Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) refer to a broad spectrum of molecules from different chemical families that have numerous properties. They can be used as pesticides, plasticizers, flame retardants, surfactants, lubricants, etc. Consequently, they are introduced in numerous applications in buildings or used daily by the entire population. Once emitted through evaporation or abrasion in the indoor environment or introduced from the outdoors, their chemical or biological degradation is limited, and they persist indoors. This persistence also explains why some SVOCs that were banned a few years ago are still detected in the air and dust inside buildings. In indoor environments, SVOCs are divided between the gas phase, airborne particles, and dust settled on floors and surfaces. SVOCs are of concern due to their established or suspected health effects and their widespread exposure through different environmental media and pathways. The objective of the thesis was to study the concentrations of 66 SVOCs on airborne particles (PM10) and 48 SVOCs in settled dust in two samples of dwellings randomly selected across France. PM10 were sampled during the nationwide housing survey carried out by the French Observatory of indoor air quality in 2003-2005. The dust samples were collected from vacuum cleaner bags during a nationwide survey carried out in French dwellings where at least one child aged 6 months to 6 years lived (2008-2009). The SVOCs to be analyzed had prior been selected using a ranking method based on their toxicity and indoor concentrations. The data analysis focused in particular on the identification of French specificities in terms of detected molecules and measured concentrations. It highlighted some determinants of exposure, e.g., influence of particle size, type of dust collected, dust bioaccessibility, which are not always considered and limit the comparability of results. The measured concentrations were also used to assess the health ranking implemented prior to this work and to confirm its relevance. The concentrations measured both in the air and in settled dust were compared to study the similarities in terms of concentrations and SVOC mixtures. Finally, the exposure doses to SVOCs were calculated for both a child and an adult to assess the respective contributions of inhalation and ingestion to these compounds in particulate phase in dwellings.
Les composés organiques semi-volatils (COSV) font l’objet d’une attention croissante depuis une dizaine d’années. Utilisés dans de nombreux produits et matériaux du quotidien, ils sont émis dans les bâtiments par dispersion lors de l’usage, par évaporation ou abrasion. Du fait de leurs caractéristiques physico-chimiques, ces composés se répartissent à la fois dans l’air, en phases gazeuse et particulaire, et dans les poussières déposées au sol, sur le mobilier et les objets. Compte tenu du temps passé par la population dans les bâtiments, en particulier par les populations sensibles comme les enfants, les femmes enceintes et les personnes âgées, l’exposition à ces substances mérite d’être documentée, tenant compte des voies d’exposition en jeu : inhalation, ingestion et contact cutané. La thèse a porté sur les COSV présents en phase particulaire dans les logements. L’objectif de la thèse visait à exploiter les mesures de 66 COSV dans les particules en suspension de diamètre inférieur à 10 µm (PM10) et de 48 COSV dans les poussières au sol de taille inférieure à 100 µm considérées comme étant celles adhérant à la peau. Ces mesures ont été réalisées dans le cadre de deux campagnes nationales : la campagne « Logements » de l’Observatoire de la qualité de l’air intérieur conduite en 2003-2005 et l’enquête Plomb-Habitat dont les prélèvements ont eu lieu en 2008-2009. Une hiérarchisation des molécules jugées prioritaires au regard de leur impact sanitaire potentiel avait permis au préalable d’établir la liste des COSV à mesurer. L’exploitation de ces données de contamination a notamment porté sur l’identification d’éventuelles spécificités françaises au regard des molécules en présence et/ou des concentrations mesurées. Elle a permis de mettre en lumière un ensemble de facteurs déterminants de l’exposition (influence de la taille des particules, du type de poussières collectées, de leur bioaccessibilité), qui ne sont pas toujours considérés et qui limitent par ailleurs la comparabilité des résultats. Les concentrations mesurées ont aussi permis d’évaluer rétrospectivement la hiérarchisation sanitaire et d’en confirmer la pertinence. Les concentrations des COSV quantifiés à la fois dans l’air et au sol ont été mises en perspective afin d’examiner dans quelle mesure les particules en suspension et les poussières déposées sont similaires en termes de concentrations et de mélanges de COSV en présence. Enfin, l‘estimation des doses d’exposition aux COSV à partir d’équations simples, de variables humaines d’exposition et des données de contamination a permis une première évaluation des contributions respectives de l’inhalation et de l’ingestion aux expositions domestiques des enfants et adultes à ces composés en phase particulaire.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01308524

NNT : 2015REN1B033
tel-01308524
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01308524
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01308524/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01308524/file/MANDINCorinne.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Among infertile couples, approximately half have to face with male infertility. In men with non-obstructive azoospermia, surgical retrieval testicular sperm extraction (TESE) of spermatozoa can be attempted, but with low success rates. A specific biomarker that could predict residual spermatogenesis would obviously be of interest before performing TESE. Thus, our aim was to identify biomarkers of residual spermatogenesis in seminal plasma of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) using an isotope-coded protein label (ICPL)-based proteomic strategy coupled with conventional protein assay. This retrospective study was conducted in 40 men with NOA at the University Hospital of Nantes and Proteomics Core facility Biogenouest - Inserm U1085 - IRSET, Rennes, France. Comparative ICPL proteomic screening of frozen seminal plasma and correlation with TESE outcome allowed the identification of some differentially expressed proteins. Among them, lectin galactoside-binding, soluble 3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) expression was further confirmed using conventional protein assay, and its interest as a predictor of TESE outcome was then evaluated and compared with conventional clinical and hormonal markers of residual spermatogenesis. Among the 12 differentially expressed proteins identified with comparative ICPL proteomic strategy, seminal LGALS3BP expression was found to be significantly higher in men with successful TESE. Finally, comparative ICPL proteomic screening of seminal plasma appears to be a promising approach for the identification of biomarkers of residual spermatogenesis. LGALS3BP, associated with clinical and hormonal markers, could potentially be used as a predictive marker of successful TESE outcome in patients with NOA.
Andrology

inserm-00818514
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00818514
DOI : 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2012.00059.x
PUBMED : 23427166

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
Ants figure prominently among the worst invasive species because of their enormous ecological and economic impacts. However, it remains to be investigated which species would be behaviourally dominant when confronted with another invasive ant species, should two species be introduced in the same area. In the future, many regions might have suitable environmental conditions for several invasive ant species, as predicted under climate change scenarios. Here, we explored interactions among several highly invasive ant species, which have been shown to have overlapping suitable areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance in interference competition of seven of the world's worst invasive ant species (Anoplolepis gracilipes, Paratrechina longicornis, Myrmica rubra, Linepithema humile, Lasius neglectus, Wasmannia auropunctata and Pheidole megacephala). We conducted pairwise confrontations, testing the behaviour of each species against each of the six other species (in total 21 dyadic confrontations). We used single worker confrontations and group interactions of 10 versus 10 individuals to establish a dominance hierarchy among these invasive ant species. We discovered two different behavioural strategies among these invasive ants: three species displayed evasive or indifferent behaviour when individuals or groups were confronted (A. gracilipes, Pa. longicornis, M. rubra), while the four remaining species were highly aggressive during encounters and formed a linear dominance hierarchy. These findings contrast with the widespread view that invasive ants form a homogeneous group of species displaying the `invasive syndrome', which includes generally aggressive behaviour. The dominance hierarchy among the four aggressive species may be used to predict the outcome of future competitive interactions under some circumstances. Yet, the existence of several behavioural strategies renders such a prediction less straightforward.
ISSN: 1387-3547

hal-01444816
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01444816
DOI : 10.1007/s10530-015-0892-5

Éditeur(s) : Université des Antilles Études caribéennes
Résumé : El Caribe colombiano ha experimentado un acelerado proceso de urbanización y desarrollo turístico en los últimos 50 años. Solo en una ciudad como Cartagena de Indias (la ciudad turística por excelencia de Colombia), datos referidos al periodo noviembre 2009 – enero 2015, mostraron un incremento en la llegada de turistas cercano al 20%. Después de un gran número de encuestas realizadas alrededor del mundo, se encontró que los parámetros en que se basan los turistas a la hora de preferir una playa son: i) la seguridad, ii) el paisaje, iii) calidad del agua, iv) basuras, v) instalaciones. El paisaje es uno de los recursos costeros y por lo tanto su evaluación es una herramienta importante para los gestores y planificadores del litoral a la hora de la realización de planes de conservación, protección, desarrollo y manejo. Este trabajo se basa en la evaluación del valor paisajístico de las playas que constituyen la base de la economía de muchas ciudades costeras en el mundo y en especial de la zona central de litoral Caribe colombiano. Un problema importante en la evaluación del paisaje es la incapacidad de algunas metodologías de reflejar correctamente las percepciones de la gente, debido al alto peso que tienen algunos aspectos subjetivos (p. ej. altura de una geoforma).En este trabajo se presenta la evaluación del paisaje realizada para la zona central de Caribe colombiano (37 playas de los departamentos de Sucre, Bolívar y Atlántico) utilizando la lógica matemática y matrices ponderadas (fuzzy logic mathematics - parameter weighting matrices) las cuales permiten disminuir la subjetividad y cuantificar con exactitud la incertidumbre. Para la evaluación se utilizó una lista de chequeo que está conformada por 26 parámetros, 18 físicos (acantilados, playas, plataformas rocosas, dunas, características de los valles, forma del relieve, mareas, paisaje costero, color del agua y restos de vegetación), y 8 antropogénicos (ruido, basura, descarga de aguas residuales, grado de modificación y de construcción del medio, tipos de acceso, línea del horizonte y estructuras antrópicas). Los parámetros fueron calificados en una escala de 1 a 5 (presencia/ausencia o poca/alta calidad) y, con el fin de cuantificar la incertidumbre y excesos derivados de la subjetividad que pudo haber tenido la evaluación de los parámetros, se utilizó la lógica difusa (fuzzy logic). A la par, un sistema de matrices, se empleó para asignar valores de peso de acuerdo a las preferencias y prioridades de los usuarios. Como resultado de estos análisis lógico-estadísticos se obtuvo un valor (D) el cual resume la evaluación del paisaje en 5 clases que van desde la CLASE 1 (zona litoral sumamente atractiva) hasta la CLASE 5 (playas urbanas muy poco atractivas). De los 37 sectores estudiados, ninguno puede ser considerado como una zona litoral sumamente atractiva, mientras que 15 corresponden a zonas litorales urbanas poco atractivas, el resto de las playas (22) se ubicó entre las clases 2, 3 y 4. Los resultados obtenidos son útiles para los gestores costeros en la medida que, aunque no es posible mejorar los aspectos naturales de la clasificación, si es posible mejorar muchos de los parámetros antropogenicos y, de esta forma, hacer que una playa mejore su clasificación y sea paisajísticamente más atractiva.
In the past few years, the Colombian Caribbean coast has experienced rapid tourism development which has not been accompanied with a similar increase in urbanization facilities. For example, the city of Cartagena de Indias (the most famous tourist destination of Colombia), data related to November 2009 – January 2015 period, showed an increase of 20% in tourist arrivals. A large number of surveys developed in Europe found that the most critical parameters for tourists, when they choose a beach, are: i) security, ii) scenery, iii) water quality, iv) litter, v) facilities. Scenery is one of the most significant coastal resources. Therefore, its evaluation is a valuable tool for coastal managers when developing conservation and protection plans. This proposal provides coastal scenery assessment of 37 beaches along the North Colombian Caribbean littoral by analysing 26 physical and human factors. Results were weighted (not all parameters have equal weight) and subjected to fuzzy logic mathematics in order to reduce recorder judgment subjectivity. The sites were categorised into five classes; Class 1 locations had top grade scenery; Class 5 poor scenery. Of the 37 sectors studied, currently none can be considered as an extremely attractive coastal area (class1), while 15 were unattractive urban coastal areas (class 5), the rest of the beaches (22) placed in classes 2, 3 and 4. Classification of analysed sites depends on the geological setting and degree of human occupation. The technique opens new perspectives for analysis of the potential for coastal tourism development in natural areas and scenic quality improvement of current tourist developed areas. Concerning coastal management issues, emphasis should be given to the upgrading of human parameters eliminating litter and sewage evidence, vegetation debris and enhancing beach nourishment works. This proposal can help in moving some locations from their present status to a higher one.
Caraïbes
Colombie

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
urn:doi:10.4000/etudescaribeennes.9326
http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/9326

Éditeur(s) : Pêche thonière et dispositifs de concentration de poissons, Caribbean-Martinique, 15-19 Oct 1999
Résumé : The volcanic island of Mayotte (374 km super(2)) is part of the Comoros Archipelago, which is situated on the North of Mozambic's Canal (Indian Ocean). Mayotte is composed of two islands and some thirty small islands distributed in a lagoon of more than 1,000 km super(2). Being one of the French Republic's Territorial Collectivity, this island is characterized by a very fast demographic evolution (growth rate : 5.8 %), which constitutes the foundation of the development problematic. Most of local halieutic production comes from the reef (nearly 2,000 t in 1999), the technic of "palangrotte" (deep line) is still dominating. The fishing fleet is composed of monoxyl pirogues and polyester fishing boats for the 1,200 fishermen. The first FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices) were installed in 1989. Now, 5 FADs are situated in the lagoon whereas 10 others have been installed out of it. If it is very hard to evaluate economic impact of FAD in Mayotte, their success seems to be limited because of several local constraints : fear to fish out of the lagoon, little interest in tuna, lack of formation. Nevertheless, faced to the demographic evolution and the decrease of the reef ressources, a program of fishing development on FAD has been initiated in 1998, with those following themes : realization of a new prototype of FAD, experimental fishing program with vertical drift "long line", teaching programs for the local fishermen. Today, it is too early to analyze the informations already collected, but the results are very promising, and validate the technical improvement of the new prototype.Original Abstract: L'ile volcanique de Mayotte (374 km super(2)) fait partie de l'archipel des Comores situe au Nord du canal du Mozambique (ocean Indien). Mayotte comprend deux iles et une trentaine d'ilots repartis dans un lagon de plus de 1 000 km super(2). Collectivite territoriale de la Republique francaise, l'ile se caracterise par une evolution demographique tres rapide (taux de croissance: 5,8 %), qui constitue le socle de toutes les problematiques de developpement. L'essentiel de la production halieutique provient du milieu recifal (environ 2 000 t en 1999), la peche a la ligne de fond reste la technique dominante. La flottille de peche est constituee de pirogues monoxyles et de barques polyester pour une population de 1 200 pecheurs. Les premiers DCP mahorais furent installes en 1989. A ce jour, on denombre cinq DCP dans le lagon et dix hors lagon. Il semble que leur succes soit reste limite en raison de plusieurs contraintes locales : peur de la peche hors lagon, peu d'interet pour les poissons pelagiques, manque de formation. Neanmoins, face a l'explosion demographique et a l'appauvrissement des ressources lagonaires, un nouveau programme de developpement de la peche sur DCP a ete initie en 1998. Ce programme comporte trois axes : realisation d'un nouveau prototype de DCP, lancement d'un programme de peches experimentales a la palangre verticale derivante et formation des pecheurs. A ce jour, les informations obtenues sont trop parcellaires pour etre analysees mais les donnees et observations realisees sur les nouveaux dispositifs permettent de valider leur conception technique.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00042/15290/12647.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00042/15290/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Communication n°514 -Atelier 4 : Université
International audience
Jacques Rancière affirme dans Le maître ignorant qu'un maître explicateur est plus nuisible que nécessaire pour comprendre les oeuvres littéraires. Ce que tout être humain produit ou crée, en littérature comme dans les arts, tout autre être humain peut le comprendre. Comment dès lors concevoir l'enseignement de la littérature ? Élèves et étudiants manquent souvent d'autonomie et d'initiatives personnelles. Ne voyant dans la littérature qu'un objet d'études et d'évaluation, ils ne songent guère à ce que les auteurs ont à leur dire, et, face à leurs difficultés de compréhension, ils attendent parfois trop passivement l'aide de l'enseignant sans songer qu'ils pourraient développer, de façon autonome, des stratégies de lecture. À partir des propositions de Rancière, il est possible de déplacer l'explication du côté de la coopération en restaurant la méthode de l'égalité. L'égalité dont parle Rancière implique la parité entre enseignants et enseignés. En conséquence, elle doit être visible dans les dispositifs d'enseignements. C'est donc en amont du cours que nous situerons la coopération dans les enseignements littéraires. In Le maître ignorant, Jacques Rancière says that explaining and commenting on texts to students is rather harmful than helpful. Every opus created by a human being can be understood by another human being. So, how can we conceive literature teaching ? One can notice that many students are not enough autonomous, and they haven't ownership over their own learning. Some of them only see literature as an object of study or as a way to succeed their exams. They don't think about what the author has to tell them. When they don't understand a text, many of them wait passively the teacher's explanation. Starting from Rancière's proposals and equality method, it is possible to think differently our way to teach literature, and to
Coopérer
Paris, France

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
hal-01240279
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01240279
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01240279/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01240279/file/Val%C3%A9rie%20P%C3%A9rez%20Com%20514%20atelier%20universit%C3%A9.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected disease with a high incidence in French Guiana, mainly in the middle and upper Oyapock basin, where Amerindian and some Brazilian people live. The main goals of this work were (i) to assess the knowledge about leishmaniasis in the different populations of the middle and upper Oyapock basin, (ii) to study the therapeutic strategies adopted by people affected by leishmaniasis and (iii) to document the use of phytotherapeutic remedies for leishmaniasis. Knowledge, attitudes and practices (K.A.P.) related to this disease and its treatments have been studied according to cultural group and geographical settlement. Within the Wayãpi group, the evolution of the knowledge of phytoremedies over the last 20 years has been characterised by literature-based comparisons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 144 questionnaires were administered in all the villages of the upper Oyapock and Camopi basins. Correspondence analyses were used for multivariate analysis. Plant species were identified at the Cayenne Herbarium (CAY). RESULTS: The biomedical concept of leishmaniasis correlates well with the Teko and Wayãpi concepts of kalasapa and kalasapau. Although the vector of this disease was not correctly identified, the most commonly cited aetiology (74.5%) was vector-borne, and related epidemiological schemes correlate well with the one encountered in French Guiana. Theoretically and practically, health centres were the most commonly used resource for diagnostic in instances of leishmaniasis infection (65.9%), independently of the patient's cultural group, along with the use of pharmaceutical drugs (85.3%). Pharmaceuticals were commonly utilised despite the frequent (51.5%) use of phytotherapeutic remedies, alone or in combination with drugs. The most cited medicinal plant species for the treatment of leishmaniasis included Eleutherine bulbosa (Mill.) Urb. (Iridaceae, cited 14 times), Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae, 9), Cecropia obtusa Trecul (Cecropiaceae, 8), Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae, 7), Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Bombacaceae, 6) and Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae, 6). Multiple correspondence analyses demonstrated that the species used in leishmaniasis remedies are more prone to vary by the user's place of residence than by their cultural origin, which indicates that exchange of knowledge about leishmaniasis remedies has occurred across different cultural groups. Literature-based comparisons between the remedies for leishmaniasis used by the Wayãpi during the 1980s showed a striking evolution, both in terms of diversity of species and number of plants used. The large number of species shared with other Guianese groups argues for intercultural exchange and may explain the majority (57.1%) of the newly used species highlighted in our study. CONCLUSIONS: Leishmaniasis is a well-known disease in the studied area. Phytotherapeutic treatments are still in use, although they are not the main source of remedies, and should undergo pharmacological studies to evaluate their potential therapeutic value.
ISSN: 0378-8741

pasteur-00634597
https://hal-riip.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-00634597
DOI : 10.1016/j.jep.2011.07.044
PUBMED : 21816216

Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : In developing countries, recourse to extensive aquaculture systems based on the exploitation of natural aquatic food webs is currently the subject of considerable interest. In this connection, the construction of artificial reefs (known as Acadja) for the development on substrates of living communities, and the utilization of this new production to enhance fish growth have been evaluated in Cote d'Ivoire. This paper describes the granulometric, chemical and biological transformation of the sedimentary ecosystem as a consequence of this practice. In the artificial habitat, an increase in the sedimentation rate of the mineral fraction (definitive trapping of particle resuspension generated by the waves and induced by the wind) and of the organic fraction (direct and indirect sedimentation of the epiphytic biomass) constitutes the starting point of significant modifications in epibenthic communities. In the Acadja, the meiofauna, dominated by nematodes and copepods, is somewhat less diversified, some groups being absent or poorly represented (turbellarians, gastrotrichs, ostracods). These characteristics were confirmed by a specific study of the nematode assemblages. In fact, the relatively high diversity of the nematode community in the natural lagoon sediment (dominated seasonally by Paraphanolaimus, Anonchus et Daptonema) contrasts with low diversity in the Acadja sediment, where the community is always dominated by Theristus sp. This lower specific diversity generates a reduction of the trophic types. In the Acadja, only the non-selective detritus feeders colonize the fine and organic sediment. These sedimentological and ecological transformations, which affect the entire ''brush park'' (Acadja), induce a strong eutrophication of the benthic ecosystem. Sustainable fish production in such tropical lagoons, in an environment where anaerobic processes dominate (especially sulfate-reduction), calls for strategic spatio-temporal planning to take of account of this progressive eutrophication.
Oceanologica Acta (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1995 , Vol. 18 , N. 5 , P. 543-555

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00097/20796/18421.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00097/20796/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : Seasonal variations in environmental conditions influence the functioning of the whole ecosystem of tropical rain forests, but as yet little is known about how such variations directly influence the leaf gas exchange and transpiration of individual canopy tree species. We examined the influence of seasonal variations in relative extractable water in the upper soil layers on predawn leaf water potential, saturated net photosynthesis, leaf dark respiration, stomatal conductance, and tree transpiration of 13 tropical rain forest canopy trees (eight species) over 2yr in French Guiana. The canopies were accessed by climbing ropes attached to the trees and to a tower. Our results indicate that a small proportion of the studied trees were unaffected by soil water depletion during seasonal dry periods, probably thanks to efficient deep root systems. The trees showing decreased tree water status (i.e., predawn leaf water potential) displayed a wide range of leaf gas exchange responses. Some trees strongly regulated photosynthesis and transpiration when relative extractable water decreased drastically. In contrast, other trees showed little variation, thus indicating good adaptation to soil drought conditions. These results have important applications to modeling approaches: indeed, precise evaluation and grouping of these response patterns are required before any tree-based functional models can efficiently describe the response of tropical rain forest ecosystems to future changes in environmental conditions.
ISSN: 0006-3606

hal-01032411
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032411
DOI : 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2012.00902.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy F
Résumé : JEL classification: C40, C60, L60, R12
We propose new methods for evaluating the spatial distribution of firms. To assess whether firms are concentrated or dispersed, economists have tradi-tionally used indices that analyse the heterogeneity of a spatial structure at a single geographic level. We introduce distance-based methods, Besag's L function (derived from Ripley's K function) and Diggle and Chetwynd's D function to describe simultaneously spatial distribution at different geographical scales. Our empirical applications consider the distribution of French manufacturing firms in the Paris area and in France generally. For some geographic levels, results show significant concentration or dispersion of firms according to their sector of activity.
ISSN: 1468-2702

halshs-00372646
https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-00372646

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Background Acute splenic sequestration is one of the major clinical forms of sickle cell disease. This potentially life-threatening complication is defined by a rapid sequestration of sickle red blood cells in the spleen. Approximately 30% of young patients will develop this complication and 49% of them will have recurrences. Methods The decision tree method is a statistical method that can act as a medical decision tool in the case of a complex biological problem. The decision tree method is used here to determine the variables involved in the severity and recurrence of acute splenic sequestration crises. Results A prior decision tree shows that platelet level, variation in spleen size, patient age and hygrometry also called relative humidity define acute splenic sequestration severity. A second one shows that spleen size variation, atmospheric pressure and patient age define recurrence. Conclusions For the first time, biological and environmental parameters are combined to discover some interesting rules which can lead to more accurate evaluations of acute splenic sequestration severity and recurrence. Thus, this method provides a sharp diagnostic tool which could improve medical treatment for better patient care.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00201460

hal-00201460
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00201460
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00201460v2/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00201460/file/DT_Marianne_v2.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD MDPI
Résumé : International audience
Intestinal absorption and brain permeation constitute key parameters of toxicokinetics for pesticides, conditioning their toxicity, including neurotoxicity. However, they remain poorly characterized in humans. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate human intestine and brain permeation for a large set of pesticides (n = 338) belonging to various chemical classes, using an in silico graphical BOILED-Egg/SwissADME online method based on lipophilicity and polarity that was initially developed for drugs. A high percentage of the pesticides (81.4%) was predicted to exhibit high intestinal absorption, with a high accuracy (96%), whereas a lower, but substantial, percentage (38.5%) displayed brain permeation. Among the pesticide classes, organochlorines (n = 30) constitute the class with the lowest percentage of intestine-permeant members (40%), whereas that of the organophosphorus compounds (n = 99) has the lowest percentage of brain-permeant chemicals (9%). The predictions of the permeations for the pesticides were additionally shown to be significantly associated with various molecular descriptors well-known to discriminate between permeant and non-permeant drugs. Overall, our in silico data suggest that human exposure to pesticides through the oral way is likely to result in an intake of these dietary contaminants for most of them and brain permeation for some of them, thus supporting the idea that they have toxic effects on human health, including neurotoxic effects.
ISSN: 1660-4601

hal-01560242
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01560242
PUBMED : 28665355
DOI : 10.3390/ijerph14070708

Éditeur(s) : Springer
Résumé : Series of sensitivity tests were performed with a z-coordinate, global eddy-permitting (1/4 degrees) ocean/sea-ice model (the ORCA-R025 model configuration developed for the DRAKKAR project) to carefully evaluate the impact of recent state-of-the-art numerical schemes on model solutions. The combination of an energy-enstrophy conserving (EEN) scheme for momentum advection with a partial step (PS) representation of the bottom topography yields significant improvements in the mean circulation. Well known biases in the representation of western boundary currents, such as in the Atlantic the detachment of the Gulf Stream, the path of the North Atlantic Current, the location of the Confluence, and the strength of the Zapiola Eddy in the south Atlantic, are partly corrected. Similar improvements are found in the Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans, and characteristics of the mean flow are generally much closer to observations. Comparisons with other state-of-the-art models show that the ORCA-R025 configuration generally performs better at similar resolution. In addition, the model solution is often comparable to solutions obtained at 1/6 or 1/10 degrees resolution in some aspects concerning mean flow patterns and distribution of eddy kinetic energy. Although the reasons for these improvements are not analyzed in detail in this paper, evidence is shown that the combination of EEN with PS reduces numerical noise near the bottom, which is likely to affect current-topography interactions in a systematic way. We conclude that significant corrections of the mean biases presently seen in general circulation model solutions at eddy-permitting resolution can still be expected from the development of numerical methods, which represent an alternative to increasing resolution.
Ocean Dynamics (1616-7341) (Springer), 2006-12 , Vol. 56 , N. 5-6 , P. 543-567

Droits : © Springer 2006. Part of Springer Science+Business Media
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/publication-3514.pdf
DOI:10.1007/s10236-006-0082-1
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/3514/

Résumé : La nécessité d'une approche intégrée des pêches est actuellement largement affirmée, notamment par la FAO, en particulier dans le contexte des pêcheries artisanales tropicales. Ces pêcheries à petites échelles, souvent multi-spécifiques sont très importantes en termes d'emploi et de production, y compris pour la sécurité alimentaire. Néanmoins ces pêcheries et la biodiversité exploitées sont souvent marquées, d'une part, par le manque de données rendant difficile leur gestion dans le cadre d'une approche écosystémique, d'autre part, par la complexité des systèmes écologiques et économiques sous-jacents incluant interactions trophiques et techniques.Cette thèse contribue à la mise au point d'outils bioéconomiques adaptés aux petites pêcheries tropicales dans la perspective d'une gestion durable des pêches fondée sur l'approche écosystémique. Dans cette perspective, la pêcherie côtière en Guyane Française constitue un cas d'étude particulièrement fécond. La thèse propose ainsi des évaluations multi-critères, des modèles bioéconomiques complexes et des scénarios de gestion viable pour cette pêcherie.Dans un premier temps l'analyse statistique multi-variée suggère un statut global satisfaisant de la pêcherie en termes de durabilité. Cependant des différences de performance sont notées au sein de la pêcherie, notamment au niveau des zones frontalières. Aussi des améliorations dans le mode de gestion sont proposées. Ensuite, à travers la modélisation bioéconomique, les projections des différents scénarios de pêche montrent qu'à long terme le niveau d'exploitation actuel peut ne pas être en adéquation avec la future augmentation de la demande locale et qu'une perte de biodiversité peut avoir lieu. Un scénario dit de « co-viabilité » conciliant des objectifs à la fois écologique, économique et social, avec une probabilité de réalisation satisfaisante, est mis en exergue. Enfin, la comparaison des comportements optimaux en situation coopératif et non coopératif, montre dans quelle mesure la viabilité est favorisée quand les acteurs coopèrent. Au-delà du diagnostic apporté pour le cas d'étude, la méthode utilisée s'avère prometteuse dans le contexte des petites pêcheries tropicales, tandis que l'approche de « co-viabilité » permet de trouver les modalités d'exploitation dans le cadre de compromis entre durabilité écologique et socio-économique, ce que les principes de gestion halieutiques traditionnels ne permettent généralement pas.
The need for an integrated approach to fisheries is now widely affirmed, including the FAO, in particular in the context of tropical artisanal fisheries. These small-scale fisheries, often multispecies are very important in terms of production, employment and food security. However these fisheries and the exploited resources are often characterized by a lack of data making difficult their management within an ecosystem approach, and by the ecological and economic system complexities including trophic and technological interactions.This thesis aims to contribute to the development of bioeconomic tools for small tropical fisheries in a sustainable management perspective based on the ecosystem approach. In this perspective, the French Guiana coastal fishery constitutes an interesting case study. The thesis proposes multi-criteria evaluations, complex bioeconomic models and viable management scenarios for this fishery. At first, multivariate statistical analysis suggests a satisfactory overall status of the fishery in terms of sustainability. However, some performance differences are noted within the fishery, particularly at border areas. Also, management improvements are proposed. Then, through bioeconomic modeling, projections of different fishing scenarios show that, in the long term, the current exploitation level may not be consistent with the future increase of local demand and a loss of biodiversity may occur. A scenario called "co-viability" reconciling ecological, economic and social objectives, with a high probability of achievement is exhibited. Finally, the comparison of optimal behavior in cooperative and non-cooperative conditions, confirms that harvest levels are greater when actors do not cooperate. Furthermore, it is shown that the state of the ecosystem depends on the fishing strategies and the type of interaction between species. Beyond the diagnosis made for the case study, the method is promising in the context of small tropical fisheries, while the co-viability approach allows finding the exploitation conditions under which ecological and socio-economic sustainability are meet, what the conventional fisheries management generally do not allow.

http://www.theses.fr/2013AGUY0620/document

Résumé : Ce travail est l'expression d'une volonté de chercheurs, de la Carabe d'améliorer les connaissances scientifiques méso- et micro-météorologiques appliquées aux milieux insulaires sous influence des alizés et de développer la recherche dans ces domaines.On sait que le phénomène météorologique le plus remarquable impactant les îles de la Caraïbe reste le cyclone tropical. Mais d'autres phénomènes, a des échelles inferieures, telles que les pluies intenses, les houles, la dégradation de la qualité de l'air ont une importance aigüe en termes de risques naturels ou de risques sur la sante. Ces exemples attestent la nécessité d'utiliser des méthodes de descente d'échelle pour exploiter l'information météorologique et/ou climatique de grande échelle et dériver des scenarios locaux et régionaux appliques aux territoires insulaires. Ce défi est important car l'attente d'analyses scientifiques pertinentes dans ces domaines est grande.Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire ont pour principaux objectifs la simulation numérique puis l'analyse des mécanismes méso- et micro-échelles qui induisent des circulations locales diurnes et nocturnes sur l'archipel de la Guadeloupe à l'aide de codes numériques météorologiques éprouves car largement utilises en recherche et en prévision opérationnelle.Ils constituent donc la première étude de modélisation numérique à haute résolution en basse atmosphère, par descente d'échelle dynamique, pour des intervalles d'espace compris entre 1 km et 111 m sur cet archipel.Le modelé atmosphérique Weather Research and Forecasting ARW V3.4 (WRF ARW), non-hydrostatique, a été utilise pour l'ensemble des simulations pour modéliser la troposphère depuis l'échelle globale à l'échelle de la turbulence.Trois situations météorologiques classiques réelles d'une durée de 48 heures, correspondant à 80 % des situations météorologiques observées dans la zone, alizes soutenus (AS), alizes moyens (AM), alizes faibles (AF) ont été examinées. Ces situations sont caractérisées par les valeurs du nombre de Froude local suivantes : 0,82 (AS), 0,41 (AM) et 0,21 (AF). Six domaines de modélisation ont été sélectionnés pour effectuer les descentes d'échelle dynamiques : D01 (maille de 27 km), D02 (maille de 9 km), D03 (maille de 3 km), D04 (maille de 1 km), D05 (maille de 333 m) et D06 (maille de 111 m) avec soixante-dix niveaux verticaux. Les quatre premiers domaines (D01 à D04) couvrent l'archipel de la Guadeloupe et sont utilisés en mode méso-échelle à l'aide d'un schéma d'ensemble de couche limite planétaire YSU. Les domaines D05 (couvrant l'île de la Basse-Terre et le centre de l'archipel) et D06 (couvrant la zone littorale et rurale du Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin et la zone urbaine de l'agglomération pointoise) sont utilisés en mode Large Eddy Simulation avec une fermeture de la turbulence 1,5 TKE 3D. Le modèle WRF a été forcé toutes les six heures par l'assimilation des champs d'analyses globales du modèle NCEP FNL (1° de résolution). Les simulations effectuées ont permis d'obtenir des champs de variables météorologiques 10-minutes à très hautes résolutions spatiales.Les résultats des simulations méso- et micro-échelles ont été confrontés aux valeurs expérimentales obtenues à l'aide de capteurs places sur des mâts météorologiques (campagne Atmo-Mangrov et réseau de mesure Météo-France). Il s'agissait d'optimiser l'utilisation des couplages de codes numériques tout en conservant la possibilité de les confronter aux observations expérimentales.Les résultats des simulations numériques micro-échelles, des différents cas (AS, AM, AF) sont utilisées pour forcer (c'est-à-dire définir les conditions limites) un modèle lagrangien de dispersion de particules : FLEXPART. Le système couple FLEXPART-WRF a été employé dans le domaine D06 pour étudier la dispersion du panache d'oxydes d'azote émis par la principale usine de production d'électricité de l'île.
The present work expresses the will of Caribbean researchers to improve the meso- and micro-meteorological scientific knowledge of the trade winds influenced island areas, and to develop research in these domains.It is well known that tropical hurricanes remain the most remarkable meteorological phenomena that affect the Caribbean islands. But some other phenomena, of smaller scale, such as intense rainfall events, swells, or air quality degradation, are of extreme importance for natural or health hazards. These examples show the need to use downscaling methods to exploit large scale meteorological or climatic information, and to obtain local and regional scenarios for the island areas. This is an important challenge, as sound scientific studies in these matters are eagerly expected. The aim of the research works exposed in the present dissertation is numerical simulation and analysis of the meso- and microscale mechanisms that induce diurnal and nocturnal local circulations in the Guadeloupe archipelago, using numerical meteorological models that are widely used in research and in operational forecasting.These works represent the first high-resolution (1 km to 111 m) numerical study of the lower atmosphere over the Guadeloupe archipelago. The Weather Research and Forecasting ARW 3.4 (WRF-ARW) model is used to simulate the troposphere from global scale to turbulence scale. Real cases of three typical weather types (80% of cases during a year) are examined during 48 hours : strong trade winds (STW), medium trade winds (MTW) and weak trade winds (WTW). These weather types are characterized by values of the local Froude number : 0.82 (STW), 0.41 (MTW) and 0.21 (WTW). Six domains have been selected for the dynamical downscaling : D01 (grid spacing of 27 km), D02 (grid spacing of 9 km), D03 (grid spacing of 3 km), D04 (grid spacing of 1 km), D05 (grid spacing of 333 m) and D06 (grid spacing of 111 m), including 70 vertical levels. The first four domains (D01 to D04) cover the Guadeloupe archipelago and are used in the meso-scale simulations with the planetary boundary layer scheme YSU (ensemble mean). Domain D05 (covering the Basse-Terre island and the middle of the archipelago) and domain D06 (covering the coastal and rural area of Le Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin and the urban area of Pointe-à-Pitre), are employed in the micro-scale simulation (LES) with the 3D TKE 1.5 order closure scheme. WRF has been 6 hourly reinitialized with the NCEP FNL global analyses (resolution of 1°). These simulations permitted to obtain 10-minutes meteorological variable fields with a very high resolution (111 m).Meso-scale and micro-scale model results have been evaluated with observational data from meteorological stations (field campaign Atmo-Mangrov, French Met Office).Once validated, the micro-scale model outputs have been used for the assimilation of the lagrangian particle dispersion model : FLEXPART. The coupling FLEXPART-WRF has been employed in domain D06, in order to analyze the dispersion of the nitrogen oxide plume emitted by the main power plant of the archipelago.

http://www.theses.fr/2014AGUY0735/document

Résumé : L’HTLV-1 est l’agent étiologique de la TSP/HAM et de l’ATL. La TSP/HAM est une méningomyélite chronique d’évolution lente et progressive. La charge provirale HTLV-1 est corrélée à l’évolutivité de la maladie. La protéine virale Tax module la synthèse et la fonction de multiples protéines de la prolifération et de la survie des lymphocytes T infectés. L’expression virale n’est pas toujours détectable in vivo. Une modulation épigénétique par inhibiteurs d’HDAC a été proposée. Des travaux dans le modèle du BLV et in vitro dans l’infection à HTLV-1 ont conforté ce concept et conduit à un essai thérapeutique évaluant le VPA dans le traitement de la TSP/HAM, qui n’a pas montré d’impact sur la charge provirale. Nous nous sommes intéressés à l’effet du VPA sur les lymphocytes T CD4+ en culture, cibles du virus HTLV-1. L’expression du génome viral, surtout la balance entre les protéines Tax et HBZ a été étudiée avec ou sans VPA. Son expression serait corrélée à la charge provirale et à l’évolution de la TSP/HAM. Nous montrons qu’un tiers des cellules CD4+ infectées expriment Tax. Cette proportion augmente sous VPA. La détection de la protéine p19 est augmentée sous VPA. La stimulation par le VPA de la transcription sens du génome viral a été confirmée par quantification des messagers Tax et Gag alors que l’expression d’HBZ se trouve réprimée sous VPA. Les données cinétiques d’expression spontanée d’HBZ montrent l’existence d’un rétrocontrôle négatif exercé par HBZ sur l’expression de Tax et des gènes structuraux. Influer sur l’expression d’HBZ ouvre une voie nouvelle pour le traitement des maladies associées à HTLV-1.
HTLV-1 is the etiological agent of HAM/TSP and ATL. TSP/HAM is a chronic meningomyelitis with a course being slow and progressive. HTLV-1 proviral load correlates with disease progression. Tax protein modulates the synthesis and function of proteins involved in the regulation of infected T-lymphocytes proliferation and survival. Viral expression is not always detectable in vivo. An epigenetic modulation by the use of HDAC inhibitors has been proposed. A study in the BLV model and an in vitro study in a HTLV-1 infection have lead to a therapeutic assay in order to assess VPA in the treatment of HAM/TSP. This assay did not show any impact on the proviral load. We evaluated the impact of VPA treatment on viral genome expression in cultured lymphocytes, especially the balance between Tax and HBZ. A third of provirus-positive CD4+ T cells spontaneously became Tax-positive. The estimation rose up to two-thirds of Tax-positive infected cells when VPA was added. VPA enhanced Gag p19 protein release. VPA treatment enhanced and prolonged Tax mRNA expression, while it blocked HBZ expression. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis of a feed-back loop coordinating Tax and HBZ expression. Modulation of HBZ expression may impact the net outcome of VPA treatment on HTLV-1-infected cell proliferation and survival.

http://www.theses.fr/2011AGUY0403

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Society for Microbiology
Résumé : International audience
Coronaviruses (CoVs) have shown neuroinvasive properties in human and animal secondary to replication in peripheral organ but the mechanism of neuroinvasion is unknown. The major aim of our work was to evaluate the ability of CoVs to enter the central nervous system (CNS) through the blood brain barrier (BBB). Using the high hepatotropic mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) type 3, its attenuated variant 51.6-MHV3, showing low tropism for endothelial cells, and the low hepatotropic MHV-A59 strains from murine coronavirus group, we investigated the viral-induced dysfunctions of BBB in vivo and in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) in vitro. We report here a MHV strain-specific ability to cross the BBB during acute infection according to their virulence for liver. Brain invasion was only observed in MHV3-infected mice and correlated with enhanced BBB permeability associated with decreased expression of ZO-1, VE-cadherin and occludin but not claudin-5 in the brain or in cultured BMECs. BBB breakdown in MHV3 infection was not related to production of barrier-dysregulating inflammatory cytokines or chemokines by infected BMECs but rather to a downregulation of barrier protective IFN-β production. Our findings highlight the importance of IFN-β production by infected BMECs in preserving BBB function and preventing access of blood-borne infectious viruses to the brain. IMPORTANCE: Coronaviruses (CoVs) infect several mammals including humans and are associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal and/or neurological diseases. Some evidences suggest that human respiratory CoVs may show neuroinvasive properties. Indeed, the SARS-CoV, causing severe acute respiratory syndrome, and the CoVs OC43 and 229E were found in the brains of SARS and multiple sclerosis patients respectively. These finding suggest that hematogenous spread CoVs may gain access to CNS at the BBB level. Herein we report for the first time that CoVs exhibit ability to cross the BBB according to strain virulence. BBB invasion by CoVs correlates with viral-induced disruption of tight junctions on BMECs, leading to BBB dysfunction and enhanced permeability. We provide evidence that production of IFN-β by BMECs during CoV infection may prevent BBB breakdown and brain viral invasion
ISSN: 0022-538X

hal-01187308
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01187308
DOI : 10.1128/JVI.01501-15
PUBMED : 26202229

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
A CO 2 migration field laboratory for testing of monitoring methods has been established in the glaciofluvial-glaciomarine Holocene deposits of the Svelvik ridge, near Oslo. A shallow CO 2 injection experiment was conducted in September 2011 in which approximately 1700 kg of CO 2 was injected at 18 m depth below surface. The objectives of this experiment were to (i) detect and, where possible, quantify migrated CO 2 concentrations, (ii) evaluate the sensitivity of the monitoring tools and (iii) study the impact of the vadose zone on measurements. This paper describes the injection, discusses the joint interpretation of the results and suggests some recommendations for further work.
The 7th Trondheim CCS Conference
Trondheim, Norway

hal-01314396
https://hal-brgm.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01314396
https://hal-brgm.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01314396/document
https://hal-brgm.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01314396/file/1-s2.0-S1876610214008704-main.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.07.008

Résumé : La thèse est consacrée à la recherche des catastrophes marines (tsunamis, ondes de tempête) dans les Antilles françaises, en utilisant des modèles analytiques et numériques de mécanique des fluides. L'accent est mis sur le développement de modèles de mouvement de glissements de terrain et des vagues causées par ces glissements. Le modèle le plus simple du glissement de terrain «solide block» est utilisé pour évaluer les caractéristiques des flux pyroclastiques du volcan Soufrière-Hills (Montserrat). Un modèle plus complexe de modélisation de glissement de terrain (modèle de Savage-Hutter) a été étudié analytiquement, donnant ainsi une nouvelle famille de solutions exactes décrivant le mouvement de l'écoulement par gravité non linéaire dans une vallée ou dans un canyon sous-marin. Le modèle comprend des ondes simples (Riemann waves),le cas d'un barrage qui cède (dam-break problem), des solutions auto-similaires dans la M-fonne et « chapeaux paraboliques ». Grâce à la théorie linéaire de l'eau peu profonde nous avons étudié le processus de génération de tsunamis par des glissements de terrain de volume variable, se déplaçant à une vitesse variable dans un bassin de profondeur variable. Dans le cas d'un fond marin particulier (cas sans "réflexion"), les phénomènes de résonnance ont été étudiés dans un bassin à profondeur variable. Nous avons utilisé des méthodes numériques pour la résolution non-linéaire des équations des eaux peu profondes afin d'analyser des catastrophes marines réelles (les ondes de tempête causées par le cyclone Lili en 2002, le tsunami volcanique de 2003 à Montserrat) et probables (un tsunami prés des côtes de la Martinique). Des données sur les catastrophes
The dissertation is devoted to research in the field of marine natural hazards (tsunamis, storm surges) in the French West Indies, using analytical and numerical models of fluid mechanics. Emphasis is placed on the development of models of landslide motion and generated tsunami waves. The simple "solid block" model is used to evaluate the characteristics of pyroclastic flow Soufriere Hills volcano (Montserrat). The "fluid model" of a landslide (so called Savage-Hutter model) is studied analytically; within this model a new family of exact solutions that describe the motion of nonlinear gravity flow in a valley or underwater canyon is found: nonlinear Riemann wave, dan break problem, self-similar solutions (M - wave and parabolic cap). In the framework of the linear shallow water theory the process of generation of tsunami waves by landslides of variable volume moving with variable velocity above the basin of variable depth is studied. For the specific bottom profile ("reflectionless" one) the resonant phenomena is investigated in the basin of variable depth. Numerical methods are used to analyze marine hazards: historical (storm surges, caused by Cyclone LILI in 2002; volcanic tsunami 2003 on Montserrat) and possible events (possible tsunami of the coast of Martinique). Various data on marine natural disasters are obtained during field surveys (volcanic tsunami in 2003, stonn surges caused by Hurricane Dean in 2007). Designed catalogs of tsunamis and storm surges are created based on results of numerical modeling and field studies; some statistical analysis is perfomed

http://www.theses.fr/2011AGUY0435/document

Résumé : Les venins sont des armes sophistiquées, utilisées par les organismes venimeux pour se défendre des prédateurs, ainsi que pour paralyser et tuer leurs proies. Mais dans la nature, le bien n’est jamais très loin du mal, les toxines venimeuses pouvant se révéler être des agents thérapeutiques efficaces. Les peptides de venins de fourmis ont donc été étudiés dans cette thèse afin de déterminer le potentiel de ces toxines pour la découverte de molécules thérapeutiques innovantes. A l’instar des autres venins d’insectes, les venins de fourmis restent peu étudiés, principalement en raison de la petite taille de ces insectes et des quantités limitées de venins disponibles. Cependant, les fourmis offrent l’avantage d’être des insectes sociaux très abondants dans tous les milieux terrestres. En collectant les venins de plusieurs individus, il est donc possible d’obtenir des quantités suffisantes de venin pour les analyses biochimiques et pharmacologiques.Afin d’assurer la reproductibilité des analyses, une identification taxonomique correcte est nécessaire. Dans cette optique, un outil de chimiotaxonomie a été développé durant cette thèse (permettant ainsi de regrouper les venins provenant de plusieurs colonies afin de compenser les faibles quantités de matériel biologique par individu ou par colonie).Ensuite, nous nous sommes intéressés aux facteurs écologiques impliqués dans la diversification des venins de fourmis. Pour cela, la toxicité et la composition des venins de fourmis ont été analysés en relation avec le polyéthisme, la spécialisation alimentaire et la spécialisation défensive.La diversité écologique des fourmis a amplement contribuée à la diversification des venins. En étudiant les venins de 82 espèces de fourmis, nous avons révélé la grande diversité structurale des toxines. Bien que la majorité des peptidomes sont composés par de petits peptides linéaires, des peptides structurés par des ponts disulfure ont été révélés dans de nombreux venins et constituent de nouvelles familles structurales de toxines.La purification de certains de ces peptides à ponts disulfure a permis leur caractérisation biochimique et l’évaluation de leur rôle biologique. Ainsi nous avons décrit un groupe de peptides neurotoxiques, baptisés les formicitoxines qui sont capables de bloquer les canaux calcium humains de type L. La commutatoxine est, quant à elle, un peptide avec un pont disulfure qui semble activer les récepteurs humains TRPV1 et TRPV3 et laisse supposer une implication dans l’induction de la douleur chez les mammifères.La grande diversité des peptides mise en évidence dans les venins, associée à la grande diversité écologique et taxonomique des fourmis, suggère que les venins de fourmis constituent un nouveau champ d’exploration prometteur pour la recherche de molécules thérapeutiques et insecticides. Les venins de fourmis s’ajoutent à la chimiothèque conséquente déjà représentée par les venins des autres animaux venimeux.
Venoms are sophisticated weapons employed by venomous organisms to ward off predators, as well as to subdue and kill prey. However, in nature, good is never far from bad and venom toxins may prove to be efficient therapeutic agents. Ant venom peptides were investigated in the course of this thesis to evaluate their potential in the discovery of novel drugs. Like other insect venoms, ant venoms remain understudied, mainly due to the small size of individual ants and, so, the limited a mount of venom available. The ecological diversity of ants has largely contributed to venom diversification. By studying the venom peptidomes from 82 ant species, we have revealed the great structural diversity of the toxins. Although the majority of the peptidomes are comprised of small and linear peptides, peptides structured by disulfide bonds were also brought to light in numerous venoms and constitute novel structural classes of toxins. The purification of some of these disulfided peptides permitted their biochemical characterization and the assessment oft heir biological functions. The enormous peptide diversity revealed among venoms combined with the great ecological and taxonomical diversity of ants suggests that ant venoms constitute a promising new source in the search for both novel drugs and insecticides. Ant venom augments the vast bioactive molecules library represented by venoms from other venomous animals.

http://www.theses.fr/2015AGUY0829/document