Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
The search for safe antimalarial compounds acting against asexual symptom-responsible stages and sexual transmission-responsible forms of Plasmodium species is one of the major challenges in malaria elimination programs. So far, among current drugs approved for human use, only primaquine has transmission-blocking activity. The discovery of small molecules targeting different Plasmodium falcip-arum life stages remains a priority in antimalarial drug research. In this context, several independent studies have recently reported antiplasmodial and transmission-blocking activities of commonly used stains, dyes and fluorescent probes against P. falciparum including chloroquine-resistant isolates. Herein we have studied the antimalarial activities of dyes with different scaffold and we report that the triar-ylmethane dye (TRAM) Brilliant green inhibits the growth of asexual stages (IC 50 2 mM) and has exflagellation-blocking activity (IC 50 800 nM) against P. falciparum reference strains (3D7, 7G8) and chloroquine-resistant clinical isolate (Q206). In a second step we have investigated the antiplasmodial activities of two polysulfonated triarylmethane food dyes. Green S (E142) is weakly active against P. falciparum asexual stage (IC 50 x 17 mM) whereas Patent Blue V (E131) is inactive in both antimalarial assays. By applying liquid chromatography techniques for the culture supernatant analysis after cell washings and lysis, we report the detection of Brilliant green in erythrocytes, the selective uptake of Green S (E142) by infected erythrocytes, whereas Patent Blue V (E131) could not be detected within non-infected and 3D7-infected erythrocytes. Overall, our results suggest that two polysulfonated food dyes might display different affinity with transporters or channels on infected RBC membrane.
International journal for parasitology. Drugs and drug resistance

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/
pasteur-01614675
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01614675
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01614675/document
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01614675/file/Leba%20LJ-article%20colorant-version%20publiee.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2017.07.002

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Résumé : International audience
In South America, the presence of the Leishmania RNA virus type 1 (LRV1) was described in Leishmania guyanensis and Leishmania braziliensis strains. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence distribution of LRV1 in Leishmania isolates in French Guiana given that, in this French overseas department, most Leishmania infections are due to these parasite species. The presence of the virus was observed in 74% of Leishmania spp. isolates, with a highest presence in the internal areas of the country.
ISSN: 0002-9637

pasteur-01583614
https://hal-riip.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01583614
https://hal-riip.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01583614/document
https://hal-riip.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01583614/file/2016%20Ginouves%20et%20al.%20ajtmh.pdf
PUBMED : 26598572

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Résumé : International audience
Anti-leishmaniasis drug resistance is a common problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to inventory the general in vitro level of sensitivity of Leishmania isolates circulating in French Guiana and to highlight potential in vitro pentamidine-resistant isolates. This sensitivity study was conducted on 36 patient-promastigote isolates for seven drugs (amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, meglumine antimoniate, miltefosine, paromomycin, and pentamidine) using the Cell Counting Kit-8 viability test. The IC50 values obtained were heterogeneous. One isolate exhibited high IC50 values for almost all drugs tested. Pentamidine, which is the first-line treatment in French Guiana, showed efficacy at very low doses (mean of 0.0038 μg/mL). The concordance of the in vitro pentamidine results with the patients' clinical outcomes was 94% (K = 0.82).
ISSN: 0002-9637

inserm-01481512
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01481512
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01481512/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01481512/file/2017%2C%20Ginouves%20-%20In%20vitro%20sensitivity%20of%20cutaneous%20leishmania.pdf
DOI : 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0373

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
A major requirement for malaria elimination is the development of transmission-blocking interventions. In vitro transmission-blocking bioassays currently mostly rely on the use of very few Plasmodium falciparum reference laboratory strains isolated decades ago. To fill a piece of the gap between laboratory experimental models and natural systems, the purpose of this work was to determine if culture-adapted field isolates of P. falciparum are suitable for in vitro transmission-blocking bioassays targeting functional maturity of male gametocytes: exflagellation. Plasmodium falciparum isolates were adapted to in vitro culture before being used for in vitro gametocyte production. Maturation was assessed by microscopic observation of gametocyte morphology over time of culture and the functional viability of male gametocytes was assessed by microscopic counting of exflagellating gametocytes. Suitability for in vitro exflagellation-blocking bioassays was determined using dihydroartemisinin and methylene blue. In vitro gametocyte production was achieved using two isolates from French Guiana and two isolates from Cambodia. Functional maturity of male gametocytes was assessed by exflagellation observations and all four isolates could be used in exflagellation-blocking bioassays with adequate response to methylene blue and dihydroartemisinin. This work shows that in vitro culture-adapted P. falciparum field isolates of different genetic background, from South America and Southeast Asia, can successfully be used for bioassays targeting the male gametocyte to gamete transition, exflagellation.
ISSN: 1475-2875

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
pasteur-01182753
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01182753
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01182753/document
https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-01182753/file/LeBas%20et%202015%20version%20publie%20%281%29.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/s12936-015-0752-x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We experimentally studied the predatory behavior of Polybia rejecta (Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini) towards 2-88 mm-long insects attracted to a UV light trap. Foragers, which began to hunt at 6:30, selected 4-14 mm-long prey insects. Prey detection by sight by hovering wasps was confirmed using decoys. After the wasps landed and walked along a sinuous path, prey were detected by contact or from a distance (1-3cm). This was followed by seizure, stinging (contrarily to most other known cases), prey manipulation and retrieval. Prey that flew off might be caught in flight. The prey load, representing 30.7% of a forager's weight, was optimized by capturing up to six small prey or two medium-sized prey successively (both of which might be consumed in situ). The foragers cut off the wings of larger prey or cut them into two pieces and returned to gather the second piece. The handling time increased exponentially with the weight of the prey. Partial loading (i.e., retrieving a load much inferior to the maximum possible) was likely related to social facilitation, a form of nest-based recruitment that was demonstrated through the experimental elimination of local enhancement by removing foragers (both mechanisms favor the exploitation of favorable patches).
ISSN: 0376-6357

hal-01533217
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01533217
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01533217/document
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01533217/file/Dejean%20et%20al.%20-%20The%20predatory%20behavior%20of%20the%20Neotropical%20social%20w.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.05.011

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
The nine countries sharing the Amazon forest accounted for 89% of all malaria cases reported in the Americas in 2008. Remote sensing can help identify the environmental determinants of malaria transmission and their temporo-spatial evolution. Seventeen studies characterizing land cover or land use features, and relating them to malaria in the Amazon subregion, were identified. These were reviewed in order to improve the understanding of the land cover/use class roles in malaria transmission. The indicators affecting the transmission risk were summarized in terms of temporal components, landscape fragmentation and anthropic pressure. This review helps to define a framework for future studies aiming to characterize and monitor malaria.
ISSN: 1475-2875

inserm-00834790
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00834790
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00834790/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00834790/file/1475-2875-12-192.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/1475-2875-12-192

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : We examined tree-soil habitat associations in lowland forest communities at Paracou, French Guiana. We analyzed a large dataset assembling six permanent plots totaling 37.5 ha, in which extensive LIDAR-derived topographical data and soil chemical and physical data have been integrated with precise botanical determinations. Map of relative elevation from the nearest stream summarized both soil fertility and hydromorphic characteristics, with seasonally inundated bottomlands having higher soil phosphate content and base saturation, and plateaus having higher soil carbon, nitrogen and aluminum contents. We employed a statistical test of correlations between tree species density and environmental maps, by generating Monte Carlo simulations of random raster images that preserve autocorrelation of the original maps. Nearly three fourths of the 94 taxa with at least one stem per ha showed a significant correlation between tree density and relative elevation, revealing contrasted species-habitat associations in term of abundance, with seasonally inundated bottomlands (24.5% of species) and well-drained plateaus (48.9% of species). We also observed species preferences for environments with or without steep slopes (13.8% and 10.6%, respectively). We observed that closely-related species were frequently associated with different soil habitats in this region (70% of the 14 genera with congeneric species that have a significant association test) suggesting species-habitat associations have arisen multiple times in this tree community. We also tested if species with similar habitat preferences shared functional strategies. We found that seasonally inundated forest specialists tended to have smaller stature (maximum diameter) than species found on plateaus. Our results underline the importance of tree-soil habitat associations in structuring diverse communities at fine spatial scales and suggest that additional studies are needed to disentangle community assembly mechanisms related to dispersal limitation, biotic interactions and environmental filtering from species-habitat associations. Moreover, they provide a framework to generalize across tropical forest sites.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-01260289
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01260289
PRODINRA : 342930
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0141488

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : Sodium, an element which is needed by animals but often toxic in high concentrations to plants, may be deficient and limit animal abundance in inland continental regions, but may be overabundant and limit plant productivity in coastal regions. Here we present data from 50 independent plots (including leaf data from more than 2480 individual trees) showing that leaves in the Amazon basin uptake high amounts of sodium (Na) in a manner more similar to the essential cation potassium (K) than to the toxic cation aluminium (Al). Leaf Na increases linearly with soil Na concentrations, and there is no apparent mechanism for selective exclusion of Na in comparison to K, a key attribute of halophytes. This indicates that the Amazon basin is broadly non-halophytic and increased sodium concentrations in non-halophyte plants often decrease plant productivity. Total Na concentrations are approximate to 10 times higher in coastal regions than inland regions. Such concentration gradients in nutrients may have been reduced in the past because large animals that were abundant in the Pleistocene have been hypothesized to play a large role in reducing nutrient concentration gradients at continental scales. We use a diffusion model and a Na loss rate based on empirical data to estimate that large animals may have moved significant quantities of Na inland away from coastal regions in the Amazon Basin. Therefore, our simple model suggests that large animals may play an important, yet diminishing, role in maintaining the sodium balance of the planet.
ISSN: 0906-7590

hal-01531615
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01531615
PRODINRA : 349612
DOI : 10.1111/ecog.01589

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : The diversity and functional identity of organisms are known to be relevant to the maintenance of ecosystem processes but can be variable in different environments. Particularly, it is uncertain whether ecosystem processes are driven by complementary effects or by dominant groups of species. We investigated how community structure (i.e., the diversity and relative abundance of biological entities) explains the community-level contribution of Neotropical ant communities to different ecosystem processes in different environments. Ants were attracted with food resources representing six ant-mediated ecosystem processes in four environments: ground and vegetation strata in cropland and forest habitats. The exploitation frequencies of the baits were used to calculate the taxonomic and trophic structures of ant communities and their contribution to ecosystem processes considered individually or in combination (i.e., multifunctionality). We then investigated whether community structure variables could predict ecosystem processes and whether such relationships were affected by the environment. We found that forests presented a greater biodiversity and trophic complementarity and lower dominance than croplands, but this did not affect ecosystem processes. In contrast, trophic complementarity was greater on the ground than on vegetation and was followed by greater resource exploitation levels. Although ant participation in ecosystem processes can be predicted by means of trophic-based indices, we found that variations in community structure and performance in ecosystem processes were best explained by environment. We conclude that determining the extent to which the dominance and complementarity of communities affect ecosystem processes in different environments requires a better understanding of resource availability to different species.
ISSN: 0029-8549

hal-01606497
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01606497
DOI : 10.1007/s00442-016-3741-z
PRODINRA : 407457

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : 1. Functional traits provide insight into a variety of ecological questions, yet the optimal sampling method to estimate the community-level distribution of plant functional trait values remains a subject of debate, especially in species-rich forests. 2. We present a simulation analysis of the trait distribution of a set of nine completely sampled permanent plots in the lowland rain forests of French Guiana. 3. Increased sampling intensity consistently improved accuracy in estimating community-weighted means and variances of functional trait values, whereas there was substantial variation among functional traits and minor differences among sampling strategies. 4. Thus, investment in intensified sampling yields a greater improvement in the accuracy of estimation than does an equivalent investment in sampling design complication. 5. Notably, 'taxon-free' strategies frequently had greater accuracy than did abundance-based strategies, which had the additional cost of requiring botanical surveys. 6. We conclude that there is no substitute for extensive field sampling to accurately characterize the distribution of functional trait values in species-rich forests.
ISSN: 0269-8463

hal-01536541
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01536541
PRODINRA : 343202
DOI : 10.1111/1365-2435.12433

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis are neglected tropical diseases that occur in all intertropical regions of the world. Amazonian populations have developed an abundant knowledge of the disease and its remedies. Therefore, we undertook to review traditional antileishmanial plants in Amazonia and have developed new tools to analyze this somewhat dispersed information.Material and methods: A literature review of traditional remedies for cutaneous/mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in the Amazon was conducted and the data obtained was used to calculate distribution indexes designed to highlight the most relevant uses in Amazonia. The cultural distribution index represents the distribution rate of a given taxon among different cultural groups and was calculated as the ratio of the number of groups using the taxon to the total number of groups cited. The geographical distribution index allowed us to quantify spatial distribution of a taxon's uses in Amazonia and was calculated geometrically by measuring the average distance between the points where uses have been reported and the barycenter of those points. The general distribution index was defined as an arithmetic combination of the previous two and provides information on both cultural and spatial criteria.Results: 475 use reports, concerning 291 botanical species belonging to 83 families have been gathered depicted from 29 sources. Uses concern 34 cultural groups. While the use of some taxa appears to be Pan Amazonian, some others are clearly restricted to small geographical regions. Particular attention has been paid to the recipes and beliefs surrounding treatments. Topical application of the remedies dominated the other means of administration and this deserves particular attention as the main treatments against Neotropical leishmaniasis are painful systemic injections. The data set was analyzed using the previously defined distribution indexes and the most relevant taxa were further discussed from a phytochemical and pharmacological point of view.Conclusions: The Amazonian biodiversity and cultural heritage host a fantastic amount of data whose systematic investigation should allow a better large-scale understanding of the dynamics of traditional therapies and the consequent discovery of therapeutic solutions for neglected diseases. Distribution indices are indeed powerful tools for emphasizing the most relevant treatments against a given disease and should be very useful in the meta-analysis of other regional pharmacopeia. This focus on renowned remedies that have not yet benefitted from extended laboratory studies, could stimulate future research on new treatments of natural origin for leishmaniasis.
ISSN: 0378-8741

hal-01603285
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01603285
DOI : 10.1016/j.jep.2017.01.048
PRODINRA : 401890