Isabelle Boulogne

• Full Professor/Professeur des Universités
• Professor (Full) at University of the French Antilles

exDNA is found in various organisms, including plants. However, plant exDNA has thus far received little attention related to its origin and role in the RET (root extracellular trap). In this study, we performed the first high-throughput genomic sequencing of plant exDNA from a Fabaceae with worldwide interest: soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). The...

The root extracellular trap (RET) has emerged as a specialized compartment consisting of root AC-DC and mucilage. However, the RET’s contribution to plant defense is still poorly understood. While the roles of polysaccharides and glycoproteins secreted by root AC-DC have started to be elucidated, how the low-molecular-weight exudates of the RET con...

Nowadays, many products are available in the plant biostimulants market. Among them, living yeast-based biostimulants are also commercialized. Given the living aspect of these last products, the reproducibility of their effects should be investigated to ensure end-users’ confidence. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of a living yea...

Simple Summary There is a growing demand for molecules of natural origin for biocontrol and biostimulation, given the current trend away from synthetic chemicals. Leachates extracted from plantain stems, obtained after the biodegradation of plant material, were characterized to test their potential role as fungicides, plant defense elicitors, and/o...

Climate changes and environmental contaminants are daunting challenges that require an urgent change from current agricultural practices to sustainable agriculture. Biostimulants are natural solutions that adhere to the principles of organic farming and are believed to have low impacts on the environment and human health. Further, they may contribu...

The marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum is currently used for various industrial applications, including the pharmaceutical industry as a cost-effective cell biofactory to produce Biologics. Recent studies demonstrated that P. tricornutum can produce functional monoclonal antibodies, such application is currently limited by the production yield...

The production of biologics in mammalian cells is hindered by some limitations including high production costs, prompting the exploration of other alternative expression systems that are cheaper and sustainable like microalgae. Successful productions of biologics such as monoclonal antibodies have already been demonstrated in the diatom Phaeodactyl...

Laminarans are of interest because they have been shown to induce various immune responses in animals and plants. These β-D-glucans differ from each other by their branching rate, which is possibly responsible for their biological activities. In the present study, we characterized a laminaran fraction extracted from Laminaria hyperborea and named L...

The root extracellular trap (RET) consists of root-associated, cap-derived cells (root AC-DCs) and their mucilaginous secretions, and forms a structure around the root tip that protects against biotic and abiotic stresses. However, there is little information concerning the changes undergone by the RET during droughts, especially for tree species....

Investigation of protein tracking in living plant cells has became a routine experiment with the emergence of reporter genes encoding fluorescent tags. Unfortunately, this imaging strategy is not applicable to glycans because their synthesis is not directly encoded by the genome. Indeed, complex glycans result from sequential additions and/or remov...

Aphanomyces euteiches is an oomycete pathogen that causes the pea root rot. We investigated the potential role of early belowground defense in pea (susceptible plant) and faba bean (tolerant plant) at three days after inoculation. Pea and faba bean were inoculated with A. euteiches zoospores. Root colonization was examined. Root exudates from pea a...

Endogenous viruses form an important proportion of eukaryote genomes and a source of novel functions. How large DNA viruses integrated into a genome evolve when they confer a benefit to their host, however, remains unknown. Bracoviruses are essential for the parasitism success of parasitoid wasps, into whose genomes they integrated~103 million year...

Ants use venom for predation, defense, and communication; however, the molecular diversity, function, and potential applications of ant venom remains understudied compared to other venomous lineages such as arachnids, snakes and cone snails. In this work, we used a multidisciplinary approach that encompassed field work, proteomics, sequencing, chem...

Root border cells (BCs) and their associated secretions form a protective structure termed the root extracellular trap (RET) that plays a major role in root interactions with soil borne microorganisms. In this study, we investigated the release and morphology of BCs of Glycine max using light and cryo-scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also exa...

Ants use venom for predation, defence and communication, however, the molecular diversity, function and potential applications of ant venom remains understudied compared to other venomous lineages such as arachnids, snakes and cone snails. In this work, we used a multidisciplinary approach that encompassed field work, proteomics, sequencing, chemic...

This study presents a novel three-dimensional (3D) tool “3D in vitro choice” for chemotaxis assays with cyst nematodes. The original 3D in vitro choice was customized through digital printing. Freshly hatched second stage juveniles (J2s) of the cyst nematode Globodera pallida were used as the nematode model to illustrate chemo-orientation behavior...

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely produced plasticizer that is considered to act as an endocrine-disrupting chemical in vertebrates and invertebrates. Indeed, many studies have shown that DEHP alters hormonal levels, reproduction and behavior in vertebrates. Few studies have focused on the effects of DEHP on insects, although DEHP is f...

Most endogenous viruses, an important proportion of eukaryote genomes, are doomed to slowly decay. Little is known, however, on how they evolve when they confer a benefit to their host. Bracoviruses are essential for the parasitism success of parasitoid wasps, whose genomes they integrated ~103 million years ago. Here we show, from the assembly of...

Main conclusion: Arabinogalactan protein content in both root extracellular trap and root exudates varies in three Sahelian woody plant species that are differentially tolerant to drought. At the root tip, mature root cap cells, mainly border cells (BCs)/border-like cells (BLCs) and their associated mucilage, form a web-like structure known as the...

Natural products have proven to be an immeasurable source of bioactive compounds. The exceptional biodiversity encountered in Amazonia, alongside a rich entomofauna and frequent interactions with various herbivores is the crucible of a promising chemodiversity. This prompted us to search for novel botanical insecticides in French Guiana. As this Fr...

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals encompass a variety of chemicals that may interfere with the endocrine system and produce negative effects on organisms. Among them, bisphenol A is considered a major pollutant in numerous countries. The harmful effects of BPA on environmental and human health are intensely studied. However, the effects of BPA on terr...

The root cap releases cells that produce massive amounts of mucilage containing polysaccharides, proteoglycans, extracellular DNA (exDNA) and a variety of antimicrobial compounds. The released cells-known as border cells or border-like cells-and mucilage secretions form networks that are defined as root extracellular traps (RETs). RETs are importan...

Pea (Pisum sativum) root cap releases a large number of living border cells that secrete abundant mucilage into the extracellular medium. Mucilage contains a complex mixture of polysaccharides, proteins and secondary metabolites important for its structure and function in defense. Unlike xyloglucan and cellulose, pectin and arabinogalactan proteins...

The leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) causes serious damage to crops and protected areas due to its foraging activity. The main method of control of this species consists of the use of synthetic insecticides that can lead to environmental damage and negative side effects on human health. Consequently, alternative strategies, such as...

Extensins are cell wall glycoproteins, belonging to the Hydroxyproline-Rich GlycoProtein (HRGP) family, which are involved in many biological functions, including plant growth and defence. Several reviews have described the involvement of HRGPs in plant immunity but little focus has been given specifically to cell wall extensins. Yet, a large set o...

En la presente edición, producto del trabajo colectivo del Programa, han sido sometidos a la metodología de validación científica TRAMIL, 399 usos significativos de partes de 130 especies reportadas en 11.004 encuestas etnofarmacológicas, llevadas a cabo en 64 comunidades incluyendo la mayor parte de los países de la cuenca del Caribe. De los usos...

Emergence of polyphagous herbivorous insects entails significant adaptation to recognize, detoxify and digest a variety of host-plants. Despite of its biological and practical importance - since insects eat 20% of crops - no exhaustive analysis of gene repertoires required for adaptations in generalist insect herbivores has previously been performe...

Four new sesquiterpene alkaloids (1-4) with a β-dihydroagrofuran skeleton and a new triterpenoid (5) were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of Maytenus oblongata stems. Their structures were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy as well as MS and ECD experiments. The M. oblongata stem EtOAc extract and the pure compounds isolated were te...

The genus Nasutitermes is among the most abundant wood-feeding Termitidae and an extremely diverse and heterogeneous group in terms of its biogeography and morphology. Despite the major role of several Nasutitermes species as structural pests, the phylogenetic status of this genus is still unclear, along with a confused taxonomy and species identif...

In the Caribbean, Pterocarpus officinalis swamp forest, a coastal freshwater wetland, has been locally transformed by human activities into Colocasia esculenta monoculture (under the swamp forest) or pasture (where deforestation has occurred). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of three land uses of this tropical wetland (swamp forest...

Stress tolerance generally declines with age as a result of functional senescence. Age-dependent alteration of stress tolerance can also occur in early adult life. In Drosophila melanogaster, evidence of such a decline in young adults has only been reported for thermotolerance. It is not known whether early adult life entails a general stress toler...

The TRAMIL library is dedicated to the photos, scans, drawings, plants herbarium, thin sections specimen and monographs of the Caribbean medicinal plants selected by TRAMIL network. The scans are carried out starting from fresh plants. The plants herbarium are generally the official vouchers of medicinal plants selected by ethnopharmalogical survey...

The Caribbean Basin has complex biogeographical and cultural histories that have shaped its highly diverse botanical and cultural landscapes. As a result, the current ethnic composition of the Basin is a heterogeneous mixture including Amerindian, Afrocaribbean and a wide range of Mestizo populations. A comparison was done of the medicinal plant re...

Leaf-cutting ants (Formicidae, Myrmicinae, Attini) are found on the American continent and in the Caribbean and are known to live in symbiosis with a fungus. Among Attini tribe, Atta and Acromyrmex are the two genera, which commonly depend on fresh plant leaves and other plant material for their fungal garden. Overall, these ants are among the most...

Leaf-cutting ants (Formicidae, Myrmicinae, Attini) are found on the American continent and in the Caribbean and are known to live in symbiosis with a fungus. Among Attini tribe, Atta and Acromyrmex are the two genera, which commonly depend on fresh plant leaves and other plant material for their fungal garden. Overall, these ants are among the most...

The TRAMIL program aims to understand, validate and expand health practices based on the use of medicinal plants in the Caribbean, which is a “biodiversity hotspot” due to high species endemism, intense development pressure and habitat loss. The antibacterial activity was examined for thirteen plant species from several genera that were identified...

Leaf-cutting ants of the Attini tribe are a major pest of agricultural and forestry productions in the New World. Economic losses caused by these ants were estimated at several million dollars per year. These ants need to live in symbiosis with a basidiomycete fungus. Due to their mutualistic interaction with the symbiotic fungus, management of Att...

Leaf-cutting ants, Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich), are considering among the most important pest species of the New World. Until now, the main insecticides used for controlling these ants were synthetic chemicals. Leaf-cutting ants live in obligate symbiosis with abasidiomycete fungus, Leucocoprinus gongylophorus (Heim) Moeller. The crucial role o...

Leaf-cutting ants are considered to be one of the most important pest species of the New World. Until now, control strategies against these leaf-cutting ants have mainly been synthetic chemicals. The aim of the present study was to test the action of several plant extracts quoted as an example by TRAMIL participative surveys for their insecticidal...

L’insecte modèle choisi pour cette étude est celui qui suscite de nombreuses inquiétudes, aussi bien pour l’agriculture que pour les dommages causés dans les milieux naturels : la « fourmi manioc » ( Acromyrmex octospinosus Reich). Cette fourmi attine est originaire d'Amérique du Sud. Elle est présente sur son continent d’origine et dans certaines...

Leaf-cutting ants are fungus-growing ants. Their geographic distribution ranges from southern United States to northern Argentina, including the West Indies. Economic losses due to these ants were estimated at several million dollars per year. The latter statement makes they are considered as one of the most important pest species of the agricultur...

The aim of this study was a comparison of popular household remedies in primary health care in the communities of Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, the inhabited islands of 'Les Saintes' archipelago (Guadeloupe, French West Indies). Twelve ailments, with higher prevalence, were chosen in each island and a total of 216 families were interviewed using...