Publications

2026

• Impact des feux de brousse sur la biodiversité et la sécurité alimentaire : évaluation des effets écologiques, agronomiques et socio-économiques
  
  • Dzokom Alexis
  Sahel Nature Consulting Revue, Sahel Nature Consulting Revue (March 2025), 2026, 09 (02), pp.1-14. <div><p>Les feux de brousse constituent un phénomène récurrent dans de nombreuses régions sahéliennes et savanes, influençant profondément les écosystèmes et les moyens de subsistance humains. Cette étude analyse les impacts écologiques des feux de brousse sur la biodiversité (flore et faune) et leur incidence sur la sécurité alimentaire des populations locales. En combinant des approches écologiques, agronomiques et socio-économiques, nous évaluons comment les brûlis affectent la composition des espèces, la productivité des sols, les rendements agricoles et les stratégies d'adaptation des communautés. Les résultats montrent une perte significative de 28 % de biodiversité, une réduction de la résilience écosystémique atteignant jusqu'à 35 % un an après les incendies saisonniers, et des effets négatifs sur les rendements agricoles, avec une réduction moyenne des rendements de 22 % dans les parcelles situées à proximité des zones brûlées, menaçant directement la sécurité alimentaire. Les données suggèrent aussi que des pratiques intégrées de gestion de feu et des programmes de restauration écologique peuvent atténuer ces impacts.</p></div>
• Impact of Bushfires on Biodiversity and Food Security: Assessment of Ecological, Agronomic, and Socio-Economic Effects
  
  • Dzokom Alexis
  Sahel Nature Consulting Revue, Sahel Nature Consulting Revue (March 2025), 2026, 09 (02), pp.1-14. <div><p>Bushfires constitute a recurrent phenomenon in many sahelian and savannah regions, profoundly influencing ecosystems and human livelihoods. This study examines the ecological impacts of bushfires on biodiversity (flora and fauna) and their implications for the food security of local populations. By integrating ecological, agronomic, and socio-economic approaches, we assess how burning practices affect species composition, soil productivity, agricultural yields, and community adaptation strategies. The results indicate a significant biodiversity loss of 28%, a reduction in ecosystem resilience of up to 35% one year after seasonal fires, and adverse effects on agricultural production, with an average yield decline of 22% in plots located near burned areas, thereby directly threatening food security. The findings further suggest that integrated fire management practices and ecological restoration programs can mitigate these impacts.</p></div>
• Pentanucleotide guanine-rich WGGGW repeats, including CANVAS AGGGA repeats, form a variety of noncanonical structures
  
  • Wang Jiawei
  • Qiu Dehui
  • Zhou Jun
  • Mergny Jean-Louis
  • Alberti Patrizia
  Nucleic Acids Research, Oxford University Press, 2026, 54 (3). Abstract Short tandem repeats (STRs) are an important component of the human genome as they contribute to genetic diversity and can influence gene expression and disease susceptibility. STRs are important in the context of CANVAS (Cerebellar Ataxia, Neuropathy, Vestibular Areflexia Syndrome) genetic disease as expansions of AGGGA repeats within the RFC1 gene are associated with the development of this neurodegenerative disorder. Interestingly, the RFC1 expanded motifs are pentanucleotides that differ from the nonpathogenic AGAAA pentanucleotide motif present in reference genomes. The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of the mutated pentanucleotide expansion in CANVAS are still unknown. Several groups have shown that DNA and RNA containing AGGGA repeats fold into G-quadruplexes (G4s) under physiological K⁺ conditions. In this study, we reveal a more complex than expected behavior, in which DNA WGGGW motifs (where W is A or T) may adopt different G4 and non-G4 structures depending on sequence, repeat number and ionic conditions. These findings are relevant as they may help explain the genomic instability and pathogenicity specifically associated with AGGGA repeats among the WGGGW motifs. (10.1093/nar/gkag051)
  DOI : 10.1093/nar/gkag051
• Collagen microarchitecture from polarized light imaging: a biomechanics perspective
  
  • Kunz Miriam Bohlmann
  • Lee Po-Yi
  • Latour Gaël
  • Yang Bin
  • Schanne-Klein Marie-Claire
  • Kurokawa Kazuhiro
  • Sigal Ian A
  Journal of Biomedical Optics, Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers, 2026, 31 (1), pp.010902. Significance: Collagen, the main load-bearing component in tissue, is present in all animals and forms a variety of networks from the fibrils, fibers, bundles, and lamellae into which it self-assembles. The collagen microstructure is different among tissue types, and the different microstructures give rise to tissue-specific mechanical properties. Therefore, methods for visualizing collagen fibers and their orientation are essential for understanding the biomechanical properties of tissue. Aim: Our aim in this review is to provide the basis for understanding the methodology of polarized light imaging methods and how they can be used to characterize collagen microstructure. Approach: We begin with a description of collagen microstructure and its relationship to tissue biomechanics, a basic formalism of polarized light, and how collagen interacts with polarized light. We then describe polarized light microscopy and its various forms, particularly instant polarized light microscopy, then polarizationsensitive optical coherence tomography, and last, polarization-resolved secondharmonic generation microscopy. Results: We describe methods for imaging collagen microstructure with polarized light from in vivo methods to high-resolution volumetric imaging of tissue sections. Conclusions: We intend to help those interested in using polarized light to image and understand the relationship between collagen microstructure and biomechanics. (10.1117/1.jbo.31.1.010902)
  DOI : 10.1117/1.jbo.31.1.010902
• Selective Disruption of Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrial DNA via G-Quadruplex-Binding Ligand RHPS4 Provides a Novel Antimalarial Strategy
  
  • Salim Mariam
  • Paloque Lucie
  • Reyser Thibaud
  • Nardella Flore
  • Augereau Jean-Michel
  • Luo Yu
  • Britton Sébastien
  • Mergny Jean-Louis
  • Gervais Virginie
  • Benoit-Vical Françoise
  • Gomez Dennis
  BioRxiv, BioRxiv, 2026. ABSTRACT Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum remains a major health threat, killing over 600,000 people annually. The spread of resistance to all major antimalarials, including artemisinins, highlights the urgent need for new drugs with distinct mechanisms of action. Here we show that the G-quadruplex ligand RHPS4, an acridine derivative, displays strong antiplasmodial activity against both drug-sensitive and -resistant P. falciparum strains and clinical isolates. RHPS4 primarily targets the trophozoite stage and induces major mitochondrial alterations, including reduction of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and transcriptional dysfunctions. Bioinformatic analyses identified at least eight putative G4-forming sequences within the parasite’s mtDNA. Biophysical studies confirmed G4 folding of at least one sequence and its interaction with RHPS4. These findings indicate that RHPS4 disrupts P. falciparum mitochondrial metabolism through G4 stabilization, leading to parasite death, and establish mtDNA G4 structures as novel therapeutic targets for antimalarial development. (10.64898/2026.01.07.698092)
  DOI : 10.64898/2026.01.07.698092