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The first ever cloned calves, in INRA’s Developmental Biology and Reproduction research unit in Jouy en Josas. © INRA, PAILLARD Gérard

Press release

09 Dec 2016

Low birth rate after cloning: the consequences of highly disruptive interactions between uterus and embryo

When comparing cloned animal embryos and embryos that come about as a result of artificial insemination, there is a difference in gene expression at the moment implantation occurs in the uterus for more than 5 000 genes. Researchers at INRA and the University of California are shining the spotlight on this critical step for the survival of cloned embryos in cattle. Published in the 8 December 2016 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, these findings are furthering knowledge of hitherto poorly-understood mechanisms that govern interactions between cloned embryos and the uterus. They may hold the key to improving cloning in mammals.

Figures de cellules germinales en première division méiotique dans les testicules de souris Topaz1+/+ par comparaison aux Topaz1-/- présentant un arrêt de spermatogenèse.. © INRA, Béatrice Mandon-Pépin

News

17 Nov 2016

TOPAZ1, a germ cell specific factor, essential for male meiotic progression in mammals

Inactivation of the Topaz1 gene in mice leads to infertility of males and may explain some cases of infertility in humans.

Human neurons. © INRA, Muriel Coulpier

News

14 Nov 2016

Bornavirus: an equine virus implicated in brain diseases in humans?

Scientists in the Joint Research Unit for Virology* and their partners have offered some answers to this question. For the first time, they have demonstrated that a protein in the Borna virus is able to disturb the formation of neurons in the human brain. Their results support the hypothesis that some neuropsychiatric diseases could be of viral origin. These findings have been published in PLOS Pathogens.

Piglets suckling. © INRA, INRA

Press release

21 Sep 2016

More than 7 million bacterial genes in the pig gut

Pig is a main livestock species for food production worldwide and is also widely used as an animal model in biomedical research. Today we know that the many types of bacteria that inhabit the gut are important for health and disease. Knowledge of the genes of these bacteria and their function therefore constitutes the first step towards a more comprehensive understanding of how bacteria in the gut affect health and disease.

Intestinal epithelium and flora. © INRA, ROCHET Violaine

Press release

09 Sep 2016

Excellence in intestinal microbiota research: Harry Sokol winner of a 2016 ERC Starting Grant

Harry Sokol, a researcher specialised in the study of inflammatory bowel diseases, has been awarded the prestigious Starting Grant for 2016 by the European Research Council (ERC).

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