Human IgG1 Responses to Surface Localised Schistosoma mansoni Ly6 Family Members Drop following Praziquantel Treatment

The heptalaminate-covered, syncytial tegument is an important anatomical adaptation that enables schistosome parasites to maintain long-term, intravascular residence in definitive hosts. Investigation of the proteins present in this surface layer and the immune responses elicited by them during infection is crucial to our understanding of host/parasite interactions. Recent studies have revealed a number of novel tegumental surface proteins including three (SmCD59a, SmCD59b and Sm29) containing uPAR/Ly6 domains (renamed SmLy6A SmLy6B and SmLy6D in this study). While vaccination with SmLy6A (SmCD59a) and SmLy6D (Sm29) induces protective immunity in experimental models, human immunoglobulin responses to representative SmLy6 family members have yet to be thoroughly explored.Using a PSI-BLAST-based search, we present a comprehensive reanalysis of the Schistosoma mansoni Ly6 family (SmLy6A-K). Our examination extends the number of members to eleven (including three novel proteins) and provides strong evidence that the previously identified vaccine candidate Sm29 (renamed SmLy6D) is a unique double uPAR/Ly6 domain-containing representative. Presence of canonical cysteine residues, signal peptides and GPI-anchor sites strongly suggest that all SmLy6 proteins are cell surface-bound. To provide evidence that SmLy6 members are immunogenic in human populations, we report IgG1 (as well as IgG4 and IgE) responses against two surface-bound representatives (SmLy6A and SmLy6B) within a cohort of S. mansoni-infected Ugandan males before and after praziquantel treatment. While pre-treatment IgG1 prevalence for SmLy6A and SmLy6B differs amongst the studied population (7.4% and 25.3% of the cohort, respectively), these values are both higher than IgG1 prevalence (2.7%) for a sub-surface tegumental antigen, SmTAL1. Further, post-treatment IgG1 levels against surface-associated SmLy6A and SmLy6B significantly drop (p = 0.020 and p < 0.001, respectively) when compared to rising IgG1 levels against sub-surface SmTAL1.Collectively, these results expand the number of SmLy6 proteins found within S. mansoni and specifically demonstrate that surface-associated SmLy6A and SmLy6B elicit immunological responses during infection in endemic communities

Final results on the 0 νββ decay half-life limit of 100 Mo from the CUPID-Mo experiment

The CUPID-Mo experiment to search for 0νββ decay in 100Mo has been recently completed after about 1.5&nbsp;years of operation at Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (France). It served as a demonstrator for CUPID, a next generation 0νββ decay experiment. CUPID-Mo was comprised of 20 enriched Li 2100MoO 4 scintillating calorimeters, each with a mass of ∼ 0.2 kg, operated at ∼ 20 mK. We present here the final analysis with the full exposure of CUPID-Mo (100Mo exposure of 1.47 kg × year) used to search for lepton number violation via 0νββ decay. We report on various analysis improvements since the previous result on a subset of data, reprocessing all data with these new techniques. We observe zero events in the region of interest and set a new limit on the 100Mo 0νββ decay half-life of T1/20ν&gt; 1.8 × 10 24&nbsp;year (stat.&nbsp;+&nbsp;syst.) at 90% CI. Under the light Majorana neutrino exchange mechanism this corresponds to an effective Majorana neutrino mass of 〈 mββ〉 &lt;(0.28-0.49)&nbsp;eV, dependent upon the nuclear matrix element utilized

Final results on the 0νββ0νββ decay half-life limit of 100^{100}Mo from the CUPID-Mo experiment

The CUPID-Mo experiment to search for 0$\nu\beta\beta$ decay in $^{100}$Mo has been recently completed after about 1.5 years of operation at Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (France). It served as a demonstrator for CUPID, a next generation 0$\nu\beta\beta$ decay experiment. CUPID-Mo was comprised of 20 enriched Li$_2$$^{100}$MoO$_4$ scintillating calorimeters, each with a mass of $\sim$ 0.2 kg, operated at $\sim$20 mK. We present here the final analysis with the full exposure of CUPID-Mo ($^{100}$Mo exposure of 1.47 kg$\times$yr) used to search for lepton number violation via 0$\nu\beta\beta$ decay. We report on various analysis improvements since the previous result on a subset of data, reprocessing all data with these new techniques. We observe zero events in the region of interest and set a new limit on the $^{100}$Mo 0$\nu\beta\beta$ decay half-life of T^{0\nu}_{1/2} > 1.8 \times 10^{24} year (stat.+syst.) at 90% C.I. Under the light Majorana neutrino exchange mechanism this corresponds to an effective Majorana neutrino mass of \left < (0.28--$0.49)$ eV, dependent upon the nuclear matrix element utilized

New measurement of double-β decays of Mo100 to excited states of Ru100 with the CUPID-Mo experiment

The CUPID-Mo experiment, located at the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (France), was a demonstrator experiment for CUPID. It consisted of an array of 20Li2Mo100O4 (LMO) calorimeters, each equipped with a Ge light detector for particle identification. In this work, we present the result of a search for two-neutrino and neutrinoless double-β decays of Mo100 to the first 0+ and 2+ excited states of Ru100 using the full CUPID-Mo exposure (2.71kgyr of LMO). We measure the half-life of 2νββ decay to the 01+ state as T1/22ν→01+=(7.5±0.8(stat.)-0.3+0.4(syst.))×1020yr. The bolometric technique enables measurement of the electron energies as well as the γ rays from nuclear deexcitation and this allows us to set new limits on the two-neutrino decay to the 21+ state of T1/22ν→21+&gt;4.4×1021yr(90% c.i.) and on the neutrinoless modes of T1/20ν→21+&gt;2.1×1023yr(90% c.i.), T1/20ν→01+&gt;1.2×1023yr(90% c.i.). Information on the electrons' spectral shape is obtained, which allows us to make the first comparison of the single and higher state dominance 2νββ decay models for the 01+ excited state of Ru100

The CUPID-Mo experiment for neutrinoless double-beta decay: performance and prospects

CUPID-Mo is a bolometric experiment to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay (0 νββ) of 100Mo. In this article, we detail the CUPID-Mo detector concept, assembly and installation in the Modane underground laboratory, providing results from the first datasets. The CUPID-Mo detector consists of an array of 20 100Mo -enriched 0.2 kg Li 2MoO 4 crystals operated as scintillating bolometers at ∼20mK. The Li 2MoO 4 crystals are complemented by 20 thin Ge optical bolometers to reject α events by the simultaneous detection of heat and scintillation light. We observe a good detector uniformity and an excellent energy resolution of 5.3 keV (6.5 keV) FWHM at 2615 keV, in calibration (physics) data. Light collection ensures the rejection of α particles at a level much higher than 99.9% – with equally high acceptance for γ/β events – in the region of interest for 100Mo 0 νββ. We present limits on the crystals’ radiopurity: ≤3μBq/kg of 226Ra and ≤2μBq/kg of 232Th. We discuss the science reach of CUPID-Mo, which can set the most stringent half-life limit on the 100Mo 0 νββ decay in half-a-year’s livetime. The achieved results show that CUPID-Mo is a successful demonstrator of the technology developed by the LUMINEU project and subsequently selected for the CUPID experiment, a proposed follow-up of CUORE, the currently running first tonne-scale bolometric 0 νββ experiment

The CUPID-Mo experiment for neutrinoless double-beta decay: performance and prospects

International audienceCUPID-Mo is a bolometric experiment to search for neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0\nu \beta \beta$) of $^{100}\hbox {Mo}$. In this article, we detail the CUPID-Mo detector concept, assembly and installation in the Modane underground laboratory, providing results from the first datasets. The CUPID-Mo detector consists of an array of 20 $^{100}\hbox {Mo}$-enriched 0.2 kg $\hbox {Li}_2\hbox {MoO}_4$ crystals operated as scintillating bolometers at $\sim 20\hbox { mK}$. The $\hbox {Li}_2\hbox {MoO}_4$ crystals are complemented by 20 thin Ge optical bolometers to reject $\alpha$ events by the simultaneous detection of heat and scintillation light. We observe a good detector uniformity and an excellent energy resolution of 5.3 keV (6.5 keV) FWHM at 2615 keV, in calibration (physics) data. Light collection ensures the rejection of $\alpha$ particles at a level much higher than 99.9% – with equally high acceptance for $\gamma$/$\beta$ events – in the region of interest for $^{100}\hbox {Mo}0\nu \beta \beta$. We present limits on the crystals’ radiopurity: $\le 3~\mu \hbox {Bq/kg}$ of $^{226}\hbox {Ra}$ and $\le 2~\mu \hbox {Bq/kg}$ of $^{232}\hbox {Th}$. We discuss the science reach of CUPID-Mo, which can set the most stringent half-life limit on the $^{100}\hbox {Mo}0\nu \beta \beta$ decay in half-a-year’s livetime. The achieved results show that CUPID-Mo is a successful demonstrator of the technology developed by the LUMINEU project and subsequently selected for the CUPID experiment, a proposed follow-up of CUORE, the currently running first tonne-scale bolometric $0\nu \beta \beta$ experiment

The background model of the CUPID-Mo 0νββ experiment

CUPID-Mo, located in the Laboratoire Souterrain de Modane (France), was a demonstrator for the next generation 0 νββ decay experiment, CUPID. It consisted of an array of 20 enriched Li 2100 MoO 4 bolometers and 20 Ge light detectors and has demonstrated that the technology of scintillating bolometers with particle identification capabilities is mature. Furthermore, CUPID-Mo can inform and validate the background prediction for CUPID. In this paper, we present a detailed model of the CUPID-Mo backgrounds. This model is able to describe well the features of the experimental data and enables studies of the 2 νββ decay and other processes with high precision. We also measure the radio-purity of the Li 2100 MoO 4 crystals which are found to be sufficient for the CUPID goals. Finally, we also obtain a background index in the region of interest of 3.7 -0.8+0.9 (stat) -0.7+1.5 (syst) ×10-3 counts/ Δ EFWHM/ mol iso/ year , the lowest in a bolometric 0 νββ decay experiment

Precise measurement of 2 ν 2 β decay of 100Mo with Li2MoO4 low temperature detectors: Preliminary results

The half-life of 100Mo relatively to the 2ν2β decay to the ground state of 100Ru was measured as T1/2 = (6.99±0.15) × 1018 yr with the help of enriched in 100Mo lithium molybdate scintillating bolometers in the EDELWEISS-III low background set-up at the Modane underground laboratory. This is the most accurate value of the 2ν2β half-life of 100Mo