Generation and screening of natural product-like compounds for antibiotic discovery

Avec l’apparition de plus en plus de souches de bactérie résistante aux antibiotiques, le développement de nouveaux antibiotiques est devenu une important problématique pour les agences de santé. C’est pour cela que la création de nouvelles plateformes pour accélérer la découverte de médicaments est devenu un besoin urgent. Dans les dernières décennies, la recherche était principalement orientée sur la modification de molécules préexistantes, la méta-analyse d’organismes produisant des molécules activent et l’analyse de librairies moléculaires pour trouver des molécules synthétiques activent, ce qui s’est avéré relativement inefficace. Notre but était donc de développer de nouvelles molécules avec des effets thérapeutiques de façon plus efficace à une fraction du prix et du temps comparé à ce qui se fait actuellement. Comme structure de base, nous avons utilisé des métabolites secondaires qui pouvaient altérer le fonctionnement des protéines ou l’interaction entre deux protéines. Pour générer ces molécules, j’ai concentré mes efforts sur les terpènes, une classe de métabolites secondaires qui possède un large éventail d’activités biologiques incluant des activités antibactériennes. Nous avons développé un système de chromosome artificiel de levure (YAC) qui permet à la fois l’assemblage directionnel et combinatoire de gènes qui permet la création de voies de biosynthèse artificielles. Comme preuve de concept, j’ai développé des YACs qui contiennent les gènes pour l’expression des enzymes impliquées dans la biosynthèse de la -carotène et de l’albaflavenone et produit ces molécules avec un haut rendement. Finalement, Des YACs produits à partir de librairies de gènes ont permis de créer une grande diversité de molécules.

Generation and screening of natural product-like compounds for antibiotic discovery

Avec l’apparition de plus en plus de souches de bactérie résistante aux antibiotiques, le développement de nouveaux antibiotiques est devenu une important problématique pour les agences de santé. C’est pour cela que la création de nouvelles plateformes pour accélérer la découverte de médicaments est devenu un besoin urgent. Dans les dernières décennies, la recherche était principalement orientée sur la modification de molécules préexistantes, la méta-analyse d’organismes produisant des molécules activent et l’analyse de librairies moléculaires pour trouver des molécules synthétiques activent, ce qui s’est avéré relativement inefficace. Notre but était donc de développer de nouvelles molécules avec des effets thérapeutiques de façon plus efficace à une fraction du prix et du temps comparé à ce qui se fait actuellement. Comme structure de base, nous avons utilisé des métabolites secondaires qui pouvaient altérer le fonctionnement des protéines ou l’interaction entre deux protéines. Pour générer ces molécules, j’ai concentré mes efforts sur les terpènes, une classe de métabolites secondaires qui possède un large éventail d’activités biologiques incluant des activités antibactériennes. Nous avons développé un système de chromosome artificiel de levure (YAC) qui permet à la fois l’assemblage directionnel et combinatoire de gènes qui permet la création de voies de biosynthèse artificielles. Comme preuve de concept, j’ai développé des YACs qui contiennent les gènes pour l’expression des enzymes impliquées dans la biosynthèse de la -carotène et de l’albaflavenone et produit ces molécules avec un haut rendement. Finalement, Des YACs produits à partir de librairies de gènes ont permis de créer une grande diversité de molécules.

Die Tiefseegarnele Pandalus borealis im Nordostatlantik. Biologie, Bestandssituation und fischereiliche Nutzung

One of the most common decapode in the North Atlantic is the “Northern” or “Pink shrimp” Pandalus borealis (Kröyeri). Due to decreasing fish stocks and catches the shrimp fishery was intensified during most recent years. In the North-East Atlantic, a profitable fishery on this species has been carried out by Norway and USSR/ Russia off Norway, in the Barents Sea and off Spitsbergen for about 30 years. For the first time, Germany started a shrimp fishery with FMV “Hannover” in this area in spring/summer 1999. This article gives information on the biology of Pandalus borealis. A brief description of the problems in stock analyses, stock assessment, and the TACs (Total Allowable Catches) for the entire North Atlantic are given.

Biologie des Stöckers in Nordsee und Nordostatlantik

This paper summarises the current knowledge on horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) biology. The synopsis is mainly based on the report of a recently conducted EU funded workshop on horse mackerel age reading. A brief description of this workshop and of recent developments in sampling of German commercial horse mackerel catches is given.

Ratio of natural isotopes of nitrogen. I. Primary results: soils of Dombes [Translation from: Revue d'Ecologie et de Biologie du Sol 14, 279-287, 1977]

Utilization of the heavy isotope of nitrogen as a tracer has found numerous applications in soil biology. It allows better definition of different stages of the nitrogen cycle, in particular the immobilization-mineralization cycle. In this work, the authors report the results of calculations of natural isotope ratios of nitrogen in samples of water, soil and vegetation prevailing in Dombes and discuss the possibilities of errors and coefficients of fractionation.

Résumé des connaissances actuelles sur la biologie et la pêche des thons tropicaux en Atlantique

This work summarizes the present knowledge on biology and fisheries of Atlantic tuna such as yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and to a lesser extent, bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga). Current appraisal of these stocks

Biologie de Penaeus duorarum (Burkenroad) en Côte d'Ivoire: croissance

The Petersen method was used to make growth assessments from experimental data collected during 1966-67 and 1969-70. The parameters K and L ∞ were calculated from the Von Bertalanffy growth curve. There was very little difference between the two years although growth in 1969 appeared slightly greater. A comparison of our results in Côte d'Ivoire with those from Senegal and Gulf of Mexico showed that the greatest growth occured on the west African coast and especially off the Côte d'Ivoire.

Biologie et dynamique d'un Sciaenidae ouest-africain Pseudotolithus senegalensis (V.)

In relation to the hydroclimate prevailing off Congo (B) and Côte d'Ivoire, synchronic variations are described in abundance and distribution of Pseudotolithus senegalensis V., economically the most important species in the West African trawl fishery. Although this fish prefers the warm surface layer, it is relatively indifferent to hydrological conditions, since it may also occur in the thermocline down to the higher levels of 'Central South Atlantic Water'. The oxygen concentration appears to have an important effect upon their distribution, especially the low concentrations occurring with the upwelling. The main biological functions, such as spawning and recruitment times, condition factor, diet and ring appearance on otoliths, also follow cycles, which are parallel with the hydroclimate one. Therefore, the ring-shaped structures revealed by burning previously ground otoliths could be easily interpreted. Thus, an accurate method for ageing tropical fish is now available. From the age determinations for the Congolese stock, it appears that growth is fast and total mortality rate high. An influence of fishing effort, which increased 3 times during the exploited phase of sampled specimens, appears both in growth and in total mortality. From there an estimate for the fishing mortality could be given. The estimates of dynamic parameters for the Congolese stock are then used in the Beverton-Holt model. A valuable increase of the yield could be expected, if mesh size is widened and effort restricted.

Étude du crabe rouge profond Geryon quinquedens en Côte d'Ivoire. 2 - Éléments de biologie et d'écologie avec références aux résultats obtenus au Congo

Geryon quinquedens is present along the West African continental slope at depths from 300 to 1000 m, on silt-clay sediments. Geryon is a cold and rather poorly oxygenated water loving species. It is easily caught by traps as it is a scavenger and predatory crustacea. In a given area its distribution does not appear to be homogeneous: for example, densities of red crabs are higher in the eastern and western region of Côte d'Ivoire than in the central zone. Similar observations can be made off Congo, Angola and United States. It can be assumed that there is a relation between the abundance of Geryon and the productivity level of the area. Geographical variations of sex ratio are suspected to be correlated with the density distribution. Males and females have not the same bathymetric distribution: females are only common in the shallower waters (300-500 m) whereas males are present in the whole biotope. Seasonal migrations occur down and up the slope in both the sexes and are certainly related to the reproductive biology. Knowledge of the reproductive biology is also necessary to understand fishing-trap catch rate: egg maturation extends over several months and ovigerous females are exceptionally caught by traps; males also are less available during the same period (March to August) when migrations are less important; in this period, mean size increases and probably this happens at the end of a moult. From September to February the catch-rates increase. Growth is slow compared with other littoral Guinean Crustacea (Peneides). Females become sexually mature at a size of 80 mm (carapace width): modification in the allometric relations of abdomen and carapace are then conspicuous.

Biologie de la phase lagunaire de Penaeus duorarum en Côte d'Ivoire. Écologie et dynamique

Ecology and dynamics of juvenile pink shrimp Penaeus duorarum were studied from weekly sampling in the Abidjan lagoon system. After a brief description of biogeography and principal features of climate, hydrology of Ebrié lagoon and Adiopodoumé bay were considered. Shrimp distribution were connected with the main environmental factors. Precise work was done in Adiopodoumé bay, especially concerning the succession of age classes, their growth on the nursery grounds, seasonal variation in abundance, size and distribution, in relation to environmental factors. These results, and former knowledges, allowed us to propose a general pattern for pink shrimp life history in Côte d'Ivoire.

Biologie de l'Ethmalose, Ethmalosa fimbriata (Bowdich), en Côte d'Ivoire. 1 - Description de la reproduction et des premiers stades larvaires

Descriptions of spawning and larval development of Ethmalosa, up to the vitelline vesicle resorption stage, are made from plankton samplings in the Ebrié coastal lagoon and from artificially fertilized eggs. Spawning takes place from November to June in waters with salinities of 18 to 26 parts per thousand, and temperatures of 22.8 to 30.2 degrees, for 13-14 cm long fishes.

Biologie de Ethmalosa Fimbriata (Bowdich) en Côte d'Ivoire. 3 - Étude des Migrations en Lagune Ebrié

Spawning of bonga (Ethmalosa fimbriata Bowdich) takes place in polyhalin waters (Sppt. > 5ppt.). Migrations of young fish were studied by the mean of length data observed in different points of the lagoon from the artisanal fishery. Bonga remain 4 months in the hatchery (6 cm), before they expand in the whole lagoon until the age of 9/10 months. After this expansion phase, the fishes come back to the spawning fields (spawning length: 14/15 cm). Postspawning fishes leave the lagoon. Between birth and spawning, bonga are not affected by salinity changes, but reproduction occurs only in waters where salinity is higher than 5ppt.