Parvovirus 4 in French in-patients: a study of haemodialysis and lung transplant cohorts

International audienceThe epidemiology and the clinical implication of human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) in human populations is still under evaluation. The distribution of PARV4 DNA was determined in cohorts of French haemodialysis and lung transplant patients. Plasma samples (n=289) were tested for PARV4 by real-time PCR assay (ORF2), and amplification products selected at random were sequenced. Analysis of available serological and biological markers was also undertaken. Fifty-seven samples out of 185 (30.8%) were positive for PARV4 DNA in the cohort of haemodialysis patients. A higher prevalence of the virus was identified in individuals with markers of HBV infection. PARV4 was also identified in 14 out of 104 samples (13.5%) from lung transplant recipients, with no clear-cut association with available clinical markers. Point mutations located on the zone of real-time detection were identified for some amplification products. This study describes the detection of PARV4 in the blood of haemodialysis and lung transplanted patients with significant difference in prevalence in these two cohorts. Further studies will be needed in order to understand better both the potential implication in host health and the natural history of this virus

Cenozoic tectonics of the Western Approaches Channel basins and its control of local drainage systems

International audienceLe domaine des Approches occidentales de la Manche constitue une zone clé pour caractériser l'évolution post-rift des marges continentales NW européennes associées à la collision Afrique/Europe. Malgré les divers témoins des inversions cénozoïques jalonnant le pourtour de la Manche, la structuration et l'amplitude des mouvements demeurent néanmoins incertaines au sein de la partie méridionale française des Approches occidentales. Il en est de même sur le rôle de l'inversion de la mer du Nord dans la mise en place du Fleuve Manche qui drainait un bassin versant bien supérieur à la Manche actuelle durant les grandes régressions plio-quaternaires et alimentait les éventails sous-marins Celtique et Armoricain en bas de pente. La réalisation des campagnes de sismique-réflexion haute résolution GEOMOC et GEOBREST03 dont les résultats font l'objet de cet article permettent de répondre à ces questions en complétant la connaissance géologique de la Manche. Les nouvelles observations soulignent le diachronisme et le contraste de l'amplitude des mouvements du système de failles associées à l'inversion du bassin d'Iroise. Celle-ci se fait en deux épisodes: un épisode paroxysmal paléogène décomposé en deux phases, éocène (Yprésien probable) et oligocène, et un épisode néogène plus modéré réactivant partiellement les structures impliquées antérieurement. Les déformations se concentrent le long de l'accident nord Iroise (NIF) situé dans le prolongement de la faille Médio-Manche et entraîne localement des plissements de la couverture sédimentaire à l'aplomb des accidents profonds. L'inversion induit ainsi un soulèvement de près de 700 m du plateau médian situé au sud de l'accident nord Iroise. La cartographie isochrone des séquences sismiques identifiées démontre également le contrôle majeur des structures tectoniques sur la mise en place des dépôts néogènes. Le soulèvement de la partie orientale du bassin favorise ainsi la mise en place de vastes prismes progradants d'âge miocène supérieur, et contrôle le développement postérieur du réseau des paléo-vallées constituant l'extrémité occidentale du fleuve Manche. Ce réseau présente une géométrie en baïonnette marquée par de brutaux changements de directions variant de N040 à N070, cette dernière direction caractérisant la plus grande partie des failles néogènes associées au bassin d'Iroise. Les paléo-vallées se seraient développées lors d'une chute du niveau marin au-delà du rebord de plate-forme et la stratigraphie établie à travers cette étude amène à placer le début des incisions au Pliocène (Reurévien ou pré-Tiglien). La chute amplifiée par l'inversion du bassin d'Iroise serait suivie d'un basculement tardif de la plate-forme externe à l'instar des observations réalisées sur de nombreuses marges du pourtour nord atlantique

Mathematical modeling of laser lipolysis

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A Holistic Approach to Marine Eco-Systems Biology

With biology becoming quantitative, systems-level studies can now be performed at spatial scales ranging from molecules to ecosystems. Biological data generated consistently across scales can be integrated with physico-chemical contextual data for a truly holistic approach, with a profound impact on our understanding of life [1]–[5]. Marine ecosystems are crucial in the regulation of Earth's biogeochemical cycles and climate [6],[7]. Yet their organization, evolution, and dynamics remain poorly understood [8],[9]. The Tara Oceans project was launched in September 2009 for a 3-year study of the global ocean ecosystem aboard the ship Tara. A unique sampling programme encompassing optical and genomic methods to describe viruses, bacteria, archaea, protists, and metazoans in their physico-chemical environment has been implemented. Starting as a grassroots initiative of a few scientists, the project has grown into a global consortium of over 100 specialists from diverse disciplines, including oceanography, microbial ecology, genomics, molecular, cellular, and systems biology, taxonomy, bioinformatics, data management, and ecosystem modeling. This multidisciplinary community aims to generate systematic, open access datasets usable for probing the morphological and molecular makeup, diversity, evolution, ecology, and global impacts of plankton on the Earth system

Acetobacter indonesiensis Pneumonia after Lung Transplant

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Open science resources for the discovery and analysis of Tara Oceans data

Le " Tara Expéditions" organise des expéditions pour étudier et comprendre l'impact des changements climatiques sur nos océans.International audienceThe Tara Oceans expedition (2009–2013) sampled contrasting ecosystems of the world oceans, collecting environmental data and plankton, from viruses to metazoans, for later analysis using modern sequencing and state-of-the-art imaging technologies. It surveyed 210 ecosystems in 20 biogeographic provinces, collecting over 35,000 samples of seawater and plankton. The interpretation of such an extensive collection of samples in their ecological context requires means to explore, assess and access raw and validated data sets. To address this challenge, the Tara Oceans Consortium offers open science resources, including the use of open access archives for nucleotides (ENA) and for environmental, biogeochemical, taxonomic and morphological data (PANGAEA), and the development of on line discovery tools and collaborative annotation tools for sequences and images. Here, we present an overview of Tara Oceans Data, and we provide detailed registries (data sets) of all campaigns (from port-to-port), stations and sampling events

AMBER : a near infrared focal instrument for the VLTI

10 pagesInternational audienceAMBER is the General User near-infrared focal instrument of the Very Large Telescope interferometer. Its specifications are based on three key programs on Young Stellar Objects, Active Galactic Nuclei central regions, masses and spectra of hot Extra Solar Planets. It has an imaging capacity because it combines up to three beams and very high accuracy measurement are expected from the spatial filtering of beams by single mode fibers and the comparison of measurements made simultaneously in different spectral channels

Energy Resolution Performance of the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter

The energy resolution performance of the CMS lead tungstate crystal electromagnetic calorimeter is presented. Measurements were made with an electron beam using a fully equipped supermodule of the calorimeter barrel. Results are given both for electrons incident on the centre of crystals and for electrons distributed uniformly over the calorimeter surface. The electron energy is reconstructed in matrices of 3 times 3 or 5 times 5 crystals centred on the crystal containing the maximum energy. Corrections for variations in the shower containment are applied in the case of uniform incidence. The resolution measured is consistent with the design goals

Clinical relevance of cell-free DNA quantification and qualification during the first month after lung transplantation

BackgroundMany studies have reported the relevance of donor-derived cfDNA (dd-cfDNA) after lung transplantation (LTx) to diagnose and monitor acute rejection (AR) or chronic rejection or infection (INF). However, the analysis of cfDNA fragment size has not been studied. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical relevance of dd-cfDNA and cfDNA size profiles in events (AR and INF) during the first month after LTx.MethodsThis prospective, single-center study includes 62 LTx recipients at the Marseille Nord Hospital, France. Total cfDNA quantification was performed by fluorimetry and digital PCR, dd-cfDNA by NGS (AlloSeq cfDNA-CareDX®), and the size profile by BIABooster (Adelis®). A bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsies at D30 established the following groups: not-injured and injured graft (AR, INF, or AR+INF).ResultsQuantification of total cfDNA was not correlated with the patient’s status at D30. The percentage of dd-cfDNA was significantly higher for injured graft patients at D30 (p=0.0004). A threshold of 1.72% of dd-cfDNA correctly classified the not-injured graft patients (negative predictive value of 91.4%). Among recipients with dd-cfDNA >1.72%, the quantification of small sizes (80-120bp) >3.70% identified the INF with high performance (specificity and positive predictive value of 100%).ConclusionWith the aim of considering cfDNA as a polyvalent non-invasive biomarker in transplantation, an algorithm combining the quantification of dd-cfDNA and small sizes of DNA may significantly classify the different types of allograft injuries