Macrophage exosomes induce placental inflammatory cytokines: a novel mode of maternal-placental messaging

During pregnancy, the placenta forms the interface between mother and fetus. Highly controlled regulation of trans-placental trafficking is therefore essential for the healthy development of the growing fetus. Extracellular vesicle-mediated transfer of protein and nucleic acids from the human placenta into the maternal circulation is well documented; the possibility that this trafficking is bi-directional has not yet been explored but could affect placental function and impact on the fetus. We hypothesized that the ability of the placenta to respond to maternal inflammatory signals is mediated by the interaction of maternal immune cell exosomes with placental trophoblast. Utilising the BeWo cell line and whole placental explants, we demonstrated that the human placenta internalizes macrophage-derived exosomes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This uptake was via clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Furthermore, macrophage exosomes induced production of proinflammatory cytokines by the placenta. Taken together, our data demonstrates that exosomes are actively transported into the human placenta and that exosomes from activated immune cells modulate placental cytokine production. This represents a novel mechanism by which immune cells can signal to the placental unit, potentially facilitating responses to maternal inflammation and infection, and thereby preventing harm to the fetus

A pipeline for multiparty volumetric video conferencing: Transmission of point clouds over low latency DASH

The advent of affordable 3D capture and display hardware is making volumetric videoconferencing feasible. This technology increases the immersion of the participants, breaking the flat restriction of 2D screens, by allowing them to collaborate and interact in shared virtual reality spaces. In this paper we introduce the design and development of an architecture intended for volumetric videoconferencing that provides a highly realistic 3D representation of the participants, based on pointclouds. A pointcloud representation is suitable for real-time applications like video conferencing, due to its low-complexity and because it does not need a time consuming reconstruction process. As transport protocol we selected low latency DASH, due to its popularity and client-based adaptation mechanisms for tiling. This paper presents the architectural design, details the implementation, and provides some referential results. The demo will showcase the system in action, enabling volumetric videoconferencing using pointclouds

A pipeline for multiparty volumetric video conferencing: Transmission of point clouds over low latency DASH

The advent of affordable 3D capture and display hardware is making volumetric videoconferencing feasible. This technology increases the immersion of the participants, breaking the flat restriction of 2D screens, by allowing them to collaborate and interact in shared virtual reality spaces. In this paper we introduce the design and development of an architecture intended for volumetric videoconferencing that provides a highly realistic 3D representation of the participants, based on pointclouds. A pointcloud representation is suitable for real-time applications like video conferencing, due to its low-complexity and because it does not need a time consuming reconstruction process. As transport protocol we selected low latency DASH, due to its popularity and client-based adaptation mechanisms for tiling. This paper presents the architectural design, details the implementation, and provides some referential results. The demo will showcase the system in action, enabling volumetric videoconferencing using pointclouds

Macrophage- but not monocyte-derived extracellular vesicles induce placental pro-inflammatory responses

The placenta sheds extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, into the maternal circulation. We recently demonstrated that this trafficking of EVs is bi‐directional; with uptake of macrophage exosomes by the placenta inducing cytokine release. The specificity of this response is currently unknown. THP-1 cells were cultured as monocytes or differentiated to macrophages, and EVs isolated by ultra-centrifugation. The effect of EVs on human placental explants was measured by cytokine ELISA/luminex. Macrophage, but not monocyte, EVs induce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the placenta. Thus, placental responses to immune cell EVs, including exosomes, reflects the phenotype of the source cell

Utilisation du package learnr pour enseigner l'élevage de précision sous la forme d'escapes games numériques

National audienceL'augmentation de l'implication des nouvelles technologies dans le pilotage de l'élevage (élevage de précision) implique que les futurs acteurs de la filière devront avoir des compétences en science des données. La science des données et l'utilisation du logiciel R, bien qu'enseignées en école d'agronomie, rebutent certains étudiants, y compris ceux intéressés par l'élevage de précision. Apprendre en jouant permet de lever certains de ces obstacles. C'est pourquoi, nous avons développé deux escapes games sérieux et numériques (EGSN) sous le logiciel R via le package learnr [1]. Ce travail présente la démarche de conception, les séquences pédagogiques des EGSN, les résultats des premiers tests, et les avantages et limites de l'utilisation de R pour faciliter l'apprentissage. Ces EGSN immergent les étudiants dans les séquences d'apprentissage, via un tutoriel interactif ludique afin d'aborder différentes notions zootechniques et de science des données. Chaque EGSN contient une introduction, une période de jeu et une période de débriefing entre les enseignants et les étudiants pour ancrer les connaissances. L'évaluation du jeu lors des premiers tests montre un fort investissement et une forte adhésion des étudiants à ce mode d'apprentissage. La prochaine étape concernera le développement d'une méthode d'évaluation pour vérifier la validation des acquis

Prediction of dry matter intake of lactating dairy cows with daily live weight and milk production measurements

International audienceThe spread of precision livestock farming (PLF) services in the agricultural professional field requires more training. This training involves knowledge and skills on the use and the functioning of sensors and data analysis. This is crucial for future consultant or researcher in agriculture. However, some students may be reluctant to this learning. To improve the attractiveness of PLF teaching, we developed "Serious Escape Games" (SEG) that combine the teaching of knowledge and skills with the playful characteristics of an escape game. The developed SEG use the examples of 3D-imaging and accelerometers applications in dairy cows, and a few in sows. The games run under R software, which is free of use and largely taught in universities for data analysis and visualisation. With a total duration of 2 hours, the SEG sequences include 15 min of introduction, 60 min of playing to solve 10 enigmas about PLF and data analysis, and 45 min of debriefing. The students have to mobilize their prior knowledge in R, data analysis and animal science, as well as their collaborative soft-skill to "escape" the game on time. The SEG teaches new skills and knowledge that are specific to PLF: new R procedures, animal indicators, field applications of 3D-imaging and accelerometers, and the process to develop and validate sensors. They were developed in French, but the development of a framework for SEG in English or other languages is under consideration. This will allow a wide free distribution, as well as applications of this concept to other fields and graduation levels

Antibody responses to Bordetella pertussis and other childhood vaccines in infants born to mothers who received pertussis vaccine in pregnancy- a prospective, observational cohort study from the UK

The maternal Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) vaccination program in the UK has successfully reduced cases of pertussis in young infants. In addition to prevention of pertussis cases, it is also important to investigate persistence of maternal antibody during infancy and possible interference of maternal antibodies with infant responses to vaccines. We recruited mother‐infant pairs from vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnancies and measured concentrations of IgG against pertussis toxin (PTx), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), pertactin (Prn), diphtheria toxin (DTx), tetanus toxoid (TTx) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Streptococcus pneumoniae in mothers and infants at birth, and in infants at 7 weeks and at 5 months. 31 mother‐infant pairs were tested. Tdap‐vaccinated women had significantly higher antibody against Tdap antigens, compared to unvaccinated women (DTx p=0.01; PTx, FHA, Prn and TTx p1) with higher transfer of DTx (P=0.04) and TTx (P=0.02) antibody in Tdap‐vaccinated pregnancies compared to unvaccinated. Infants from Tdap‐vaccinated pregnancies had significantly elevated antibodies to all antigens at birth (p<0.001) and at 7 weeks (FHA, Prn, TTx p<0.001; DTx p=0.01; PTx p=0.004) compared to infants from unvaccinated pregnancies. Infants from Tdap‐vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnancies had comparable antibody concentrations following primary pertussis immunization (PTx p=0.77; FHA p=0.58; Prn p=0.60; DTx p=0.09; TTx p=0.88). These results support maternal immunisation as a method of protecting vulnerable infants during their first weeks of life

Defining the scope of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet): A bottom-up and One Health approach

Background: Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) was proposed to strengthen the European One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance approach. Objectives: To define the combinations of animal species/production types/age categories/bacterial species/specimens/antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet. Methods: The EARS-Vet scope was defined by consensus between 26 European experts. Decisions were guided by a survey of the combinations that are relevant and feasible to monitor in diseased animals in 13 European countries (bottom-up approach). Experts also considered the One Health approach and the need for EARS-Vet to complement existing European AMR monitoring systems coordinated by the ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Results: EARS-Vet plans to monitor AMR in six animal species [cattle, swine, chickens (broilers and laying hens), turkeys, cats and dogs], for 11 bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus suis). Relevant antimicrobials for their treatment were selected (e.g. tetracyclines) and complemented with antimicrobials of more specific public health interest (e.g. carbapenems). Molecular data detecting the presence of ESBLs, AmpC cephalosporinases and methicillin resistance shall be collected too. Conclusions: A preliminary EARS-Vet scope was defined, with the potential to fill important AMR monitoring gaps in the animal sector in Europe. It should be reviewed and expanded as the epidemiology of AMR changes, more countries participate and national monitoring capacities improve

Defining the scope of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet): a bottom-up and One Health approach

Background: Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) was proposed to strengthen the European One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance approach. Objectives: To define the combinations of animal species/production types/age categories/bacterial species/specimens/antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet. Methods: The EARS-Vet scope was defined by consensus between 26 European experts. Decisions were guided by a survey of the combinations that are relevant and feasible to monitor in diseased animals in 13 European countries (bottom-up approach). Experts also considered the One Health approach and the need for EARS-Vet to complement existing European AMR monitoring systems coordinated by the ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Results: EARS-Vet plans to monitor AMR in six animal species [cattle, swine, chickens (broilers and laying hens), turkeys, cats and dogs], for 11 bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus suis). Relevant antimicrobials for their treatment were selected (e.g. tetracyclines) and complemented with antimicrobials of more specific public health interest (e.g. carbapenems). Molecular data detecting the presence of ESBLs, AmpC cephalosporinases and methicillin resistance shall be collected too. Conclusions: A preliminary EARS-Vet scope was defined, with the potential to fill important AMR monitoring gaps in the animal sector in Europe. It should be reviewed and expanded as the epidemiology of AMR changes, more countries participate and national monitoring capacities improve