THE MYCOPLASMA GROUP AT CIRAD-ASTRE

UMR ASTRE AnimalS – health – Territories – Risks – Ecosystems

The mycoplasma group is part of ASTRE (AnimalS, health, Territories, Risks, Ecosystems), a pluri-disciplinary research unit of CIRAD and INRA focused on the improvement of animal health, public health and food security in developing countries.

Control of ruminant mycoplasmoses

Ruminant mycoplasmoses are responsible for serious losses in livestock production all over the world. The mycoplasma group at CIRAD-ASTRE, is dedicated to the study of ruminant mycoplasmoses, such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia, having a great economic impact in developing countries and threatening free territories, notably in Europe.

Objectives and main research activities

To understand the diversity and evolution of mycoplasma genomes

We compare the genomes of mycoplasma strains at local to world-wide scales for classification and diagnostic purposes, for epidemiological investigations and to study the origin and evolution of these pathogens (their emergence and dissemination in different countries and continents).

Suggested reading

Dupuy V, Verdier A, Thiaucourt F, Manso-Silván L (2015). A large-scale genomic approach affords unprecedented resolution for the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary history of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia. Veterinary Research;46:74. (https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-015-0208-x)

To understand the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis

We develop and apply diverse approaches to unravel the mechanisms involved in mycoplasma virulence and attenuation and to characterise the immune response of the host upon infection, which is essential for the development of novel control strategies.

Suggested reading

Bonnefois T, Vernerey MS, Rodrigues V, Totté P, Puech C, Ripoll C, Thiaucourt F, Manso-Silván L (2016). Development of fluorescence expression tools to study host-mycoplasma interactions and validation in two distant mycoplasma clades. J Biotechnol. 2016 Oct 20;236:35-44. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.08.006)

Rodrigues V, Holzmuller P, Puech C, Wesonga H, Thiaucourt F, Manso-Silván L (2015). Whole Blood Transcriptome Analysis of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides-Infected Cattle Confirms Immunosuppression but Does Not Reflect Local Inflammation. PLoS One 2015 Oct 2;10(10):e0139678. (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139678)

Totté P, Puech C, Rodrigues V, Bertin C, Manso-Silván L, Thiaucourt F (2015). Free exopolysaccharide from Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Veterinary Research; 4622 (21 October 2015). (https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-015-0252-6)

Bertin C, Pau-Roblot C, Courtois J, Manso-Silván L, Tardy F, Poumarat F, Citti C, Sirand-Pugnet P, Gaurivaud P, Thiaucourt F (2015). Highly Dynamic Genomic Loci Drive the Synthesis of Two Types of Capsular or Secreted Polysaccharides within the Mycoplasma mycoides Cluster. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 81, 676-687. (https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02892-14)

To develop and validate performant diagnostic assays for disease surveillance and control

We develop molecular detection and typing tools (based on the analysis of genomic polymorphisms), as well as specific sero-diagnostic assays, which have been extensively validated in the field. A better understanding of the distribution and prevalence of pathogens is essential for the implementation of appropriate control strategies.

Suggested reading

Peyraud A, Poumarat F, Tardy F, Manso-Silván L, et al., Thiaucourt F. (2014). An international collaborative study to determine the prevalence of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia by monoclonal antibody-based cELISA. BMC Vet Res;10:48. (https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-10-48)

To validate new vaccines and vaccine strategies

We characterise the protective immune response induced by vaccination for the assessment of new vaccines and vaccine formulations that we develop and validate. Our group currently leads the project MultiVacc, which aims to produce a bivalent vaccine against heartwater and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia.

Suggested reading

Totté P, Yaya A, Sery A, Wesonga H, Wade A, Naessens J, Niang M, Thiaucourt F (2013). Characterization of anamnestic T-cell responses induced by conventional vaccines against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. Plos One. 2013;8(2):e57509. (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0057509)

Thiaucourt F, Pible O, Miotello, G, Nwankpa N, Armengaud J (2018). Improving quality control of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia vaccine with tandem mass spectrometry, Proteomics. 2018 Jun 17:e1800088. (https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201800088)

CIRAD-ASTRE is a reference laboratory for CBPP and CCPP for the OIE (F. Thiaucourt, OIE expert) and for the FAO

We provide reference material, expert analyses and advice for disease surveillance and control. We organise practical trainings and inter-laboratory proficiency testing for capacity building in the affected regions. CIRAD-ASTRE is accredited, ISO 17025 by the French Committee of Accreditation to perform competition ELISAs for CBPP and CCPP (http://www.cofrac.fr/; ACCRÉDITATION N° 1-2207)