Human T-Lymphotropic Virus-1 Visualized at the Virological Synapse by Electron Tomography

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is transmitted directly between cells via an organized cell-cell contact called a virological synapse (VS) [1], [2]. The VS has been studied by light microscopy, but the ultrastructure of the VS and the nature of the transmitted viral particle have remained unknown. Cell-free enveloped virions of HTLV-1 are undetectable in the serum of individuals infected with the human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) and during in vitro culture of naturally infected lymphocytes. However, the viral envelope protein is required for infectivity of HTLV-1, suggesting that complete, enveloped HTLV-1 virions are transferred across the synapse. Here, we use electron tomography combined with immunostaining of viral protein to demonstrate the presence of enveloped HTLV-1 particles within the VS formed between naturally infected lymphocytes. We show in 3D that HTLV-1 particles can be detected in multiple synaptic clefts at different locations simultaneously within the same VS. The synaptic clefts are surrounded by the tightly apposed plasma membranes of the two cells. HTLV-1 virions can contact the recipient cell membrane before detaching from the infected cell. The results show that the HTLV-1 virological synapse that forms spontaneously between lymphocytes of HTLV-1 infected individuals allows direct cell-cell transmission of the virus by triggered, directional release of enveloped HTLV-1 particles into confined intercellular spaces

Treatment and reutilization of effluents: one Mediterranean project

The problematic of effluent treatment from olive oil industry as been the subject of an European Commission funded project (INCO-MED programme): “Mediterranean Usage of Biotechnological Treated effluent Water”. The potential that effluent offers to increase the availability of water, in mediterranean regions, was the final goal of the project, co-ordinated by INETI with partners from EU and MPC. In the project different systems for the treatment of this effluent had been studied: reactors systems (Intensive type) based on the jet-loop principle (JACTO) and an anaerobic UASB hybrid type reactor technology; lagoons (extensive type) for municipal wastewater treatment were also applied. The aerobic JACTO system demonstrated high unit capacity for biological conversion and operation at different loadings, allowing the removal of the pollutant organic load and the toxicity associated with this effluent. The use of this type of reactor for pre-treatment of OOWW prior to disposal on a lagoon system was tested at FSS (Morocco). Use of fungi as a pre-treatment was tested by UNITUS (Italy), EBC (Turkey) and CBS (Tunisia). In this way the effluent could be “improved” as demonstrated in the case of anaerobic digestion and biogas production (CBS). Effluent improvement and enrichment with phosphate was also tested by UNITUS. Analytical monitoring methodologies were developed at IA (Spain) and treated effluents were tested for a number of agricultural applications in different countries. The different alternatives studied will be analysed and compared taking account of technological and socio-economical criteria in relation with the project objectives

Centrosome docking at the immunological synapse is controlled by Lck signaling.

Docking of the centrosome at the plasma membrane directs lytic granules to the immunological synapse. To identify signals controlling centrosome docking at the synapse, we have studied cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in which expression of the T cell receptor-activated tyrosine kinase Lck is ablated. In the absence of Lck, the centrosome is able to translocate around the nucleus toward the immunological synapse but is unable to dock at the plasma membrane. Lytic granules fail to polarize and release their contents, and target cells are not killed. In CTLs deficient in both Lck and the related tyrosine kinase Fyn, centrosome translocation is impaired, and the centrosome remains on the distal side of the nucleus relative to the synapse. These results show that repositioning of the centrosome in CTLs involves at least two distinct steps, with Lck signaling required for the centrosome to dock at the plasma membrane

MEDLEM database, a data collection on large Elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean and Black seas

The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring (MEDLEM) database contains more than 3,000 records (with more than 4,000 individuals) of large elasmobranch species from 21 different countries around the Mediterranean and Black seas, observed from 1666 to 2017. The principal species included in the archive are the devil ray (1,868 individuals), the basking shark (935 individuals), the blue shark (622 individuals), and the great white shark (342 individuals). In the last decades, other species such as the thresher shark (187 individuals), the shortfin mako (180 individuals), and the spiny butterfly ray (138) were reported with increasing frequency. This was possibly due to increased public awareness on the conservation status of sharks, and the consequent development of new monitoring programs. MEDLEM does not have homogeneous reporting coverage throughout the Mediterranean and Black seas and it should be considered as a database of observed species presence. Scientific monitoring efforts in the south-eastern Mediterranean and Black seas are generally lower than in the northern sectors and the absence of some species in our database does not imply their actual absence in these regions. However,the available data allowed us to analyse the frequency and spatial distribution of records, the size frequencies for a few selected species, the overall area coverage, and which species are involved as bycatch by different fishing gears.S

Conference highlights of the 15th international conference on human retrovirology: HTLV and related retroviruses, 4-8 june 2011, Leuven, Gembloux, Belgium

The June 2011 15th International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Viruses marks approximately 30 years since the discovery of HTLV-1. As anticipated, a large number of abstracts were submitted and presented by scientists, new and old to the field of retrovirology, from all five continents. The aim of this review is to distribute the scientific highlights of the presentations as analysed and represented by experts in specific fields of epidemiology, clinical research, immunology, animal models, molecular and cellular biology, and virology

Traitement d’un effluent industriel fluoré

The characterization of the industrial effluent has been carried out. This wastewater is strongly acid, salty, hard and concentrated mainly in fluorides, orthophosphates, sulfates and in metal compounds. The treatment of this effluent, mainly the defluoridation was realized by coagulation-decantation. This technique consists in precipitating fluorides, by using lime and calcite. The physico-chemical parameters that influence the treatment have been studied. The results show that it is possible to eliminate more than 85% of fluorides, 84% of orthophosphates, 45% of sulfates, 90% of Cd, 77% of the Co, 93% of Cu, 96% of Fe, 99% of Pb and 99% of Zn.La caractérisation de l’effluent industriel a été effectuée. Il en ressort que cette eau usée est très acide, saline, dure et chargée principalement en fluorures, orthophosphates, sulfates et en éléments métalliques. Le traitement de ce rejet concernant principalement la défluoruration a été réalisé par coagulation- décantation. Cette technique consiste à précipiter les fluorures, en utilisant la chaux et la calcite. Les paramètres physicochimiques qui influencent le traitement ont été étudiés. Les résultats montrent qu’il est possible d’éliminer plus de 85 % des fluorures, 84 % des orthophosphates, 45 % des sulfates, 90 % du Cd, 77 % du Co, 93 % du Cu, 96 % du Fe, 99 % du Pb et 99 % du Zn