Taxonomic diversity and identification problems of oncaeid microcopepods in the Mediterranean Sea

The species diversity of the pelagic microcopepod family Oncaeidae collected with nets of 0.1-mm mesh size was studied at 6 stations along a west-to-east transect in the Mediterranean Sea down to a maximum depth of 1,000 m. A total of 27 species and two form variants have been identified, including three new records for the Mediterranean. In addition, about 20, as yet undescribed, new morphospecies were found (mainly from the genera Epicalymma and Triconia) which need to be examined further. The total number of identified oncaeid species was similar in the Western and Eastern Basins, but for some cooccurring sibling species, the estimated numerical dominance changed. The deep-sea fauna of Oncaeidae, studied at selected depth layers between 400 m and the near-bottom layer at >4,200 m depth in the eastern Mediterranean (Levantine Sea), showed rather constant species numbers down to ∼3,000 m depth. In the near-bottom layers, the diversity of oncaeids declined and species of Epicalymma strongly increased in numerical importance. The taxonomic status of all oncaeid species recorded earlier in the Mediterranean Sea is evaluated: 19 out of the 46 known valid oncaeid species are insufficiently described, and most of the taxonomically unresolved species (13 species) have originally been described from this area (type locality). The deficiencies in the species identification of oncaeids cast into doubt the allegedly cosmopolitan distribution of some species, in particular those of Mediterranean origin. The existing identification problems even of well-described oncaeid species are exemplified for the Oncaea mediacomplex, including O. media Giesbrecht, O. scottodicarloi Heron & Bradford-Grieve, and O. waldemari Bersano & Boxshall, which are often erroneously identified as a single species (O. media). The inadequacy in the species identification of Oncaeidae, in particular those from the Atlantic and Mediterranean, is mainly due to the lack of reliable identification keys for Oncaeidae in warm-temperate and/or tropical seas. Future efforts should be directed to the construction of identification keys that can be updated according to the latest taxonomic findings, which can be used by the non-expert as well as by the specialist. The adequate consideration of the numerous, as yet undescribed, microcopepod species in the world oceans, in particular the Oncaeidae, is a challenge for the study of the structure and function of plankton communities as well as for global biodiversity estimates

In vitro assessment of edoxaban anticoagulant effect in pediatric plasma

Epub ahead of printINTRODUCTION: Anticoagulant therapy in pediatric patients remains an issue and safer therapies, such as direct oral anticoagulants could overcome the limitations of conventional anticoagulant treatments in this population. Edoxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, is used for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism. Due to its pharmacokinetic characteristics, edoxaban is a promising candidate molecule for children. This study compared edoxaban in vitro effect in children and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were prospectively collected from 87 adults and 97 children (n=12: <2year-old; n=8: 2-4year-old; n=9: 5-7year-old; n=14: 8-9year-old; n=10: 10-13year-old; n=15: 14-15year-old; and n=29: 16-18year-old). Plasma samples were supplemented in vitro with edoxaban to a final concentration of 50, 150 or 300ng/mL, and then edoxaban effect on prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen (Clauss assay), specific anti-factor Xa activity and thrombin generation assay (TGA) (with 5pM tissue factor and 4nM phospholipids) was evaluated. RESULTS: PT, aPTT, and specific anti-Xa activity exhibited similar dose-dependent responses to edoxaban in the different age groups. The reduction of thrombin peak, the most edoxaban-sensitive TGA parameter, was similar in adults and children, but for the youngest group (<2year-old) where the peak value reduction (median [Q1-Q3]) was higher than in adults (51% [44-59] versus 40% [32-46], p<0.01; 74% [63-80] versus 65% [58-70], p<0.05; and 84% [73-88] versus 76% [70-80], p<0.05 for 50, 150 and 300ng/mL edoxaban, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Edoxaban in vitro effect are comparable in children and adults except in the <2-year-old group

Extracellular vesicle-based vaccine platform displaying native viral envelope proteins elicits a robust anti-SARS-CoV-2 response in mice

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerge as essential mediators of intercellular communication. DNA vaccines encoding antigens presented on EVs efficiently induce T-cell responses and EV-based vaccines containing the Spike (S) proteins of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) are highly immunogenic in mice. Thus, EVs may serve as vaccine platforms against emerging diseases, going beyond traditional strategies, with the antigen displayed identically to the original protein embedded in the viral membrane and presented as such to the immune system. Compared to their viral and pseudotyped counterparts, EV-based vaccines overcome many safety issues including pre-existing immunity against these vectors. Here, we applied our technology in natural EV’s engineering, to express the S proteins of SARS-CoV-2 embedded in the EVs, which mimic the virus with its fully native spikes. Immunizations with a two component CoVEVax vaccine, comprising DNA vector (DNA S-EV ) primes, allowing in situ production of Spike harbouring EVs, and a boost using S-EVs produced in mammalian cells, trigger potent neutralizing and cellular responses in mice, in the absence of any adjuvants. CoVEVax would be the prototype of vaccines, where the sole exchange of the envelope proteins on EVs leads to the generation of new vaccine candidates against emerging viruses

Résultats du Registre français des transplantés rénaux ayant développé une infection à SARS-CoV-2

International audienc

Assessment of a sensitive and specific method to detect ewing sarcoma minimal residual disease inn testicular and ovarian tissue by RT-qPCR (2018)

International audienc

Interglacial History of a Palaeo-lake and Regional Environment: A Multi-proxy Study of a Permafrost Deposit from Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island, Arctic Siberia

Chironomid, pollen, and rhizopod records from a permafrost sequence at the Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island (New Siberian Archipelago) document the evolution of a thermokarst palaeo-lake and environmental conditions in the region during the Last Interglacial (MIS 5e, ca. 130120 ka). Open Poaceae and Artemisia associations dominated vegetation at the beginning of the interglacial period, ca. 130 ka. Rare shrub thickets (Salix, Betula nana, Alnus fruticosa) grew in more protected and wetter places as well. Saalian ice wedges started to melt during this time, resulting in the formation of an initial thermokarst water body. The high percentage of semi-aquatic chironomids suggests that a peatland-pool palaeo-biotope existed at the site, when initial water body started to form. A distinct decrease in semi-aquatic chironomid taxa and an increase in lacustrine ones point to a gradual pooling of water in basin, which could in turn create thaw a permanent pond during the subsequent period. The highest relative abundance of Chironomus and Procladius reflects an existence of unfrozen water remaining under the ice throughout the ice-covered period during the later stage of palaeo-lake development. Chironomid record points to three successive stages during the water body evolution: (1) a peatland pool; (2) a pond (i.e., less deep than the maximum ice-cover thickness); and (3) a shallow lake (i.e., more deep than the maximum ice-cover thickness). The evolutionary trend of palaeo-lake points to intensive thermokarst processes occurring in the region during the Last Interglacial. Shrub tundra communities with Alnus fruticosa, Betula nana dominated the vegetation during the interglacial optimum that is evidenced by pollen record. The climate was relatively moist and warm. The results of this study suggest that quantitative chironomid-based temperature reconstructions from the Arctic thermokarst ponds/lakes may be problematic owing to other key environmental factors, such as prolonged periods of winter anoxia and local hydrological/geomorphological processes, controlling the chironomid assemblage