Identification of an anti-inflammatory protein from Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a commensal bacterium deficient in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease (CD)-associated dysbiosis is characterised by a loss of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, whose culture supernatant exerts an anti-inflammatory effect both in vitro and in vivo. However, the chemical nature of the anti-inflammatory compounds has not yet been determined.

METHODS

Peptidomic analysis using mass spectrometry was applied to F. prausnitzii supernatant. Anti-inflammatory effects of identified peptides were tested in vitro directly on intestinal epithelial cell lines and on cell lines transfected with a plasmid construction coding for the candidate protein encompassing these peptides. In vivo, the cDNA of the candidate protein was delivered to the gut by recombinant lactic acid bacteria to prevent dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-colitis in mice.

RESULTS

The seven peptides, identified in the F. prausnitzii culture supernatants, derived from a single microbial anti-inflammatory molecule (MAM), a protein of 15 kDa, and comprising 53% of non-polar residues. This last feature prevented the direct characterisation of the putative anti-inflammatory activity of MAM-derived peptides. Transfection of MAM cDNA in epithelial cells led to a significant decrease in the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway with a dose-dependent effect. Finally, the use of a food-grade bacterium, Lactococcus lactis, delivering a plasmid encoding MAM was able to alleviate DNBS-induced colitis in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

A 15 kDa protein with anti-inflammatory properties is produced by F. prausnitzii, a commensal bacterium involved in CD pathogenesis. This protein is able to inhibit the NF-κB pathway in intestinal epithelial cells and to prevent colitis in an animal model.

New alterations of serum glycoproteins in alcoholic and cirrhotic patients revealed by high resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Plasma protein are synthesized and secreted by the liver. Several reports have shown that excessive consumption of ethanol interferes with the hepatic protein synthesis and/or secretion. This study was undertaken to identify the plasma/serum proteins altered in two groups of patients with different alcohol-related diseases: actively drinking alcoholic patients group without liver disease and alcohol cirrhotic patients group. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to separate proteins with high resolution. Proteins were detected by silver staining and glycoproteins were specifically visualized and analyzed after lectin blotting followed by chemiluminescence detection. Different protein alterations were identified in each group of patients. In the alcoholic group, two new glycosylation modifications of serum proteins were identified. An abnormal microheterogeneity of haptoglobin and alpha1-antitrypsin was detected in the serum of all alcoholic patients. We also characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis the carbohydrate deficient transferrin. The modifications of haptoglobin, alpha1-antitrypsin and transferrin present a similar change of charge and molecular weight in the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis pattern. These qualitative estimations support the hypothesis of a general mechanism of liver glycosylation alteration of serum proteins induced by excessive alcohol consumption. The immunoglobulin alterations were easily visualized and identified for the cirrhotic and the alcoholic patients. And finally, the decrease of haptoglobin and albumin spots for cirrhotic patients was confirmed.

Determinants of arterial stiffness in an apparently healthy population over 60 years

Arterial stiffness assessed by the pulse wave velocity (PWV), a non-invasive and reproducible method, predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The main determinants of arterial stiffness are well established in younger and middle-aged populations, but much less in the elderly. The aim of this study was to describe the determinants of arterial stiffness in elderly apparently healthy subjects. The study included 221 voluntary subjects born before 1944 (mean age 67.4+/-5.0 years), who had a standard health check-up at the 'Centre de Médecine Préventive' of Nancy. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by measuring the carotid-femoral PWV with the PulsePen automatic device. Clinical and biological parameters were evaluated at the same day. Measurements were valid and analysed in 207 subjects (94 women). Mean PWV was 9.39+/-2.64 m/s. Men showed higher PWV values than women (9.99+/-2.56 vs 8.66+/-2.56, P<0.001). In univariate analysis, PWV was correlated with age (r=0.26, P<0.001) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (r=0.40, P<0.001), and these relationships were similar in men and women. Subjects with hypertension (P<0.001), diabetes mellitus (P<0.001) and obesity (P<0.01) had higher values of PWV. In multiple regression analysis, PWV correlated positively and independently with age, male gender, MAP and diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, in an apparently healthy elderly population, the main determinants of arterial stiffness are the age, MAP, diabetes and gender. Our study also shows that the gender-related differences in arterial stiffness observed in middle-aged subjects are maintained in the elderly.

Comparative review of multifunctionality and ecosystem services in sustainable agriculture

Two scientific communities with broad interest in sustainable agriculture independently focus on multifunctional agriculture or ecosystem services. These communities have limited interaction and exchange, and each group faces research challenges according to independently operating paradigms. This paper presents a comparative review of published research in multifunctional agriculture and ecosystem services. The motivation for this work is to improve communication, integrate experimental approaches, and propose areas of consensus and dialog for the two communities. This extensive analysis of publication trends, ideologies, and approaches enables formulation of four main conclusions. First, the two communities are closely related through their use of the term "function." However, multifunctional agriculture considers functions as agricultural activity outputs and prefers farm-centred approaches, whereas ecosystem services considers ecosystem functions in the provision of services and prefers service-centred approaches. Second, research approaches to common questions in these two communities share some similarities, and there would be great value in integrating these approaches. Third, the two communities have potential for dialog regarding the bundle of ecosystem services and the spectrum of multifunctional agriculture, or regarding land sharing and land sparing. Fourth, we propose an integrated conceptual framework that distinguishes six groups of ecosystem services and disservices in the agricultural landscape, and combines the concepts of multifunctional agriculture and ecosystem services. This integrated framework improves applications of multifunctional agriculture and ecosystem services for operational use. Future research should examine if the framework can be readily adapted for modelling specific problems in agricultural management.

Rapid determination of alpha-amylase activity by use of a new chromogenic substrate

A new chromogenic substrate that is blocked at the nonreducing end, 4,6-benzylidene-alpha-D-4-nitrophenylmaltoheptaoside, is used to determine alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity in serum in a coupled assay with alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) and glucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.3) as auxiliary enzymes. The duration of the lag phase between 25 and 37 degrees C is less than 90 s, and the molar absorptivity of 4-nitrophenol is constant. The main cleavage product of the substrate by human pancreatic and salivary alpha-amylase is 4-nitrophenylmaltoside; in the presence of the auxiliary enzymes, greater than 95% of hydrolyzed substrate is accounted for as 4-nitrophenol. The combined reagent is stable for at least 20 days at 2-8 degrees C; precision is good, with CVs ranging from 1.7 to 3.3%; and the correlation of results with those by the 4-nitrophenylmaltoheptaoside method is excellent. Heparin (40 kilo-int. units/L), ascorbic acid (2.8 mmol/L), bilirubin (430 mumol/L), hemoglobin (170 mumol/L), glucose (55 mmol/L), and triglycerides (11 mmol/L) do not interfere in the assay.

Identification of new mitochondrial genome organizations in wheat plants regenerated from somatic tissue cultures

Plants have been regenerated from short-and long-term in vitro somatic tissue cultures made from immature embryos of the hexaploid wheat cultivar "Chinese Spring". The mitochondrial genome organization of each regenerated plantlet was studied, after one selfing, by probing Sal I-restricted total DNA with cloned Sal I fragments of wheat mitochondrial DNA derived from a segment of the genome, which displays marked structural changes in response to in vitro culture. Short-term in vitro cultures give rise to regenerated plants whose mitochondrial genome organization is either close to that of the parental cultivar or to that of embryogenic callus cultures, except for a single plant which has an organization resembling that of short-term non-embryogenic cultures. In contrast, all but one of the plants regenerated from long-term cultures exhibited a mitochondrial genome organization similar to that of long-term nonembryogenic cultures. In addition, extra labelled bands were detected in some of the regenerated plants with two of the probes used. These results emphasize the importance of the duration of the in vitro step preceding the regeneration process: the longer it is, the higher the probability is of obtaining mitochondrial DNA variability in regenerated plants. Furthermore, since increasing the duration of the in vitro stetp results in the production of regenerated plants with a mitochondrial genome organization resembling that of non-embryogenic tissue cultures, the question is thus raised as to whether regeneration from long-term cultures is suitable for use in plant breeding.

Current physical activity improves balance control during sensory conflicting conditions in older adults

Aging process is characterized by difficulties in ensuring balance control, especially in conditions of reduced or conflicting sensory information, leading to an increased risk of falling. Conversely, the practise of physical activities (PA) has been recognized as a good approach to improve the quality of balance control. This study aimed to investigate the influence of current and/or past PA on balance-related neurosensorial organization in older adults on the maintenance of the upright stance, especially during sensory conflicting situations. Postural control was evaluated by means of the Sensory Organization Test on 130 healthy noninstitutionalized volunteers aged over 65, split into four groups according to the presence or absence of PA before or after retirement. Subjects who practised PA for a long time (Gr1) and subjects who started PA after retirement (Gr2) displayed the best postural performances and better managed sensory conflicting situations compared to subjects who had stopped PA for many years (Gr3) and subjects who had never practised PA (Gr4). Multiple regression analyses revealed that current PA was the major determinant for postural parameters during sensorial conflict compared to age, gender, body mass index and past PA. Regular PA, even when started late in life, allows appropriate reorganization of the different components of postural control during sensory conflicting situations. Indeed, active subjects were more able to compensate for suppressed or perturbed sensory information by an increased usage of another referential and so to correct their posture by adopting a more appropriate balance strategy. Thus, PA counteracts the age-related decline of postural control and could consequently reduce the risk of falling.

Enzymic urea assay: a new colorimetric method based on hydrogen peroxide measurement

We describe a new enzymic colorimetric method in which urea is measured in serum by use of a single reagent mixture. Ammonia produced by urea hydrolysis, catalyzed by urease, reacts with glutamate and ATP in the presence of glutamine synthetase. The ADP so produced is assayed in reactions catalyzed sequentially by pyruvate kinase and pyruvate oxidase in a system that generates hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is measured at 500 or 550 nm in a reaction catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase, with phenol/4-aminophenazone as the chromogen. The reaction is complete in 15 min at 37 degrees C. The standard curve is linear up to a urea concentration of 40 mmol/L. Precision is good; CVs ranged from 2.5% to 3.1%. Results by the present method compared well with those by a candidate Reference Method and are not subject to interferences from commonly used drugs and anticoagulants.

Escherichia coli spontaneous community-acquired meningitis in adults: A case report and literature review

Gram-negative bacillary meningitis occurring post-trauma and following neurosurgical procedures has been described widely. However, reports of spontaneous cases are sparse, particularly community-acquired cases. Spontaneous community-acquired Escherichia coli meningitis is a rare (although increasingly seen) and specific entity that is poorly reported in the literature. A review of the literature identified only 43 cases of community-acquired E. coli meningitis reported between 1946 and 2016. This article describes two new cases of spontaneous community-acquired E. coli meningitis encountered in Marseille, France, and presents the results of a literature review on spontaneous community-acquired E. coli meningitis.

Experience with remifentanil-sevoflurane balanced anesthesia for abdominal surgery in neonates and children less than 2 years

BACKGROUND

Few data report remifentanil use in the neonatal population. We described here our experience with remifentanil-sevoflurane balanced anesthesia in neonates and children less than 2 years who underwent general anesthesia for abdominal surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied the pattern of remifentanil infusion associated with sevoflurane inhalation in preterm neonates (PTN; n = 18) (born before 37 weeks of gestation and <45 weeks of postmenstrual age), full-term neonates (FTN; n = 21) (born after 37 weeks of gestation and less than 29 days old) and older children up to 2 years (CUT; n = 24). We recorded heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean remifentanil dose and sevoflurane concentration before incision and at 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 105 min after incision.

RESULTS

We observed that remifentanil doses used during surgery were lower in PTN than in both FTN and CUT and lower in FTN than in CUT. This was because of a progressive decrease in remifentanil dose during anesthesia in PTN and FTN. Conversely, remifentanil doses increased in CUT during anesthesia. Sevoflurane concentrations were higher in CUT group than in PTN and FTN groups. MAP and HR did not vary in the three groups during anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

Remifentanil-sevoflurane anesthesia can be used for general anesthesia in neonates. We observed that anesthetists used lower doses of remifantanil and lower concentrations of sevoflurane in neonates compared with the older children.

2012 outbreak of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Indian Ocean Islands: identification of Coxsackievirus A24 in a returned traveller

In May 2012, a Coxsackievirus A24 haemorrhagic conjunctivitis was diagnosed in Marseille, France, in a traveller returning from the Comoros Islands. This case allowed identification of the cause of an ongoing outbreak of haemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Indian Ocean Islands, illustrating that returning travellers may serve as sentinels for infectious diseases outbreaks in tropical areas where laboratory investigation is limited.

Chlorometabolite production by the ecologically important white rot fungus Bjerkandera adusta

Two strains of the basidiomycete, Bjerkandera adusta (DAOM 215869 and BOS55) produce in static liquid culture, phenyl, veratryl, anisyl and chloroanisyl metabolites (CAM's) (alcohols, acids and aldehydes) as well as a series of compounds not previously known to be produced by Bjerkandera species: 1-phenyl, 1-anisyl, 1-(3-chloro-4-methoxy) and 1-(3,5-dichloro-4-methoxy) propan-1,2-diols, predominantly as erythro diastereomers with IR, 2S absolute configurations. 1-Anisyl-propan-1,2-diol and 1-(3,5-dichloro-4-methoxy)-propan-1,2-diol are new metabolites for which the names Bjerkanderol A and B, respectively, are proposed. Experiments with static liquid cultures supplied with 13C6- and 13C9-L-phenylalanine showed that all identified aromatic compounds (with the exception of phenol) can be derived from L-phenylalanine. For the aryl propane diols, the 13C label appeared only in the phenyl ring and the benzylic carbon, suggesting a stereoselective re-synthesis from a C7 and a C2-unit, likely aromatic aldehyde and decarboxylated pyruvate, respectively. Other compounds newly discovered to be derived from phenylalanine by this white rot fungus include phenylacetaldehyde and phenylpyruvic, phenylacetic, phenyllactic, mandelic and phenyl glyoxylic (benzoyl formic) acids. For both strains, cultures supplied with Na37Cl showed incorporation of 37Cl in all identified chlorometabolites. Veratryl alcohol and the CAM alcohols, which occur in both strains and can be derived from L-phenylalanine (all 13C-labelled), have reported important physiological functions in this white rot fungus. Possible mechanisms for their formation through the newly discovered compounds are discussed.

Respiratory symptoms or signs on the day of the study alter pulmonary function in teenagers

Pulmonary function variables (forced expiratory flows and vital capacity, static lung volume, alveolar N2 slope, closing volume and closing capacity) were compared in a group of 10-16 year old children with (n = 65) and without (n = 440) symptoms or signs of mild acute respiratory infection ('common cold'). Symptomatic children had a significant impairment of forced expiratory vital capacity and flows, with no change in static volumes, alveolar N2 slopes and closing volumes. The effect was present only in boys (in whom RV/TLC and phase III slope were borderline abnormal), was more evident in older children (13 to 16 years) and was independent of the smoking habits or the presence of chronic respiratory symptoms. The results are in favour of a predominant involvement of upper airways, but signs of lower airways dysfunction are present in boys and in children 13 to 16 years old.

Contrôle de la pression artérielle par le traitement antihypertenseur chez le sujet âgé de 60 ans et plus

PURPOSE

The prevalence or hypertension increases with aging, reaching more than 50% in people aged 60 years and older. The increase of systolic blood pressure is a major risk of cardiovascular event.

METHODS

With the aim of assessing risk factors in old people "in apparent good health", we analysed blood pressure and treatments in people aged 60 years and older who had a periodic check-up that was adapted to older people.

RESULTS

This check-up concerned, between April and December 2003, 1638 people with a mean age of 68 years (SD 5.7): 815 men and 823 women. Fourty percent had a systolic blood pressure (SBP) >or=140 mmHg (44% of men, 36% of women); 6% (8% of men, 4% of women) had a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >or=90 mmHg. A treatment for hypertension was followed by 473 people: 31% of men and 26% of women. Fifty percent were controlled for the SBP and the DBP. Fourty-two percent were not controlled for the SBP, but were controlled for the DBP. Seven percent were not controlled for the SBP nor the DBP. Only 3 subjects (<1%) were not controlled for the DBP, whereas they were controlled for SBP.

CONCLUSION

These results, combined with data of literature on the predominant role of SBP in cardio-vascular risk, as compared with DBP, underline the need for a better treatment of systolic hypertension in older people.

The NAD kinase: a phosphoryltransferase displaying an oxido-reductase activity--an electrophoretic study

The search for a valuable technique for rapid detection, after electrophoresis, of the activity of various NAD kinase isoforms possibly present in different plant materials, has revealed interesting peculiarities of this enzyme (EC 2.7.1.23; also called ATP:NAD+ 2'-phosphotransferase). At first and in the unique but obligatory presence of NAD, the NAD kinase acts almost instantaneously as an oxido-reductase (probably coupled with the transformation of NAD to NADH). In the additional presence of ATP, the transformation of NAD+ to NADP+ reinforced such an oxido-reductase activity. Final assays testing for the specificity of the phosphoryl donor revealed that not only ATP but also GTP, G6P, and even NADP could be the substrate; the efficiencies of these phosphoryl donors varied with the different isoforms of NAD kinase, evidenced in the different seeds tested, and compared with NAD kinase from heterotropically grown Euglena cells, and NAD kinase purified from chicken liver (from Sigma Chemical Co.).

Changes induced by oxygen in rat liver proteins identified by high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Molecular oxygen (O2) regulates the expression of a variety of genes. Several of the proteins that respond to changes in oxygen concentration have been identified in a variety of cell lines. We extend these previous studies by analyzing the effect of oxygen on the entire protein expression profile of an intact organ using high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. To this end, we used an isolated, in vitro perfused organ preparation to produce two groups of rat livers perfused with high (95% O2, 5% CO2) or low (95% N2, 5% CO2) oxygen concentrations. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis we compared the protein expression profiles of both groups of livers. Computer analysis of the files obtained after laser densitometry of the two-dimensional gels revealed two spots that were strongly up-regulated in high PO2 perfused livers compared with low PO2 perfused livers. These spots were analyzed by peptide mass fingerprinting analysis. These spots were identified as arginase 1 (liver-type arginase; EC 3.5.3.1) and mitochondrial enoyl-CoA hydratase 1 (EC 4.2.1.17). The possible role of these proteins in its new context of oxygen availability is discussed.

Pulmonary function following mild respiratory tract infections ("common cold") in teenagers

Ventilatory function--forced vital capacity (VC)--forced expiratory volume (in 1-sec forced expiratory flows) static lung volumes, closing volume, and phase III slope (single-breath N2 test) were compared in 94 children with and 436 children without a history of recent mild acute respiratory infection. Their age ranged from 10 to 16 years; subjects with symptoms on the day of the study were excluded. We found no difference in lung function between the two groups, with the exception of a slight (inconsistently significant) increase in closing volume (CV) and the CV/VC ratio. Although the influence of a persistent increase in interstitial lung pressure leading to early small airways closure cannot be ruled out, this isolated functional abnormality probably represents a spurious positive result, arising by chance when a large number of statistical tests are done.

[The alcoholic's self-image: a comparative study between men and women]

Self-image is a central problem in alcoholism. Most theories about the relationships between the self-image of alcoholics and their behaviour have been derived from -clinical observations rather than empirical research. Most observations have pointed out that alcoholics are prone to underevaluation of themselves and that low self-image is the basis of much of the problem drinker's behaviour. All the research on self-image has concluded that alcoholics have a lower self-image than non-alcoholics. Some empirical research has been conducted on the self-image of alcoholics; it has, however, been carried out only a few times, restricted to small samples, and concerned with a limited number of aspects of self-image. Moreover, most of these studies are not recent, and it seems that this area of research is not well covered. Even though the hypothesis of a bad self-image in alcoholics was validated by various older studies, the representation of alcoholism has since changed. Because of this evolution, the ways in which the disease has been viewed have changed. One can question to what extent changes in society can influence the self-image of alcoholics. This question seems all the more pertinent for alcoholic women, given the evolution of the female condition since the Seventies. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the self-image of alcoholics and non-alcoholics, and to compare the self-image of male and female alcoholics. Our hypotheses are that: 1) the self-image of an alcoholic is more negative than that of a non-alcoholic, and that: 2) female alcoholics have a more negative self-image than male alcoholics. Two groups of 30 subjects each were made up: a group of alcoholics recruited in an alcohol-dependency unit and a group of non-alcoholics recruited in a public place. The comparison of socio-demographic data between the alcoholic group and the control group does not show a significant difference except for age and level of schooling. The average age of the control group is younger than that of the alcoholic group. The level of schooling of the control group is higher than that of the alcoholic group. These differences can be explained by the mode of recruitment of the participants. The significant differences between the alcoholic men and women are at the level of the number of Years of alcoholism, the age at which the disorder began and the number of detoxification episodes. These differences are probably due to cultural background. Indeed, the age at which alcoholism begins is later in women and they consult more quickly than men. The two groups were assessed using the Tennessee Self Concept Scale and the Self Esteem Inventory. Other tests were used to control factors capable of influencing self-image (depression, socio-demographic data). The results show that the alcoholics have a more negative self-image than the control group. The alcoholics perceived themselves significantly less favourably on the identity (what I am), self-satisfaction (how I feel about myself), and behaviour (what I do) scores than did those in the control group. The alcoholics also saw themselves in a significantly more negative light than did those in the control group on the scores relating to physical self (body, health.), moral-ethical self (moral worth), personal self (evaluation of personality), family self (adequacy and value as a family member) and social self (adequacy and worth in interaction with others). The self-criticism subscale provided further evidence that the alcoholics were more open and self-critical than were those in the control group. Female alcoholics had a lower self-image than male alcoholics, but not in every aspect. There was a significant difference between the scores of alcoholic women and alcoholic men, for three of the subscales measured by the Tennessee Self Concept Scale: "general self-image", "personal self" and "self-criticism". The alcoholic women perceived themselves more negatively when it came to "self-satisfaction", "personal self" and "social self". They were however more positive than the men in the sectors of "identity", "behaviour", "physical self", "moral-ethical self", and "family self". The alcoholic men were more openly self-critical than the alcoholic women. Our results confirm the conclusions of empirical studies and of clinical observations. Alcoholics see themselves as generally inadequate and unworthy of respect. The changes in representations of this disease seem to have influenced the alcoholic's self-image, but it remains however very negative. The alcoholics'negative self-image is generalised and not specific to personality and behaviour. The -representation of alcoholism seems to have contributed to an improvement in the self-esteem and self-image of alcoholics, and in particular of female alcoholics. Even if the self-image of alcoholic women remains more negative than that of alcoholic men, it tends to bring back the self-image of alcoholic women to a level close to that of the men.

The behavior of oxygen as a collision-induced dissociation target gas

The unusual and unique ability of O2 as target gas in kV collision-induced dissociations, to enhance a specific fragmentation of a mass selected ion, has been examined in detail. The affected dissociations studied were the loss of CH3* from CH3CH+X (X = OH, CH3, NH2, SH); CH3* and C1* loss from CH3C+(C1)CH3; C2H5* loss from CH3CH2CH+X (X = OH and NH2); H* loss from +CH2OH and +CH2NH2; O loss from 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-C6H4(NO2)2+*; CH3NO+*; C6HsNO2+*; C5H5NO+* (pyridine N-oxide); 3- and 4-CH3C5H4NO+*. A general explanation of the phenomena, which was semiquantitatively tested in the present work, can be summarized as follows: the ion - O2 encounter excites the target molecules to their 3sigma(g)- state which resonantly return this energy to electronic state(s) in the ion. The excited ion now contains a sharp excess of a narrow range of internal energies, thus significantly and only enhancing fragmentations whose activation energies lie within this small energy manifold.

When perceptual laterality vanishes with curiosity: A study in dolphins and starlings

Sensory laterality is influenced by the individual's attentional state. There are variations in the way different individuals of a same species attend to stimuli. When confronted to novelty, some individuals are more explorative than others. Curiosity is composed of sensation and knowledge seeking in humans. In the present study, we hypothesized that more curious animals, i.e., showing more sensory exploration would be less lateralized than quietly attentive individuals, performing instead more gazing behaviours. In order to test this hypothesis and its possible generality, we performed two studies using two animal models (dolphins and starlings) and two modalities (visual and auditory) of presentation of species-specific and non-species-specific stimuli. Both dolphins and starlings presented more gazes for the species-specific stimuli and more exploratory components for the non-species-specific stimuli. Moreover, in both cases, the non-species-specific stimuli involved more lateralized responses whereas there was no or less clear laterality for the species-specific stimuli. The more exploratory dolphins and starlings also showed a decreased laterality: the more "curious" individuals showed no laterality. Further studies are needed on characterization of curiosity in relation to attention structure. The present study suggests that individual variations in sensory laterality may help disentangle the subtle differences between curiosity, attention and boldness.