Optical Telescope Assembly Cost Estimating Model

Parametric cost models can be used by designers and project managers to compare cost between major architectural cost drivers and allow high-level design trades; enable cost-benefit analysis for technology development investment; and, provide a basis for estimating total project cost between related concepts. The NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has developed a 5- parameter cost model that explains 93% (Adjusted R2) of the cost variation in a database of 46 total ground and space telescope assemblies. This model can be used to estimate the most probably cost for the Habitable Exoplanet Telescope Assembly

Semen CD4+ T cells and macrophages are productively infected at all stages of SIV infection in macaques.

International audienceThe mucosal events of HIV transmission have been extensively studied, but the role of infected cells present in the genital and rectal secretions, and in the semen, in particular, remains a matter of debate. As a prerequisite to a thorough in vivo investigation of the early transmission events through infected cells, we characterized in detail by multi-parameter flow cytometry the changes in macaque seminal leukocytes during SIVmac251 infection, focusing on T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Using immunocytofluorescence targeting SIV proteins and real-time quantitative PCR targeting SIV DNA, we investigated the nature of the infected cells on sorted semen leukocytes from macaques at different stages of infection. Finally, we cocultured semen CD4(+) T cells and macrophages with a cell line permissive to SIV infection to assess their infectivity in vitro. We found that primary infection induced strong local inflammation, which was associated with an increase in the number of leukocytes in semen, both factors having the potential to favor cell-associated virus transmission. Semen CD4(+) T cells and macrophages were productively infected at all stages of infection and were infectious in vitro. Lymphocytes had a mucosal phenotype and expressed activation (CD69 & HLA-DR) and migration (CCR5, CXCR4, LFA-1) markers. CD69 expression was increased in semen T cells by SIV infection, at all stages of infection. Macrophages predominated at all stages and expressed CD4, CCR5, MAC-1 and LFA-1. Altogether, we demonstrated that semen contains the two major SIV-target cells (CD4+ T cells and macrophages). Both cell types can be productively infected at all stages of SIV infection and are endowed with markers that may facilitate transmission of infection during sexual exposure

Inborn errors of type I IFN immunity in patients with life-threatening COVID-19.

Clinical outcome upon infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ranges from silent infection to lethal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We have found an enrichment in rare variants predicted to be loss-of-function (LOF) at the 13 human loci known to govern Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)- and interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7)-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity to influenza virus in 659 patients with life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia relative to 534 subjects with asymptomatic or benign infection. By testing these and other rare variants at these 13 loci, we experimentally defined LOF variants underlying autosomal-recessive or autosomal-dominant deficiencies in 23 patients (3.5%) 17 to 77 years of age. We show that human fibroblasts with mutations affecting this circuit are vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2. Inborn errors of TLR3- and IRF7-dependent type I IFN immunity can underlie life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with no prior severe infection

Denial of long-term issues with agriculture on tropical peatlands will have devastating consequences

Lette

La chimio-prophylaxie saisonnière du paludisme a un impact sur la prévalence du paludisme et de l'anémie modérée ou sévère au Burkina Faso

La recherche a bénéficié d’une subvention des Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada (# GIR127070) et d’une subvention de l’initiative Innovation pour la santé des mères et des enfants d’Afrique – un partenariat entre Affaires mondiales Canada (AMC), les Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada (IRSC) et le Centre de recherches pour le développement international (CRDI) du Canada.La chimio-prophylaxie saisonnière (CPS) du paludisme consiste en l’administration de médicaments qui combinent un effet préventif et thérapeutique sur les infections au Plasmodium (qui cause le paludisme). La stratégie est officiellement recommandée par l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé dans les pays du Sahel depuis 2012. Au Burkina Faso, elle a été introduite en 2014 et a rapidement été étendue. Les campagnes d’administration ciblent les enfants de 3 mois à 5 ans et sont répétées une fois par mois pendant toute la saison de haute transmission. Le traitement combine une dose de sulfadoxine-pyriméthamine et trois doses d’amodiaquine. Le traitement est distribué de porte-à-porte par des distributeurs communautaires qui sont approvisionnés et formés par les autorités sanitaires