Biology subjects

Dujardin, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Dujardin, S..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Influential landmarks

Geometric morphometrics based on two-dimensional landmarks is a powerful tool for distinguishing morphologically similar or cryptic taxa, an important asset in the fight against medically and veterinary important arthropods. While it is commonly assumed that increasing the number of landmarks should improve discriminatory power by capturing more shape information, our findings challenge this assumption. In terms of shape discrimination, we demonstrate that small subsets of landmarks can outperform full sets of landmarks. Examples are given in 6 insect families: Culicidae, Glossinidae, Muscidae, Psychodidae, Reduviidae and Tabanidae. In all of these examples where landmark-based geometric morphometry was effective in separating morphologically close taxa, the total number of landmarks was not as effective as some significantly smaller subsets. To find such performing subsets, we used a random approach. Thus, for each number of landmarks (subsets), we examined a random sample of their many possible combinations. This random search was compared to a simpler approach, called the hierarchical method, based on the contribution of each landmark to the overall distance between shapes. Both procedures have been integrated into the XYOM online software, providing accessible tools for efficient landmark selection and improved morphometric analysis. Author summaryLandmark-based geometric morphometrics describes shape in direct relation to the number of landmarks used. It is commonly assumed that increasing the number of landmarks allows for more information about shape, and when discriminating between groups or taxa, this strategy is expected to improve classification accuracy. Our results challenge this assumption. We demonstrate that subsets of landmarks, as small as three or four, can outperform the species classification obtained by the full set of landmarks, and we propose two methods for identifying them. We analyze the possible causes of these counter-intuitive results and the perspectives they could open for morphometric studies.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2024

A brain-shuttled antibody targeting alpha synuclein aggregates for the treatment of synucleinopathies

Parkinsons disease and multiple system atrophy are members of a class of devastating neurodegenerative diseases called synucleinopathies, which are characterized by the presence of alpha-synuclein (-Syn) rich aggregates in the brains of patients. Passive immunotherapy targeting these aggregates is an attractive disease-modifying strategy. Such an approach must not only demonstrate target selectivity towards -Syn aggregates, but also achieve appropriate brain exposure to have the desired therapeutic effect. Here we present preclinical data for a next-generation antibody for the treatment of synucleinopathies. SAR446159 (ABL301) is a bispecific antibody composed of an -Syn-binding immunoglobulin (IgG) and an engineered insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF1R) binding single-chain variable fragment (scFv), acting as a shuttle to transport an antibody across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). SAR446159 binds tightly and preferentially to -Syn aggregates and prevents their seeding capacity in vitro and in vivo. Incubation with SAR446159 reduced -Syn preformed fibrils (PFFs) uptake in neurons and facilitated uptake and clearance by microglia. In wild type mice injected in the striatum with -Syn PFFs, treatment with SAR446159 reduced the spread of aSyn pathology as measured by phosphorylated -Syn staining and lessened the severity of motor phenotypes. Additionally, in 9-month-old transgenic mice overexpressing -Syn (mThy1--Syn, Line 61), repeated treatment with SAR446159 reduced markers of -Syn aggregation in the brain. SAR446159 had significantly higher brain and CSF penetration over a sustained period than its monospecific counterpart (1E4) in rats and monkeys. The binding properties of SAR446159 combined with its brain-shuttle technology make it a potent, next-generation immunotherapeutic for treating synucleinopathies.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Targeting tau mitigates mitochondrial fragmentation and oxidative stress in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Understanding the mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is crucial for the development of new therapies. Recent evidence suggest that tau may be involved in ALS pathogenesis. Here, we demonstrated that hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau-S396) is mis-localized to synapses in human post-mortem motor cortex (mCTX) across ALS subtypes. Treatment with ALS synaptoneurosomes (SNs) derived from post-mortem mCTX, enriched in pTau-S396, increased oxidative stress, induced mitochondrial fragmentation, and altered mitochondrial connectivity in vitro. Furthermore, our findings revealed that pTau-S396 interacts with the pro-fission dynamin-related protein (DRP1), and similar to pTau-S396, DRP1 accumulated in ALS SNs across ALS subtypes. Lastly, reducing tau with a specific bifunctional degrader, QC-01-175, prevented ALS SNs-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and oxidative stress in vitro. Collectively, our findings suggest that increases in pTau-S396 may lead to mitochondrial fragmentation and oxidative stress in ALS and decreasing tau may provide a novel strategy to mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=173 SRC="FIGDIR/small/436505v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (37K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d805baorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1601f49org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a62abforg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@40699f_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG O_LIpTau-S396 mis-localizes to synapses in ALS. C_LIO_LIALS synaptoneurosomes (SNs), enriched in pTau-S396, increase oxidative stress and induce mitochondrial fragmentation in vitro. C_LIO_LIpTau-S396 interacts with the pro-fission GTPase DRP1 in ALS. C_LIO_LIReducing tau with a specific degrader, QC-01-175, mitigates ALS SNs-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and increases in oxidative stress in vitro. C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

LRP1 and SORL1 regulate tau internalization and degradation and enhance tau seeding

The identification of the apoE receptor, LRP1, as an endocytic receptor for tau raises several questions about LRP1s role in tauopathies. Is internalized tau, like other LRP1 ligands, delivered to lysosomes for degradation? Does LRP1 internalize pathological tau leading to cytosolic seeding? Do other, related receptors participate in these processes? We confirm that LRP1 rapidly internalizes tau, leading to efficient lysosomal degradation. Employing brain homogenates from human Alzheimer brain, we find that LRP1 also mediates cytosolic tau seeding. We additionally found that another apoE receptor, SORL1, a gene implicated in AD risk, also mediates tau endocytosis, degradation, and release into the cytoplasm of seed competent species. These data suggest a role for these apoE receptors in tau uptake, as well as the competing processes of degradation and release to the cytoplasm. The balance of these processes may be fundamental to spread of neuropathology across the brain in Alzheimer disease.

neuroscience↗