Immunoglobulin deficiency in patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae invasive infections

SummaryObjectivesImmunoglobulin (Ig) deficiency is a well-known risk factor for Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae infections and noteworthy invasive diseases. However, the proportion of these deficiencies in cases of invasive disease is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rate of Ig deficiency in cases of invasive disease.MethodsA prospective study was conducted from January 2008 to October 2010 in two French hospitals. Measurement of Ig levels was carried out in patients hospitalized for invasive diseases.ResultsA total of 119 patients were enrolled in the study, with nine cases of H. influenzae and 110 cases of S. pneumoniae invasive disease. There were 18 cases of meningitis, 79 of invasive pneumonia, and 22 other invasive diseases. Forty-five patients (37.8%) had an Ig abnormality, 37 of whom had an Ig deficiency (20 IgG <6g/l, four isolated IgA <0.7g/l, and 13 isolated IgM <0.5g/l), while eight had an elevated monoclonal paraprotein. Nineteen of these 45 patients had a clearly defined Ig abnormality, with five primary deficiencies (three common variable immunodeficiencies and two complete IgA deficiencies) and 14 secondary deficiencies, mainly lymphoproliferative disorders. All these deficiencies were either not known or not substituted.ConclusionsHumoral deficiency is frequent in patients with S. pneumoniae or H. influenzae invasive disease and Ig dosage should be proposed systematically after such infections

Development of Gene Expression Markers of Acute Heat-Light Stress in Reef-Building Corals of the Genus Porites

Coral reefs are declining worldwide due to increased incidence of climate-induced coral bleaching, which will have widespread biodiversity and economic impacts. A simple method to measure the sub-bleaching level of heat-light stress experienced by corals would greatly inform reef management practices by making it possible to assess the distribution of bleaching risks among individual reef sites. Gene expression analysis based on quantitative PCR (qPCR) can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine coral condition in situ. We evaluated the expression of 13 candidate genes during heat-light stress in a common Caribbean coral Porites astreoides, and observed strong and consistent changes in gene expression in two independent experiments. Furthermore, we found that the apparent return to baseline expression levels during a recovery phase was rapid, despite visible signs of colony bleaching. We show that the response to acute heat-light stress in P. astreoides can be monitored by measuring the difference in expression of only two genes: Hsp16 and actin. We demonstrate that this assay discriminates between corals sampled from two field sites experiencing different temperatures. We also show that the assay is applicable to an Indo-Pacific congener, P. lobata, and therefore could potentially be used to diagnose acute heat-light stress on coral reefs worldwide

The Genotoxin Colibactin Shapes Gut Microbiota in Mice

International audienceThe genotoxin colibactin produced by resident bacteria of the gut microbiotamay have tumorigenic effect by inducing DNA double-strand breaks in hostcells. Yet, the effect of colibactin on gut microbiota composition and functions remainsunknown. To address this point, we designed an experiment in which pregnantmice were colonized with the following: (i) a commensal Escherichia coli strain,(ii) a commensal E. coli strain plus a genotoxic E. coli strain, (iii) a commensal E. colistrain plus a nongenotoxic E. coli mutant strain unable to produce mature colibactin.Then, we analyzed the gut microbiota in pups at day 15 and day 35 after birth. Atday 15, mice that were colonized at birth with the genotoxic strain showed lowerlevels of Proteobacteria and taxa belonging to the Proteobacteria, a modest effect onoverall microbial diversity, and no effect on gut microbiome. At day 35, mice thatreceived the genotoxic strain showed lower Firmicutes and taxa belonging to the Firmicutes,together with a strong effect on overall microbial diversity and higher microbialfunctions related to DNA repair. Moreover, the genotoxic strain strongly affectedgut microbial diversity evolution of pups receiving the genotoxic strainbetween day 15 and day 35. Our data show that colibactin, beyond targeting thehost, may also exert its genotoxic effect on the gut microbiota. IMPORTANCE Infections of genotoxic Escherichia coli spread concomitantly with urbanizedprogression. These bacteria may prompt cell senescence and affect DNAstability, inducing cancer via the production of colibactin, a genotoxin shown capableof affecting host DNA in eukaryotic cells. In this study, we show that the actionof colibactin may also be directed against other bacteria of the gut microbiota inwhich genotoxic E. coli bacteria have been introduced. Indeed, the presence ofgenotoxic E. coli induced a change in both the structure and function of the gut microbiota.Our data indicate that genotoxic E. coli may use colibactin to compete forgut niche utilization

Mould exposure in indoor environments: The French ANSES recommendations to reinforce measures for preventing mould growth and the impact on human health

International audienc

Mould exposure in indoor environments: The French ANSES recommendations to reinforce measures for preventing mould growth and the impact on human health

International audienc

: Avis de l’Anses. Rapport d’expertise collective.

Dans le cadre de l’action W du Plan d’actions sur la qualité de l’air intérieur, lancé en octobre 2013 par les ministères chargés de l’écologie et de la santé, un état des connaissances sur l’exposition de la population aux moisissures est demandé. Ce plan liste les actions à engager pour l’amélioration de la qualité de l’air intérieur et constitue le volet sur l’air intérieur du troisième plan national santé environnement (PNSE 3 - 2015-2019) dans la continuité des précédents Plans nationaux santé environnement (PNSE 2004-2008 et 2009-2013).- par type de « bâti » en considérant les bâtiments individuels et/ou collectifs (privés et/ou publics), les habitats et/ou établissements recevant du public (ERP) : écoles, crèches, établissements hospitaliers, maisons de retraite ... ou encore l’année de construction (qui conditionne le type de construction et donc les matériaux utilisés) ; - par type de « population » : familles en situation précaire, enfants, personnes âgées,... ; - par « zone géographique » : zones humides, zones submersibles en lien avec l’impact du changement climatique ou en faisant un focus sur certaines régions à risque; - ou suivant le « contexte socio-économique » : par exemple les problèmes de contaminations fongiques dans les logements pouvant a priori être liés aux conditions de vie de certaines familles en situation précaire

Moisissures dans le bâti. Avis de l’Anses. Rapport d’expertise collective.

Dans le cadre de l’action W du Plan d’actions sur la qualité de l’air intérieur, lancé en octobre 2013 par les ministères chargés de l’écologie et de la santé, un état des connaissances sur l’exposition de la population aux moisissures est demandé. Ce plan liste les actions à engager pour l’amélioration de la qualité de l’air intérieur et constitue le volet sur l’air intérieur du troisième plan national santé environnement (PNSE 3 - 2015-2019) dans la continuité des précédents Plans nationaux santé environnement (PNSE 2004-2008 et 2009-2013).- par type de « bâti » en considérant les bâtiments individuels et/ou collectifs (privés et/ou publics), les habitats et/ou établissements recevant du public (ERP) : écoles, crèches, établissements hospitaliers, maisons de retraite ... ou encore l’année de construction (qui conditionne le type de construction et donc les matériaux utilisés) ; - par type de « population » : familles en situation précaire, enfants, personnes âgées,... ; - par « zone géographique » : zones humides, zones submersibles en lien avec l’impact du changement climatique ou en faisant un focus sur certaines régions à risque; - ou suivant le « contexte socio-économique » : par exemple les problèmes de contaminations fongiques dans les logements pouvant a priori être liés aux conditions de vie de certaines familles en situation précaire