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On 1 March, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) announced the launch of several major new sequencing initiatives, including the assembly of complete genomic sequences for a dozen new organisms.
Two of these new research programs are focused on mammalian models: the sequencing of the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) genome, and the characterization of genetic variations in eight commonly used strains of laboratory rat. The marmoset is in common use in neurobiological research. Its genome, when sequenced, will represent the most distantly related nonhuman primate sequence yet completed.
The remaining projects involve the sequencing of 11 nonmammalian genomes, representing a broad range of organisms with potential relevance to biomedical and disease research. Among the new species being sequenced are the small skate (Raja erinacea), one of the first species to emerge with an adaptive immune system and a closed, pressurized circulatory system, and the sea slug (Aplysia californica), a valuable research model for learning and memory.
The resulting data should prove a considerable boon to the research community by providing detailed genomic information for species that represent key points in the evolutionary tree, shedding new light on the ancestry and evolution of important structural and functional elements of the human genome.
The New D1 Arkéma Play-Offs System Explained
The new D1 Arkéma play offs puts Lyon's season at risk. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe regular season of France's D1 Arkema concluded this Wednesday afternoon with some thrilling results.
While Lyon, PSG, and Paris FC were already assured of qualifying for the 4-placed playoffs, and Bordeaux and Lille's regulation to D2 (renamed Second League next season) was confirmed, FC Fleury 91 had to defeat Montpellier to secure its fourth place.
But a 2-3 put an end to their exciting season.
At the same time, Amandine Miquel's Stade de Reims, who did not have their destiny in their hands, had a tough challenge. They were going head-to-head with the French Cup winners, PSG.
Luckily for them, they did not face the most determined PSG side and secured a 2-1 win.
These two results combined allowed Stade de Reims, fifth, one point behind FC Fleury 91 before the matches' kickoff, to snatch the fourth qualifying place for the playoffs.
The semi-finals will therefore feature a Paris region derby between PSG and Paris FC (Saturday, May 11, at 9 p.M.), followed by Lyon-Reims on Sunday (5 p.M.).
The two semi-final winners will face off in the final of the D1 Arkéma.
What Is This New League Format?Jean-Michel Aulas, Lyon's former President, is the new President of the Professional league. (Photo ... [+] by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe President of the new Women's Professional Soccer League, Jean-Michel Aulas, Lyon's former President, is behind the new play-offs' idea.
He defends this new system, poorly received by the Lyon management, which according to him will increase the "competitiveness" of the championship.
The new season of D1 women's soccer delivered its implacable verdict on Wednesday: Olympique Lyonnais won its 17th French championship title in the last 18 editions, with a comfortable cushion of 11 points ahead of PSG. Really?
That's what you would have thought, but not really.
Because Lyon just won the "regular" season, and apparently, that's not enough to win the country's league title anymore.
They will now have to win the play-offs. But it's not really like the NBA's endless best-of-seven battles.
Being consistent is no longer key to being rewarded.
Despite crushing the competition this season, finishing the regular season first with 11 points ahead of PSG and 26 over Stade de Reims, 4th and last qualified in the play-offs, Lyon wasn't guaranteed the title.
They will have to play two additional matches with everything at stake.
"There are other solutions than putting everything on the line over two matches to have more competitiveness in French women's soccer," insists Vincent Ponsot, OL's CEO, who hopes to see OL win the championship for the 17th time in its history.
"The women's D1 should have kept its known system."
OL's Haitian Melchie Dumornay agrees with her CEO.
Melchie Dumornay isn't convinced of the play-offs' fairness. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty ... [+] Images)
Getty Images"This new formula is not necessarily negative," she confided to 20 Minutes last month. "It allows clubs to show themselves, to prove themselves as they'll try to book a place in the play offs. But for me, the French women's D1 had to remain as it was. It was its identity, like the other major European championships which have kept their values."
After having reigned so much over the women's D1 Arkéma as president of OL, Jean-Michel Aulas is the man who undertook this reform last year, which existed in another time in France, from 1999 to 2004, aka before any outline of a professional contract.
The Broadcasters' Demand For Last-Minute Suspense"The broadcasters wanted suspense until the end."
Announced on April 29 as the President of the new Women's Professional Soccer League, Aulas fiercely defends the play-offs.
In an interview given Monday to 20 Minutes, JMA explains himself.
"At the FFF, we worked on the promotion of professional women's soccer. In the negotiations with the TV broadcasters, we had a small handicap: they wanted a greater competitiveness between the clubs and suspense until the end."
"They wanted us to present an attractive product. And I saw in these play-offs a chance for everyone to compete. It will put pressure on clubs until the end. In life, democracy has always made it possible to change things in the medium and long term. 10 clubs out of 12 were in favor of the play-offs, so we considered it to be a majority."
The two teams to refuse the play-offs idea were, of course, France's best, namely Lyon and Paris. They have monopolized the first two places in D1 in 12 of the last 13 seasons.
If PSG is rather discreet in the media on the subject, OL's CEO Vincent Ponsot was very offensive regarding the choice of his former boss.
"In terms of meritocracy, this is not fair."
In the opposite camp, we find for example David Fanzel, FC Fleury 91's Sporting Director.
"It adds spice to our season. It is a brilliant initiative for French women's soccer, which has been widely criticized for the low level of adversity in its championship. Lyon and Paris are not alone and if women's soccer wants to grow, it needs everyone. We must be united. We should not only think about our own interests."
Canal Plus' TV RightsSimple. For increased TV rights, the League must no longer see OL and PSG dominate the D1 Arkéma.
Since the 2023 agreement for the broadcast of the women's D1 on Canal+ until 2029, the play-offs formula is also guaranteed in the contract with the encrypted channel.
Aulas, the vice president of the FFF, cites in this sense the establishment of a license that will prevent clubs from "not having satisfactory human and technical infrastructures".
The new Women's Professional Soccer League will go on the hunt for bad pitches, will ban synthetic pitches, and will ensure that the television broadcast of matches can take place in optimal conditions.
The key is that there are "bonuses to be achieved" from Canal + based on criteria linked to the TV audiences generated but also to "respect for competitiveness".
The European Cards Are On The TableCould we see the 2024/2025 UWCL without Olympique Lyonnais? (Photo by Clive Brunskill / POOL / AFP)
POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesIf Stade de Reims are excited about their qualification to the play-offs, their excitement doubles when they think of a possible Champions League participation. It would be the first time in the club's history.
To do so, upsetting Lyon in the semi-finals is an option.
The other option, in case of a defeat against Lyon, is winning the third-place match.
This season, the future champion of France will directly qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage, while the second and third-placed clubs will play the preliminary rounds.
"To be at risk of losing the title but also not qualifying to Europe next season is a total heresey," complains Vincent Ponsot.
A Higher Budget For Women's Soccer"I personally regret that we didn't take advantage of the 2019 World Cup that we hosted here in France," Aulas says.
"We fully intend to better use the hype following the Paris 2024 Olympics, also thanks to an economic model which has been completely transformed so that this professional League is the best in Europe, ahead of England."
"At the last FFF Executive Committee, I voted for an investment over 5 years of between 50 and 70 million euros in order to give a dynamic to professional women's soccer. »
If FC Barcelona has just easily won its fifth title in a row in Spain, and Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg have constantly occupied the first 2 places in Germany for nine years, England appears to be the example to follow, since Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal are within 5 points in the middle of the final sprint.
Can the D1 Arkéma's playoffs be the needed fuel to the rebirth of French soccer?
Nestlé: A Journey Of Research And Innovation In The Fight Against Allergies
Breast milk is perfectly composed to ensure that a child has the best start in life. Beyond the nutritional benefits, it has long been recognised that breastfeeding supports the infant's protective immune response against common infections and reduces the risk of developing a range of non-communicable diseases, including allergic conditions. However, not all mothers are able to exclusively breastfeed their baby. For these mothers, access to formula with a nutrient and benefit profile inspired by breast milk is paramount.
Food allergies present a major global health problem that, according to the World Allergy Organization, affects an estimated 240-550 million people worldwide. The risk of developing allergies is strongly influenced by early life experiences. Delivery mode, breastfeeding, early complementary feeding practices and environmental exposures are perhaps the most important risk modifiers for food allergy in infants and young children.Nestlé's experience of more than 30 years in the field of paediatric allergy research has resulted in multiple clinically proven innovations which have helped to improve allergy prevention and management. This has also improved the quality of life of infants and their families. Nestlé Research is leading the way by connecting strong internal expertise with scientists and clinicians from world-leading academic institutions. In addition, Nestlé has successfully partnered with several start-up companies who have developed novel technologies and products in the field of allergy.
Nestlé: a leader in specialised nutrition and allergyOver the past decades, the rising prevalence of allergies stimulated Nestlé Research to develop novel clinical solutions. Nestlé's first partially hydrolysed formula was pioneered in 1987 in response to the surge in allergies observed since the 1960s. A hydrolysed formula contains cow's milk proteins that have been partially or extensively reduced in size1. Nestlé's whey-based, partially hydrolysed formula (pHF-W) is the only clinically proven pHF-W with more than 20 publications demonstrating atopic dermatitis risk reduction2. The German Infant Nutritional Intervention Study (GINI), a large government-funded study on the prevention of allergic diseases in children, demonstrated that Nestlé's pHF-W significantly reduced the risk of atopic dermatitis by up to 50% in the first year of life3.
Participants of the GINI study have now been followed for more than 15 years4. This study has generated essential insights into the long-term health effects of pHF-W, extending from early infancy to adult life. While the findings from the GINI Study have been confirmed by numerous investigators, some studies have reported conflicting findings, as summarized in a recent meta-analysis5. In this context, it should be emphasized that each pHF-W is unique regarding its peptide profile (Fig. 1). This is likely to affect outcomes in clinical trials and a meta-analysis combining studies with different formulas and patient populations may miss beneficial effects of specific pHF-W products. When limiting the analysis to the Nestlé pHF-W, a peer-reviewed meta-analysis confirmed the abovementioned risk reduction for atopic dermatitis2. Today, its efficacy has been demonstrated in infants from different countries, independent of family risk for allergic disease6. Nestlé Research continues to investigate the different mechanisms of action that could further enable this benefit. The use of pHF-W in at risk infants who are not breastfed has been shown to be a cost-effective risk reduction strategy in various health care settings, when compared to feeding with formula made with intact cow's milk proteins7.
Nestlé also has a long history of developing solutions for the nutritional management of cow's milk protein allergy, with their first whey-based extensively hydrolysed formula (EHF) launched more than 30 years ago. Within the global Nestlé portfolio, there are two whey-based EHF. The first is a lactose-containing EHF suitable for the nutritional management of the majority of infants with cow's milk protein allergy, and the second is a lactose-free EHF designed for milk-allergic infants with persistent gastrointestinal problems. Nestlé has used state-of-the-art technologies and science to develop these formulas, applying consistent and high-quality manufacturing8 in order to safeguard efficacy (Fig. 1). The manufacturing process is designed to minimise residual allergen content and to prevent external contamination with cow's milk allergens. Moreover, all formulas have been tested in rigorous clinical trials to confirm their hypoallergenicity and ability to support normal infant growth9. More recently, Nestlé has added an amino acid-based formula to its range of hypoallergenic formulas which is indicated for infants with severe symptoms of cow's milk protein allergy and which, by design, is devoid of any residual cow's milk proteins or peptides.
Figure 1: Nestlé advances to deliver products for allergy risk reduction and management. Nestlé's unique processes and technologies generate a partially hydrolysed formula indicated for the risk reduction of the atopic dermatitis in infants2, a hypoallergenic extensively hydrolysed formula9 and an amino acid-based formula, for infants diagnosed with cow's milk protein allergy.
Shaping the developing gut microbiomeThe link between the commensal bacteria in our intestines (also known as the gut microbiome) and allergic diseases has been the focus of extensive research. Several studies have shown that infants delivered by Caesarean section or receiving antibiotics in early life have different gut microbiome compositions, and that these differences accompany a higher risk of developing allergies later in life10. This provides an opportunity to support the development of the microbiome in non-breastfed infants using probiotics (to deliver 'good' bacteria straight into the intestine), specific fibres or prebiotics (promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria). More recent studies investigating the relationship between microbiome, fibre and subsequent risk of allergies11 have also demonstrated a role for postbiotics (bacterial metabolites, such as short chain fatty acids) in reducing allergic airway inflammation and supporting immune modulation. Postbiotics have since become an active field of study within Nestlé Research.
Human milk oligosaccharides are complex carbohydrates which are a major component of breast milk. Research done on the developing gut microbiome has shown that human milk oligosaccharides in breast milk confer a range of clinical benefits, including a reduced risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, as well as positive effects on overall gut health and even brain development12. Nestlé has pioneered the addition of two human milk oligosaccharides in EHF and amino acid based formula. HMO supplementation has been shown to reduce respiratory tract infections in healthy infants13. Furthermore, early preclinical evidence has linked human milk oligosaccharides with enhanced tolerance following allergen challenges. Human milk oligosaccharides may thus stimulate the immune system and reduce the risk of food allergy12.
Early food allergen introductionEmerging evidence suggests that exposure to dietary allergens in early life can reduce the risk of food allergies. The Learning Early About Peanut (LEAP) trial is a landmark investigation of early oral peanut exposure in high-risk infants14. In that study, introducing peanut into the diet of infants between 4 and 11 months of age reduced the prevalence of peanut allergy by 81%, compared to those who had strictly avoided peanut14. The emergence of baby food products containing one or multiple food allergens reflects a paradigm shift towards the early introduction of food allergens which is now part of many national and international prevention guidelines15.
Building on the research exploring early food allergen introduction, Nestlé has invested in Before Brands, a company that has pioneered products in this space. Their main product is designed to introduce the infant's immune system to common food allergens in a baby-friendly format, as part of the complementary diet from 6 months of age16. Each serving contains a small amount of multiple food allergens which aim to prepare the infant's immune system to tolerate a diverse diet. The use of this multi-allergen product reduces pressure on parents to introduce and maintain foods containing allergens in their infant's diet, which in previous studies has been shown to be difficult to implement when following the allergy prevention guidelines17.
Oral immunotherapy for peanut allergyOnce a food allergy has been diagnosed, treatment relies on the strict dietary avoidance of the allergen. However, accidental exposure to food allergens, in particular to peanut, remains a significant problem. Oral immunotherapy is a novel treatment that aims to desensitize the patient (or prevent severe reactions) through gradual, repeated exposure to increasing amounts of a food allergen, such as peanut. Nestlé has recently acquired Aimmune Therapeutics, a California-based company that developed the only United States Food and Drug Administration-approved oral immunotherapy treatment for peanut allergy. Several studies have shown that desensitization is achieved in the majority of peanut-allergic patients, allowing them to tolerate at least two peanuts without experiencing significant allergic symptoms after accidental exposure18. This new treatment approach has global significance, since more than 1.6 million children and young people in the United States experience peanut allergy, with around one in five of these people needing to seek emergency treatment each year.
Advocating for science-based allergen labellingNestlé pledges in favour of science-based allergen labelling that is clear and trustworthy for consumers, and harmonised so that allergic consumers find the level of information that is relevant to their health and safety. This mission must be continuously supported by scientific advances in the domain of analytical method development, validation and standardisation, as well as by best-in-class allergen risk assessment19. As a result, allergen labelling is the visible tip of the iceberg underpinned by strong research and development.
Addressing unmet needs through cutting-edge scienceNestlé develops science-based products to address specific unmet needs of allergic patients. This extends from the 'classic' domain of cow's milk protein allergy in infants to peanut allergy in older children, and even environmental allergies, such as cat allergy.
Innovation in the field of allergy can present in different ways, when considering Nestlé Purina research. Allergies to cats affect up to 1 in 5 adults worldwide. In many cases, this sadly leads to owners having to re-home their pets. After more than a decade of research, Nestlé Purina is the first and only company to develop a cat food that significantly reduces the major cat allergen Fel d1 on cat hair and dander20. This innovative cat food is safe for the cat and has the potential to improve the quality of life for both cats and their owners by allowing closer interactions that strengthen the pet–human relationship20.
Future innovationsNestlé is committed to continuing its scientific leadership in the allergy field and to identifying innovative solutions with scientifically proven safety and efficacy in the prevention, management and treatment of allergies. Efforts to further enhance existing products and deliver future innovations are based on continuous research, particularly in the field of breast milk composition and its physiological benefits. A recent key innovation of Nestlé Research is the development of formulas supplemented with human milk oligosaccharides which modulate the gut microbiome and may enhance immune health12. Collaboration with academic groups to pursue the identification of infants at risk of developing allergies is another crucial element in Nestlé's scientific strategy. Building on innovative solutions for allergy prevention and management, Nestlé is currently collaborating with several significant start-up companies to accelerate the translation of early-stage discoveries into commercial products that will benefit allergic individuals and their families.
More information is available on https://www.Nestle.Com/randd/research-development-organization
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