Stress granules are not present in Kras mutant cancers and do not control tumor growth.

Stress granules (SG) are membraneless ribonucleoprotein-based cytoplasmic organelles that assemble in response to stress. Their formation is often associated with an almost global suppression of translation, and the aberrant assembly or disassembly of these granules has pathological implications in neurodegeneration and cancer. In cancer, and particularly in the presence of oncogenic KRAS mutations, in vivo studies concluded that SG increase the resistance of cancer cells to stress.

KRAS protein expression becomes progressively restricted during embryogenesis and in adulthood.

KRAS mutants are common in many cancers and wild-type KRAS is essential in development as its absence causes embryonic lethality. Despite this critical role in development and disease, the normal expression pattern of KRAS protein is still largely unknown at the tissue level due to the lack of valid antibodies. To address this issue, we used the mouse model in which the Citrine-KRAS (Cit-K) fusion protein functions as a validated surrogate of endogenous KRAS protein that can be detected on tissue sections by immunolabeling with a GFP antibody.

N-Acetylcysteine Reduces the Pro-Oxidant and Inflammatory Responses during Pancreatitis and Pancreas Tumorigenesis.

Pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, appears to be a main driver of pancreatic cancer when combined with mutations. In this context, the exact redox mechanisms are not clearly elucidated. Herein, we treated mice expressing a mutation in pancreatic acinar cells with cerulein to induce acute pancreatitis.

Dynamic Regulation of Expression of KRAS and Its Effectors Determines the Ability to Initiate Tumorigenesis in Pancreatic Acinar Cells.

Pancreatic acinar cells are a cell type of origin for pancreatic cancer that become progressively less sensitive to tumorigenesis induced by oncogenic Kras mutations after birth. This sensitivity is increased when Kras mutations are combined with pancreatitis. Molecular mechanisms underlying these observations are still largely unknown.

Ant-lepidopteran associations along African forest edges.

Working along forest edges, we aimed to determine how some caterpillars can co-exist with territorially dominant arboreal ants (TDAAs) in tropical Africa. We recorded caterpillars from 22 lepidopteran species living in the presence of five TDAA species. Among the defoliator and/or nectarivorous caterpillars that live on tree foliage, the Pyralidae and Nymphalidae use their silk to protect themselves from ant attacks.

Impact of iron-reducing bacteria on the corrosion rate of carbon steel under simulated geological disposal conditions.

The current projects for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste rely on underground burial and confinement by metallic envelopes that are susceptible to corrosion processes. The impact of microbial activity must be fully clarified in order to provide biological parameters for predictive reactive transport models. This study investigates the impact of hydrogenotrophic iron-reducing bacteria (Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1) on the corrosion rate of carbon steel under simulated geological disposal conditions by using a geochemical approach.

Two new species in the genus Geritola Libert, 1999 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae, Epitolini).

Two Geritola (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) species, closely related to the Central African G. nitidica, have been recognised as new to science. G.

Impact of microbial activity on the radioactive waste disposal: long term prediction of biocorrosion processes.

This study emphasizes different experimental approaches and provides perspectives to apprehend biocorrosion phenomena in the specific disposal environment by investigating microbial activity with regard to the modification of corrosion rate, which in turn can have an impact on the safety of radioactive waste geological disposal. It is found that iron-reducing bacteria are able to use corrosion products such as iron oxides and "dihydrogen" as new energy sources, especially in the disposal environment which contains low amounts of organic matter. Moreover, in the case of sulphate-reducing bacteria, the results show that mixed aerobic and anaerobic conditions are the most hazardous for stainless steel materials, a situation which is likely to occur in the early stage of a geological disposal.

Influence of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria on the corrosion of low carbon steel: Local electrochemical investigations.

Low carbon steel has been considered a suitable material for component of the multi-barrier system employed on the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). A non negligible amount of dihydrogen (H2) is expected to be produced over the years within the geological repository due to the anoxic corrosion of metallic materials and also to the water radiolysis. The influence of the activity of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) and iron-reducing bacteria (IRB) on carbon steel corrosion is considered in this study because of the high availability of energetic nutriments (H2, iron oxides and hydroxides) produced in anoxic disposal conditions.

Combined geochemical and electrochemical methodology to quantify corrosion of carbon steel by bacterial activity.

The availability of respiratory substrates, such as H2 and Fe(II,III) solid corrosion products within nuclear waste repository, will sustain the activities of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) and iron-reducing bacteria (IRB). This may have a direct effect on the rate of carbon steel corrosion. This study investigates the effects of Shewanella oneidensis (an HOB and IRB model organism) on the corrosion rate by looking at carbon steel dissolution in the presence of H2 as the sole electron donor.

Two new Aphnaeus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) species from Liberia.

Two new butterfly species belonging to the genus Aphnaeus (Lycaenidae: Theclinae), A. mirabilis sp. n.

Recurrent haemophagocytic syndrome in an HIV-infected patient.

We describe a case of recurrent haemophagocytic syndrome (HS) in an HIV-infected patient.The first episode was associated with active human herpesvirus 8 infection and progressive Kaposi's sarcoma which was successfully treated with splenectomy, foscarnet and chemotherapy. The second episode was triggered by a Clostridium difficile colitis and resolved completely after treatment with metronidazole only.

Risk factors for meticillin resistance and outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection in a Belgian university hospital.

The aim of this study was to identify institution-specific risk factors for meticillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (BSI) and to evaluate the impact of meticillin resistance on mortality. A total of 154 episodes of S. aureus BSI were identified between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2004: 66 meticillin-resistant S.

Hemophagocytic syndrome associated with extracerebral toxoplasmosis in an HIV-infected patient.

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a clinical entity that combines non-specific clinical and biological features. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by a bone marrow examination. HPS may be primary or secondary to a malignancy or to an infectious or autoimmune disease.

Molecular hydrogen from water radiolysis as an energy source for bacterial growth in a basin containing irradiating waste.

Although being deionized, filtered and therefore normally deeply oligotrophic, the water from a basin containing irradiating waste presented relatively high bacterial concentrations (ca 10(5) cfu ml(-1)) and biofilm development at its surface and on the walls. This water was characterized by a high concentration of molecular H2 due to water radiolysis, while its electrochemical potential was around +400 mV due the presence of dissolved O2 and active oxygen compounds. This combination of H2 availability and of an oxidant environment is completely original and not described in nature.

[Papillomaviruses and genital cancer: the value of detection and eradication].

Human viruses (especially papillomavirus type 16, 18, 33, herpesvirus type 2 and cytomegalovirus) are implicated in malignant transformation, particularly in cervical cancer. Screening and treatment of male partners are mandatory not only for the patient but also for epidemiological purposes, including prevention of cervical carcinoma. Careful examination with a magnifying glass of the anogenital skin and mucosa of the male partner is performed after application of 5% acetic acid in water and small reacting areas can be treated more accurately.