of interest, (ii) a sequencing step, and (iii) a data analysis methodology to identify SNVs of interest. To investigate if the performance of this targeted high-throughput sequencing approach is compatible with the performance criteria used in the GMO detection field, several samples containing different percentages of a GE rice line carrying a single adenosine insertion in OsMADS26 were prepared and analyzed. The SNV of interest in samples containing the GE rice line could successfully be detected, both at high and low percentages. No impact related to food processing or to the presence of other crop species was observed. The present proof-of-concept study has allowed us to deliver the first experimental-based evidence indicating that the proposed targeted high-throughput sequencing approach may constitute, in the future, a specific and sensitive tool to support the safety and traceability of the food/feed chain regarding GE plants carrying SNVs.

Reciprocal (cross-overs = COs) and non-reciprocal (gene conversion) DNA exchanges between the parental chromosomes (the homologs) during meiotic recombination are, together with mutation, the drivers for the evolution and adaptation of species. In plant breeding, recombination combines alleles from genetically diverse accessions to generate new haplotypes on which selection can act. In recent years, a spectacular progress has been accomplished in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying meiotic recombination in both model and crop plants as well as in the modulation of meiotic recombination using different strategies. The latter includes the stimulation and redistribution of COs by either modifying environmental conditions (e.g., T°), harnessing particular genomic situations (e.g., triploidy in Brassicaceae), or inactivating/over-expressing meiotic genes, notably some involved in the DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways. These tools could be particularly useful for shuffling diversity in pre-breeding generations. Furthermore, thanks to the site-specific properties of genome editing technologies the targeting of meiotic recombination at specific chromosomal regions nowadays appears an attainable goal. Directing COs at desired chromosomal positions would allow breaking linkage situations existing between favorable and unfavorable alleles, the so-called linkage drag, and accelerate genetic gain. This review surveys the recent achievements in the manipulation of meiotic recombination in plants that could be integrated into breeding schemes to meet the challenges of deploying crops that are more resilient to climate instability, resistant to pathogens and pests, and sparing in their input requirements.

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is still the subject of a controversial debate. The natural origin theory is confronted to the laboratory leak theory. The latter is composite and comprises contradictory theories, one being the leak of a naturally occurring virus and the other the leak of a genetically engineered virus. The laboratory leak theory is essentially based on a publication by Rahalkar and Bahulikar in 2020 linking SARS-CoV-2 to the Mojiang mine incident in 2012 during which six miners fell sick and three died. We analyzed the clinical reports. The diagnosis is not that of COVID-19 or SARS. SARS-CoV-2 was not present in the Mojiang mine. We also bring arguments against the laboratory leak narrative.

Gene-edited organisms and derived food and feed products commercialized on the European market falls within the scope of the Directive, 2001/18/EC. Therefore, the possibility to specifically detect and quantify them has become a priority. To this end, PCR-based approaches, such as real-time PCR and digital droplet PCR, targeting a single variation point carried by a gene-edited organism are expected to be suitable, even if potentially challenging at the technical level. However, additional issues related to the interpretation of the results can also be encountered. Indeed, given its possible spread, natural or through breeding programs, the presence of this single variation does not automatically prove the presence of the gene-edited organism. To overcome such critical issue, we proposed a general workflow to develop and validate a PCR-based method specific to a gene-edited organism in targeting its single variation point. First, based on in silico analyses, the possibility to technically design the PCR-based method as well as to discriminate the gene-edited organism using it single variation point are assessed. In case such parameters are confirmed, the performance of the developed PCR-based method are then tested in agreement with the minimum performance requirements for GMO testing. The use of the proposed general workflow was successfully illustrated through the development a 2-plex digital droplet PCR method targeting specifically a gene-edited rice carrying a single nucleotide insertion. The proposed workflow was thus considered as a key tool to support the competent authorities regarding the food and feed traceability.

Host-adapted microorganisms are generally assumed to have evolved from free-living, environmental microorganisms, as examples of the reverse process are rare. In the phylum Gammaproteobacteria, family Moraxellaceae, the genus Psychrobacter includes strains from a broad ecological distribution including animal bodies as well as sea ice and other nonhost environments. To elucidate the relationship between these ecological niches and Psychrobacter's evolutionary history, we performed tandem genomic analyses with phenotyping of 85 Psychrobacter accessions. Phylogenomic analysis of the family Moraxellaceae reveals that basal members of the Psychrobacter clade are Moraxella spp., a group of often-pathogenic organisms. Psychrobacter exhibited two broad growth patterns in our phenotypic screen: one group that we called the “flexible ecotype” (FE) had the ability to grow between 4 and 37°C, and the other, which we called the “restricted ecotype” (RE), could grow between 4 and 25°C. The FE group includes phylogenetically basal strains, and FE strains exhibit increased transposon copy numbers, smaller genomes, and a higher likelihood to be bile salt resistant. The RE group contains only phylogenetically derived strains and has increased proportions of lipid metabolism and biofilm formation genes, functions that are adaptive to cold stress. In a 16S rRNA gene survey of polar bear fecal samples, we detect both FE and RE strains, but in in vivo colonizations of gnotobiotic mice, only FE strains persist. Our results indicate the ability to grow at 37°C, seemingly necessary for mammalian gut colonization, is an ancestral trait for Psychrobacter, which likely evolved from a pathobiont. IMPORTANCE Host-associated microbes are generally assumed to have evolved from free-living ones. The evolutionary transition of microbes in the opposite direction, from host associated toward free living, has been predicted based on phylogenetic data but not studied in depth. Here, we provide evidence

Nematodes and drought are major constraints in tropical agriculture and often occur simultaneously. Plant responses to these stresses are complex and require crosstalk between biotic and abiotic signaling pathways. In this study, we explored the transcriptome data of wild Arachis species subjected to drought (A-metaDEG) and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria (B-metaDEG) via meta-analysis, to identify core-stress responsive genes to each individual and concurrent stresses in these species. Transcriptome analysis of a nematode/drought bioassay (cross-stress) showed that the set of stress responsive DEGs to concurrent stress is distinct from those resulting from overlapping A- and B-metaDEGs, indicating a specialized and unique response to combined stresses in wild Arachis. Whilst individual biotic and abiotic stresses elicit hormone-responsive genes, most notably in the jasmonic and abscisic acid pathways, combined stresses seem to trigger mainly the ethylene hormone pathway. The overexpression of a cross-stress tolerance candidate gene identified here, an endochitinase-encoding gene (AsECHI) from Arachis stenosperma, reduced up to 30% of M. incognita infection and increased post-drought recovery in Arabidopsis plants submitted to both stresses. The elucidation of the network of cross-stress responsive genes in Arachis contributes to better understanding the complex regulation of biotic and abiotic responses in plants facilitating more adequate crop breeding for combined stress tolerance.

Comparative genomics is the analysis of genomic relationships among different species and serves as a significant base for evolutionary and functional genomic studies. GreenPhylDB (https://www.greenphyl.org) is a database designed to facilitate the exploration of gene families and homologous relationships among plant genomes, including staple crops critically important for global food security. GreenPhylDB is available since 2007, after the release of the Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa genomes and has undergone multiple releases. With the number of plant genomes currently available, it becomes challenging to select a single reference for comparative genomics studies but there is still a lack of databases taking advantage several genomes by species for orthology detection. GreenPhylDBv5 introduces the concept of comparative pangenomics by harnessing multiple genome sequences by species. We created 19 pangenes and processed them with other species still relying on one genome. In total, 46 plant species were considered to build gene families and predict their homologous relationships through phylogenetic-based analyses. In addition, since the previous publication, we rejuvenated the website and included a new set of original tools including protein-domain combination, tree topologies searches and a section for users to store their own results in order to support community curation efforts.

Sorghum currently contributes to the species portfolio that is supporting bioenergy production including anaerobic digestion. Although agro-morphological ideotypes maximizing biogas production have been recently proposed, there is a crucial need to refine our understanding of the impacts of the stem composition and structure on this processing trait in order to ensure genetic gains in the mid to long terms. This study aims to assess the potential of Sorghum bicolor ssp bicolor stem genetic diversity to maximize genetic gains for biogas production and define a biogas stem ideotype. In this context, a panel of 57 genotypes, encompassing most of the stem composition variability available in cultivated sorghum, was characterized over five sites. Simultaneous histological and biochemical characterizations were performed. A high broad sense heritability associated with a moderate genetic variability was detected for stem biogas potential ensuring significant genetic gains in the future. In addition, the development of a stem histological phenotyping pipeline made it possible to describe the genetic diversity available for the internode anatomy and the repartition of key cell wall components. Consistently with previous studies, moderate to high heritability was observed for stem biochemical components. Genetic correlation, hierarchical clustering, and multiple stepwise regression analyses identified soluble sugar content as the first main driver of biogas potential genetic variability. Nevertheless, breeding programs should anticipate that biogas yield improvement will also rely on the monitoring of the cell wall components and their distribution in the stem jointly with the soluble sugar content. According to the assets of sorghum in terms of adaptation to environmental stresses and the present results regarding the identification of stem ideotypes suitable for different value chains, this species will surely play a key role to optimize the economic and environmental sust

La biologie synthétique est une discipline appliquant les principes d’ingénierie à la conception de circuits génétiques complexes ayant pour but d’exercer de nouvelles fonctions non retrouvées dans la nature. Ces approches ont rapidement suscité un grand intérêt dans le domaine médical où bon nombre de systèmes furent créés afin de répondre à des besoins non comblés par des approches classiques. Un des défis médicaux d’importance des prochaines années concerne le traitement des infections bactériennes résistantes aux antibiotiques. L’accumulation rapide de gènes de résistance, combinée au ralentissement des efforts de développement de nouveaux antibiotiques par les compagnies pharmaceutiques menacent de créer une grande crise sanitaire d’ici 2050. Afin de répondre à ce défi, l’utilisation de CRISPR-Cas9 pour éliminer spécifiquement des bactéries résistantes aux antibiotiques fut proposée. En utilisant des approches de biologie synthétique et de génomique, il est maintenant possible d’utiliser Cas9 pour discriminer des souches bactériennes selon leurs séquences d’ADN. En ciblant des séquences uniquement retrouvées dans des souches problématiques (par exemple des gènes de résistance aux antibiotiques, des gènes de virulences, des toxines), il est possible d’éliminer ces bactéries d’un mélange complexe sans affecter les autres membres de la communauté bactérienne. Le principal défi de ce type d’approche concerne la méthode de livraison de CRISPR-cas9. L’efficacité globale du système sera dépendante de la capacité de livraison du complexe CRISPR-cas9 aux cellules cibles. Durant mon doctorat, j’ai travaillé au développement d’un outil de livraison de CRISPR-cas9 hautement performant dans le microbiote entérique. Cet outil exploite la conjugaison bactérienne comme véhicule de livraison des gènes encodant le système CRISPR-Cas9 à des bactéries directement dans l’intestin. Le système CRISPR-cas9 est alors exprimé dans la cellule réceptrice, interroge son génome pour une séq

Major crops are generally sensitive to waterlogging, but our limited understanding of the waterlogging gene regulatory network hinders the efforts to develop waterlogging-tolerant cultivars. We generated high-resolution temporal transcriptome data from root of two contrasting sesame genotypes over a 48 h period waterlogging and drainage treatments. Three distinct chronological transcriptional phases were identified, including the earlywaterlogging, late-waterlogging and drainage responses. We identified 47 genes representing the core waterlogging-responsive genes. Waterlogging/drainage-induced transcriptional changes were mainly driven by ERF and WRKY transcription factors (TF). The major difference between the two genotypes resides in the early transcriptional phase. A chronological transcriptional network model predicting putative causal regulations between TFs and downstream waterlogging-responsive genes was constructed and some interactions were validated through yeast one-hybrid assay. Overall, this study unveils the architecture and dynamic regulation of the waterlogging/drainage response in a non-model crop and helps formulate new hypotheses on stress sensing, signaling and sophisticated adaptive responses.

Les humains modifient génétiquement les organismes vivants depuis plus de 30 000 ans mais le concept des Organismes Génétiquement Modifiés ou OGM est apparu beaucoup plus récemment avec l'apparition de techniques de laboratoire permettant de manipuler directement l'Acide DésoxyriboNucléique ou ADN (G. Rangel de Harvard University, 2015). L'ADN est une macromolécule biologique présente dans toutes les cellules des êtres vivants. Il contient toute l'information génétique permettant le développement, le fonctionnement et la reproduction des êtres vivants (Wikipedia). Le qualificatif de modifié génétiquement se réfère à des plantes et des animaux qui ont été modifiés d'une manière qui ne serait pas considérée comme naturelle à travers l'évolution. Cela consiste à transférer un gène d'une espèce à une autre pour doter l'organisme d'un nouveau caractère.

Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) is influenced by diverse and complex factors, and therefore requires a holistic approach to agriculture and food systems plus integration of knowledge from diverse sources in science and society. Using the results of a colloquium held at the University of Hohenheim (Germany) in September 2016 leading up to the recent High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) Note on Critical and Emerging Issues for Food Security and Nutrition, this article underlines the role of research and innovation as a social and political process and draws attention to neglected types of knowledge. It illustrates the potential of knowledge co-production and co-innovation to transform food systems in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sesame is a source of a healthy vegetable oil, attracting a growing interest worldwide. Abiotic stresses have devastating effects on sesame yield; hence, studies have been performed to understand sesame molecular responses to abiotic stresses, but the core abiotic stress-responsive genes (CARG) that the plant reuses in response to an array of environmental stresses are unknown. We performed a meta-analysis of 72 RNA-Seq datasets from drought, waterlogging, salt and osmotic stresses and identified 543 genes constantly and differentially expressed in response to all stresses, representing the sesame CARG. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of the CARG revealed three functional modules controlled by key transcription factors. Except for salt stress, the modules were positively correlated with the abiotic stresses. Network topology of the modules showed several hub genes predicted to play prominent functions. As proof of concept, we generated over-expressing Arabidopsis lines with hub and non-hub genes. Transgenic plants performed better under drought, waterlogging, and osmotic stresses than the wild-type plants but did not tolerate the salt treatment. As expected, the hub gene was significantly more potent than the non-hub gene. Overall, we discovered several novel candidate genes, which will fuel investigations on plant responses to multiple abiotic stresses.

In a context of tighter regulations on approved insecticide molecules, the spread of insecticide resistance in insect vectors of human and animal diseases and the introduction of exotic vectors to new territories call for the development of new pest control methods and strategies. New genetic control methods, related to the ancestral sterile insect technique (SIT), show particular promise and are being developed in response to increasing health and agricultural challenges. These include the use of symbionts like Wolbachia and the use of transgenic insect strains, some of which incorporate gene editing techniques that can lead to transgene spread (gene drive). Here we present the principles, associated opportunities and risks, as well as the degree of advancement of these various techniques for a subset of livestock pests and disease vectors including screwworms, tsetse, mosquitoes and stomoxes. We then present some case studies on recent improvements in the use of the SIT in tsetse and the release of insects carrying a dominant lethal gene, symbiont-based approaches and gene drive in mosquitoes. Finally, we call to speed up the development of genetic control, within a rigorous benefit-risk analysis framework including international public consultation

So far, most potential applications of genomic prediction in plant improvement have been explored using cross validation approaches. This is the first empirical study to evaluate the accuracy of genomic prediction of the performances of progenies in a typical rice breeding program. Using a cross validation approach, we first analyzed the effects of marker selection and statistical methods on the accuracy of prediction of three different heritability traits in a reference population (RP) of 284 inbred accessions. Next, we investigated the size and the degree of relatedness with the progeny population (PP) of sub-sets of the RP that maximize the accuracy of prediction of phenotype across generations, i.e., for 97 F5–F7 lines derived from biparental crosses between 31 accessions of the RP. The extent of linkage disequilibrium was high (r2 = 0.2 at 0.80 Mb in RP and at 1.1 Mb in PP). Consequently, average marker density above one per 22 kb did not improve the accuracy of predictions in the RP. The accuracy of progeny prediction varied greatly depending on the composition of the training set, the trait, LD and minor allele frequency. The highest accuracy achieved for each trait exceeded 0.50 and was only slightly below the accuracy achieved by cross validation in the RP. Our results thus show that relatively high accuracy (0.41–0.54) can be achieved using only a rather small share of the RP, most related to the PP, as the training set. The practical implications of these results for rice breeding programs are discussed.