Sanhueza D. auteur aut IRD Chevillon C. auteur aut IRD Colwell R. auteur aut IRD Babonneau J. auteur aut IRD Marion E. auteur aut IRD Marsollier L. auteur aut IRD Guégan Jean-François auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access Equally contributed as co-supervisors of this work One sentence summary: Chitin increased Mycobacterium Ulcerans (MU) growth significantly providing a nutrient source or environmental support for the bacillus, thereby, providing a focus on the association between MU and aquatic arthropods. ABSTRACT Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU) is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, an emerging human infectious disease. However, both the ecology and life cycle of MU are poorly understood. The occurrence of MU has been linked to the aquatic environment, notably water bodies affected by human activities. It has been hypothesized that one or a combination of environmental factor(s) connected to human activities could favour growth of MU in aquatic systems. Here, we tested in vitro the growth effect of two ubiquitous polysaccharides and five chemical components on MU at concentration ranges shown to occur in endemic regions. Real-time PCR showed that chitin increased MU growth significantly providing a nutrient source or environmental support for the bacillus, thereby, providing a focus on the association between MU and aquatic arthropods. Aquatic environments with elevated population of arthropods provide increased chitin availability and, thereby, enhanced multiplication of MU. If calcium very slightly enhanced MU growth, iron, zinc, sulphate and phosphate did not stimulate MU growth, and at the concentration ranges of this study would limit MU population in natural ecosystems. specialized ZONE TROPICALE 052 020 92 art. no fiw067 [6 ] 2016 0168-6496 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010067158 10.1093/femsec/fiw067 0168-6496 [F B010067158] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010067158 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/depot/2016-05-11/010067158.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2016-05-11 2016-07-18 fdi:010067158 fre