Genetic Structure of Human A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 Influenza Virus on Corsica Island: Phylogenetic Analysis and Vaccine Strain Match, 2006–2010

Background: The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic patterns of Hemagglutinin (HA) genes of influenza A strains circulating on Corsica Island during the 2006-2009 epidemic seasons and the 2009-2010 pandemic season. [br/] Methods: Nasopharyngeal samples from 371 patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) were collected by General Practitioners (GPs) of the Sentinelles Network through a randomised selection routine. [br/] Results: Phylogenetic analysis of HA revealed that A/H3N2 strains circulating on Corsica were closely related to the WHO recommended vaccine strains in each analyzed season (2006-2007 to 2008-2009). Seasonal Corsican influenza A/H1N1 isolated during the 2007-2008 season had drifted towards the A/Brisbane/59/2007 lineage, the A/H1N1 vaccine strain for the 2008-2009 season. The A/H1N1 2009 (A/H1N1pdm) strains isolated on Corsica Island were characterized by the S220T mutation specific to clade 7 isolates. It should be noted that Corsican isolates formed a separate sub-clade of clade 7 as a consequence of the presence of the fixed substitution D222E. The percentages of the perfect match vaccine efficacy, estimated by using the p(epitope) model, against influenza viruses circulating on Corsica Island varied substantially across the four seasons analyzed, and tend to be highest for A/H1N1 compared with A/H3N2 vaccines, suggesting that cross-immunity seems to be stronger for the H1 HA gene. [br/] Conclusion: The molecular analysis of the HA gene of influenza viruses that circulated on Corsica Island between 2006-2010 showed for each season the presence of a dominant lineage characterized by at least one fixed mutation. The A/H3N2 and A/H1N1pdm isolates were characterized by multiples fixation at antigenic sites. The fixation of specific mutations at each outbreak could be explained by the combination of a neutral phenomenon and a founder effect, favoring the presence of a dominant lineage in a closed environment such as Corsica Island

The Comet Interceptor Mission

Here we describe the novel, multi-point Comet Interceptor mission. It is dedicated to the exploration of a little-processed long-period comet, possibly entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or to encounter an interstellar object originating at another star. The objectives of the mission are to address the following questions: What are the surface composition, shape, morphology, and structure of the target object? What is the composition of the gas and dust in the coma, its connection to the nucleus, and the nature of its interaction with the solar wind? The mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2018, and formally adopted by the agency in June 2022, for launch in 2029 together with the Ariel mission. Comet Interceptor will take advantage of the opportunity presented by ESA's F-Class call for fast, flexible, low-cost missions to which it was proposed. The call required a launch to a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. The mission can take advantage of this placement to wait for the discovery of a suitable comet reachable with its minimum ΔV capability of 600 ms-1. Comet Interceptor will be unique in encountering and studying, at a nominal closest approach distance of 1000 km, a comet that represents a near-pristine sample of material from the formation of the Solar System. It will also add a capability that no previous cometary mission has had, which is to deploy two sub-probes - B1, provided by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and B2 - that will follow different trajectories through the coma. While the main probe passes at a nominal 1000 km distance, probes B1 and B2 will follow different chords through the coma at distances of 850 km and 400 km, respectively. The result will be unique, simultaneous, spatially resolved information of the 3-dimensional properties of the target comet and its interaction with the space environment. We present the mission's science background leading to these objectives, as well as an overview of the scientific instruments, mission design, and schedule

The Comet Interceptor Mission

Here we describe the novel, multi-point Comet Interceptor mission. It is dedicated to the exploration of a little-processed long-period comet, possibly entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or to encounter an interstellar object originating at another star. The objectives of the mission are to address the following questions: What are the surface composition, shape, morphology, and structure of the target object? What is the composition of the gas and dust in the coma, its connection to the nucleus, and the nature of its interaction with the solar wind? The mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2018, and formally adopted by the agency in June 2022, for launch in 2029 together with the Ariel mission. Comet Interceptor will take advantage of the opportunity presented by ESA’s F-Class call for fast, flexible, low-cost missions to which it was proposed. The call required a launch to a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point. The mission can take advantage of this placement to wait for the discovery of a suitable comet reachable with its minimum ΔV capability of 600 ms−1. Comet Interceptor will be unique in encountering and studying, at a nominal closest approach distance of 1000 km, a comet that represents a near-pristine sample of material from the formation of the Solar System. It will also add a capability that no previous cometary mission has had, which is to deploy two sub-probes – B1, provided by the Japanese space agency, JAXA, and B2 – that will follow different trajectories through the coma. While the main probe passes at a nominal 1000 km distance, probes B1 and B2 will follow different chords through the coma at distances of 850 km and 400 km, respectively. The result will be unique, simultaneous, spatially resolved information of the 3-dimensional properties of the target comet and its interaction with the space environment. We present the mission’s science background leading to these objectives, as well as an overview of the scientific instruments, mission design, and schedule

Micro and macro population effects in disease transmission: the case of varicella

Profiles of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) seroprevalence have shown large variability in European countries in which vaccination has not been implemented. Differences in micro and macro population structures (e.g. household and municipality, respectively) may explain such variability, which is the focus of a population-based study of varicella in 12 000 children from 7800 French households in Corsica. The cumulative incidence was 89% at age 11 years, as the median age at infection was 5 years in first-born children, but decreased to 3·9 years in younger siblings. Hazard of infection in households increased as the first-born child initially enrolled in primary school. Age at infection was higher in less populated areas. Household attack rates increased with age (55% in 90% in >3 years) and household secondary attack rate was ∼70%. Several levels of population structure independently affect age at varicella infection

Epidemiology and viral etiology of the influenza-like illness in corsica during the 2012-2013 Winter: an analysis of several sentinel surveillance systems.

Influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance is important to identify circulating and emerging/reemerging strains and unusual epidemiological trends. The present study aimed to give an accurate picture of the 2012-2013 ILI outbreak in Corsica by combining data from several surveillance systems: general practice, emergency general practice, hospital emergency units, intensive care units, and nursing homes. Twenty-eight respiratory viruses were retrospectively investigated from patients in general practice with ILI. Sequence analysis of the genetic changes in the hemagglutinin gene of influenza viruses (A(H1N1)pdm2009, A(H3N2) and B) was performed. The trends in ILI/influenza consultation rates and the relative illness ratios (RIRs) of having an ILI consultation were estimated by age group for the different surveillance systems analyzed. Of the 182 ILI patients enrolled by general practitioners, 57.7% tested positive for influenza viruses. Phylogenetic analyses suggested a genetic drift for influenza B and A(H3N2) viruses. The ILI/influenza surveillance systems showed similar trends and were well correlated. In accordance with virological data, the RIRs of having an ILI consultation were highest among the young (<15 years old) and decreased with age. No clusters of acute respiratory illness were declared by the sentinel nursing homes. This study is noteworthy in that it is the first extensive description of the 2012-2013 ILI outbreak in Corsica as monitored through several surveillance systems. To improve ILI surveillance in Corsica, a consortium that links together the complementary regional surveillance ILI systems described here is being implemented

Les niveaux à vertébrés fossiles du Crétacé supérieur de Castigno et Combebelle (Villespassans, Hérault) : historique et nouvelles découvertes

International audienceStratigraphical and palaeontological researches on the continental Upper Cretaceous beds of the Castigno valley (Villespassans, Hérault, southern France) began in the 1890s with the work of the local researcher Jean Miquel. The study of the dinosaur remains from that locality by Charles Depéret in 1900 greatly added to the knowledge of the Late Cretaceous dinosaurs of France. Stratigraphical misinterpretations by Depéret and Miquel then led Emile Haug to believe that the Castigno dinosaurs came from the base of the Tertiary (Montian). This mistake was corrected by Albert F. de Lapparent in 1938. Recent researches at Castigno and at the nearby Combebelle site have yielded remains of various vertebrate groups (amphibians, squamates, turtles, crocodiles, dinosaurs, birds) from several fossil-bearing horizons, corresponding to different depositional environments (fluvial followed by lacustrine), probably referrable to the upper Campanian. The Castigno- Combebelle sedimentary series is clearly important for our understanding of vertebrate faunal succession in the Late Cretaceous of Languedoc.Les recherches stratigraphiques et paléontologiques sur le Crétacé supérieur continental du vallon de Castigno (Villespassans, Hérault, Occitanie) ont débuté dans les années 1890 avec les travaux du chercheur local Jean Miquel. L'étude des restes de dinosaures provenant de ce site par Charles Depéret en 1900 a contribué de façon importante à améliorer la connaissance des dinosaures du Crétacé supérieur de France. Des confusions stratigraphiques dues à Depéret et Miquel firent ensuite croire à Emile Haug que les dinosaures de Castigno dataient de la base du Tertiaire (Montien). Cette erreur fut corrigée par Albert F. de Lapparent en 1938. Les recherches récentes à Castigno et sur le site voisin de Combebelle ont livré des restes de divers groupes de vertébrés (amphibiens, squamates, tortues, crocodiles, dinosaures, oiseaux) provenant de plusieurs niveaux fossilifères, correspondant à des milieux de dépôt différents (fluviatiles puis lacustres), attribuables probablement au Campanien supérieur. La série sédimentaire de Castigno-Combebelle est d'une importance certaine pour la compréhension de la succession des faunes de vertébrés du Crétacé supérieur en Languedoc

Distribution of viral etiologies according to age group in patients with influenza-like illness enrolled by the Corsican <i>Sentinelles</i> network.

<p>Distribution of viral etiologies according to age group in patients with influenza-like illness enrolled by the Corsican <i>Sentinelles</i> network.</p

Temporal distribution of influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rates from November 2012 (week 46) to April 2013 (week 14) by surveillance networks in Corsica.

<p>From top to bottom, (<b>1</b>) Weekly rates (black line) of J09 to J11 diagnostics estimated over the totality of number of visits coded per week at hospital emergencies (OSCOUR network), (<b>2</b>) Weekly rates (black line) of R80 Influenza/R80 ILI diagnostics estimated over the totality of number of visits coded per week by GPs of the emergency general practice network (<i>SOS Médecins</i>). (<b>3</b>) ILI incidence rates (grey line) per 100 000 inhabitants and weekly distribution of ILI samples positives (histogram bars) to at least one respiratory viruses analyzed (GPs of the Corsican <i>Sentinelles</i> network). (<b>4</b>) ILI incidence rates (black line) per 100 000 inhabitants (GPs of the French <i>Sentinelles</i> network) and epidemic threshold (red dotted line) calculated by a periodic regression on model applied to the former observed data (Serfling'method) <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0100388#pone.0100388-Costagliola2" target="_blank">[44]</a>.</p

Evolutionary relationship of B influenza viruses sampled in Corsica during the 2012–2013 influenza like-illness outbreak.

<p>The evolutionary history was inferred using the Neighbor-Joining method. The bootstrap consensus tree inferred from 1000 replicates is taken to represent the evolutionary history of the taxa analyzed. Branches corresponding to partitions reproduced in less than 50% bootstrap replicates are collapsed. The analysis involved 75 sequences.</p