BAILLY-BECHET , Marc

Genes lacking homology in other species are systematically found in genomes and have various important functions [1]. The presence of some of these so-called orphan genes can be explained by extensive divergence from pre-existing genes up to the point where no homologues can be identified. However, another possibility is de novo gene birth,...

This article shows a simplified protocol for the identification of root-knot nematode species (Meloidogyne spp.). A biochemical study sets out that the species of these nematodes can be differentiated by their enzyme phenotype and in particular with their esterases. This identification method is reliable. It is based on the differential...

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the transfer of genes between species outside the transmission from parent to offspring. Due to their impact on the genome and biology of various species, HGTs have gained broader attention, but high-throughput methods to robustly identify them are lacking. One rapid method to identify HGT candidates is to...

During the last decades, metagenomics has highlighted the diversity of microorganisms from environmental or host-associated samples. Most metagenomics public repositories use annotation pipelines tailored for prokaryotes regardless of the taxonomic origin of contigs. Consequently, eukaryotic contigs with intrinsically different gene features,...

Great white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) exhibit life-history parameters and ecological traits thought to be associated with social learning, and advanced cognitive processing more generally. In this study we investigated whether this species can acquire novel behavior socially in a foraging context. Birds from the test group watched a...

Despite reproducing without sexual recombination, Meloidogyne incognita is an adaptive and versatile phytoparasitic nematode. This species displays a global distribution, can parasitize a large range of plants, and can overcome plant resistance in a few generations. The mechanisms underlying this adaptability remain poorly known. At the...

The soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti can establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the model legume Medicago truncatula. The rhizobia induce the formation of a specialized root organ called nodule, where they differentiate into bacteroids and reduce atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Little is known on the mechanisms involved in nodule...

The soil microbiome remains poorly understood, but unravelling its genetic diversity is essential, given the pivotal functions primarily mediated through their protein arsenal [1]. Although short-read (SR) shotgun metagenomics provided exciting insights into microbiome gene diversity, it failed to deliver comprehensive microbial genome...

The soil microbiome remains poorly understood, but unraveling its genetic diversity is essential, given the pivotal functions primarily mediated through their protein arsenal [1]. Although short-read (SR) shotgun metagenomics provided interesting insights into microbiome gene diversity, it fell short in delivering comprehensive microbial...

Soil is one of the most diverse microbial ecosystems, yet a significant portion of its microbial "dark matter" remains uncharacterised. Sequencing technologies have improved our understanding, but challenges persist in comprehensively characterising soil microbial diversity. In this study, we employed PacBio HiFi long-read (LR) and Illumina...

The root‐knot nematodes are the most devastating worms to worldwide agriculture with Meloidogyne incognita being the most widely distributed and damaging species. This parasitic and ecological success seems surprising given its supposed obligatory clonal reproduction. Clonal reproduction has been suspected based on cytological observations but,...

Adaptation to changing environmental conditions represents a challenge to parthenogenetic organisms, and until now, how phenotypic variants are generated in clones in response to the selection pressure of their environment remains poorly known. The obligatory parthenogenetic root-knot nematode species Meloidogyne incognita has a worldwide...

Current restrictions on the use of chemical nematicides have led to an increase in root-knot nematode (RKN) damages in horticultural crops. The effects of two sorghums as summer cover crops, Sorghum sudanense sudan-grass cv. 'Piper' or sudangrass hybrid [S. bicolor x S. sudanense] '270911', respectively with low and high dhurrin contents, were...

L1 retrotransposons are transposable elements and major contributors of genetic variation in humans. Where L1 integrates into the genome can directly impact human evolution and disease. Here, we experimentally induced L1 retrotransposition in cells and mapped integration sites at nucleotide resolution. At local scales, L1 integration is mostly...

Root-knot nematodes (genus Meloidogyne) are the major contributor to crop losses caused by nematodes. These nematodes secrete effector proteins into the plant, derived from two sets of pharyngeal gland cells, to manipulate host physiology and immunity. Successful completion of the life cycle, involving successive molts from egg to adult, covers...

Abstract Using long-read sequencing, we assembled and unzipped the polyploid genomes of Meloidogyne incognita , M. javanica and M. arenaria , three of the most devastating plant-parasitic nematodes. We found the canonical nematode telomeric repeat to be missing in these and other Meloidogyne genomes. In addition, we find no evidence for the...

Root-knot nematodes (genus Meloidogyne) exhibit a diversity of reproductive modes ranging from obligatory sexual to fully asexual reproduction. Intriguingly, the most widespread and devastating species to global agriculture are those that reproduce asexually, without meiosis. To disentangle this surprising parasitic success despite the absence...