Cette étude porte sur l'identification et la dispersion des bioaérosols générés sur les plates-formes de compostage et plus précisément lors du retournement des andains en cours de fermentation. L'analyse des bioaérosols émis sur cinq plates-formes par des inventaires moléculaires (ADNr 16S et ADNr 18S) a permis de montrer la dominance de deux phyla bactériens Firmicutes et Actinobacteria et du phylum fongique Ascomycota. En comparant la structure de la population microbienne des cinq bioaérosols, une signature a été identifiée. Dix phylotypes microbiens sont communs à au moins quatre bioaérosols. Deux sont présents dans les cinq bioaérosols : NA07 appartenant à l'espèce Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula et représentant 7% des séquences bactériennes totales et EQ07 affiliée à Thermomyces (49% des séquences fongiques). Un second phylotype bactérien, NC38, affilié à la famille des Thermoactinomycetaceae a été sélectionné du fait q u'il n'ait été identifié que dans le compost. Des systèmes de PCRq ont été développés pour quantifier ces trois indicateurs potentiels. Ces derniers ont été validés expérimentalement par des mesures sur sites industriels. La dispersion des bioaérosols a ensuite été caractérisée en utilisant plusieurs méthodologies, dont les trois indicateurs conçus et une technique d'empreinte moléculaire, la SSCP. Lors d'une activité de retournement, la concentration des indicateurs est supérieure à leur niveau basal dans l'air (bruit de fond). Les indicateurs présentent des profils de dispersion différents d'où l'intérêt de les coupler afin d'obtenir une meilleure vision de la dispersion des bioaérosols de compostage. / The aim of this work was to analyze the diversity and the dispersal of composting bioaerosol emitted during the turning of compost windrows in thermophilic phase on composting platforms. The study of the microbial diversity of aerosols emitted on five composting plants was realized by 16S and 18S rDNA molecular inventories. Two bacterial phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria and one fungal phylum Ascomycota dominated. A common microbial signature emerged from the five composting bioaerosols: ten microbial phylotypes (seven bacterial and three fungal) were common to at least four bioaerosols. Two have been identified in five bioaerosols: NA07 belonging to the species Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, and representing 7% of total number of bacterial sequences, and EQ05,affiliated to Thermomyces (49% of total number of fungal sequences). A second bacterial phylotype, NC38, affiliated to the Thermoactinomycetaceae family, was selected because it was id entified only in the environmental source compost'. qPCR systems were then designed for each phylotype. Measurements performed on industrial composting sites validated the use of these microorganisms as indicators of composting bioaerosols. The dispersal of composting bioaerosols was then characterized using the three indicators developed and a fingerprint technique, the SSCP.

Les maladies du bois de la vigne (MDBs) et plus particulièrement l’esca, sont devenues en l’espace de deux décennies l’objet de préoccupations majeures puisqu’elles mettent en danger la pérennité de nombreux vignobles partout dans le monde. En Tunisie, ces maladies sont peu connues mais elles semblent être en pleine expansion et, en France, environ 13% du vignoble est improductif à cause des dépérissements qu’elles provoquent. Pour lutter contre les MDBs, les filières viticoles françaises et tunisiennes sont actuellement dans une impasse technique car elles ne disposent d’aucune méthode de lutte chimique « curative ». Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de cette thèse est de (i) déterminer quels agents pathogènes sont responsables des dégradations du bois de la vigne en Tunisie ? Les symptômes correspondent-ils à ceux de l’esca ? Existe-t-il une spécificité des agents pathogènes chez les ceps tunisiens ? Aussi (ii) afin de lutter contre ces maladies du bois (MDBs), de potentiels agents de biocontrôle bactériens ont été recherchés dans les parties ligneuses de ceps sélectionnés dans des vignobles tunisiens. Ils ont été caractérisés et des essais de protection in planta ont été réalisés. [...] Ces champignons ont été identifiés au niveau morphologique et moléculaire. Leur pathogénicité a été confirmée après inoculation sur jeunes plants de vigne. Des travaux originaux basés sur la co-inoculation de plants de vigne par ces 3 pathogènes ont montré qu’ils pouvaient rentrer en compétition entre eux au sein du végétal. Par ailleurs, sur le même thème, 2 autres pathogènes des MDBs, i.e. Phomopsis viticola et Diploidia seriata, ont été isolés dans une autre étude à partir de ceps prélevés dans la même région en Tunisie. Dans une deuxième étape, la microflore bactérienne colonisant les tissus ligneux de vignes prélevées dans le nord de la Tunisie a été étudiée afin de rechercher des agents de lutte biologique potentiels. La technique d’empreinte moléculaire Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) a d’abord montré que les communautés bactériennes étaient différentes en fonction des tissus qu’elles colonisaient, i.e. le bois nécrosé ou sain. Soixante-neuf souches bactériennes ont été isolées par méthode pasteurienne, et les 19 souches les plus abondantes ont fait la suite de l’étude. L’identification moléculaire de ces souches par séquençage de l’ARNr 16S et du gène rpoB a montré l’existence de 4 genres colonisant les ceps de vignes : Bacillus, Curtobacterium, Pantoea et Pseudomonas. Ces bactéries ont été également caractérisées au niveau biochimique, métabolique et génétique. Des tests de sélection in vitro contre les trois pathogènes fongiques ont été effectués, suite auxquels, une souche B6 de B. subtilis a été sélectionnée pour des essais de protection in planta en serre. Par la suite, une étude combinant deux bactéries antagonistes isolées de bois de vigne tunisien, i.e. B. subtilis B6, et français, i.e. Pantoea agglomerans S5, a été réalisée pour lutter contre 2 agents pathogènes, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (isolé des vignobles français) et N. parvum (isolé des vignobles tunisiens), impliqués dans les MDBs. Deux cépages, un fréquent en Tunisie, le Muscat d’Italie, et l’autre en France, le Cabernet Sauvignon, ont été utilisés. En effet, suivant l’agent pathogène et le cépage utilisés, les résultats de protection obtenus étaient différents. Les meilleurs résultats de protection ont été obtenus en combinant les bactéries et en les appliquant sur Muscat d’Italie contre les 2 champignons pathogènes. La spécificité et l’efficacité de la protection biologique a ici été démontrée. / Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) such as esca are of major concern for viticulture worldwide. In Tunisia, knowledge about the symptoms of this disease and the microflora associated with, is still incomplete despite their ability to cause considerable damage to vineyards. In France, around 13% of whole vineyard is unproductive because of GTDs, and no effective treatment currently exists. In that context, the objectives of the present PhD study were: (i) to characterize the fungal microflora inhabiting the wood tissues of Tunisian esca-foliar symptomatic vines in order to identify the pathogens responsible for wood decay. (ii) To investigate the bacterial microflora colonizing the wood tissues of Tunisian grapevines cv. Muscat d’Italie in order to find a suitable Biological Control Agent (BCA) that can be applied to vineyards. First, in order to better characterize the microflora colonizing the wood tissues of vine, samples were collected from 10 vineyards in the north of Tunisia. Fungal isolates were obtained from trunk of grapevines showing decline, small and distorted leaves and chloroses. To identify the isolated fungal species, sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer region of the rDNA was performed (ITS1 and ITS4 primers). Three pathogens, i.e. Lasidiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, Neofusicoccum parvum and Schizophyllum commune, described in the literature as involved in GTDs were isolated for the first time in Tunisia. Their pathogenicity was confirmed in planta. Moreover, the coinoculation of these 3 fungi in planta, showed that they displayed a competitive inhibition effect on each other. In another study, two others pathogens involved in GTDs, i.e. Phomopsis viticola and Diploidia seriata were also isolated from the same region. This PhD also aimed at identifying the bacterial microflora inhabiting the wood tissues of escafoliar symptomatic vines, i.e. necrotic and non-necrotic wood, using microbiological and molecular approaches. Complex bacterial communities, as shown by Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) analyses, colonize both types of wood tissues. After isolation, the 19 most abundant cultivable strains were sequenced (16S rRNA and rpoB genes) and identified as belonging to four genera: Bacillus, Pantoea, Pseudomonas and Curtobacterium. They were then screened for their in vitro antagonistic traits against the three pathogenic fungi L. pseudotheobromae, N. parvum and S. commune. Based on the results obtained, two bacterial strains were selected: B. subtilis (strain B6) and Pantoea agglomerans (strain S5), respectively isolated from Tunisian and French grapevines. They were then tested in planta on young vines of cv Muscat d’Italie and Cabernet Sauvignon against two fungal pathogens involved in GTDs, i.e. N. parvum (isolated from Tunisian wood) and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (isolated from French vines). Young vines of both cultivars were inoculated by B. subtilis B6, P. agglomerans S5 or the combination of B6+S5, singly or in combination with N. parvum and P. chlamydospora. In terms of plant protection, the most efficient condition to reduce in planta necrosis caused by the fungal pathogens in the two cultivars was the combination of the two bacteria. However, bacterial treatments were significantly more efficient to reduce necrosis caused by N. parvum or P. chlamydospora in Muscat d’Italie than in Cabernet Sauvignon.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T13:49:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcio Germello de Almeida.pdf: 1661406 bytes, checksum: 9b52cc036800eda4d6d17ab577681bf7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-29 / Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disease associated with alterations in the type I collagen molecule. OI is clinically characterized by skeletal fragility and deformity. The majority of OI cases are caused by dominant autosomal mutations on COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes, responsible for the synthesis of the type I collagen molecule. However, there are isolated cases and new cases of recessive autosomal forms of OI. Thus OI is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group, and it justifies the importance of molecular studies related to this desease. The objective of this research was to characterize the mutation pattern of the beginning region of the COL1A2 gene of OI patients. We studied the exons 1 to 26 of the COL1A2 gene on 33 non-related patients of Vitoria-ES with OI diagnosed using PCR-SSCP and sequencing techniques. We detected an alteration on the exon 16 of a female OI with moderate form of the disease, identified as c.739 G>C (p.Gly247Arg). The clinical report of our patient differs from another one already described on literature. These results may contribute to the understanding of the disease, leading to the development of more efficient treatment methods to patients with OI. / A Osteogênese Imperfeita (OI) é uma doença genética associada a alterações na molécula do colágeno tipo I, sendo caracterizada clinicamente por fragilidade e deformidade ósseas. A maioria dos relatos de OI são alterações autossômicas dominantes nos genes COL1A1 e COL1A2, codificadores da molécula do colágeno tipo I. Também há relatos de casos isolados e de manifestação autossômica recessiva da OI. A diversidade clínica e genética apresentada pelos pacientes com OI evidencia a necessidade de estudos moleculares dos genes associados à OI. Essa pesquisa teve como objetivo caracterizar o padrão de mutações da região inicial do gene COL1A2 em pacientes com OI. Foram estudados os exons 1 a 26 em 33 pacientes não aparentados com OI de Vitória-ES por PCR-SSCP e sequenciamento automatizado. Uma alteração no padrão de bandas de DNA, localizada no fragmento do exon 16 do gene COL1A2, foi dectada na amostra de um paciente do sexo feminino com quadro clínico moderado de OI. O sequenciamento dessa amostra permitiu a identificação da transversão c.739 G>C (p.Gly247Arg) com descrição clínica distinta de um relato prévio na literatura portador da mesma alteração genética. Os resultados dessa pesquisa poderão contribuir com o entendimento clínico da doença, e, consequentemente, auxiliar no desenvolvimento de tratamentos mais adequados aos pacientes.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and inflammatory airway disease (IAD) show high prevalence and are economically important in equine athletes. RAO is considered a multifactorial disease due to genetic and environmental components in their patophysiology. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of polymorphism at exons 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the SPi2 gene and a possible association between them and ORA or IAD on 51 thoroughbred horses through single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). Exons 2, 3 and 4 of the Spi2 gene showed no polymorphism. On exon 5, 3 alleles and 6 genotypes were identified. Frequency of allele A (0.6388) and genotype AA (0.3888) were higher in horses affected by RAO but no association was found between any polymorphism and horses with RAO or IAD. / A obstrução recorrente das vias aéreas (ORA) e a doença inflamatória das vias aéreas (DIVA) são doenças de alta prevalência e economicamente importantes em cavalos atletas. A ORA é considerada uma enfermidade multifatorial por apresentar componentes ambientais e genéticos em sua fiosiopatologia. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar a presença de polimorfismos nos éxons 2, 3, 4 e 5 do gene SPi2 e verificar uma possível associação destes com a ORA e/ou DIVA em 51 cavalos Puro Sangue de Corrida através da técnica de polimorfismo conformacional de fita simples (SSCP). Os éxons 2, 3 e 4 não apresentaram polimorfismo. No éxon 5 do gene Spi2 foram identificados três alelos e seis genótipos. Apesar do alelo A e o genótipo AA apresentarem freqüência (0,6388 e 0,3888, respectivamente) mais elevada nos animais com ORA, não houve associação entre os polimorfismos observados e ORA ou DIVA.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:32:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RobertaBC.pdf: 1065704 bytes, checksum: 6e6f9aa3d97c1150d7b5fd4167469597 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-30 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / Pleomorphic adenoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma represent a benign and malignant salivary gland neoplasm, respectively, that shares the same histological origin, however with distinct biological behavior. The aim of the present study was identify the -160 C/A polymorphism in the gene CDH1, mutational analysis of CTNNB1 gene and evaluation the expression of the E-cadherin and ?-catenin in pleomorphic adenomas and adenoid cystic carcinomas. Furthermore, it was proposed correlate the immunochemistry staining patterns with the polymorphism and mutations. Twenty-four pleomorphic adenomas and 24 adenoid cystic carcinomas were retrieved. The polymorphism analysis was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), using the restriction enzymes HphI or AflIII and the mutational screening was performed by PCR-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). The immunohistochemical analysis was taken by the counting of cells, recorded as the Hscore index, and considering the presence or absence, intensity, distribution and localization of proteins expression. Comparing the two neoplasms, the results demonstrated statistically significant difference for the E-cadherin and ?-catenin expression, with pleomorphic adenoma presenting weaker immunostaining. Was observed statistical correlation between E-cadherin and ?-catenin expression. CDH1 heterozigotic polymorphism was seen in two cases and 13 cases displayed abnormal mobility electrophoretic shifts, suggesting CTNNB1 gene mutation. The immunohistochemical expression was not statistically correlated with the polymorphism or suggested mutations. In conclusion this study supports that the E-cadherin/?-catenin complex immunohistochemical expression might be related with the myoepithelial component amount and differentiation neither the tumor biological behavior. The cases that showed E-cadherin gene polymorphism presented reduced protein expression and, moreover, CTNNB1 suggested mutations seem not influence in the ?-catenin protein expression / O adenoma pleom?rfico e o carcinoma aden?ide c?stico representam neoplasias de gl?ndula salivar benigna e maligna, respectivamente, que compartilham a mesma origem histol?gica, por?m com comportamentos biol?gicos distintos. O prop?sito deste estudo consistiu na identifica??o do polimorfismo -160 C/A da regi?o promotora do gene CDH1 (E-caderina), na triagem de muta??es no gene CTNNB1 (?-catenina), e ainda na an?lise da express?o imuno-histoqu?mica das prote?nas E-caderina e ?-catenina em adenomas pleom?rficos e carcinomas aden?ides c?sticos. Al?m disso, objetivou-se correlacionar os achados imuno-histoqu?micos com as poss?veis muta??es e polimorfismo. Foram selecionados 24 casos de adenoma pleom?rfico e 24 casos de carcinoma aden?ide c?stico. Para a identifica??o do polimorfismo no gene da E-caderina empregou-se a t?cnica RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) utilizando-se enzimas de restri??o HphI e AflIII. A triagem de muta??es no exon 3 do gene da ?-catenina foi realizada por meio de SSCP (single strand conformational polymorphism). Para a an?lise imuno-histoqu?mica, procedeu-se contagem de c?lulas, por meio do ?ndice HScore e verificou-se presen?a ou aus?ncia, intensidade, padr?o de distribui??o e localiza??o celular e tecidual das prote?nas. Os resultados demonstraram diferen?a estatisticamente significativa quando a marca??o imuno-histoqu?mica, tanto da E-caderina quanto ?-catenina, foi comparada entre as duas neoplasias estudadas, apresentando o adenoma pleom?rfico express?o reduzida. Observou-se correla??o estatisticamente significativa entre a imuno-marca??o da E-caderina e ?-catenina. Dois casos (1 adenoma pleom?rfico e 1 carcinoma aden?ide c?stico) apresentaram polimorfismo heterozig?tico no gene CDH1 e 13 casos (6 adenomas pleom?rficos e 7 carcinomas aden?ides c?sticos) exibiram varia??o no padr?o de corrida eletrofor?tica, sugerindo muta??o do gene CTNNB1. N?o houve correla??o estatisticamente significativa entre a marca??o imuno-histoqu?mica e presen?a de polimorfismo ou poss?veis muta??es. Conclui-se que a express?o imuno-histoqu?mica do complexo E-caderina/?-catenina pode estar relacionada com a quantidade e diferencia??o do componente mioepitelial e n?o ao comportamento biol?gico dos tumores. Os casos que exibiram polimorfismo no gene da E-caderina apresentaram redu??o na express?o prot?ica e, por fim, as poss?veis muta??es no gene CTNNB1 parecem n?o influenciar na express?o da prote?na ?-catenina

L’objectif de ce travail était de caractériser la variabilité spécifique (Bos taurus vs Oryctolagus cuniculus), individuelle, spatiale (inter- et intra- fermenteurs digestifs) et temporelle (en conditions non perturbée ou perturbée) des écosystèmes digestifs des mammifères herbivores (communautés procaryotiques et biotope) en comparant deux modèles animaux, la vache et le lapin, et en utilisant des outils moléculaires (CE-SSCP et qPCR). D’un point de vue méthodologique, nous avons développé un programme informatique, StatFingerprints, pour améliorer le traitement et l’analyse statistique des profils CE-SSCP et ainsi mieux extraire l’information écologique qu’ils contiennent en termes de structure et de diversité des communautés. Nous avons également mis au point des systèmes de qPCR plus spécifiques (Firmicutes et Bacteroides Prevotella) que ceux précédemment décrits. D’un point de vue cognitif, nos travaux démontrent une forte influence de l’espèce hôte sur les caractéristiques de son écosystème : les communautés sont plus riches (+8 %, +12 % pour les bactéries et les Archaea, respectivement), plus diverse (+19 % pour les bactéries) mais moins abondantes (-4.9 % de bactéries) dans le rumen de la vache que dans le caecum du lapin. Le biotope ruminal est moins acide (+0.6 unité pH), plus réducteur (-30 mV), et contient moins d’acides gras volatils (-19%) et plus de NH3-N (+39%) que le biotope caecal. Cela suggère un rôle déterminant de la physiologie digestive de l’hôte et/ou des phénomènes de coévolution hôte/microbiote. Nos travaux n’ont pas permis de mettre en évidence un effet de « l’individu hôte » sur les caractéristiques de sa communauté microbienne suggérant que la proximité génétique entre les individus (race) et/ou la forte standardisation des conditions d’élevage (logement, alimentation etc.) tendent à uniformiser l’influence des individus sur le déterminisme de leurs communautés procaryotiques. Nous avons montré qu’il existe une évolution des communautés microbiennes le long du tractus digestif en relation avec la physiologie et les conditions environnementales des différents compartiments à laquelle s’additionne, dans le rumen, une variabilité liée à la fraction, liquide ou solide, considérée. Nos données suggèrent qu’à l’état basal et en situation de perturbation, les communautés procaryotiques des deux espèces hôtes n’évoluent pas de la même façon dans le temps. Ainsi, dans le rumen de la vache, la communauté bactérienne fluctue de façon sporadique suggérant un état d’équilibre dynamique alors qu’elle reste dans un état d’équilibre statique dans le caecum du lapin. Les deux communautés réagissent de façon rapide (< 2jours) et s’adaptent rapidement à une augmentation du ratio amidon/fibres pour atteindre un nouvel équilibre, dynamique dans le rumen et statique dans le caecum. En revanche, nos travaux n’ont pas mis en évidence de corrélations importantes entre les communautés bactériennes et les paramètres de leur environnement. D’un point de vue finalisé, ces données confirment que la nutrition est une voie d’action pertinente pour essayer de réorienter le fonctionnement des écosystèmes digestifs chez ces espèces d’intérêt zootechnique, vers une meilleure santé et/ou efficacité digestive. / The aim of this work was to characterize the specific (Bos taurus vs Oryctolagus cuniculus), individual, spatial (inter- and intra- digestive fermentors) and temporal (in undisturbed or disturbed conditions) variability of the digestive ecosystems (prokaryotic communities and biotope) in herbivorous mammals by comparing two animal models, cow and rabbit, and by using molecular methods (CE-SSCP and qPCR). Concerning methodology, we developed the StatFingerprints program to improve processing and statistical analysis of CE-SSCP profiles and better extract ecological information they contained about structure and diversity of communities. We also developed more specific (Firmicutes and Bacteroides Prevotella) primers than those available. From a cognitive point of view, our work demonstrated a strong effect of host species on ecosystem: communities presented a higher richness (+8 %, +12 % for bacteria and Archaea, respectively), a greater diversity (+19 % for bacteria) but are less abundant (-4.9 % bacteria) in cow rumen than in rabbit caecum. The rumen biotope is less acid (+0.6 pH unit), more reductive (-30 mV), and contains a lower concentration of fatty acids (-19%) and a higher concentration of NH3-N (+39%) than caecal biotope. Taken together, these results suggested a determining role of the digestive physiology of the host and of coevolution phenomena between the host and its microbiota. Our results did not permit to evidence an individual effect on the procaryotic communities suggesting that the genetic similarity between animals we used and/or the strong standardization of breeding conditions (housing, food etc) tended to reduce the influence of the individuals on their prokaryotic communities. We showed that the procaryotic communities evolved along the digestive tract in relation to the physiology and the environmental conditions of the various compartments in which they live. In addition, in the rumen, we evidenced a variability of the bacterial community related to the fraction considered, liquid or solid. Our data suggested that, both in basal and disturbed situations, the bacterial communities of the two host species did not evolve in the same way in time. Indeed, in the rumen of the cow and basal condition, the bacterial community fluctuated sporadically suggesting a dynamic balance whereas it remains in a stable state in the caecum of the rabbit. The two communities reacted quickly (< 2 days) and adapted quickly to an increased ratio starch/fibres to reach a new balance, dynamic in the rumen and stable in the caecum. On the other hand, our work did not highlight important correlations between the bacterial communities and the parameters of their environments. From a finalized point of view, these data confirmed that the nutrition is a relevant way to try to reorientate the functioning of digestive ecosystems in these two species, toward a better digestive health and/or efficiency.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Les micro-organismes jouent un rôle crucial dans les processus écosystémiques. L'étude de la distribution spatio-temporelle des communautés microbiennes est donc nécessaire, particulièrement dans un contexte de changements globaux. Les micro-organismes étant très diversifiés et majoritairement non cultivables, l'étude de leur diversité et des facteurs responsables de l'assemblage des communautés nécessite des outils adaptés. Les écosystèmes alpins montrent de forts gradients mésotopographiques et de régimes d'enneigements. Ces gradients engendrent une hétérogénéité spatiale du couvert végétal et des processus écosystémiques à des échelles réduites. Les contrastes de l'étage alpin s'appliquent aussi dans le temps, ceux-ci étant soumis à des froids intenses en hiver. Ces écosystèmes sont donc un modèle de choix pour l'étude des patrons spatio-temporels de la microflore du sol. Ce travail s'est d'abord concentré sur l'optimisation d'une technique d'empreinte moléculaire, la CESSCP, mais aussi d'outils statistiques pour l'analyse de séquences d'ADN. Les communautés bactériennes, fongiques et crenarchaeotes du sol ont été suivies deux années, par CE-SSCP et clonage/séquençage, dans deux habitats contrastés par leurs régimes d'enneigements. Cette étude a ensuite été étendue à l'échelle du paysage, sous divers couverts végétaux. Ce travail montre que l'assemblage des communautés microbiennes alpines varie au cours des saisons et que l'hiver constituent un fort évènement sélectif. Cette étude montre également que les communautés microbiennes sont spatialement distribuées en fonction des régimes d'enneigements et de la végétation. Les facteurs directement responsables de tels patrons sont discutés.

Climate change may lead to declines in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) populations and change the structure of the ecosystem in which they live. The lake trout is a keystone species in ecosystems of northern temperate lakes and these declines may subsequently reduce the genetic diversity found in these salmonids. Populations that contain greater genetic variation may have an increased capacity to adapt to changes in the ecosystem. Therefore, an understanding of the genetic diversity found in lake trout populations is required for their effective conservation and management. As a result, this study aimed to examine the genetic diversity and phylogeography of lake trout populations in north central Canada.<p>The genetic diversity of lake trout from 19 lakes in Saskatchewan was examined using partial regions of the ND2 and ND5 mtDNA genes. A total of 607 tissue samples were analyzed using PCR-based single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequencing. Although the ND5 gene fragment had minimal intraspecific variation, eleven sequence types were detected in the ND2 gene. Each sequence type differed in relative frequency between and among the lake trout populations sampled. <p>One particular southern lake trout population, Crean Lake, had markedly different genetic composition in comparison to other lakes in the region. In the 1950s and 1960s, Crean Lake was stocked with lake trout from neighbouring Wassegam Lake in an attempt to increase population numbers. The sequence types of Crean Lake trout and their relative frequencies were dramatically different to those in Wassegam Lake. This suggests that the stocked fish may have been unsuccessful in their establishment/reproduction within Crean Lake. Lake trout from this lake also contained the highest frequency (44%) of rare ND2 sequence type B. Sequence type B was only detected in one other lake (La Ronge), at a very low frequency. <p>The mutational changes in the eleven ND2 mitochondrial DNA sequence types represented three different amino acid sequence types. Substitutions of Threonine and Isoleucine occurred, resulting in two polar amino acids with much different hydropathy indexes. This may affect the tertiary structure of the protein, possibly indicating functional differences. Functionally different proteins may be exhibiting characteristics that allow lake trout to flourish in their environment. <p>The fragments of both the ND2 and ND5 genes proved to be valuable for phylogenetic analyses within the Salmonidae. The genetic markers established in the present study provide the basis for future work on population genetics of lake trout. It would be advantageous to broaden the area of study in order to compare the genetic diversity found within the study area to other regions of Canada. This would determine whether the genetic diversity detected in this study is significantly greater than in other populations at a national scale. Management strategies should ultimately attempt to conserve the genetic diversity found within the lake trout populations of north central Saskatchewan.

Climate change may lead to declines in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) populations and change the structure of the ecosystem in which they live. The lake trout is a keystone species in ecosystems of northern temperate lakes and these declines may subsequently reduce the genetic diversity found in these salmonids. Populations that contain greater genetic variation may have an increased capacity to adapt to changes in the ecosystem. Therefore, an understanding of the genetic diversity found in lake trout populations is required for their effective conservation and management. As a result, this study aimed to examine the genetic diversity and phylogeography of lake trout populations in north central Canada.<p>The genetic diversity of lake trout from 19 lakes in Saskatchewan was examined using partial regions of the ND2 and ND5 mtDNA genes. A total of 607 tissue samples were analyzed using PCR-based single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequencing. Although the ND5 gene fragment had minimal intraspecific variation, eleven sequence types were detected in the ND2 gene. Each sequence type differed in relative frequency between and among the lake trout populations sampled. <p>One particular southern lake trout population, Crean Lake, had markedly different genetic composition in comparison to other lakes in the region. In the 1950s and 1960s, Crean Lake was stocked with lake trout from neighbouring Wassegam Lake in an attempt to increase population numbers. The sequence types of Crean Lake trout and their relative frequencies were dramatically different to those in Wassegam Lake. This suggests that the stocked fish may have been unsuccessful in their establishment/reproduction within Crean Lake. Lake trout from this lake also contained the highest frequency (44%) of rare ND2 sequence type B. Sequence type B was only detected in one other lake (La Ronge), at a very low frequency. <p>The mutational changes in the eleven ND2 mitochondrial DNA sequence types represented three different amino acid sequence types. Substitutions of Threonine and Isoleucine occurred, resulting in two polar amino acids with much different hydropathy indexes. This may affect the tertiary structure of the protein, possibly indicating functional differences. Functionally different proteins may be exhibiting characteristics that allow lake trout to flourish in their environment. <p>The fragments of both the ND2 and ND5 genes proved to be valuable for phylogenetic analyses within the Salmonidae. The genetic markers established in the present study provide the basis for future work on population genetics of lake trout. It would be advantageous to broaden the area of study in order to compare the genetic diversity found within the study area to other regions of Canada. This would determine whether the genetic diversity detected in this study is significantly greater than in other populations at a national scale. Management strategies should ultimately attempt to conserve the genetic diversity found within the lake trout populations of north central Saskatchewan.