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Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can infect the majority of the human population with no obvious symptoms and is associated with tumor development, although the mechanism is still largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role and the underlying mechanism of EBV nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) in tumorigenesis. We found that the infection of EBNA2 in human B lymphocytes (HBL) upregulated the expression of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Furthermore, we used gene expression or knockdown approach to demonstrate the effect of EBNA2 on redox balance, mitochondrial function, lipid metabolism, and cell proliferation in both HBL and EBV-transformed lymphocyte cell line (LCL). More importantly, we applied in vivo xenograft tumor mouse model to explore the contribution of EBNA2 and ATF4 in tumor growth and mouse survival. Mechanistically, we revealed that EBNA2 exposure caused persistent expression of ATF4 via EBNA2-mediated epigenetic changes, which increased the binding ability of upstream stimulating factor 1 (USF1) on the ATF4 promoter. ATF4 activation in HBL cells modulated the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes and potentiated fatty acid oxidation and lipogenesis. Conversely, knockdown of either EBNA2 or ATF4 in LCL suppressed lipid metabolism, modulated redox balance and mitochondrial function, as well as inhibited tumor cell proliferation. In consistent with these findings from in vitro study, an in vivo xenograft model confirmed that knockdown of either EBNA2 or ATF4 inhibited the gene expression of SREBP1, ChREBP, and FAS, as well as suppressed tumor growth and prolonged animal survival. Collectively, this study demonstrates that EBNA2 mediates tumorigenesis through ATF4 activation and the modulation of lipid metabolism; therefore, our findings provide a novel avenue for the clinical treatment of EBV-mediated cancer.

This study aimed to study physicochemical and microbiological parameters during nonnonkoumou production. A total of 15 samples were analyzed during this study at a rate of 3 samples per fermentation time (T0 h, T6 h, T12 h, T18 h and T24 h). The physicochemical analyses showed a drop in pH (from 7.03 ± 0.028 to 4.59 ± 0.021) during the 24 h of fermentation. The titratable acidity increased from 0.30 ± 0.014% at the start of fermentation to reach the maximum value of 0.88 ± 0.056% at 24 h of fermentation. The sugar level of fermenting milk samples decreased from 10.05 ± 0.071% at the start of fermentation, to 5.15 ± 0.071% at the end of fermentation. The density results showed an addition of water to the milk used for nonnonkoumou production. Microbiological analyses showed a similar growth of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts and molds, but yeasts and molds were absent at the start of fermentation. Aerobic mesophile flora count reached maximum value (7.56 ± 0.81 Log CFU/ml) at 12 h of fermentation. The coliform count increased up to 12 h of fermentation before decreasing and disappearing at the end of fermentation. Key words: Milk, nonnonkoumou, fermentation, contamination, physicochemical and microbiological analyses.

In Cote d'Ivoire as elsewhere in Africa, attieke plays an important role in feeding the population. The objective of the work is to conduct a study on the sanitary quality of the attieke garba sold in Daloa. Fifty (50) samples of attieke garba were collected by purchase from various high-traffic outlets in different districts of Daloa town. Samples are collected in the morning around 10 a.m. every 2 days at a rate of 10 per site. Microbiological analyzes and the determination of some physico-chemical parameters of attieke garba were carried out. The bacterial load of Bacillus cereus present in the samples tested in the majority of districts is greater than or equal to 105 CFU/g of food. About 60% of the samples tested was contaminated with B. cereus spores against 72% contaminated with the vegetative form of B. cereus. However, physicochemical analyzes showed that attieke garba was acidic and the humidity was between 37.36 ± 15.9 and 55.26 ± 20.5%. Attieke garba could pose a danger to consumers.

Nombreuses études sur les déblais de forage à l’Albien du bassin sédimentaire (Côte d’Ivoire) ont montré la présence d’un fort taux de dépôts d’argiles. Toutefois, ces roches argileuses apparemment identiques peuvent être différentes chimiquement. Afin de caractériser ces roches, deux types d’analyses ont été réalisées : l’analyse de la poudre de roche et celle de la fraction fine. Le traitement des données de la poudre de roche s’est fait avec le logiciel EVA et celui de la fraction fine avec le logiciel Fytik 0.9.8. L’analyse lithologique des sédiments d’âge albien présente une alternance de bancs d’argile, de sables, de grès, de silts et de kaolin. Au toit, alternent avec les bancs d’argiles des bancs carbonatés. Le cortège détritique est essentiellement constitué de quartz, albite, traces de microcline, sidérite et calcite. En outre, les minéraux argileux sont constitués de : la kaolinite, des interstratifiés néoformés à deux feuillets : l’illite/smectite régulier (R1) par endroits et illite/chlorite irrégulier (R0) à la base de l’Albien moyen et des interstratifiés néoformés à trois feuillets : illite/chlorite/smectite, illite/vermiculite/smectite. Ces minéraux traduisent une évolution en fonction de la profondeur impliquant la disparition progressive des feuillets de smectite et l’apparition progressive des feuillets de chlorite. Cette évolution est favorisée par une diagénèse d’enfouissement (qui évolue en fonction de la profondeur).Mots clés : Diagénèse, minéralogie, lithologie, Albien.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of lifelong neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by cognitive deficits and impaired social and communicative development that have been rising in prevalence in recent decades. These disorders may be accompanied by disabling health issues and often lead to a substantial economic burden. The causes and mechanisms of ASD have not yet been fully elucidated, although it has been reported that genetic background, epigenetic modification, and environmental risk factors all contribute to the development of ASD. Environmental factors, which include prenatal circumstances or events, all play a very important role in the early development of autism, yet the exact mechanism remains largely undetermined. In this review, we promote a 'rethinking' of autism as a neurodevelopmental disease that originates from early life development. We focus on the impact of the prenatal and maternal risk factors such as maternal diabetes, prenatal chemical exposure, and hormone imbalances during pregnancy on the risk for ASD development in children and offspring, identifying important pathological bases and prevention measures for future decades. Further research focused on understanding the role of the environmental factors in the etiology of ASD will drive forward innovation strategies towards intervention and the prevention of the maternal risk factors for autism.

Additional file 1: Data S1. Materials andmethods. Table S1. Sequencesof primers for the real time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Figure S1.Representative pictures of full blots for Western Blotting. Figure S2. Potential effect of SOD mimetic and RORA agonist on maternaldiabetes-mediated gene expression. Figure S3. Potentialeffect of SOD mimetic and RORA agonist on maternal diabetes-mediated DNA methylation on the RORA promoter. Figure S4. Potential effect of SOD mimetic and RORA agonist onmaternal diabetes-mediated histonemodifications on the RORA promoter. FigureS5. Intestine-specific RORA deficiency does not affect maternaldiabetes-mediated autism-like behaviors.

Dans le present travail, une etude mineralogique et cartographique chimique des calcaires lumachelliques de l’Oligocene inferieur du bassin emerge de Cote d’Ivoire a ete effectuee. Les analyses ont ete realisees au M.E.B, equipe d’un spectrometre a diffusion d’energie. L’objectif est de comprendre les processus post-diagenetiques qui se sont produits dans les calcaires lumachelliques au cours de la transgression de l’Oligocene inferieur. Les resultats ont montre que les calcaires lumachelliques sont composes de plus de 80% de calcium qui sont accompagnes par ordre d’abondance de silicium (6,73%), de soufre (1,94%), de fer (1,62%), d’aluminium (1,57%) et de magnesium (1,44%). Les resultats revelent egalement qu’au cours de la transgression de l’Oligocene inferieur, des inclusions mineralogiques ont ete formees dans l’ordre chronologique suivant : la glauconite et la pyrite. Durant cette transgression une silicification (quartzification) de certains bioclastes s’est produite et cela entre les profondeurs 3000 m et la zone de compensation des carbonates (CDD) expliquant ainsi la presence de silice dans ces calcaires par la micro-cartographie chimique. Ce nouvel environnement de depot (marin profond) a occasionne encroutement de leur surface donnant ainsi un hardground. In the present work, a mineralogical and chemical cartographic study of shelly limestones from the Lower Oligocene of Cote d’Ivoire Ivorian emerged basin was carried out. The analyzes were realized under a scanning microscope which is equipped with an energy diffusion spectrometer (SEMEDS). The objective is to understand the post-diagenetic processes which occurred in shelly limestones during Lower Oligocene Transgression. The results showed that shelly limestones are composed of more than 80% of calcium which are accompanied in order of abundance of silicon (6.73), sulfur (1.94%), iron (1.62%), aluminum (1.57%) and magnesium (1.44%). The results also reveal during the Lower Oligocene Transgression, mineralogical inclusions were formed in chronological order: glauconite and pyrite. During this transgression, silicification (quartzification) of some bioclasts occurred between depths 3000 m and calcite compensation depth (CCD) explaining the presence of silica in these limestones by chemical micro-mapping. This new marine deposit (deeper sea) has caused the formation of hard-ground on shelly limestones surface.

In Côte d'Ivoire as elsewhere in Africa, attiéké plays an important role in feeding the population. The objective of the work is to conduct a study on the sanitary quality of the attiéké garba sold in Daloa. Fifty (50) samples of attiéké garba were collected by purchase from various high-traffic outlets in different districts of Daloa town. Samples are collected in the morning around 10 a.m. every 2 days at a rate of 10 per site. Microbiological analyzes and the determination of some physico-chemical parameters of attiéké garba were carried out. The bacterial load of Bacillus cereus present in the samples tested in the majority of districts is greater than or equal to 10(5) CFU/g of food. About 60% of the samples tested was contaminated with B. cereus spores against 72% contaminated with the vegetative form of B. cereus. However, physicochemical analyzes showed that attiéké garba was acidic and the humidity was between 37.36 ± 15.9 and 55.26 ± 20.5%. Attiéké garba could pose a danger to consumers.