Measurement of the lifetime of the B+c meson using the B+c→J/ψπ+ decay mode

See paper for full list of authors - 19 pages, 3 figuresInternational audienceThe difference in total widths between the B+c and B+ mesons is measured using 3.0fb−1 of data collected by the LHCb experiment in 7 and 8 TeV centre-of-mass energy proton-proton collisions at the LHC. Through the study of the time evolution of B+c→J/ψπ+ and B+→J/ψK+ decays, the width difference is measured to beΔΓ≡ΓB+c−ΓB+=4.46±0.14±0.07mm−1c,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The known lifetime of the B+ meson is used to convert this to a precise measurement of the B+c lifetime,τB+c=513.4±11.0±5.7fs,where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic

Determination of gamma and -2beta_s from charmless two-body decays of beauty mesons

See paper for full list of authorsInternational audienceUsing the latest LHCb measurements of time-dependent CP violation in the B^0_s -> K^+K^- decay, a U-spin relation between the decay amplitudes of B^0_s -> K^+K^- and B^0 -> \pi^+\pi^- decay processes allows constraints to be placed on the angle gamma of the unitarity triangle and on the B^0_s mixing phase -2\beta_s. Results from an extended approach, which uses additional inputs on B^0 -> \pi^0\pi^0 and B^+ -> \pi^+\pi^0 decays from other experiments and exploits isospin symmetry, are also presented. The dependence of the results on the maximum allowed amount of U-spin breaking is studied. At 68% probability, the value \gamma = ( 63.5 +7.2 -6.7 ) degrees modulo 180 degrees is determined. In an alternative analysis, the value -2\beta_s = -0.12 +0.14 -0.16 rad is found. In both measurements, the uncertainties due to U-spin breaking effects up to 50% are included

Measurement of the CP-violating phase β in B0→J/ψπ+π− decays and limits on penguin effects

18 pages, 6 figures - See paper for full list of authorsInternational audienceTime-dependent CP violation is measured in the B0→J/ψπ+π− channel for each π+π− resonant final state using data collected with an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb−1 in pp collisions using the LHCb detector. The final state with the largest rate, J/ψρ0(770), is used to measure the CP-violating angle 2βeff to be (41.7±9.6+2.8−6.3)∘. This result can be used to limit the size of penguin amplitude contributions to CP violation measurements in, for example, B0s→J/ψϕ decays. Assuming approximate SU(3) flavour symmetry and neglecting higher order diagrams, the shift in the CP-violating phase ϕs is limited to be within the interval [−1.05∘, +1.18∘] at 95% confidence level. Changes to the limit due to SU(3) symmetry breaking effects are also discussed

Study of the rare B0s and B0 decays into the π+π−μ+μ− final state

See paper for full list of authors - Submitted to Phys. Lett. BInternational audienceA search for the rare decays B0s→π+π−μ+μ− and B0→π+π−μ+μ− is performed in a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb−1 collected by the LHCb detector in proton-proton collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Decay candidates with pion pairs that have invariant mass in the range 0.5-1.3 GeV/c2 and with muon pairs that do not originate from a resonance are considered. The first observation of the decay B0s→π+π−μ+μ− and the first evidence of the decay B0→π+π−μ+μ− are obtained and the branching fractions are measured to be B(B0s→π+π−μ+μ−)=(8.6±1.5(stat)±0.7(syst)±0.7(norm))×10−8 and B(B0→π+π−μ+μ−)=(2.11±0.51(stat)±0.15(syst)±0.16(norm))×10−8, where the third uncertainty is due to the branching fraction of the decay B0→J/ψ(→μ+μ−)K∗(890)0(→K+π−), used as a normalisation

Dysregulation of apoptosis and autophagy gene expression in PBMCs of efficiently treated HIV-infected patients

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During efficient Anti-RetroViral (ARV) therapy, the expression of GALIG and its interacting partners involved in macroautophagy are deregulated

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Compounds from Sorindeia juglandifolia (Anacardiaceae) exhibit potent anti-plasmodial activities in vitro and in vivo

Abstract Background Discovering new lead compounds against malaria parasites is a crucial step to ensuring a sustainable global pipeline for effective anti-malarial drugs. As far as we know, no previous phytochemical or pharmacological investigations have been carried out on Sorindeia juglandifolia. This paper describes the results of an anti-malarial activity-driven investigation of the fruits of this Cameroonian plant. Methods Air-dried fruits were extracted by maceration using methanol. The extract was fractionated by flash chromatography followed by column chromatography over silica gel, eluting with gradients of hexane-ethyl acetate mixtures. Resulting fractions and compounds were tested in vitro against the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistant strain W2, against field isolates of P. falciparum, and against the P. falciparum recombinant cysteine protease falcipain-2. Promising fractions were assessed for acute toxicity after oral administration in mice. One of the promising isolated compounds was assessed in vivo against the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Results The main end-products of the activity-guided fractionation were 2,3,6-trihydroxy benzoic acid (1) and 2,3,6-trihydroxy methyl benzoate (2). Overall, nine fractions tested against P. falciparum W2 and falcipain-2 were active, with IC50 values of 2.3-11.6 μg/ml for W2, and 1.1-21.9 μg/ml for falcipain-2. Purified compounds (1) and (2) also showed inhibitory effects against P. falciparum W2 (IC50s 16.5 μM and 13.0 μM) and falcipain-2 (IC50s 35.4 and 6.1 μM). In studies of P. falciparum isolates from Cameroon, the plant fractions demonstrated IC50 values of 0.14-19.4 μg/ml and compounds (1) and (2) values of 6.3 and 36.1 μM. In vivo assessment of compound (1) showed activity against P. berghei strain B, with mean parasitaemia suppressive dose and curative dose of 44.9 mg/kg and 42.2 mg/kg, respectively. Active fractions were found to be safe in mice after oral administration of 7 g/kg body weight. Conclusions Fractions of Sorindeia juglandifolia and two compounds isolated from these fractions were active against cultured malaria parasites, the P. falciparum protease falcipain-2, and in a rodent malaria model. These results suggest that further investigation of the anti-malarial activities of natural products from S. juglandifolia will be appropriate