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Résumé : Cette thèse porte sur l’élaboration d’un outil de capture d’ADN permettant d’identifier une mutation génétique (SNP) grâce à la formation de sandwichs avec des particules de carboxylatex biofonctionnalisées avec des oligonucléotides couplée à une détection de la fluorescence. Le modèle biologique choisi pour ce projet est le génotypage plaquettaire et plus particulièrement la recherche du gène biallélique HPA-1. Le principal objectif de ce travail a été d’optimiser un outil de capture préalablement développé dans l’équipe (Trévisan, 2011) afin de réduire le nombre d’étapes et de simplifier la mise en œuvre globale du test en modifiant les interactions moléculaires utilisée pour capturer l’ADN cible et en utilisant des particules fluorescentes comme élément de détection. En présence d’ADN cible, des sandwichs sont formés entre les particules fluorescentes et les particules magnétiques biofonctionnalisées. Ces sandwichs sont purifiés par séparation magnétique et la fluorescence est détectée par trois méthodes : la cytométrie en flux, l’imagerie de fluorescence et l’Evareader (détection par ondes évanescentes). Dans un premier temps, les paramètres de fonctionnalisation chimique et biologique des différentes particules (magnétiques et fluorescentes) ont été déterminés et optimisés ainsi que les conditions d’hybridation pour la capture de l’ADN cible. Ensuite, la formation des sandwichs et leur détection ont été suivies par des mesures de fluorescence en utilisant trois méthodes différentes : la cytométrie en flux, l’imagerie de fluorescence et l’Evareader (capteur à ondes évanescentes). Les résultats obtenus avec les différentes méthodes de détection sont concordants et montrent que l’outil de capture d’ADN développé permet de capturer la cible synthétique (oligonucléotide) HPA-1 en réduisant le temps d’analyse de 45 min. Dans nos conditions, le test permet de discriminer l’allèle a de l’allèle b du gène HPA-1 qui ne diffère que d’un nucléotide. Le rapport des signaux de fluorescence issus du sandwich spécifique et du sandwich non spécifique est d’environ 2,5 à 3. Ce rapport devra être amélioré par la suite, en optimisant les conditions de formation des sandwichs. La prochaine étape consistera à optimiser le système de capture d’ADN développé pour gagner en spécificité et déterminer la limite de détection du test. Ce test devra également être validé avec des échantillons biologiques. A plus long terme, la fluorescence pourra être détectée par un photodétecteur miniaturisé actuellement développé à l’Université de Sherbrooke. Des études préliminaires présentées dans ce manuscrit montrent les potentialités de ce nouveau transducteur. // Abstract : This thesis is about the development of a new assay to capture DNA. This assay is based on the formation of sandwiches between biofunctionnalized with oligonucleotides carboxylatex microparticles combined with fluorescence detection. It should be able to discriminate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). This assay is designed to be applied to platelet genotyping for the research of the gene HPA-1. The main goal of this work was to improve an assay previously developed (Trévisan, 2011) by INL and EFS Rhône-Alpes. The objectives are to reduce the number of steps and to simplify the test. To do so, the molecular interactions used in order to capture target DNA are modified and fluorescent microparticles are used for the detection. In the presence of target DNA, sandwiches are formed between both biofunctionnalized fluorescent and magnetic particles. Those sandwiches are purified through magnetic separation. Then, fluorescence is detected by three methods: flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging and Evareader (detection with an evanescent wave). First, chemical and biological parameters for the functionalization of the different particles (magnetic and fluorescent) are determined. The conditions for the capture of target DNA were optimized. Then, the formation and the detection of the sandwiches were estimated by measuring the fluorescence using three different methods: flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging and Evareader. The results obtained with the three methods are consistent. They show that the new system enables to capture synthetic target (oligonucleotide) HPA-1 with a reduction of total time analysis of 45 min. In our conditions, SNP can be discriminated for HPA-1 gene. For this discrimination, the fluorescence signal ratio about 2.5 to 3. This ratio should be improved by optimizing the conditions of sandwiches formation. Next step will consist in the optimization of the system developed to capture DNA in order to gain specificity and to determine the limit of detection. This test should also be validated with biological samples. In the long term, fluorescence could be detected by a miniaturized photodetector developed in the University of Sherbrook. Preliminary studies presented in this manuscript show the potentialities of this new transducer.

L'utilisation des oligonucléotides antisens PMO ou PNA, pour corriger les erreurs d'épissage par blocage stérique, constitue une nouvelle stratégie prometteuse pour réguler l'expression génétique. Ces ON peuvent mener au traitement de maladies comme la β-thalassémie, la dystrophie musculaire de Duchenne (DMD) ou les cancers. Cependant leur développement clinique requiert un système de délivrance efficace. Les peptides cationiques (CPPs) sont caractérisés par leur capacité à s'internaliser dans les cellules eucaryotes. Cependant leur efficacité à promouvoir la délivrance cytoplasmique et nucléaire des ON est limitée par leur séquestration dans des vésicules d'endocytose, ce qui est à l'origine de la dégradation du matériel internalisé. Nous avons contribué à l'étude du trafic intracellulaire et de l'activité dans un essai de correction d'épissage de plusieurs familles de CPPs capables de délivrer efficacement des analogues d'ON à des doses non toxiques et en absence d'agents endosomolytiques. Nos études mécanistiques indiquent que ces constructions (covalentes ou non covalentes) CPP-ON sont endocytées par la voie clathrine, que la ségrégation dans les endosomes reste une limitation et qu'il existe une bonne corrélation entre leur activité biologique et leur capacité à déstabiliser les membranes endosomales. / The use of antisense oligonucleotides PMO or PNA to correct splicing errors by steric- block represents a new promising therapeutic strategy. These ONs lead to the treatment of diseases such as β-thalassemia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) or cancers. However their functional success requires efficient delivery. Cationic cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are characterized by their ability to be internalized in eukaryotic cells. However their efficiency in promoting cytoplasmic and nuclear delivery of ON has been hampered by endocytic sequestration and subsequent degradation of internalized material in endocytic vesicles, which is responsible for the degradation of internalized material. We have contributed to the study of intracellular trafficking and activity (using splicing correction assay) of several families of CPPs capable of delivering effective analogs ON at nontoxic doses and in the absence of agents endosomolytic. Our mechanistic studies indicate that these constructs (covalent or noncovalent) CPP-ON are internalized through clathrin, that segregation in endosomes remains a limitation and that there is good correlation between biological activity and their ability to destabilize endosomal membranes.

Genetic mutations can cause a wide range of diseases, e.g. cancer. Gene therapy has the potential to alleviate or even cure these diseases. One of the many gene therapies developed so far is RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes, short DNA oligonucleotides that specifically bind to and cleave RNA. Since the development of these synthetic catalytic oligonucleotides, the main way of determining their cleavage kinetics has been through the use of a laborious and error prone gel assay to quantify substrate and product at different time-points. We have developed two new methods for this purpose. The first one includes a fluorescent intercalating dye, PicoGreen, which has an increased fluorescence upon binding double-stranded oligonucleotides; during the course of the reaction the fluorescence intensity will decrease as the RNA is cleaved and dissociates from the deoxyribozyme. A second method was developed based on the common denominator of all nucleases, each cleavage event exposes a single phosphate of the oligonucleotide phosphate backbone; the exposed phosphate can simultaneously be released by a phosphatase and directly quantified by a fluorescent phosphate sensor. This method allows for multiple turnover kinetics of diverse types of nucleases, including deoxyribozymes and protein nucleases. The main challenge of gene therapy is often the delivery into the cell. To bypass cellular defenses researchers have used a vast number of methods; one of these are cell-penetrating peptides which can be either covalently coupled to or non-covalently complexed with a cargo to deliver it into a cell. To further evolve cell-penetrating peptides and understand how they work we developed an assay to be able to quickly screen different conditions in a high-throughput manner. A luciferase up- and downregulation experiment was used together with a reduction of the experimental time by 1 day, upscaling from 24- to 96-well plates and the cost was reduced by 95% compared to commercially available assays. In the last paper we evaluated if cell-penetrating peptides could be used to improve the uptake of an LNA oligonucleotide mimic of GRN163L, a telomerase-inhibiting oligonucleotide. The combination of cell-penetrating peptides and our mimic oligonucleotide lead to an IC50 more than 20 times lower than that of GRN163L.

Kulturunabhängige 16S rRNA Analyse des subgingivalen bakteriellen Biofilms bei der aggressiven Parodontitis und Vergleich mit bekannten Bakterien bzw. Phylotypen, die im Zusammenhang mit der parodontalen Flora nachgewiesen wurde. Putative Pathogene wurden bestimmt. / In this culture independent 16S rRNA study cloning and sequencing was used to analyse gingival samples from a population of 26 persons suffering from aggressive periodontitis and six healthy adult individuals.

Aplicando tecnologia de microarray, objetivamos traçar o perfil do programa de maturação das Mo-DC pulsadas com HIV autólogo inativado por AT-2, a fim de identificar marcadores específicos de ativação funcional e sugerir um perfil de expressão de genes úteis na identificação de respostas ao modelo in vitro das Mo-vacina DC. Essas informações podem ajudar a estabelecer assinaturas moleculares das funções celulares mais relevante para a melhoria das vacinas terapêuticas. O perfil transcricional foi analisado com base das vias celulares moduladas das Mo-DCs no estado imaturo, transitório e maduro. O HIV-1 inativado por AT-2 induz ativação de genes associados à apresentação de antígenos. Os conjuntos de genes do citoesqueleto podem influenciar a mudança de comportamento migratório das Mo-DCs ativadas. O aumento na expressão dos receptores celulares contribuem para o recrutamento de monócitos, DCs e macrófagos para o local da infecção. Além disso, modulam a resposta imune inata e adaptativa, incluindo a polarização das células Th e sub-regulação da resposta inflamatória, que pode interferir significativamente com a resposta imune. Coletivamente, o perfil transcricional das Mo-DCs induzido pelo HIV-1 inativado com AT-2 reflete uma significativa reprogramação imunológica e celular das células envolvidas na resposta imune do hospedeiro. Os resultados deste estudo focaram na interpretação de genes específicos dos perfis de transcrição das Mo-DCs como modelo terapêutico utilizado na vacina anti-HIV. As análises de assinaturas gene associado e sua correlação as respostas funcionais simplificam a identificação de indivíduos susceptíveis a vacina e a compreensão de eventuais falhas em ensaios clínicos. Microarray permitiu a análise quantitativa e simultânea da expressão de um elevado número de genes. Os estudos do perfil de expressão foram extremamente úteis para identificar os eventos moleculares e vias envolvidas nas funções de celular induzida por estímulos específicos. Em particular, os resultados sobre o padrão global da expressão dos genes subjacentes as modificações induzidas pelo HIV-1 inativado por AT-2, na fase inicial da administração do antígeno, pôde ser extremamente útil para a identificarmos marcadores de ativação e avaliar os efeitos biológicos que poderiam estar envolvidos para modificação e otimização de estratégias vacinação com Mo-DC / Applying microarray technology, we intend to profile the program to mature Mo-DC pulsed with autologous inactivated HIV by AT-2, in order to identify specific markers of functional activation and suggest a profile of expression of specific genes, useful identification of responders to in vitro model of Mo-DC vaccine. Such information may help to establish detailed molecular signatures of cellular functions most relevant to improving the therapeutic vaccines. The transcriptional profile was analyzed on the basis of the cellular pathways modulated in immature MoDC, transitional MoDC and mature MoDC. The AT-2-inactivated HIV-1 induction of MoDC results in the activation of genes associated with antigen presentation functions. A set of cytoskeletal genes that may potentially mediate shape change and migratory behavior of activated MoDC is also observed. The increase in the expression of immune receptors contribute to the recruitment of monocytes, DCs, and macrophages to the site of infection. Moreover, they modulate both innate and adaptive immune response, including the polarization of Th cells, and the down-regulation of the inflammatory response, which may significantly interfere with the immune response. Collectively, the transcriptional profile induced by AT-2-inactivated HIV-1 in MoDc reflects a significant cellular and immunological reprogramming of cells directly involved in the host immune response. The results of this study focused on the interpretation of specific genes of transcription profile of MoDC used in therapeutic HIV vaccine model. Supplementing the analyses with examination of associated gene signatures and their correlation to functional responses will simplify the identification of responsive vaccine individuals and the understanding of eventual failures in individuals enrolled in clinical trials. Microarray approach allows quantitative and simultaneous analysis of gene expression of a large amount of genes and the systematic studies of expression patterns are extremely useful for identify molecular events and key pathways involved in cellular functions induced by specific stimuli. In particular, data on the global pattern of gene expression underlying the modifications induced by AT-2-inactivated HIV-1 in MoDC, at early stages of antigen administration, may be extremely helpful for the identification of exclusive activation markers to trace the biological effects of modifications/optimizations of the MoDc vaccination strategy

Ausgangspunkt dieser vorliegenden Arbeit waren bisherige Untersuchungen unseres Arbeitskreises zum Memb-ranverankerungsverhalten (Phospholipidmembranen, LUV) von Nukleosiden und Oligonukleotiden, welche einen lipophilen Anker an der 5-Position der Pyrimidin- oder an der 8-Position der Purinbase tragen. Diese Nukleolipide ankern gut in der Membran, stehen aber nicht mehr für eine Watson-Crick-Basenpaarung an der Phasengrenzfläche zu Verfügung. Demnach wurde durch die Verwendung unterschiedlicher Reaktionen (Veresterung, Thioetherbildung, Carbamoylverknüpfung oder „Clickreaktion“ zu Triazolen) und verschiedener funktioneller Gruppen (Hydroxy, Thiohydroxy, Azid, Amin) an die 2´-Position der Nukleoside eine Reihe von lipophilen Resten (Alkylketten, Cholesterol, Pyren) eingeführt. Diese Konjugate verankerten ebenfalls gut in den Membranen und es zeigten sich erste Hinweise, dass durch die Einführung eines Spacers zwischen dem Nukleosid und dem lipophilen Anker, eine Basenpaarung an der Phasengrenzfläche möglich ist. Weiterhin zeigte es sich, dass Nukleolipide mit nur einem lipophilen Rest nicht stabil in Membranen verankern, vor allem, wenn dieser nicht verzweigt ist. Bei der Anwendung von Oligonukleotiden zum Ankern in Membranen ist es unbedeu-tend, an welcher Stelle der lipophile Rest am Nukleotid vorkommt, denn zum einen geht das entsprechende Nukleolipid selbst keine Basenpaarung ein und zum anderen erfolgt keine Basenpaarung über dieses hinweg. Für biotechnologische Anwendungen konnte mit Hilfe dieser synthetisierten lipophilen Oligonukleotide gezeigt werden, dass zwei vesikelmembranverankerte Oligonukleotide, welche komplementäre Enden tragen, eine Doppelhelix miteinander bilden und so diese beiden Vesikel auf einen definierten Abstand halten können. Da Nukleolipide einen amphiphilen Charakter aufweisen, sollte unter dem AFM untersucht werden, ob diese supramolekulare Strukturen zeigen. Dies wurde in der Tat auch beobachtet. Ebenso konnten mittels der LB-Technik LB-Schichten aus Nukleolipiden dargestellt werden. / The starting point of this work was found in our previous studies about anchoring behaviour of lipidated nucleo-sides and oligonucleotides in biocompatible phospholipid membranes (LUV). That nucleosides and oligonucleotides bear a lipophilic anchor at the 5-position of pyrimidine or at the 8-position of purinbases. This nucleolipi-des anchor well in such membranes, but were not longer available for a Watson-Crick base pairing at the interface to water. Therefore lipophilic groups (alkyl chain, cholesterol, Pyren etc.) were now connected to the 2''-position of nucleosides by several reactions (esterification, thioether binding, carbamoyl binding or "click reaction") and various functional groups (hydroxy, thiohydroxy, azide, amine) to the 2´-position of nucleosides. These nucleolipides also well anchored in the model membranes, and gave first evidence that by introducing a spacer between the nucleoside and the lipophilic anchor a base pairing at the interface to water is possible. However, only one anchor is not sufficient for a stable anchoring in the phospholipid membranes, especially if they are not branched. It was found out that it is insignifacant for the application of oligonucleotides in membrane anchoring, at which position of nucleotide the lipid is attached, because on the one hand, the corresponding nucleolipid can not form a pair with a corresponding nucleobase and secondly, there is no base pairing in the nucleotides situated between two lipidated positions. For biotechnology applications it might be interesting that two different vesicles each of it furnushed with a complementary lipidated oligonucleotide could be kept together in a defined distance by forming double strand DNA. Since nucleolipide possess amphiphilic character, there abillity to form supramolecular structures was investigated by atomic force microscope (AFM). In addition formation of LB-layers could be achieved by LB-technology.

O receptor ativado do peroxissomo γ (PPAR-γ) é regulador do metabolismo e diferenciação do tecido adiposo, sendo um alvo conhecido das tiazolidinedionas (TZD), utilizadas para o tratamento do diabetes tipo 2 (DM2). As TZD agem como um agente sensibilizador da ação da insulina nos tecidos periféricos e tem sido especulado que as TZDs podem ter um papel na função da célula , prevenindo perda de massa e melhorando a sua viabilidade a longo prazo. Este efeito seria supostamente mediado pela transcrição de genes que favoreceriam a lipólise, diminuindo o conteúdo intracelular de triglicérides e, portanto, diminuindo a lipotoxicidade. Entretanto, alguns estudos também mostraram efeito nulo ou mesmo deletério das TZDs sobre as ilhotas pancreáticas. Na realidade, o papel de genes-alvo para o PPAR- nas ilhotas pancreáticas é ainda pouco conhecido. Estudamos o perfil de expressão gênica induzido pelo tratamento com Pioglitazona (Pio), uma TZD aprovada e disponível para uso clínico no tratamento do DM2, em ilhotas pancreáticas murídeas em cultura primária, com concentrações normal e suprafisiológica de glicose no meio de cultura. As ilhotas foram obtidas de ratos wistar machos de dois meses de idade e isoladas pelo método do gradiente de Ficoll e então cultivadas em 5,6 mM ou 23 mM de glicose por 24h, sendo tratadas com Pio 10 M ou DMSO 0,1% (veículo). A Pioglitazona foi cedida pela Takeda Farmacêutica, Osaka, Japão. O RNA foi extraído com Trizol e purificado com o kit RNeasy (Qiagen). As amostras foram marcadas e hibridizadas no microarranjo de cDNA Mouse Panchip 13k, usando-se cinco replicatas biológicas diferentes para cada condição. A análise estatística dos dados do microarranjo foi feita com o uso do programa significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) com uso de taxa de descobrimento falso (FDR) de 20%. A análise das vias acometidas foi feita com o Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (www.ingenuity.com). Os resultados de expressão gênica foram confirmados por RT-qPCR. Em concentração de 5,6 mM de glicose no meio de cultura, 101 genes foram modulados pela Pio, sendo 49 regulados para cima, com aumento de sua expressão na presença da droga e 52 genes regulados para baixo. Em 23 mM de glicose, 1.235 genes foram afetados, sendo 621 para cima e 623 para baixo. A comparação entre as duas condições revelou 74 genes que foram modulados em ambas as concentrações de glicose. A análise das vias biológicas alteradas mostrou que genes relacionados ao metabolismo de lípides foram modulados em ambas as concentrações de glicose. Em 23 mM foi ainda significativo o grupo de genes relacionados a ciclo celular e morte celular que tiveram sua expressão modificada pela presença da droga na cultura. Este dado demonstrou que além de seus efeitos conhecidos nos adipócitos, o sensibilizador de insulina Pioglitazona modula a expressão de genes nas ilhotas pancreáticas, especialmente na presença de concentrações suprafisiológicas de glicose, afetando notadamente genes relacionados ao metabolismo lipídico, sendo vários deles ligados a lipogênese, como Srebf1, Scd2 e Fabp4 cujas expressões aumentaram em ambas as concentrações de glicose. Além disso foi observado aumento na expressão de genes com atividade pró-apoptótica como Tnf, Bad, Bax, Caspase4, Fadd e Myc. A Pioglitazona parece induzir um perfil gênico desfavorável em ilhotas pancreáticas mantidas em cultura em concentrações suprafisiológicas de glicose. / Peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) is a target for thiazolidinedione (TZD) antidiabetic drugs and a regulator of adipose tissue differentiation and metabolism. TZD act as an insulin sensitizing agent on peripheral tissues. It has been speculated that TZD could play a role on beta-cell function, preventing loss and improving viability in the long-term. This effect is supposed to be mediated through a potential benefit against lipotoxicity, favouring lypolisis and decreasing intracellular tryglicerides content. Nevertheless some studies also showed a lack or even a potential deleterious effect of TZD on islets. The role of PPAR-γ target genes in pancreatic islets is actually still largely unclear. We studied the gene expression profile induced by the treatment with Pioglitazone (Pio), an approved TZD for T2DM therapy, on rat pancreatic islets primary culture both at normal and supraphysiological glucose medium concentrations. Islets were obtained from 2 month-old, male, wistar rats and isolated through the Ficoll gradient method and then cultured with 5.6 mM or 23 mM of glucose concentration for 24h, being treated with Pio 10 µM or DMSO 0.1% (vehicle). Pioglitazone was provided by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Osaka, Japan. RNA was extracted with Trizol (Sigma) and purified with RNeasy kit (Qiagen). Samples were labeled and then hybridized on the Mouse PanChip 13k cDNA microarray, using 5 different biological replicates for each test condition. Statistical Analysis of the microarray data was performed using significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) with a false discovery rate of 20%. Pathways assessment was performed through Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (www.ingenuity.com). Gene expression results were confirmed through RT-qPCR. At 5.6 mM glucose 101 genes were modulated by Pio, 49 upregulated and 52 downregulated. At 23 mM, 1,235 genes were affected, 612 upregulated and 623 downregulated. Comparison between both conditions revealed 74 genes that were similarly modulated at both glucose concentrations. Pathway analysis of perturbed genes revealed biologically relevant networks related to lipid metabolism at both glucose medium concentrations. At 23 mM, cell cycle and cell death pathways were significant modulated as well. These data demonstrates that in addition to known effect in adipocytes, the insulin sensitizing agent Pioglitazone modulates gene expression in pancreatic islets, especially in the presence of supraphysiological glucose concentrations, affecting especially lipid metabolism and mechanisms of cell death and cell cycle. Considering the ontology of modulated genes it seems to be a trend towards lypogenesis (increased Srebf1, Scd2 and Fabp4 RNA expressions) with Pio treatment also enhancing the abundance of some genes considered to be pro apoptotic like Tnf, Bad, Bax, Caspase4, Fadd and Myc. Pioglitazone seems to induce a negative gene expression profile in islets cultured at high glucose concentrations.

La caractérisation des réseaux trophiques est nécessaire pour comprendre le fonctionnement des écosystèmes et les mécanismes impliqués dans leur stabilité. Il est parfois difficile de déterminer les régimes alimentaires notamment pour des espèces discrètes et difficiles à observer comme les grands carnivores. Cependant, ces espèces jouent un rôle clé dans les écosystèmes dont elles influencent le fonctionnement et la biodiversité. Ainsi, connaitre le régime alimentaire des grands prédateurs avec précision est essentiel pour établir des stratégies de conservation. Diverses méthodes basées sur le monitoring, l'analyse d'échantillons invasifs ou non ont été utilisées pour étudier les régimes alimentaires. Elles sont généralement biaisées ou peu résolutives. Les méthodes basées sur l'identification des fragments d'ADN dans les fèces ont le potentiel de fournir une meilleure information, notamment dans le cadre d'une approche métabarcoding. Il s'agit de caractériser simultanément l'ensemble des espèces dont l'ADN est présent dans un échantillon environnemental, en utilisant les Nouvelles Techniques de Séquençage. Dans ce cas, les amorces universelles nécessaires pour amplifier toutes les proies potentielles amplifient également l'ADN du prédateur s'il y a proximité taxonomique (par exemple mammifères). Ainsi les produits PCR obtenus à partir des fèces sont essentiellement composés d'ADN du prédateur et ne reflètent pas l'ensemble du régime alimentaire. L'utilisation d'un oligonucléotide de blocage limitant spécifiquement l'amplification de l'ADN du prédateur peut résoudre ce problème. Nous avons développé une méthode de ce type basée sur l'utilisation d'amorces universelles pour les vertébrés (amplifiant la région 12SV5) et d'oligonucléotides de blocage. Bien que non quantitative, cette méthode s'est montrée robuste, adaptée à l'étude de prédateurs à très large spectre de proies, et très résolutive pour identifier les proies au niveau du genre et de l'espèce. Nous l'avons appliquée à l'étude du régime alimentaire du chat léopard (Prionailurus bengalensis) qui s'est avéré très diversifié (mammifères, oiseaux, amphibiens et poissons) dans les deux populations du Pakistan étudiées. Avec la même approche, nous avons démontré la réalité du conflit entre l'homme et le léopard commun (Panthera pardus) dont le régime est presque exclusivement composé d'animaux domestiques. Enfin, nous avons pu proposer des actions de conservations pertinentes après avoir montré que le régime de la très menacée panthère des neiges (Panthera uncia) est principalement composé d'ongulés sauvages. / Information on food webs is central to understand ecosystem functioning. It also provides information of ecosystem stability by evaluating the resource availability and use. Obtaining information on the diet can be critical especially when dealing with elusive carnivores, which are difficult to observe. However, these large carnivores are keystone species that influence the ecosystem through trophic cascades and maintain biodiversity. Thus, precise knowledge of their diet is a prerequisite for designing conservation strategies of these endangered species. Direct and indirect monitoring as well as invasive and non-invasive approaches that have been used to study the diet are either biased or have a low resolution. The DNA-based analysis of feces is an alternative method that may provide better information. It can be implemented through a metabarcoding approach, which is the simultaneous identification of multiple species from a single environmental sample containing degraded DNA by using Next Generation Sequencing. In this case, the use of universal primers for vertebrates amplifying all potential prey also amplifies the predator DNA when it belongs to a close taxon (e.g. mammals). Thus, the PCR products obtained from feces extracts will mainly consist of predator sequences and may not represent the full diet. The use of oligonucleotides specifically blocking the amplification of the predator DNA may overcome this problem. We have developed such a method based on the concomitant use of a universal primer pair (12SV5, amplifying all vertebrates) and blocking oligonucleotides for identifying the prey DNA fragments from predators feces. Even if the method developed is not quantitative, it is robust and adequate for studying predator with a very large dietary range and has a better resolution than traditional methods for identifying prey at the genus or species level. This methodology has been applied to characterize the highly eclectic diet (mammals, birds, amphibians and fishes) of two Northern-Pakistani populations of leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). With the same approach, we demonstrated the importance of the Human-leopard conflict in Pakistan, due to the almost exclusive consumption of domestic animals by the common leopard (Panthera pardus). We could also highlight relevant conservation issues for the highly endangered and cryptic snow leopard (Panthera uncia), based on the fact that it mainly fed on wild ungulates.