Due to their phylogenetic position, Psychidae play an important role in the investigation of the W chromosome origin in Lepidoptera. Several species of Psychidae were tested for the presence of sex-chromatin and investigated via comparative genomic hybridization. Furthermore, odd chromosome numbers and a Z univalent were observed in females. Overall, this study brings tangible evidence for the absence of the W chromosome in Psychidae, thus contributes to complex knowledge of the W chromosome evolution. In addition, karyotypes of the given species were analyzed using 18S rDNA and histone H3 probes. The results indicate relative stability of their karyotypes.

Os camarões do gênero Atya Leach, 1816 são os maiores camarões da família Atyidae, sendo que as 13 espécies reconhecidas estão distribuídas em rios e riachos das regiões tropicais e subtropicais da América (vertentes atlântica e pacífica) e oeste da África. O primeiro relato de uma Atya ocorreu no séc. XVII e, desde então, novas espécies foram descritas e descrições prévias revisadas, produzindo um histórico de instabilidade e reclassificações. Embora ao longo do séc. XX revisões taxonômicas tenham estabilizado a sistemática do gênero, a variabilidade morfológica e distribuição geográfica trans-ístmica da espécie A. innocous gerou questionamentos. Além disso, mais recentemente trabalhos de filogenia molecular da família Atyidae que incluíram representantes de Atya suscitaram questões em relação à sistemática do gênero (possível não monofilia) e de algumas espécies como A. gabonensis, A. margaritacea e A. scabra. Visto que o uso de marcadores moleculares nunca foi empregado para a delimitação das espécies de Atya e que seu uso de forma complementar à morfologia poderia aperfeiçoar a sistemática do gênero, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar por meio de dados moleculares as hipóteses taxonômicas das espécies A. gabonensis, A. innocous, A. margaritacea e A. scabra. Sequências dos genes mitocondriais 16S e Citocromo Oxidase I e gene nuclear Histona 3 foram geradas por meio de protocolos de extração e sequenciamento de DNA a partir do tecido de espécimes obtidos em empréstimos/doações. Potenciais espécies evidenciadas pelas análises de similaridade nucleotídicas (distâncias genéticas), compartilhamento de caracteres em um contexto evolutivo (reconstruções filogenéticas), Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, Poisson Tree Processes e Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescence foram confrontadas com as hipóteses taxonômicas específicas atuais. A avaliação sistemática com dados moleculares aqui realizada, adicionalmente às informações morfológicas existentes na literatura sustentaram A. gabonensis como uma espécie de distribuição anfi-atlântica, mas não corroborou a hipótese de A. innocous como uma espécie trans-ístmica. Assim, o uso do nome A. innocous para as populações do Mar do Caribe e A. tenella para aquelas restritas ao Pacífico é sugerido. A espécie A. margaritacea, distribuída ao longo da costa pacífica da América foi considerada uma espécie válida e distinta de A. scabra, amplamente distribuída na vertente atlântica da América do Sul, África e Mar do Caribe. Contudo, é discutida a possibilidade de uma espécie críptica restrita no Golfo do México existir. Adicionalmente, o conhecimento existente e pertinente para futuros estudos de sistemática e taxonomia sobre os camarões do gênero Atya foram sumarizados e são apresentados. / The genus Atya Leach, 1816 shrimps are the largest of the Atyidae family, and the 13 acknowledge species are geographically distributed in rivers and stream in the tropical and subtropical regions of America (Atlantic and Pacific drainages) and West Africa. The first registry of an Atya was in the XVII century and since then new species were described and previous description revised in an eventful taxonomic historic. Although throughout the XX century taxonomic revisions stabilized the genus systematics, the morphological variability and the trans-isthmic geographic distribution of A. innocous caused questioning. Moreover, molecular phylogenetic studies that included Atya representatives raised doubt on the genus systematics (possibly non-monophyletism) and some species A. gabonensis A. margaritacea and A. scabra hypothesis. As molecular markers have never been used concerning Atya species delimitation complementary to the morphology and it could improve the genus systematics, the goal of this study was to evaluate with molecular markers the taxonomic hypothesis of the species A. gabonensis, A. innocous, A. margaritacea e A. scabra. Sequences of the mitochondrial genes 16S and Cytochrome Oxidase I and nuclear gene Histone 3 were generated by means of DNA extraction and sequence protocols from specimens obtained in loans/donations. Putative species evidenced by the analysis of nucleotide similarity (genetic distances), character sharing (phylogenetic reconstitutions), Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery, Poisson Tree Processes and Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescence were compared to the prevailing taxonomic hypothesis. The systematic evaluation with the molecular data of this study, in addition with the morphological information in the literature sustain A. gabonensis as an amphi-atlantic distributed species, but do not corroborated A. innocous hypothesis as an trans-isthmian species. In this sense, the use of A. innocous stricto sensu for the Caribbeans Sea populations and A. tenella to that restricted to the pacific drainage of America is suggested. Atya margaritacea, distributed along the pacific drainage of America, is considered a valid species distinct from A. scabra, widespread distributed in the Atlantic drainage of America and Africa, besides Caribbean Sea. However, the possibility of a cryptic species in the Gulf of Mexico population is discussed. Aditionally, the relevant knowledge to future systematic and taxonomy studies about the shrimps of the genus Atya were summarized and are shown.

De nombreuses bacteries pathogènes sont capables d'affecter les programmes transcriptionnels de la cellule hôte pendant l'infection. Cependant, les mécanismes contrôlant ce processus restent largement méconnus. En investigant les effets de la Listerai monocytogenes sur les modifications des histones de l'hôte, nous avons mis en évidence un nouveau mecanisme de régulation de transcription nécessaire pour la répression de certains gènes, pendant l'infection. Lors de l'infection par L. monocytogenes, le facteur de virulence sécrété, InlB, se lie au récepteur c-Met et active la signalisation par les intermédiaires PI3K et Akt. cette plateforme de signalisation est nécessaire pour la relocalisation de la deacetylase d'histone, SIRT2, au noyau et l'association à la chromatine.En caractérisant me mécanisme gouvernant la relocalisation nucléaire de SIRT2 lors de l'infection, nous avons démontrés que SIRT2 subit une modification post-traductionnelle. SIRT2 est déphosphorylée à un nouveau site de phosphorylation localisé à la partie terminale de la protéine. SIRT2 est recrutée au site de démarrage de la transcription des gènes réprimés lors de l'infection menant à la deacetylation de H3K18 et la répression transcriptionnelle. Nous avons mis en évidence que SIRT2 est détournée par L. monocytogenes et provoque une croissance des bactéries intracellulaires. Ces résultats démontrent un clef de SIRT2 en provoquant la deacetylation de H3K18 mors de l'infection et dévoilent un nouveau mécanisme imposée par les bactéries pathogènes dans le but de reprogrammer la cellule hôte. / Bacterial pathogens dramatically affect host cell transcription programs for their own profit, however the underlying mechanism in most cases remain elusive. While investigating the effects of listeria monocytogenes on histone modifications, we discovered a new transcription regulatory machanism by which the expression of genes is repressed, during infection. Upon infection by L. monocytogenes, the secret virulence factor, InlB, binds the c-Met receptor and activates signaling through PI3K/Akt. This signaling platform is necessary for causing the relocalization of the histone deacetylase, SIRT2, to the nucleus and associating to chromatin.In characterizing the mechanism governing SIRT2 nuclear relocazing during infection, our results have demonstrated that SIRT2 undergoes a post-translational modification. SIRT2 undergoes dephosphorylation at a novel N-terminal phospho-site. SIRT2 is recruiter to the transcription star sites of genes repressed during inection leading to H3K18 deacetylation and transcriptional repression.finnaly, my results demonstrate that SIRT2 is hijacked by L monocytogenes and promotes an increase in intracellular bacteria. Together, these data uncover a key role for SIRT2 mediated H3K18 deacetylation during infection and characterize a novel mechanisme imposed by a pathogenic bacteriomto reprogram the host cell.

Nous étudions une nouvelles familles d'inhibiteurs de kinase: les benzopyridoindole. Ces molécules ont des effets antiprolifératifs sur des lignées cancéreuses et représentent les têtes de série de possibles agents anti-cancéreux. We study on a new family of kinase inhibitors: benzopyridoindole. These molecules have antiproliferative effects on cancer cell lines and represent the lead of potential anti-cancer products.

The phagocytic cells circulating in the bloodstream play a key role in both the defense of the body and the pathology of inflammatory diseases. Thus, targeting their functions has potential to modulate an immune response, especially during the inflammatory phase. This master's thesis was focused on the influence of electric pulses on the most abundant phagocyte population in human peripheral blood, namely neutrophils. The theoretical part describes the role of neutrophils in the development of the immune response and the effects of the electric field on various cells. Consequent part of the thesis was the optimization of the electrical stimulation of neutrophils using a unique platform with a network of gold electrodes. In stimulated cells by electrical pulses, activation of selected signaling pathways, degranulation, ROS production, citrullination of histone H3 and expression of surface markers were monitored. Overall, electrical stimulation was observed to induce neutrophil activation but only electrical pulses of size 1 V were found to be statistically significant in the case of ROS production and 10 mV and 100 mV electrical pulses in the case of metalloproteinase MMP8 degranulation. The absence of significant effects in the most observed parameters was probably due to unwanted activation of neutrophils in control samples.

Le rhabdomyosarcome (RMS) est le cancer des tissus mous le plus courant chez l'enfant, et moins de 30 % des patients à haut risque obtiennent une rémission. Par conséquent, il existe un besoin pour une immunothérapie nouvelle et efficace. Les cellules tueuses naturelles (NK), avec leur capacité intrinsèque à tuer les cellules cancéreuses, représentent un outil thérapeutique prometteur. Cependant, leur efficacité clinique est limitée. Ainsi, nous proposons de concevoir ces cellules avec un récepteur antigénique chimérique (CAR) qui permettra aux cellules NK de cibler plus efficacement les cellules de RMS. De plus, nous proposons aussi de concevoir grâce à la technologie CRISPR-Cas9, des NK n’exprimant pas NKG2A, un récepteur impliqué dans l'inhibition des cellules NK par le microenvironnement tumoral. Nous avons développé un vecteur lentiviral codant pour une construction CAR reconnaissant B7-H3 et FGFR4, deux protéines surexprimées à la surface des cellules RMS, associées à une queue intracellulaire optimisée pour l'activation des NK. Les cellules NK primaires expandues ont été transduites et triées en fonction de l'expression du CAR, conduisant à une population de cellules CAR+- NK enrichie. L'efficacité des deux CAR a été évaluée par des tests cytotoxiques et de dégranulation contre les lignées cellulaires de RMS, RH-30 et RD, toutes deux exprimant B7-H3 et FGFR4. Les résultats préliminaires ont montré une augmentation de la cytotoxicité de 20 % par rapport aux NK de type sauvage pour les CAR anti-B7-H3. Les cellules NK ont également été transduites pour éliminer l’expression du gène KLRC1, codant pour NKG2A, en utilisant CRISPR Cas9. Ceci a permis d’augmenter la cytotoxicité des NK de 20% à 25% comparativement aux NK qui expriment NKG2A. Nous avons aussi combiné les deux modifications génétiques, obtenant ainsi des NK qui expriment un CAR contre les cellules du RMS et n’exprimant pas NKG2A. Des résultats préliminaires nous ont permis d’observer que les NK doublement modifiées étaient 60% plus cytotoxiques que les NK non-transduites et 20% plus efficaces que les CAR-NK ou les NK n’exprimant pas NKG2A. Ce projet sera une preuve de principe qu'une thérapie hautement innovante basée sur l'ingénierie des cellules NK est efficace et applicable au cancer solide. / Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue cancer in childhood, and less than 30% of high-risk patients achieve remission. Therefore, there is a need for new and efficient immunotherapy. Natural killer (NK) cells, with their intrinsic ability to kill cancer cells, represent a promising therapeutic tool. However, their clinical efficacy is limited. Thus, we propose to engineer these cells with a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) that will allow NK cells to target RMS cells more efficiently and though the knock-out of NKG2A, a receptor involved in the inhibition of NK cells by the tumor microenvironment. We developed a lentiviral vector coding for a CAR construct recognizing B7-H3 and FGFR4, two proteins overexpressed at the surface of RMS cells, combined to an intracellular tail optimized for NK activation. Expanded primary NK cells were transduced and sorted based on CAR expression, leading to an enriched CAR+ -NK cells population. Efficacy of both CARs was evaluated by cytotoxic and degranulation assays against RH-30 and RD RMS cell lines, both expressing B7-H3 and FGFR4. Preliminary results showed an increase in cytotoxicity of 20% compared to wild type NK for CAR anti-B7-H3. NK cells were also knocked-out for the gene coding for NKG2A, using CRISPR Cas9, thereby increasing cytotoxicity by 20% to 25%. The combination of both genetic modifications should significantly increase the efficacy of NK-cell based therapy in RMS. Indeed, preliminary results allowed us to observe that doubly modified NKs were more than 60% more cytotoxic than non-transduced NKs and 20% more effective than CAR-NKs or NKs not expressing NKG2A. This project will be a proof of principle that a highly innovative therapy based on NK-cell engineering is efficient and applicable to solid cancer.

This paper responds to the development policy debate involving the World Bank and the IMF on the use of fiscal policy not only for economic stabilization but also to promote economic growth and increase per capita income. A key issue in this debate relates to the effect of the composition of public expenditure on economic growth. Policy makers and some researchers have argued that expenditure on growth-enhancing functions could enhance future revenue and justify the provision of "fiscal space" in the budget. But there are no simple ways to identify the growth-maximizing composition of public expenditure. The current paper lays out a research strategy to explore the effects of fiscal policy, including the composition of public expenditure, on economic growth, using a time series approach. Based on the modeling strategy of Greiner, Semmler and Gong (2005) we develop a general model that features a government that undertakes public expenditure on (a) education and health facilities which enhance human capital, (b) public infrastructure such as roads and bridges necessary for market activity, (c) public administration to support government functions, (d) transfers and public consumption facilities, and (e) debt service. The proposed model is numerically solved, calibrated and the impact of the composition of public expenditure on the long-run per capita income explored for low-, lower-middle- and uppermiddle-income countries. Policy implications and practical policy rules are spelled out, the extension to an estimable model indicated, a debt sustainability test proposed, and the out-of-steady-state dynamics studied.

The N-terminal tails of histone proteins protrude from the nucleosome core and are extensively post-translationally modified. These modifications are proposed to affect many DNA-based processes such as transcription, DNA replication and repair. Post-translational modifications on histone tails do not act independently but are subject to crosstalk. One example of crosstalk is on histone H3 between lysine 14 (H3K14) and trimethylated lysine 4 (H3K4me3), a modification found at the 5’ end of most active or poised genes. In this work, Western blots and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments show that different amino acid substitutions at histone H3 position 14 cause varying degrees of H3K4me3 loss, indicating that H3K14 is not essential for H3K4me3 but acts as a modulator of H3K4me3 levels. A neighbouring residue, H3P16 is also important for H3K4me3 and may operate in concert with H3K14 to control H3K4me3. These crosstalk pathways have gene-specific effects and the levels of H3K4me3 are influenced to different extents on genes that fall into functionally distinct classes. A model is proposed to explain how H3K14/H3P16 may exert these varying effects on H3K4me3 at individual genes. In addition to its ability to regulate H3K4me3, H3K14 also influences the levels of two modifications on H3K18, acetylation and monomethylation. A ChIP-sequencing experiment has shown that H3K18me1, a previously uncharacterised modification in S. cerevisiae, is widely distributed throughout the genome and correlates strongly with histone H3 levels. The potential for a functional acetyl/methyl switch at H3K18 is explored. Together, these data indicate that, with gene-specific effects, crosstalk between histone modifications may be even more complex than originally thought.

Climate policy has been mainly studied with economic models that assume representative, rational agents. However, it aims at changing behavior associated with carbon-intensive goods that are often subject to bounded rationality and social preferences, such as status and imitation. Here we use a macroeconomic multi-agent model with such features to test the effect of various policies on both environmental and economic performance. The model is particularly suitable to address distributional impacts of climate policies, not only because populations of many agents are included, but also as these are composed of different classes of households driven by specific motivations. We simulate various policy scenarios, combining in different ways a carbon tax, a reduction of labor taxes, subsidies for green innovation, a price subsidy to consumers for less carbon-intensive products, and green government procurement. The results show pronounced differences with those obtained by rational-agent model studies. It turns out that demand-oriented subsidies lead to lower unemployment and higher output, but perform less well in terms of carbon emissions. The supply-oriented subsidy for green innovation results in a significant reduction of carbon emissions with a slight reduction of unemployment. / Series: WWWforEurope

Accelerated Adaptation through Stimulated Copy Number Variation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ryan Matthew Hull Repetitive regions of the genome, such as the centromeres, telomeres and ribosomal DNA account for a large proportion of the genetic variation between individuals. Differences in the number of repeat sequences between individuals is termed copy number variation (CNV) and is rife across eukaryotic genomes. CNV is of clinical importance as it has been implicated in many human disorders, in particularly cancers where is has been associated with tumour growth and drug resistance. The copper-resistance gene CUP1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one such CNV gene. CUP1 is transcribed from a copper inducible promoter and encodes a protein involved in copper detoxification. In this work I show that yeast can regulate their repeat levels of the CUP1 gene through a transcriptionally stimulated CNV mechanism, as a direct adaptation response to a hostile environment. I characterise the requirement of the epigenetic mark Histone H3 Lysine 56 acetylation (H3K56ac) for stimulated CNV and its limitation of only working at actively transcribed genes. Based upon my findings, I propose a model for how stimulated CNV is regulated in yeast and show how we can pharmacologically manipulate this mechanism using drugs, like nicotinamide and rapamycin, to stimulate and repress a cell's ability to adapt to its environment. I further show that the model is not limited to high-copy CUP1 repeat arrays, but is also applicable to low-copy systems. Finally, I show that the model extends to other genetic loci in response to different challenging environments, such as formaldehyde stimulation of the formaldehyde-resistance gene SFA1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of any eukaryotic cell undergoing genome optimisation as a novel means to accelerate its adaptation in direct response to its environment. If conserved in higher eukaryotes, such a mechanism could have major implications in how we consider and treat disorders associated with changes in CNV.