Removal of enteric viruses and Escherichia coli from municipal treated effluent by zebra mussels

Dreissena polymorpha is a widespread filter-feeder species, resistant to a broad range of environmental conditions and different types of pollutants, which has recently colonized Italian freshwaters. Although widely used to monitor pollution in freshwater environments, this species is also an important food source for some fish and water birds. It can also be used to concentrate or remove particulate organic matter to interrupt avian-to-human transmission of pollutants and control health risks for animals and humans. In this study, the accumulation/inactivation in D. polymorpha of human health-related spiked enteric viruses was described. The removal of endogenous Escherichia coli, the classical indicator of fecal contamination, was tested as well. Our preliminary lab-scale results demonstrate that zebra mussels can reduce significantly poliovirus titer after 24 h and rotavirus titer after 8 h. E. coli counts were also reduced in the presence of zebra mussels by about 1.5 log after 4 h and nearly completely after 24 h. The fate of the two enteric viruses after concentration by zebra mussels was also investigated after mechanical disruption of the tissues. To our knowledge, the accumulation from water and inactivation of human health-related enteric viruses by zebra mussels has never been reported

Cancers Primitifs Oto-Rhino-Laryngologiques Et Cervico-Maxillo-Faciaux De L’enfant: Aspects Épidémiologiques Et Histopathologiques

Objective: Have a view on child’s head and neck cancers in a reference centre in Togo. Methodology: It was a descriptive retrospective study about the cancers diagnosed among children under 15 years in head and neck department of Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital of Lomé in Togo from 1st January 2005 to 31 December 2014. The pieces were analysed in the pathological anatomy laboratory of the same teaching Hospital. Results: The child’s head and neck cancers represented 0.8 % of the whole ENT tumours and 5.5% of head and neck cancers. The average age was 8 years ± 4.7 ranging from 3 months to 15 years. The male sexe was predominant in 15 cases. The frequent location was ganglions, followed by oral cavity (gingivo-maxillary location and gingivo-mandibular location) in respectively 13 and 6 cases. The sinus, rhinopharynx, and larynx locations were found in 01 case of each cancer. In terms of histopathology, there were 21 cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of which 09 cases of Burkitt’s and 01 case of inferior lip neuroblastoma. Conclusion: Child’s head and neck cancers are scarce in Togo and dominated by malignant primitive cervical adenopathy

A prime/boost strategy using DNA/fowlpox recombinants expressing the genetically attenuated E6 protein as a putative vaccine against HPV-16-associated cancers

Background: Considering the high number of new cases of cervical cancer each year that are caused by human papilloma viruses (HPVs), the development of an effective vaccine for prevention and therapy of HPV-associated cancers, and in particular against the high-risk HPV-16 genotype, remains a priority. Vaccines expressing the E6 and E7 proteins that are detectable in all HPV-positive pre-cancerous and cancer cells might support the treatment of HPV-related lesions and clear already established tumors. Methods: In this study, DNA and fowlpox virus recombinants expressing the E6F47R mutant of the HPV-16 E6 oncoprotein were generated, and their correct expression verified by RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Immunization protocols were tested in a preventive or therapeutic pre-clinical mouse model of HPV-16 tumorigenicity using heterologous (DNA/FP) or homologous (DNA/DNA and FP/FP) prime/boost regimens. The immune responses and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated by ELISA, ELISPOT assays, and challenge with TC-1* cells. Results: In the preventive protocol, while an anti-E6-specific humoral response was just detectable, a specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell response was elicited in immunized mice. After the challenge, there was a delay in cancer appearance and a significant reduction of tumor volume in the two groups of E6-immunized mice, thus confirming the pivotal role of the CD8+ T-cell response in the control of tumor growth in the absence of E6-specific antibodies. In the therapeutic protocol, in-vivo experiments resulted in a higher number of tumor-free mice after the homologous DNA/DNA or heterologous DNA/FP immunization. Conclusions: These data establish a preliminary indication for the prevention and treatment of HPV-related tumors by the use of DNA and avipox constructs as safe and effective immunogens following a prime/boost strategy. The combined use of recombinants expressing both E6 and E7 proteins might improve the antitumor efficacy, and should represent an important approach to control HPV-associated cancers

Mammalian Atg8 proteins regulate lysosome and autolysosome biogenesis through SNAREs

Mammalian homologs of the yeast Atg8 protein (mAtg8s) are important in autophagy, but their exact mode of action remains to be defined. Recently, syntaxin 17 (Stx17), a SNARE with major roles in autophagy, was shown to bind mAtg8s. Here we broadened the analysis of potential mAtg8-SNARE interactions and identified LC3-interacting regions (LIRs) in several SNAREs. Syntaxin 16 (Stx16), and its cognate SNARE partners all have LIR motifs and bind mAtg8s. A knockout in STX16 caused defects in lysosome biogenesis whereas a double STX16 and STX17 knockout completely blocked autophagic flux and decreased mitophagy, pexophagy, xenophagy, and ribophagy. Mechanistic analyses revealed that mAtg8s and Stx16 maintained several aspects of lysosomal compartments including their functionality as platforms for active mTOR. These findings reveal a broad direct interaction of mAtg8s with SNAREs with impact on membrane remodeling in eukaryotic cells and expand the roles of mAtg8s to lysosome biogenesis.</p

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Not AvailableCommercially available human Enzyme Immuno Assay (EIA) kit was employed to analyse sequential serum progesterone levels subsequent to 22 matings given to 22 female dromedary camels. The serum progesterone levels at day 7, 9, 15 and 30 post coitum was found to be a good indicator of ovulation or its absence. The incidence of non-ovulatory coitus was 40.9% with resultant low (or below detectable limit) progesterone concentrations. The mean serum progesterone concentration of 2.92 ± 1.48 (n=7), 3.55±1.65 (n=3) and 2.41±1.21 (n=3) ng/ml was found at day 7, 9 and 15 post coitum, in ovulatory coitus, respectively. It was concluded that human EIA kits can be used for assay of the progesterone hormone in camels and such an assay can differentiate ovulatory and non-ovulatory coitus in camels.Not Availabl

Tuberculose orale secondaire: a propos d’un cas a Lome

La tuberculose de la cavité buccale reste rare, son tableau clinique non spécifique. L’étude bactériologique et histopathologique tient un rôle important, permettant de préciser la nature tuberculeuse des lésions. L’évolution est favorable sous traitement médical, maintenant bien codifié. Un homme de 67 ans, alcoolo-tabagique connu a consulté dans le service de stomatologie pour une ulcération linguale ; une biopsie a été réalisée et l’examen histopathologique orienté vers une tuberculose. La recherche d’autres localisations a permis de retrouver une tuberculose pulmonaire, concluant ainsi à une tuberculose bifocale. L’intérêt de cette présentation est d’attirer l’attention sur la tuberculose que l’on peut retrouver de façon exceptionnelle dans certaines localisations, comme la cavité buccale.Mots-clés: tuberculose orale ; nécrose caséeuse ; tuberculose pulmonaireEnglish Title: Secondary orale tuberculosis: about one case at LomeEnglish AbstractTuberculosis of the oral cavity remains rare, and clinically non-specific. Bacteriology and histopathology are important to confirm the diagnostic of tuberculosis of the oral lesion. The evolution is favourable with medical treatment, now well codified. A 67-year-old male, known alcoholic-tobacco was received in stomatology department for lingual ulceration. A biopsy was performed and histopathologic examination has concluded to tuberculosis. The searches for other localizations find pulmonary tuberculosis, thus concluding with bifocal tuberculosis. The interest of this presentation is to draw attention to tuberculosis which can be found exceptionally in certain localizations, such as the oral cavityKeywords: oral tuberculosis; caseating; pulmonary tuberculosi

Reproductive status of Camelus bactrianus during early breeding season in India

Objective: To study the behaviour and reproductive status of the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus). Methods: This study was conducted at two places, Government Bactrian Camel Farm, Chusoot, Leh and Hundar village, Nubra valley, India, situated at higher than 10000 feet above sea level during the month of October, said to be initial period of breeding season. Results: The uterine horns were similar to that of dromedary i.e. between T and Y shaped. The ovaries were irregular but without follicle. The male camels were not showing any symptoms of rut or breeding season but were capable of mounting and copulating the sitting female. Conclusions: There is a need to carry out more research on reproduction in Indian Bactrian camel as they have become major attraction of tourists in Nubra valley and has become an important source of livelihood for the people who inhabit high altitude regions

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