The dual (activating/suppressive) effect of extracellular TatHIV-1 is driven by the infalmmatory microenvironment of infected lymphoid foci

International audienc

Neutralizing anti-Tat antibodies prolonged HAART interruption in vaccines in a prospective structured interruption study

Anti-Tat therapeutic vaccination has been clinically investigated by different groups [1-4], given that 1) extracellular Tat protein induces T cell apoptosis and cellular immune suppression, 2) epidemiological data showed that LTNP exhibit high level of serum anti-Tat Ab, negatively correlated with p24 antigenemia, 3) in Tat immunized macaques, viremia decreased following SHIV challenge. Anti-Tat therapeutic vaccination using Tat Toxoid adjuvanted either with Seppic [1,2] or with alum or DcChol (Aventis Pasteur) proved to be safe. A prospective structured treatment interruption study (STI) monitored according to EU guidelines was conducted at Hospital St-Pierre, Brussels (Pr. N. Clumeck) on 31 vaccinees who received a DcChol adjuvanted Tat Toxoid (n = 12), a DcChol placebo (n = 8) or non adjuvanted Tat toxoid (n = 11). The 2 year study follow-up showed that vaccinees developing high titer of Abs neutralizing Tat bioactivity prolonged HAART-interruption.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedOral presentation. From 2006 International Meeting of The Institute of Human VirologyBaltimore, USA. 17–21 November, 200

A look beyond the colour: taxonomic revision of Coilodes Westwood, 1846 (Coleoptera, Hybosoridae), with the description of six new species

Coilodes Westwood, 1846 is a Neotropical genus of Hybosorinae. Despite being a morphologically homogeneous genus, it presents a great deal of intraspecific variation, especially with reference to the colour of integuments. This makes identification of species even more difficult, since the majority of original descriptions present the colour as the main diagnostic character. To solve this problem, the first taxonomic revision of Coilodes is presented. The genus now comprises 13 species. Redescriptions of C. castaneus Westwood, 1846, C. fumipennis Arrow, 1909, C. humeralis (Mannerheim, 1829), C. niger (Mannerheim, 1829), C. ovalis Robinson, 1948, C. parvulus Westwood, 1846, and C. punctipennis Arrow, 1909 are presented. Coilodes niger (Mannerheim, 1829) has its status revalidated and three new synonyms are proposed: C. gibbus (Perty, 1830) and C. chilensis Westwood, 1846 with C. humeralis, and C. nigripennis Arrow, 1903 with C. castaneus. Biological and geographical distribution data are expanded. Lectotypes are designated for C. humeralis and C. niger. Six new species are described: C. bezerrai Basílio & Vaz-de-Mello sp. nov., C. edeiltae Basílio & Vaz-de-Mello sp. nov., C. lunae Basílio & Vaz-de-Mello sp. nov., C. mayae Basílio & Vaz-de-Mello sp. nov., C. ravii Basílio & Vaz-de-Mello sp. nov., and C. skelleyi Basílio & Vaz-de-Mello sp. nov. An identification key for the males of the species is presented

Revisiting Estimates of CTL Killing Rates In Vivo

Recent experimental advances have allowed the estimation of the in vivo rates of killing of infected target cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). We present several refinements to a method applied previously to quantify killing of targets in the spleen using a dynamical model. We reanalyse data previously used to estimate killing rates of CTL specific for two epitopes of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in mice and show that, contrary to previous estimates the “killing rate” of effector CTL is approximately twice that of memory CTL. Further, our method allows the fits to be visualized, and reveals one potentially interesting discrepancy between fits and data. We discuss extensions to the basic CTL killing model to explain this discrepancy and propose experimental tests to distinguish between them

Outreau : tous coupables

The “dysfunction” concept, extremely trendy nowadays to emphasize the opposition between a system presumed as functional and its failures, the “dysfunction” concept is not sufficient to explain the Outreau failure. We rather should stand at some distance, analyse the historical context of this event, the evolution of collective representations and terrors specific to our time, especially the images of the sex maniac and his victim. As long as such an emotional blurring will prevent us to think, other judicial failures are foreseeable