La biographie dans l’étude des groupes littéraires. Les conduites de vie zutique et surréaliste.

in COnTEXTES : Revue de Sociologie de la Littérature (2008), 3

Biographie, trajectoire et réseaux en histoire littéraire

Conference (2006, January 26)

Biohydrogen Production by the Citrobacter and Clostridium Genera : a Metabolic and Biomolecular Perspective

Doctoral thesis (2012)

The research activities described in this Thesis were carried out in the Walloon Centre of Industrial Biology at the University of Liege. Laboratory experiments were performed with Citrobacter freundii ... [more ▼]

The research activities described in this Thesis were carried out in the Walloon Centre of Industrial Biology at the University of Liege. Laboratory experiments were performed with Citrobacter freundii CWBI952, a facultative anaerobe of the Enterobacteriaceae family, and Clostridium butyricum CWBI1009, a strict anaerobe of the Clostridium genus, to produce hydrogen by dark fermentation of glucose in flasks and in bench-scale bioreactors maintained at 30°C. The aim of the research activities was not only to optimise the key determinants of H2 production, namely pH, nitrogen and iron concentrations, and the dilution rate, but also to gain a better understanding of the relatively unknown hydrogen production metabolism. This was done by monitoring the H2 production activity and tracking the net carbon and electron equivalent balances. The results for C. freundii CWBI952 (Chapter II) indicated that maximum hydrogen production activity, formate biosynthesis and glucose uptake rates were obtained at pH 5.9. Optimal overall performance (33.2 mLH2/L.h and 0.83 molH2/molglucose) was obtained in a semicontinuous culture with a dilution rate of 0.012 h-1. The best performance for C. butyricum CWBI1009 (Chapter V), i.e. 1.44 LH2/h and a yield of 2.02 molH2/molglucose, was associated with butyrate fermentation and obtained in a 20 L batch bioreactor at the optimal pH value of 5.2. For both of these strains we demonstrated that it should be possible to radically reduce nitrogen feedstock costs by replacing casein peptone with (NH4)2SO4, an ammoniacal substance closely related to the mineral nitrogen content of livestock manure. Additionally for C. butyricum CWBI1009 (Chapter III) we showed that a certain range of nitrogen content (0.56-0.062 gN/L) favours H2 production activity. This was confirmed by an analysis of the gene expression pattern, which suggested that the HydB2 gene was responsible for the H2 yield increase observed at 0.062 gN/L. Our investigations provided a better understanding of the highly diversified H2-production metabolism of C. butyricum CWBI1009 by mapping the distribution pattern for its carbon and electron fluxes (Chapters IV and V). This was done using three complementary approaches to study the metabolome (HPLC RID-UV), transcriptome (RT-qPCR and RNAseq) and the proteome (2D-DIGE). Tests under various different pH conditions showed that the role played by the different hydrogenases and the nitrogenase in H2 production varied substantially depending on the particular environmental conditions. At the end of the Thesis the discussion (Chapter VI) provides a general overview of the results obtained for the optimisation of the dark fermentation process parameters and an analysis of how these investigations have advanced our understanding of the metabolic processes involved. Potential industrial applications are reviewed and suggestions for further research are made. [less ▲]

Bioimpact of EGFR antagonists on the pilosebaceous follicles.

in European Journal of Dermatology (2012), 22(1), 54-7

Cancer patients under targeted chemotherapy to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) frequently suffer from unusual skin adverse events. In the past, these changes were globally qualified as a rash ... [more ▼]

Cancer patients under targeted chemotherapy to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) frequently suffer from unusual skin adverse events. In the past, these changes were globally qualified as a rash. Our aim was to assess objectively by non invasive bioinstrumentation some early structural and functional skin changes associated with EGFR inhibitor treatment. A series of 27 cancer patients aged 58-66 years were assessed using two ultraviolet light emitting CCD cameras, Visioscan((R)) and Visiopor((R)). Assessments were performed on the foreheads at inclusion and therefore at weekly intervals for 2 months at most. No topical treatment was applied during the assessment period. The Visioscan((R)) camera revealed specular light reflectance at the site of follicular plugging. The interfollicular stratum corneum showed occasional focal hyperkeratosis. These features increased in severity with the EGFR inhibitor treatment, indicating follicular involvement as an early adverse event of the therapy. The follicular fluorescence revealed by the Visiopor((R)) camera remained unchanged over the treatment period. The present findings suggest an EGFR inhibitor-induced kerosis (follicular hyperkeratosis) possibly responsible for acneiform reactions. [less ▲]

Bioindicator of Genotoxicity: the Allium cepa test

in Srivastava, J.K. (Ed.) Environmental Contamination (2012)

Bioinformatics and molecular approaches to detect NRPS genes involved in the biosynthesis of kurstakin from Bacillus thuringiensis

in Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology (2011), 92

Bioinspired degradable polymeric materials designed for tissue engineering and drug delivery purposes

Conference (2012, January 26)

Biolixiviation de la carrolite-Application aux minerais polymétalliques de l'Arc Cuprifère du Katanga (cas de minerais de la mine de Kamoya, Kambove) en RDC

Doctoral thesis (2012)

The present work focuses on the bioleaching of carrolite as pure mineral and application of bioleaching as an alternative technique for processing the polymetallic sulphide ores in Katanga copperbelt ... [more ▼]

The present work focuses on the bioleaching of carrolite as pure mineral and application of bioleaching as an alternative technique for processing the polymetallic sulphide ores in Katanga copperbelt (case of Kamoya deposit ores) in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A preliminary study on the bioleaching of carrolite in the presence of mesophilic bacteria has highlighted the effect of the initial pH (pH = 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5), particle size (-53μm, -75+53 µm, -106+75µm), the pulp density (dp= 2.5 and 10) on the pH, the solution redox and on the dissolution performance of copper, nickel and cobalt. The results obtained at this stage showed that the initial pH, particle size and pulp density greatly influences the process of bioleaching of carrolite. The evolution of pH, solution redox and the efficiency of metals dissolution with time considering these factors indicate the importance of bacterial growth. Good bacterial activity thereby yields high metal dissolution which is being obtained at initial pH 2.0, particle size of -53μm and 2% pulp density. A second study upon the bioleaching of carrolite has allowed highlighting the metal dissolution mechanism during the bioleaching process. The evolution of the bacterial population, observations of Optical Microscope (MO), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) of carrolite grains during bioleaching and spectroscopical analysis in X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) of bioleaching residues allowed us to demonstrate the role and importance of bacteria attached on the surface of carrolite grains from one hand, and ferric ions on the other hand, during the carrolite bioleaching. Strong adhesion of bacteria to the surface of the carrolite grains was observed during early bioleach stages and playing an important role in the process. This phenomenon would cause the release of ferrous ions in solution by a direct contact mechanism on the one hand and causing oxidation of ferrous ions, elemental sulfur or sulfur compounds on the other hand, compounds which would accumulate at the surface of carrolite grains. The number of free bacteria in solution increases thus promoting the oxidation of ferrous to ferric ions, which oxidize the mineral through indirect mechanism. The number of free bacteria in solution and that of attached bacteria became constant over time, suggesting a cooperative mechanism of carrolite bioleaching. Finally, a statistical study of bioleaching of polymetallic concentrate from Kamoya deposit by Taguchi methodology and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the effect of different physicochemical parameters (initial pH, temperature, agitation, pulp density and duration of bioleaching) on the process efficiency. The results obtained from this statistical approach showed the possibility of bioleaching application as an alternative technique for treatment of the polymetallic sulphide ores of the Katanga copperbelt in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) but further investigation using thermophilic bacteria should be considered to improve metal dissolution. [less ▲]

Biological activity and immunological reactivity of human prolactin mutants

in Endocrinology (1995), 136(11), 4990-5

We examined the biological activity and immunological reactivity of four mutants of human PRL. Two were mutants that changed the ability of human PRL to inhibit rat PRL storage when transfected into a rat ... [more ▼]

We examined the biological activity and immunological reactivity of four mutants of human PRL. Two were mutants that changed the ability of human PRL to inhibit rat PRL storage when transfected into a rat pituitary cell line:mutations S34A and N31T. Two mutations were in regions of PRL that are highly conserved. One, des(3-11)-PRL, removed the N-terminal cystine loop that most PRLs, except those from certain fish, have, and no GHs have. The other, S90A, mutated a serine that is present in all PRLs but those from some fish and in all GHs. The immunological properties of des(3-11)-PRL were reduced 10-fold compared to those of wildtype human PRL in a RIA using NIH antihuman PRL-3, AFP C11580; the others were similar to those of wild-type PRL. The biological activity of des(3-11)-PRL was the most affected; activity was reduced about 8-fold compared to that of wild-type PRL in the Nb2 cell assay. The activities of the others were similar to that of the wild type. Serine 90 may be partially buried by loops connecting the alpha-helixes. The mutation of serine 90 did not affect the stability of the molecule in vitro, determined by comparing the red shift in tryptophan fluorescence that occurs with increasing concentrations of urea in S90A and wild-type PRL. The activity of S34A and N31T mutations indicates there is no correlation between biological activity and ability to affect storage. The N-terminal cystine loop may be conserved because it is needed for biological activity, but the conservation of serine 90 in GH and PRL must be determined by other properties, such as spacial requirements. [less ▲]

Biological and Biochemical Comparison of Bovid Herpesvirus-4 Strains

in Veterinary Microbiology (1988), 16(4), 339-49

Bovid herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) isolates V.Test and LVR140, isolated from genital disease, respectively, in bull and in cow, and the reference strains Movar 33/63 and DN599 were compared by several methods ... [more ▼]

Bovid herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) isolates V.Test and LVR140, isolated from genital disease, respectively, in bull and in cow, and the reference strains Movar 33/63 and DN599 were compared by several methods: cross-serological relationship studied by indirect immunofluorescence; kinetics of intracellular and extracellular viral production; comparison of the mean plaque size; restriction analysis of viral DNA with restriction enzymes EcoRI, BamHI and HindIII. BHV-4 strains were serologically identical and the kinetics of viral production were very similar. Comparison of the mean plaque size allowed classification into 3 classes (Class I, Movar33/63; Class II, LVR140; Class III, V.Test and DN599) and restriction analysis of viral DNA revealed clear differences between the electrophoretic patterns of the four BHV-4 strains. The differentiation between BHV-4 strains can therefore be achieved by a biological method (mean plaque size) and by restriction analysis. The two genital isolates are easily differentiated by the two methods. [less ▲]