Study of the regulation of antifungal activity in plant-associated pseudomas fluorescens

RésuméEn agriculture d'énormes pertes sont causées par des champignons telluriques pathogènes tels que Thielaviopsis, Fusarium, Gaeumannomyces et Rhizoctonia ou encore l'oomycète Pythium. Certaines bactéries dites bénéfiques, comme Pseudomonas fluorescens, ont la capacité de protéger les plantes de ces pathogènes par la colonisation de leur racines, par la production de métabolites secondaires possédants des propriétés antifongiques et par l'induction des mécanismes de défenses de la plante colonisée. P. fluorescens CHAO, une bactérie biocontrôle isolée d'un champ de tabac à Payerne, a la faculté de produire un large spectre de métabolites antifongiques, en particulier le 2,4- diacétylphloroglucinol (DAPG), la pyolutéorine (PLT), le cyanure d'hydrogène (HCN), la pyrrolnitrine (PRN) ainsi que des chélateurs de fer.La plante, par sécrétion racinaire, produit des rhizodéposites, source de carbone et d'azote, qui profitent aux populations bactériennes vivant dans la rhizosphere. De plus, certains stresses biotiques et abiotiques modifient cette sécrétion racinaire, en terme quantitatif et qualitatif. De leur côté, les bactéries bénéfiques, améliorent, de façon direct et/ou indirect, la croissance de la plante hôte. De nombreux facteurs biotiques et abiotiques sont connus pour réguler la production de métabolites secondaires chez les bactéries. Des études récentes ont démontré l'importance de la communication entre la plante et les bactéries bénéfiques afin que s'établisse une interaction profitant à chacun des deux partis. Il est ainsi vraisemblable que les populations bactériennes associées aux racines soient capables d'intégrer ces signaux et d'adapter spécifiquement leur comportement en conséquence.La première partie de ce travail de thèse a été la mise au point d'outils basés sur la cytométrie permettant de mesurer l'activité antifongique de cellules bactériennes individuelles dans un environnent naturel, les racines des plantes. Nous avons démontré, grâce à un double marquage aux protéines autofluorescentes GFP et mCherry, que les niveaux d'expression des gènes impliqués dans la biosynthèse des substances antifongiques DAPG, PLT, PRN et HCN ne sont pas les mêmes dans des milieux de cultures liquides que sur les racines de céréales. Par exemple, l'expression de pltA (impliqué dans la biosynthèse du PLT) est quasiment abolie sur les racines de blé mais atteint un niveau relativement haut in vitro. De plus cette étude a mis en avant l'influence du génotype céréalien sur l'expression du gène phlA qui est impliqué dans la biosynthèse du DAPG.Une seconde étude a révélé la communication existant entre une céréale (orge) infectée par le pathogène tellurique Pythium ultimum et P. fluorescens CHAO. Un système de partage des racines nous a permis de séparer physiquement le pathogène et la bactérie bénéfique sur la plante. Cette méthode a donné la possibilité d'évaluer l'effet systémique, causé par l'attaque du pathogène, de la plante sur la bactérie biocontrôle. En effet, l'infection par le phytopathogène modifie la concentration de certains composés phénoliques dans les exsudats racinaires stimulant ainsi l'expression de phi A chez P.fluorescens CHAO.Une troisième partie de ce travail focalise sur l'effet des amibes qui sont des micro-prédateurs présents dans la rhizosphere. Leur présence diminue l'expression des gènes impliqués dans la biosynthèse du DAPG, PLT, PRN et HCN chez P.fluorescens CHAO, ceci en culture liquide et sur des racines d'orge. De plus, des molécules provenant du surnageant d'amibes, influencent l'expression des gènes requis pour la biosynthèse de ces antifongiques. Ces résultats illustrent que les amibes et les bactéries de la rhizosphere ont développé des stratégies pour se reconnaître et adapter leur comportement.La dernière section de ce travail est consacrée à l'acide indole-acétique (LA.A), une phytohormone connue pour son effet stimulateur sur phlA. Une étude moléculaire détaillée nous a démontré que cet effet de l'IAA est notamment modulé par une pompe à efflux (FusPl) et de son régulateur transcriptionnel (MarRl). De plus, les gènes fusPl et marRl sont régulés par d'autres composés phénoliques tels que le salicylate (un signal végétal) et l'acide fusarique (une phytotoxine du pathogène Fusarium).En résumé, ce travail de thèse illustre la complexité des interactions entre les eucaryotes et procaryotes de la rhizosphère. La reconnaissance mutuelle et l'instauration d'un dialogue moléculaire entre une plante hôte et ses bactéries bénéfiques associées? sont indispensables à la survie des deux protagonistes et semblent être hautement spécifiques.SummaryIn agriculture important crop losses result from the attack of soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi, including Thielaviopsis, Fusarium, Gaeumannomyces and Rhizoctonia, as well as from the oomycete Pythium. Certain beneficial microorganisms of the rhizosphere, in particular Pseudomonas fluorescens, have the ability to protect plants against phytopathogens by the intense colonisation of roots, by the production of antifungal exoproducts, and by induction of plant host defences. P. fluorescens strain CHAO, isolated from a tobacco field near Payerne, produces a large array of antifungal exoproducts, including 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), pyoluteorin (PLT), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), pyrrolnitrin (PRN) and iron chelators. Plants produce rhizodeposites via root secretion and these represent a relevant source of carbon and nitrogen for rhizosphere microorganisms. Various biotic and abiotic stresses influence the quantity and the quality of released exudates. One the other hand, beneficial bacteria directly or indirectly promote plant growth. Biotic and abiotic factors regulate exoproduct production in biocontrol microorganisms. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of communication in establishing a fine-tuned mutualist interaction between plants and their associated beneficial bacteria. Bacteria may be able to integrate rhizosphere signals and adapt subsequently their behaviour.In a first part of the thesis, we developed a new method to monitor directly antifungal activity of individual bacterial cells in a natural environment, i.e. on roots of crop plants. We were able to demonstrate, via a dual-labelling system involving green and red fluorescent proteins (GFP, mCherry) and FACS-based flow cytometry, that expression levels of biosynthetic genes for the antifungal compounds DAPG, PLT, PRN, and HCN are highly different in liquid culture and on roots of cereals. For instance, expression of pltA (involved in PLT biosynthesis) was nearly abolished on wheat roots whereas it attained a relatively high level under in vitro conditions. In addition, we established the importance of the cereal genotype in the expression of phi A (involved in DAPG biosynthesis) in P. fluorescens CHAO.A second part of this work highlighted the systemic communication that exists between biocontrol pseudomonads and plants following attack by a root pathogen. A split-root system, allowing physical separation between the soil-borne oomycete pathogen Phytium ultimum and P. fluorescens CHAO on barley roots, was set up. Root infection by the pathogen triggered a modification of the concentration of certain phenolic root exudates in the healthy root part, resulting in an induction ofphlA expression in P. fluorescens CHAO.Amoebas are micro-predators of the rhizosphere that feed notably on bacteria. In the third part of the thesis, co-habitation of Acanthamoeba castellanii with P. fluorescens CHAO in culture media and on barley roots was found to significantly reduce bacterial expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of DAPG, PLT, HCN and PRN. Interestingly, molecular cues present in supernatant of A. castelanii induced the expression of these antifungal genes. These findings illustrate the strategies of mutual recognition developed by amoeba and rhizosphere bacteria triggering responses that allow specific adaptations of their behaviour.The last section of the work focuses on indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a phytohormone that stimulates the expression of phi A. A detailed molecular study revealed that the IAA-mediated effect on phi A is notably modulated by an efflux pump (FusPl) and its transcriptional regulator (MarRl). Remarkably, transcription of fusPl and marRl was strongly upregulated in presence of other phenolic compounds such as salicylate (a plant signal) and fusaric acid (a phytotoxin of the pathogenic fungus Fusarium).To sum up, this work illustrates the great complexity of interactions between eukaryotes and prokaryotes taking place in the rhizosphere niche. The mutual recognition and the establishment of a molecular cross-talk between the host plant and its associated beneficial bacteria are essential for the survival of the two partners and these interactions appear to be highly specific.

The Dyadic and Triadic Therapeutic Alliance in Cross-cultural Health Care: The case of Hispanic American Patients

This research project conducted in the Psychology Department of the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) evaluated the therapeutic alliance with Hispanic American Patients. From the patient's perspective, the therapeutic alliance was explored in two types of frameworks: the dyadic and the triadic setting. The dyadic setting is the encounter between a therapist (health professional) and a patient who ideally share the same language. The triadic setting is the encounter of a therapist and a patient who speak different languages, but are able to interact using the help of an interpreter. My specific interest focuses on studying the therapeutic alliance in a cross- cultural setting through a mixed methodology. As part of the quantitative phase, non- parametric tests were used to analyze 55 questionnaires of the Therapeutic Alliance for Migrants - Health Professionals' version (QALM-PS). For the qualitative phase, a thematic analysis was used to analyze 20 transcript interviews. While no differences were found concerning the strength of the therapeutic alliance between the triadic and dyadic settings, results showed that the factors that enrich the therapeutic alliance with migrant patients depend more on an emotional alliance (bond) than on a rational alliance (agreements). Indeed, the positive relationship with the interpreter, and especially with the therapist, relies considerably on human qualities and moral values, bringing the conception of humanity as an important need when meeting foreign patients in health care settings. In addition, the quality of communication, which could be attributed to the type of interpreter in the triadic setting, plays an important role in the establishment of a positive therapeutic relationship. Ce projet de recherche mené au Département de psychologie de l'Université de Lausanne (Suisse) a évalué l'alliance thérapeutique avec les patients hispano-américains. Du point de vue du patient, l'alliance thérapeutique a été étudiée dans deux types de dispositifs: le cadre dyadique et triadique. Le cadre dyadique est la rencontre d'un thérapeute (professionnel de la santé) et d'un patient qui, idéalement, partagent la même langue. Le cadre triadique est la rencontre d'un thérapeute et d'un patient qui parlent différentes langues, mais sont capables d'interagir grâce à l'aide d'un interprète. Mon intérêt porte en particulier sur l'étude de l'alliance thérapeutique dans un cadre interculturel au travers d'une méthodologie mixte. Dans la phase quantitative, des tests non paramétriques ont été utilisés pour les analyses des 55 questionnaires de l'alliance thérapeutique pour les migrants, version - professionnels de la santé (QALM-PS). Pour la phase qualitative, une analyse thématique a été utilisée pour l'analyse des 20 entretiens transcrits. Bien qu'aucune différence n'a été constatée en ce qui concerne la force de l'alliance thérapeutique entre les cadres dyadiques et triadiques, les résultats montrent que les facteurs qui enrichissent l'alliance thérapeutique avec les patients migrants dépendent plus de l'alliance émotionnelle (lien) que sur une alliance rationnelle (accords). En effet, la relation positive avec l'interprète, et en particulier avec le thérapeute, repose en grande partie sur des qualités humaines et des valeurs morales, ce qui porte la conception de l'humanité comme un besoin important lors de la rencontre des patients étrangers dans un cadre de santé. En outre, la qualité de la communication, qui pourrait être attribuée au type d'interprète dans le cadre triadique, joue un rôle important dans l'établissement d'une relation thérapeutique positive.

Two Cultures of Arts Education, Finland and Canada? An integrated View

Taidekasvatuksen kaksi kulttuuria, Suomi ja Kanada? Integroitu näkemys Tutkimuksessa kuvataan kanadalaisen Learning Through The Arts –pedagogiikan mukainen suomalainen kokeiluhanke, jonka aikana taiteilija–opettaja-parit opettivat yhdessä eri oppiaineita koululuokille: esim. matematiikkaa tanssien, biologiaa maalaten tai yhdistäen eri taiteenlajeja projektimuotoiseen oppimiseen. Hanketta arvioitaessa nousee esille, ei niinkään yksittäisten taiteilijoiden ja opettajien toiminta, vaan pikemminkin Kanadan ja Suomen rakenteelliset sekä kulttuuriset eroavuudet. Tutkimus sivuaa myös Suomessa käytävää keskustelua taiteen hyödyllisyydestä ja pohtii samalla taito- ja taideaineiden asemaa koulussa. Työn teoreettisessa osassa integroidaan opetussuunnitelmateoriaa, kasvatuksen historiaa ja filosofiaa, tähdentäen taidekasvatuksen merkitystä osana koko ihmisen kasvatusta. Opetussuunnitelmateorian osalta tarkastellaan romanttista ja klassista opetussuunnitelmaa, jotka eroavat toisistaan menetelmiensä, sisältöjensä, tavoitteidensa sekä arvioinnin osalta. Ns. kovat ja pehmeät aineet tai matemaattis-luonnontieteelliset aineet vastakohtanaan humanismi, voidaan ymmärtää sekä historiallisia että epistemologisia taustojaan vasten. Pepperin maailmanhypoteesien mukaisesti on kasvatuksen ongelmien ratkaisemiseksi hahmotettavissa neljä selvästi toisistaan eroavaa lähestymistapaa: formismi; organisismi; mekanisismi; sekä kontekstualismi. Kantin filosofiaan viitaten tutkimus puolustaa käsitystä taiteesta rationaalisena ja propositionaalisena kokonaisuutena, joka ei ole vain kommunikaation väline, vaan yksi todellisuuden kohtaamisen lajeista, tiedon ja etiikan rinnalla. Näin ajateltuna taito- ja taidekasvatuksen tulisi olla luonteeltaan aina myös kulttuurikasvatusta. Tutkimuksen tulosten perusteella voidaan väittää, että moniammatillinen yhteistyö monipuolistaa koulun opetusta. Mikäli huolehditaan siitä, että taiteilijat saavat riittävästi koulutusta opettamiseen liittyvissä asioissa, on mahdollista käyttää taiteilijoita opettajien rinnalla koulutyössä.

Communication in networks with hierarchical branching

We present a simple model of communication in networks with hierarchical branching. We analyze the behavior of the model from the viewpoint of critical systems under different situations. For certain values of the parameters, a continuous phase transition between a sparse and a congested regime is observed and accurately described by an order parameter and the power spectra. At the critical point the behavior of the model is totally independent of the number of hierarchical levels. Also scaling properties are observed when the size of the system varies. The presence of noise in the communication is shown to break the transition. The analytical results are a useful guide to forecasting the main features of real networks.

Veure Àfrica a través de la mirada de Riszard Kapuściʼnski

El profund i humaníssim interès i la defensa que va exercir Ryszard Kapuściński de la identitat cultural africana constitueix un model a seguir sobre la construcció i el tractament dels “altres” en els textos periodístics. El present treball analitza la vida i la obra del corresponsal polonès per tal de plantejar qüestions com l’etnocentrisme del discurs dels mitjans de comunicació, la importància d’un tractament de subjecte de les fonts, la identitat cultural o la comunicació intercultural. A través dels objectius amb els quals Kapuściński definia el periodisme –“traductor de cultures” i “advocat d’Àfrica”- i la manera com exercia la professió de corresponsal es planteja quina és la visió i la mirada que Occident i el periodisme tenen de les altres cultures –establint com a context la civilització africana en el procés de descolonització del continent- i la necessitat d’una pràctica periodística respectuosa amb la diversitat cultural.

Communication with terminal cancer patients in palliative care: are there differences between nurses and physicians?

The aim of this study was to find whether there were interprofessional differences in specific elements of communication with terminal cancer patients and decision-making processes that concern such patients. Given that interdisciplinary team work is one of the basic values in palliative care, if there are conflicting views between professions on such important issues it is most important to know about these and to understand them. A questionnaire utilized in an earlier survey of palliative care physicians and addressing their attitudes to and beliefs about specific elements of communication and decision making was sent to a sample of palliative care nurses working in the same regions, i.e. the French-speaking parts of Switzerland, Belgium and France. After a second mailing (reminder), 135 of the 163 questionnaires (83%) were returned. There was general agreement between nurses and physicians on questions dealing with perceptions of patients' knowledge of their diagnosis and stage of disease, patients' need for information, "do not resuscitate" orders and ethical principles in decision-making processes. Statistically significant, but small, differences between professional groups were only observed for a minority of the questions. Interprofessional differences in specific elements of communication with terminal cancer patients and decision-making processes affecting these patients were not so marked that they could be called "conflicting interprofessional views."

Exploring the use of mobile communications in a retirement home in Toronto: Preliminary results

This paper describes preliminary results of a qualitative case study on mobile communication conducted in an elders¿ retirement home in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) in May 2012. This is part of an international research project on the relationship between mobile communications and older people.Secondary data at a Canadian level contextualizes the case study. We focus ondemographic characteristics and on adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) broken by age.Participants in the study (21 individuals) are between 75 and 98 years of age, thereforewe can consider that the gathered evidence refers to the ¿old¿ older. Mobile phoneusers in the sample describe very specific uses of the mobile phone, while non-usersreport not facing external pressures for adopting that technology. The main channel formediated communication is the landline; in consequences mobile phones ¿when used¿ constitute an extra layer of communication. Finally, when members of the personal network of the individuals live abroad they are more prone to use Internet and Skype. We are also able to find ex-users of both mobile telephony and computers/internet who stopped using these technologies because they did not find any use for them.

Exploring the use of mobile communications in a sample of older people: Preliminary results of a case study in Los Angeles

This paper introduces a qualitative case study on mobile communication among the older population (60+ years old) conducted in Great Los Angeles (CA, USA) in autumn 2011. Methodology, fieldwork and preliminary results are discussed.Before, country-level data is presented to better understand the specific characteristics of the studied individuals. The section focus is on demographics and on acceptance and use of information and communication technologies (ICT).Preliminary results show that within the sample under study (20 individuals) there is a high number of mobile phone users (15) while among non-mobile users (5), three of them decide to stop using this technology. A majority of mobile phone adopters describe a very limited use of the device for everyday life communications. Finally,while Internet is really popular within the sample (14 users), just 3 individuals go online through their mobile telephone.

Working alliance in communication skills training for oncology clinicians: A controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of communication skills training (CST) on working alliance and to identify specific communicational elements related to working alliance. METHODS: Pre- and post-training simulated patient interviews (6-month interval) of oncology physicians and nurses (N=56) who benefited from CST were compared to two simulated patient interviews with a 6-month interval of oncology physicians and nurses (N=57) who did not benefit from CST. The patient-clinician interaction was analyzed by means of the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). Alliance was measured by the Working Alliance Inventory - Short Revised Form. RESULTS: While working alliance did not improve with CST, generalized linear mixed effect models demonstrated that the quality of verbal communication was related to alliance. Positive talk and psychosocial counseling fostered alliance whereas negative talk, biomedical information and patient's questions diminished alliance. CONCLUSION: Patient-clinician alliance is related to specific verbal communication behaviors. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Working alliance is a key element of patient-physician communication which deserves further investigation as a new marker and efficacy criterion of CST outcome.

Studies on coordination of systems development process

This thesis examines coordination of systems development process in a contemporary software producing organization. The thesis consists of a series of empirical studies in which the actions, conceptions and artifacts of practitioners are analyzed using a theory-building case study research approach. The three phases of the thesis provide empirical observations on different aspects of systemsdevelopment. In the first phase is examined the role of architecture in coordination and cost estimation in multi-site environment. The second phase involves two studies on the evolving requirement understanding process and how to measure this process. The third phase summarizes the first two phases and concentrates on the role of methods and how practitioners work with them. All the phases provide evidence that current systems development method approaches are too naïve in looking at the complexity of the real world. In practice, development is influenced by opportunity and other contingent factors. The systems development processis not coordinated using phases and tasks defined in methods providing universal mechanism for managing this process like most of the method approaches assume.Instead, the studies suggest that managing systems development process happens through coordinating development activities using methods as tools. These studies contribute to the systems development methods by emphasizing the support of communication and collaboration between systems development participants. Methods should not describe the development activities and phases in a detail level, butshould include the higher level guidance for practitioners on how to act in different systems development environments.

Using Pareto optimality to explore the topology and dynamics of the human connectome.

Graph theory has provided a key mathematical framework to analyse the architecture of human brain networks. This architecture embodies an inherently complex relationship between connection topology, the spatial arrangement of network elements, and the resulting network cost and functional performance. An exploration of these interacting factors and driving forces may reveal salient network features that are critically important for shaping and constraining the brain's topological organization and its evolvability. Several studies have pointed to an economic balance between network cost and network efficiency with networks organized in an 'economical' small-world favouring high communication efficiency at a low wiring cost. In this study, we define and explore a network morphospace in order to characterize different aspects of communication efficiency in human brain networks. Using a multi-objective evolutionary approach that approximates a Pareto-optimal set within the morphospace, we investigate the capacity of anatomical brain networks to evolve towards topologies that exhibit optimal information processing features while preserving network cost. This approach allows us to investigate network topologies that emerge under specific selection pressures, thus providing some insight into the selectional forces that may have shaped the network architecture of existing human brains.

Real-time Quality of Service Controller for Differentiated Services

IP-verkkojen hyvin tunnettu haitta on, että nämä eivät pysty takaamaan tiettyä palvelunlaatua (Quality of Service) lähetetyille paketeille. Seuraavat kaksi tekniikkaa pidetään lupaavimpina palvelunlaadun tarjoamiselle: Differentiated Services (DiffServ) ja palvelunlaatureititys (QoS Routing). DiffServ on varsin uusi IETF:n määrittelemä Internetille tarkoitettu palvelunlaatumekanismi. DiffServ tarjoaa skaalattavaa palvelujen erilaistamista ilman viestintää joka hypyssä ja per-flow –tilan ohjausta. DiffServ on hyvä esimerkki hajautetusta verkkosuunnittelusta. Tämän palvelutasomekanismin tavoite on viestintäjärjestelmien suunnittelun yksinkertaistaminen. Verkkosolmu voidaan rakentaa pienestä hyvin määritellystä rakennuspalikoiden joukosta. Palvelunlaatureititys on reititysmekanismi, jolla liikennereittejä määritellään verkon käytettävissä olevien resurssien pohjalta. Tässä työssä selvitetään uusi palvelunlaatureititystapa, jota kutsutaan yksinkertaiseksi monitiereititykseksi (Simple Multipath Routing). Tämän työn tarkoitus on suunnitella palvelunlaatuohjain DiffServille. Tässä työssä ehdotettu palvelunlaatuohjain on pyrkimys yhdistää DiffServ ja palvelunlaatureititysmekanismeja. Työn kokeellinen osuus keskittyy erityisesti palvelunlaatureititysalgoritmeihin.

Corporate identity and its efficient and effective communication

Yritysidentiteetistä on monta eri näkemystä ja yleisesti hyväksyttyä määritelmää ei ole olemassa. Monia eri näkemyksiä käsitellään tässä tutkielmassa. Vaikka yritysidentiteettiä ei olekaan helppo mitata, on tätä varten kuitenkin kehitetty useampia metodeja. Identiteetin viestintä vaati strategisia päätöksiä ennen kuin viestintää voidaan tehdä. Viestinnän integrointi on avainasemassa identiteetin viestinnässä. Hyvin hoidettu ja kommunikoitu yritysidentiteetti voi johtaa useisiin hyötyihin organisaatiolle. Kuitenkaan nämä hyödyt eivät näy kovin nopeasti, koska yritysidentiteetin viestintä on pitkän tähtäimen prosessi.

The polymorhism of crime scene investigation: an exploratory analysis of the influence of crime and forensic intelligence on decisions made by crime scene examiners

A growing body of scientific literature recurrently indicates that crime and forensic intelligence influence how crime scene investigators make decisions in their practices. This study scrutinises further this intelligence-led crime scene examination view. It analyses results obtained from two questionnaires. Data have been collected from nine chiefs of Intelligence Units (IUs) and 73 Crime Scene Examiners (CSEs) working in forensic science units (FSUs) in the French speaking part of Switzerland (six cantonal police agencies). Four salient elements emerged: (1) the actual existence of communication channels between IUs and FSUs across the police agencies under consideration; (2) most CSEs take into account crime intelligence disseminated; (3) a differentiated, but significant use by CSEs in their daily practice of this kind of intelligence; (4) a probable deep influence of this kind of intelligence on the most concerned CSEs, specially in the selection of the type of material/trace to detect, collect, analyse and exploit. These results contribute to decipher the subtle dialectic articulating crime intelligence and crime scene investigation, and to express further the polymorph role of CSEs, beyond their most recognised input to the justice system. Indeed, they appear to be central, but implicit, stakeholders in intelligence-led style of policing.

Communication skills in diagnostic pathology.

Communication is an essential element of good medical practice also in pathology. In contrast to technical or diagnostic skills, communication skills are not easy to define, teach, or assess. Rules almost do not exist. In this paper, which has a rather personal character and cannot be taken as a set of guidelines, important aspects of communication in pathology are explored. This includes what should be communicated to the pathologist on the pathology request form, communication between pathologists during internal (interpathologist) consultation, communication around frozen section diagnoses, modalities of communication of a final diagnosis, with whom and how critical and unexpected findings should be communicated, (in-)adequate routes of communication for pathology diagnoses, who will (or might) receive pathology reports, and what should be communicated and how in case of an error or a technical problem. An earlier more formal description of what the responsibilities are of a pathologist as communicator and as collaborator in a medical team is added in separate tables. The intention of the paper is to stimulate reflection and discussion rather than to formulate strict rules.