Spatio-temporal isotopic signatures (δ13 C and δ15 N) reveal that two sympatric West African mullet species do not feed on the same basal production sources.

Potential trophic competition between two sympatric mullet species, Mugil cephalus and Mugil curema, was explored in the hypersaline estuary of the Saloum Delta (Senegal) using δ(13) C and δ(15) N composition of muscle tissues. Between species, δ(15) N compositions were similar, suggesting a similar trophic level, while the difference in δ(13) C compositions indicated that these species did not feed from exactly the same basal production sources or at least not in the same proportions. This result provides the first evidence of isotopic niche segregation between two limno-benthophageous species belonging to the geographically widespread, and often locally abundant, Mugilidae family.

Systematics of the grey mullets (Teleostei: Mugiliformes: Mugilidae): molecular phylogenetic evidence challenges two centuries of morphology-based taxonomy.

The family Mugilidae comprises mainly coastal marine species that are widely distributed in all tropical, subtropical and temperate seas. Mugilid species are generally considered to be ecologically important and they are a major food resource for human populations in certain parts of the world. The taxonomy and systematics of the Mugilidae are still much debated and based primarily on morphological characters. In this study, we provide the first comprehensive molecular systematic account of the Mugilidae using phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequence variation at three mitochondrial loci (16S rRNA, cytochrome oxidase I, and cytochrome b) for 257 individuals from 55 currently recognized species. The study covers all 20 mugilid genera currently recognized as being valid. The family comprises seven major lineages that radiated early on from the ancestor to all current forms. All genera that were represented by two species or more, except Cestraeus, turned out to be paraphyletic or polyphyletic. Thus, the present phylogenetic results generally disagree with the current taxonomy at the genus level and imply that the anatomical characters used for the systematics of the Mugilidae may be poorly informative phylogenetically. The present results should provide a sound basis for a taxonomic revision of the mugilid genera. A proportion of the species with large distribution ranges (including Moolgarda seheli, Mugil cephalus and M. curema) appear to consist of cryptic species, thus warranting further taxonomic and genetic work at the infra-generic level.

Taxonogenomics description of Arcanobacterium urinimassiliense sp. nov., a new bacterial species isolated from urine sample.

Strain Marseille-P3248т is a new species from the order Actinomycetales that was isolated from the urine sample of a girl aged 20 months with rotavirus gastroenteritis. It is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium. Strain Marseille-P3248т exhibits 94.73% sequence similarity with Arcanobacterium pluranimalium strain M430/94/2, a phylogenetically related species with standing in nomenclature. Its genome size is 1 667 964 bp with 49.1% G + C content. Strain Marseille-P3248т (= CSURP3248) is the type strain of the new species Arcanobacterium urinimassiliense sp. nov.

Megasphaera vaginalis sp. nov. and Anaerococcus vaginimassiliensis sp. nov., new bacteria isolated from vagina of French woman with bacterial vaginosis.

Using the culturomics method, two strains were isolated, identified and characterized following the taxonogenomics concept. Megasphaera vaginalis sp. nov. strain Marseille-P4512 (= CSURP4512) and Anaerococcus vaginimassiliensis sp. nov. strain Marseille-P4857 (= CSURP4857) were isolated from the vagina of a French woman. The phylogenic tree, phenotypic criteria and genomic analysis described here clearly show that these two bacteria are different from previously known bacterial species with standing in nomenclature and new members of Firmicutes phylum.

Two new bacteria isolated from vagina of a patient with vaginosis: Atopobium massiliense sp. nov. and Butyricimonas vaginalis sp. nov.

Two new bacterial strains, Marseille-P4126 (=CSURP4126) and Marseille-P4593 (=CSURP4593), were isolated from the vaginal sample of a French woman with vaginosis. These strains were identified and characterized using the taxonogenomics method. The findings from phylogenetic tree interpretation, phenotypic criteria and genomic analysis provided here distinctly display that Atopobium massiliense sp. nov. and Butyricimonas vaginalis sp. nov. are new members of the genus Atopobium and Butyricimonas, respectively.

A pain in the rear.

Tuberculosis is an endemic disease in Senegal. Cutaneous forms are rare and are characterized by their clinical polymorphism. They account for 2% of the extrapulmonary locations of tuberculosis [1, 2]. We report an observation of a tuberculous gumma of the buttock that led to the discovery of an active pulmonary localization in an immunocompetent adult. A 47-year-old man was admitted for a painful swelling of the right buttock that had been developing for four years. The physical examination noted an indurated, multinodular, and polyfistulized plaque, with confluent yellowish pus emission, on the inferomedial face of the right buttock, associated with bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. Cutaneous tuberculosis was found in the histology, which showed TB granuloma, and the gastric tube fluid was positive for acid-fast bacilli. Thoracoabdominopelvic CT showed multiple basal acinar micronodules in both lungs. Serology was negative for both HIV and HBV. All signs of tuberculosis disappeared after six months of treatment. In endemic zones, cutaneous tuberculosis is characterized by its clinical polymorphism. It must also be looked for in any perineal abscess. Early management greatly improves the prognosis.

Taxono-genomics description of 'Lactobacillus raoultii sp. nov.', strain Marseille-P4006T, a new Lactobacillus species isolated from the female genital tract of a patient with bacterial vaginosis.

Strain Marseille-P4006T, a Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, non-sporulating, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, was isolated from the vaginal swab of a 45-year-old woman with recurrent bacterial vaginosis. We studied its phenotypic characteristics and sequenced its whole genome. The major fatty acids were C16:0 (48%), C19:1n9 (14%) and C18:0 (11%). The 3 070 142-bp-long genome contains 2855 protein-coding genes and 68 RNAs. Strain Marseille-P4006T exhibited 98.1% 16S rRNA similarity with Lactobacillus farraginis, the closest species phylogenetically. Thus, strain Marseille-P4006 is distinct enough to represent a new species for which we propose the name Lactobacillus raoultii sp. nov. The type strain is Marseille-P4006T.

Non-tubercular caseous adenopathy in Senegal.

The authors report the case of a 22-year-old man referred seven months after the onset of papulo-nodular skin lesions, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. Mycologic and histologic examination of skin lesions enabled the diagnosis of African histoplasmosis, by Histoplasma capsulatum var duboisii. The lymph nodes were caseous. The culture in Lowenstein-Jensen medium was negative.

Growth hormone and Prolactin-1 gene transcription in natural populations of the black-chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron acclimatised to different salinities.

The effects of salinity on the expression of genes coding for growth hormone (GH) and prolactin-1 (PRL1) were studied in various natural populations of the black-chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron from West Africa. Individuals were sampled in June 2005 in six locations in Senegal and the Gambia, at various salinities between 0 and 101. The poorest condition factors were recorded in the most saline sampling site and the best growth in the fish from a marine environment. The pituitary GH mRNA levels were significantly higher in fish adapted to seawater, whereas the PRL1 mRNA levels were highest in fish adapted to fresh- and brackish water. These results show that the PRL1 mRNA levels seem to reflect relatively well the differences in environmental salinity, in contrast to those of GH, which would tend instead to reflect the individual growth in each environment. However, no relation could be found between growth in the hypersaline areas and the expression profile of GH. Although the fish analysed were morphologically identical, the expression of genes coding for GH and PRL1 showed large differences between individuals. This inter-individual variation in gene expression remains poorly understood.

'Corynebacterium fournierii,' a new bacterial species isolated from the vaginal sample of a patient with bacterial vaginosis.

Here we describe briefly 'Corynebacterium fournierii' strain Marseille P2948 (= CSUR P2948 = DSM103271), a new bacterium that was isolated from the vaginal sample of a 21-year-old woman with bacterial vaginosis.

"Ezakiella massiliensis" sp. nov., a new bacterial species isolated from human female genital tract.

We report the primary characteristics of "Ezakiella massiliensis" strain Marseille P2951 (= DSM 103122 = CSUR P2951), a new member of the Ezakiella genus. Strain Marseille P2951 was isolated from a vaginal sample taken from an asymptomatic 20-year-old woman who had sex with another woman who had bacterial vaginosis.

'Anaerococcus mediterraneensis' sp. nov., a new species isolated from human female genital tract.

We report the principal characteristics of 'Anaerococcus mediterraneensis' strain Marseille P2765, a new member of the Anaerococcus genus. Strain Marseille P2765 was isolated in a vaginal sample of a 26-year-old patient with bacterial vaginosis.

"Vaginella massiliensis" gen. nov., sp. nov., a new genus cultivated from human female genital tract.

We relate the main characteristics of "Vaginella massiliensis" strain Marseille P2517 (= DSM 102346 = CSUR P2517), a new member of the Flavobacteriaceae family. The strain Marseille P2517 was cultivated from a vaginal swab from a healthy 22-year-old woman.

'Arcanobacterium urinimassiliense' sp. nov., a new bacterium isolated from the urogenital tract.

Herein we report the main characteristics of 'Arcanobacterium urinimassiliense' strain Marseille-P3248T (=CSUR P3248) isolated from a urine sample of a 54-day-old girl with rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Taxonogenomics and description of Vaginella massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., strain Marseille P2517T, a new bacterial genus isolated from the human vagina.

An obligate aerobic, Gram-negative, nonmotile and nonsporulating rod designated Marseille P2517 was isolated from the vaginal flora. We describe its features, annotate the genome and compare it to the closest species. The 16S rRNA analysis shows 93.03% sequence similarity with Weeksella virosa, the phylogenetically closest species. Its genome is 2 434 475 bp long and presents 38.16% G+C. On the basis of these data, it can be considered as a new genus in the Flavobacteriaceae family, for which we proposed the name Vaginella massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is Marseille P2517T.

'Peptoniphilus raoultii' sp. nov., a new species isolated from human female genital tract.

We report the principal characteristics of 'Peptoniphilus raoultii' strain KHD4 (= CSUR P0110), a new member of the Peptoniphilus genus. Strain KHD4 was isolated from the vaginal flora of a 33-year-old woman with bacterial vaginosis.

'Peptoniphilus pacaensis' sp. nov., a new species isolated from human female genital tract.

We relate here the primary characteristics of 'Peptoniphilus pacaensis' strain KHD5 (= CSUR P2271), a new member of the Peptoniphilus genus. Strain KHD5 was isolated from a vaginal sample of a 33-year-old woman exhibiting a bacterial vaginosis.

'Peptoniphilus vaginalis' sp. nov., a new species isolated from human female genital tract.

We relate here the main characteristics of 'Peptoniphilus vaginalis', strain KHD2 (= CSUR P0125 = DSM 101742), a new member of the Peptoniphilus genus, cultivated from a vaginal sample of a woman with bacterial vaginosis.

'Olegusella massiliensis' strain KHD7, a new bacterial genus isolated from the female genital tract.

We report the main characteristics of 'Olegusella massiliensis' gen. nov., sp. nov., strain KHD7 (= CSUR P2268 = DSM 101849), a new member of the Coriobacteriaceae family isolated from the vaginal flora of a patient with bacterial vaginosis.