CAV-2 Vector Development and Gene Transfer in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

The options available for genetic modification of cells of the central nervous system (CNS) have greatly increased in the last decade. The current panoply of viral and nonviral vectors provides multifunctional platforms to deliver expression cassettes to many structures and nuclei. These cassettes can replace defective genes, modify a given pathway perturbed by diseases, or express proteins that can be selectively activated by drugs or light to extinguish or excite neurons. This review focuses on the use of canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) vectors for gene transfer to neurons in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. We discuss (1) recent advances in vector production, (2) why CAV-2 vectors preferentially transduce neurons, (3) the mechanism underlying their widespread distribution via retrograde axonal transport, (4) how CAV-2 vectors have been used to address structure/function, and (5) their therapeutic applications

Liver segmentation in MRI: a fully automatic method based on stochastic partitions

There are few fully automated methods for liver segmentation in magnetic resonance images (MRI) despite the benefits of this type of acquisition in comparison to other radiology techniques such as computed tomography (CT). Motivated by medical requirements, liver segmentation in MRI has been carried out. For this purpose, we present a new method for liver segmentation based on the watershed transform and stochastic partitions. The classical watershed over-segmentation is reduced using a marker-controlled algorithm. To improve accuracy of selected contours, the gradient of the original image is successfully enhanced by applying a new variant of stochastic watershed. Moreover, a final classifier is performed in order to obtain the final liver mask. Optimal parameters of the method are tuned using a training dataset and then they are applied to the rest of studies (17 datasets). The obtained results (a Jaccard coefficient of 0.91 +/- 0.02) in comparison to other methods demonstrate that the new variant of stochastic watershed is a robust tool for automatic segmentation of the liver in MRI. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.This work has been supported by the MITYC under the project NaRALap (ref. TSI-020100-2009-189), partially by the CDTI under the project ONCOTIC (IDI-20101153), by Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia Spain, Project Game Teen (TIN2010-20187) projects Consolider-C (SEJ2006-14301/PSIC), "CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, an initiative of ISCIII" and Excellence Research Program PROMETEO (Generalitat Valenciana. Conselleria de Educacion, 2008-157). We would like to express our gratitude to the Hospital Clinica Benidorm, for providing the MR datasets and to the radiologist team of Inscanner for the manual segmentation of the MR images.López-Mir, F.; Naranjo Ornedo, V.; Angulo, J.; Alcañiz Raya, ML.; Luna, L. (2014). Liver segmentation in MRI: a fully automatic method based on stochastic partitions. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine. 114(1):11-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2013.12.022S1128114

On morphological hierarchical representations for image processing and spatial data clustering

Hierarchical data representations in the context of classi cation and data clustering were put forward during the fties. Recently, hierarchical image representations have gained renewed interest for segmentation purposes. In this paper, we briefly survey fundamental results on hierarchical clustering and then detail recent paradigms developed for the hierarchical representation of images in the framework of mathematical morphology: constrained connectivity and ultrametric watersheds. Constrained connectivity can be viewed as a way to constrain an initial hierarchy in such a way that a set of desired constraints are satis ed. The framework of ultrametric watersheds provides a generic scheme for computing any hierarchical connected clustering, in particular when such a hierarchy is constrained. The suitability of this framework for solving practical problems is illustrated with applications in remote sensing

Spécificité antigénique de l'Als3p de Candida albicans et implication de cette protéine dans l'interaction avec les constituants de l'hôte

Candida albicans is a commensal polymorphic yeast of the oral cavity and digestive tract which can cause severe infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. During pathogenic process, blastoconidia are generally observed in association with hyphae. Monoclonal antibody 3D9.3 (MAb 3D9.3) reacts with surface of Candida albicans germ tubes and recognizes a proteinic epitope carried by 3D9 antigen (3D9 Ag). We demonstrated that 3D9 epitope was localized on mycelium of the only C. albicans species. 3D9 Ag was purified and presents, by western blot, two intense bands at 140 and 180 kDa. Analysis by mass spectrometry allowed us to prove that Als3 protein was present in these two bands. Negative result of MAb 3D9.3 reactivity against an als3∃ /als3mutant strain and anti-Als3p serum reactivity against purified 3D9 antigen demonstrate that 3D9 Ag corresponds to Als3p. Moreover, we demonstrated that 3D9 epitope was present in Als3 proteins encoded by the two ALS3 alleles. Interaction assays was performed between Als3p and host components. MAb 3D9.3 inhibits interaction of germ tubes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells and buccal epithelial cells. Finally, analysis of strain deleted for ALS3 gene shows that Als3p was one of adhesins involved in direct interaction between germ tubes and washed resting blood platelets. Platelet receptor involved in binding of resting platelets to Als3p remains to be identified.Candida albicans est une levure polymorphique commensale de la cavité buccale et du tractus digestif qui peut entrainer des infections sévères particulièrement chez les patients immunodéprimés. A l'état pathogène, les formes blastospores sont généralement observées en association avec des éléments filamenteux. L'anticorps monoclonal 3D9.3 (AcM 3D9.3) réagit avec la surface des tubes germinatifs de C. albicans et reconnait un épitope protéique porté par l'antigène 3D9 (Ag 3D9). Nous avons montré que l'épitope 3D9 est présent uniquement sur les éléments mycéliens de la seule espèce C. albicans. L'Ag 3D9 a été purifié et présente, en Western-Blot, deux zones de marquage plus intense à 140 et 180 kDa. L'analyse par spectrométrie de masse a permis de montrer que la protéine Als3 était présente dans ces deux zones. L'absence de réactivité de l'AcM 3D9.3 sur une souche mutée pour le gène ALS3 et la réactivité d'un sérum anti-Als3p sur l'Ag 3D9 purifié démontre que l'Ag 3D9 correspond à la protéine Als3. De plus, nous avons montré que l'épitope 3D9 était présent dans les protéines Als3p codées par les deux allèles ALS3. Des études d'interactions entre l'Als3p et les constituants de l'hôte ont été réalisées. L'AcM 3D9.3 inhibe l'interaction des tubes germinatifs avec les cellules endothéliales de la veine ombilicale humaine et les cellules épithéliales buccales. De plus, l'étude d'une souche mutée pour le gène ALS3 montre que l'Als3p est une des adhésines participant à l'interaction directe entre les tubes germinatifs et les plaquettes sanguines natives lavées. Il reste désormais à identifier le récepteur plaquettaire responsable de la fixation des plaquettes natives sur l'Als3p

Spécificité antigénique de l Als3p de Candida Albicans et implication de cette protéine dans l interaction avec les constituants de l hôte

Candida albicans est une levure polymorphique commensale de la cavité buccale et du tractus digestif qui peut entrainer des infections sévères particulièrement chez les patients immunodéprimés. A l état pathogène, les formes blastospores sont généralement observées en association avec des éléments filamenteux. L anticorps monoclonal 3D9.3 (AcM 3D9.3) réagit avec la surface des tubes germinatifs de C. albicans et reconnait un épitope protéique porté par l antigène 3D9 (Ag 3D9). Nous avons montré que l épitope 3D9 est présent uniquement sur les éléments mycéliens de la seule espèce C. albicans. L Ag 3D9 a été purifié et présente, en Western-Blot, deux zones de marquage plus intense à 140 et 180 kDa. L analyse par spectrométrie de masse a permis de montrer que la protéine Als3 était présente dans ces deux zones. L absence de réactivité de l AcM 3D9.3 sur une souche mutée pour le gène ALS3 et la réactivité d un sérum anti-Als3p sur l Ag 3D9 purifié démontre que l Ag 3D9 correspond à la protéine Als3. De plus, nous avons montré que l épitope 3D9 était présent dans les protéines Als3p codées par les deux allèles ALS3. Des études d interactions entre l Als3p et les constituants de l hôte ont été réalisées. L AcM 3D9.3 inhibe l interaction des tubes germinatifs avec les cellules endothéliales de la veine ombilicale humaine et les cellules épithéliales buccales. De plus, l étude d une souche mutée pour le gène ALS3 montre que l Als3p est une des adhésines participant à l interaction directe entre les tubes germinatifs et les plaquettes sanguines natives lavées. Il reste désormais à identifier le récepteur plaquettaire responsable de la fixation des plaquettes natives sur l Als3p.Candida albicans is a commensal polymorphic yeast of the oral cavity and digestive tract which can cause severe infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. During pathogenic process, blastoconidia are generally observed in association with hyphae. Monoclonal antibody 3D9.3 (MAb 3D9.3) reacts with surface of Candida albicans germ tubes and recognizes a proteinic epitope carried by 3D9 antigen (3D9 Ag). We demonstrated that 3D9 epitope was localized on mycelium of the only C. albicans species. 3D9 Ag was purified and presents, by western blot, two intense bands at 140 and 180 kDa. Analysis by mass spectrometry allowed us to prove that Als3 protein was present in these two bands. Negative result of MAb 3D9.3 reactivity against an als3/als3 mutant strain and anti-Als3p serum reactivity against purified 3D9 antigen demonstrate that 3D9 Ag corresponds to Als3p. Moreover, we demonstrated that 3D9 epitope was present in Als3 proteins encoded by the two ALS3 alleles. Interaction assays was performed between Als3p and host components. MAb 3D9.3 inhibits interaction of germ tubes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells and buccal epithelial cells. Finally, analysis of strain deleted for ALS3 gene shows that Als3p was one of adhesins involved in direct interaction between germ tubes and washed resting blood platelets. Platelet receptor involved in binding of resting platelets to Als3p remains to be identified.ANGERS-BU Médecine-Pharmacie (490072105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Sandstone body geometry and internal permeability barriers as shown on several examples from different sedimentological environments :Advanced models for hydrocarbon reservoir studies: Advanced models for hydrocarbon reservoir studies

Contract n° JOUF-0034. Fourth periodic confidential report. 6p. 14figs. April92, Etude réalisée à la demande des CCE et du GERTH (Groupement Européen deRecherches Technologiques sur les Hydrocarbures)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Efficient Diagnosis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis by Use of a New Rapid Immunochromatography Test▿

The clinical symptoms of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) are nonspecific, and misdiagnosis is common, leading to a delay in the initiation of antifungal treatment. We evaluated a new immunochromatography test (ICT), the CandiVagi assay (SR2B, Avrille, France), for the rapid diagnosis of VVC. This test, which employs an immunoglobulin M antibody directed against the β-1,2-mannopyranosyl epitopes found in the yeast cell wall, was compared with direct microscopic examination and culture of vaginal swabs. Two-hundred five women were investigated, including 130 women with symptomatic vaginitis and 75 asymptomatic controls. Two vaginal swabs were obtained from each woman: one was used to prepare a wet mount and Gram-stained preparations for direct microscopic examination and was also cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar for the isolation of Candida spp., and the second swab was used for ICT. The sensitivities of microscopic examination, culture, and ICT for the diagnosis of VVC were 61%, 100%, and 96.6%, respectively, while the specificities of the three methods were 100%, 82%, and 98.6%, respectively. ICT had a negative predictive value of 98.6%, a positive predictive value of 96.6%, and an efficiency of 98%. ICT provided a rapid result and a better compromise between sensitivity and specificity than conventional microscopy and culture for the diagnosis of VVC. This easy-to-perform diagnostic test will be useful to practitioners treating women with symptoms of vaginitis