Uncoupling programmed DNA cleavage and repair scrambles the Paramecium somatic genome.

In the ciliate Paramecium, precise excision of numerous internal eliminated sequences (IESs) from the somatic genome is essential at each sexual cycle. DNA double-strands breaks (DSBs) introduced by the PiggyMac endonuclease are repaired in a highly concerted manner by the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway, illustrated by complete inhibition of DNA cleavage when Ku70/80 proteins are missing. We show that expression of a DNA-binding-deficient Ku70 mutant (Ku70-6E) permits DNA cleavage but leads to the accumulation of unrepaired DSBs.

[Educating adolescents about the influence of the media via the French program « Service sanitaire »].

Introduction: Gathered within the context of the French “Service Sanitaire des Etudiants en Santé” (SSES), the leaders of a local prevention project and the coordinators of the said device have joined forces to propose a course dedicated to media education. Sharing their target population: middle school students, the aim was to put health students in a position to disseminate prevention interventions integrating the potential influence of digital media, in the region’s middle schools.

Objective: The present study proposes to evaluate the integration of this media education module into the local SSES.

Patient navigation for colorectal cancer screening in deprived areas: the COLONAV cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a Patient Navigation Intervention targeting deprived patients for Colo-Rectal Cancer (CRC) screening participation.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 5 districts. Peer Lay Patient Navigators were recruited to operate in deprived areas.

Developmental timing of programmed DNA elimination in recapitulates germline transposon evolutionary dynamics.

With its nuclear dualism, the ciliate constitutes a unique model to study how host genomes cope with transposable elements (TEs). harbors two germline micronuclei (MICs) and a polyploid somatic macronucleus (MAC) that develops from one MIC at each sexual cycle. Throughout evolution, the MIC genome has been continuously colonized by TEs and related sequences that are removed from the somatic genome during MAC development.

Functional diversification of Paramecium Ku80 paralogs safeguards genome integrity during precise programmed DNA elimination.

Gene duplication and diversification drive the emergence of novel functions during evolution. Because of whole genome duplications, ciliates from the Paramecium aurelia group constitute a remarkable system to study the evolutionary fate of duplicated genes. Paramecium species harbor two types of nuclei: a germline micronucleus (MIC) and a somatic macronucleus (MAC) that forms from the MIC at each sexual cycle.