Le dîner de Noël à 15 litres de pétrole

Article for general public (2007)

En cette semaine de Noël, et alors que le réchauffement climatique et la concentration en dioxyde de carbone (CO2) occupent une place croissante dans le débat politique et la préoccupation des citoyens ... [more ▼]

En cette semaine de Noël, et alors que le réchauffement climatique et la concentration en dioxyde de carbone (CO2) occupent une place croissante dans le débat politique et la préoccupation des citoyens, nous avons décortiqué les publicités de notre hypermarché le plus proche pour préparer le repas familial tant attendu. [...] [less ▲]

In Anticipation of the Loop : Stein’s Four Saints

Conference (2007, December 21)

René Char et la pensée du poème

Conference given outside the academic context (2007)

Acetylcysteine and Enzymatic Creatinine: Beware of Laboratory Artefact!

in Intensive Care Medicine (2007)

Une langue de référence pour entrer dans la lecture

Scientific conference (2007, December 19)

Vitamine D, métabolisme, dosage et utilité

Conference given outside the academic context (2007)

Newly identified biologically active and proteolysis-resistant VEGF-A isoform VEGF111 is induced by genotoxic agents

in Journal of Cell Biology (2007), 179(6), 1261-1273

Ultraviolet B and genotoxic drugs induce the expression of a vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) splice variant (VEGF111) encoded by exons 1-4 and 8 in many cultured cells. Although not detected ... [more ▼]

Ultraviolet B and genotoxic drugs induce the expression of a vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) splice variant (VEGF111) encoded by exons 1-4 and 8 in many cultured cells. Although not detected in a series of normal human and mouse tissue, VEGF111 expression is induced in MCF-7 xenografts in nude mice upon treatment by camptothecin. The skipping of exons that contain proteolytic cleavage sites and extracellular matrix-binding domains makes VEGF111 diffusible and resistant to proteolysis. Recombinant VEGF111 activates VEGF receptor 2 (VEGF-R2) and extracellularly regulated kinase 1/2 in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells and porcine aortic endothelial cells expressing VEGF-R2. The mitogenic and chemotactic activity and VEGF111's ability to promote vascular network formation during embyonic stem cell differentiation are similar to those of VEGF121 and 165. Tumors in nude mice formed by HEK293 cells expressing VEGF111 develop a more widespread network of numerous small vessels in the peritumoral tissue than those expressing other isoforms. Its potent angiogenic activity and remarkable resistance to proteolysis makes VEGF111 a potential adverse factor during chemotherapy but a beneficial therapeutic tool for ischemic diseases. [less ▲]

Presence of simian virus 40 DNA sequences in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in Tunisia correlates with aberrant promoter hypermethylation of multiple tumor suppressor genes

in International Journal of Cancer = Journal International du Cancer (2007), 121(12), 2693-2702

Recombinant gp350 vaccine for infectious mononucleosis: A phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of an Epstein-Barr virus vaccine in healthy young adults

in Journal of Infectious Diseases (2007), 196(12), 1749-1753

Background. To date, there is no commercially available vaccine to prevent infectious mononucleosis, a disease frequently induced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in adolescents or adults devoid of ... [more ▼]

Background. To date, there is no commercially available vaccine to prevent infectious mononucleosis, a disease frequently induced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in adolescents or adults devoid of preexisting immunity to the virus. Methods. A total of 181 EBV-seronegative, healthy, young adult volunteers were randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive either placebo or a recombinant EBV subunit glycoprotein 350 (gp350)/aluminum hydroxide and 3-O-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A (AS04) candidate vaccine in a 3-dose regimen. Results. The vaccine had demonstrable efficacy (mean efficacy rate, 78.0% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.0% -96.0%]) in preventing the development of infectious mononucleosis induced by EBV infection, but it had no efficacy in preventing asymptomatic EBV infection. One month after receipt of the final dose of gp350 vaccine, 98.7% of subjects showed seroconversion to anti-gp350 antibodies (95% CI, 85.5%-97.9%), and they remained anti-gp350 antibody positive for > 18 months. Furthermore, there were no concerns regarding the safety or reactogenicity of the gp350/AS04 vaccine. Conclusion. These data support the clinical feasibility of using an EBV vaccine to prevent infectious mononucleosis. [less ▲]

Metallo-beta-lactamases (classification, activity, genetic organization, structure, zinc coordination) and their superfamily

in Biochemical Pharmacology (2007), 74(12), 1686-1701

One strategy employed by bacterial strains to resist beta-lactam antibiotics is the expression of metallo-beta-lactamases requiring Zn+2 for activity. In the last few years, many new zinc beta-lactamases ... [more ▼]

One strategy employed by bacterial strains to resist beta-lactam antibiotics is the expression of metallo-beta-lactamases requiring Zn+2 for activity. In the last few years, many new zinc beta-lactamases have been described and several pathogens are now known to synthesize members of this class. Metallo-beta-lactamases are especially worrisome due to: (1) their broad activity profiles that encompass most beta-lactam antibiotics, including the carbapenems; (2) potential for horizontal transference; and (3) the absence of clinically useful inhibitors. on the basis of the known sequences, three different lineages, identified as subclasses B1, B2, and B3 have been characterized. The three-dimensional structure of at least one metallo-p-lactamase of each subclass has been solved. These very similar 3D structures are characterized by the presence of an alpha beta beta alpha-fold. In addition to metallo-beta-lactamases which cleave the amide bond of the beta-lactam ring, the metallo-beta-lactamase superfamily includes enzymes which hydrolyze thiol-ester, phosphodiester and sulfuric ester bonds as well as oxydoreductases. Most of the 6000 members of this superfamily share five conserved motifs, the most characteristic being the His116-X-His118-X-Asp120-His121 signature. They all exhibit an alpha beta beta alpha-fold, similar to that found in the structure of zinc beta-lactamases. Many members of this superfamily are involved in mRNA maturation and DNA reparation. This fact suggests the hypothesis that metallo-beta-lactamases may be the result of divergent evolution starting from an ancestral protein which did not have a beta-lactamase activity. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. [less ▲]