48 research outputs found
X Her and TX Psc: Two cases of ISM interaction with stellar winds observed by Herschel
The asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars X Her and TX Psc have been imaged at
70 and 160 microns with the PACS instrument onboard the Herschel satellite, as
part of the large MESS (Mass loss of Evolved StarS) Guaranteed Time Key
Program. The images reveal an axisymmetric extended structure with its axis
oriented along the space motion of the stars. This extended structure is very
likely to be shaped by the interaction of the wind ejected by the AGB star with
the surrounding interstellar medium (ISM). As predicted by numerical
simulations, the detailed structure of the wind-ISM interface depends upon the
relative velocity between star+wind and the ISM, which is large for these two
stars (108 and 55 km/s for X Her and TX Psc, respectively). In both cases,
there is a compact blob upstream whose origin is not fully elucidated, but that
could be the signature of some instability in the wind-ISM shock. Deconvolved
images of X Her and TX Psc reveal several discrete structures along the
outermost filaments, which could be Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices. Finally, TX Psc
is surrounded by an almost circular ring (the signature of the termination
shock?) that contrasts with the outer, more structured filaments. A similar
inner circular structure seems to be present in X Her as well, albeit less
clearly.Comment: 11 pages, Astronomy & Astrophysics, in pres
Herschel's view into Mira's head
Herschel's PACS instrument observed the environment of the binary system Mira
Ceti in the 70 and 160 micron bands. These images reveal bright structures
shaped as five broken arcs and fainter filaments in the ejected material of
Mira's primary star. The overall shape of the IR emission around Mira deviates
significantly from the expected alignment with Mira's exceptionally high space
velocity. The observed broken arcs are neither connected to each other nor are
they of a circular shape; they stretch over angular ranges of 80 to 100
degrees. By comparing Herschel and GALEX data, we found evidence for the
disruption of the IR arcs by the fast outflow visible in both Halpha and the
far UV. Radial intensity profiles are derived, which place the arcs at
distances of 6-85" (550 - 8000 AU) from the binary. Mira's IR environment
appears to be shaped by the complex interaction of Mira's wind with its
companion, the bipolar jet, and the ISM.Comment: 4 page
Bordetella pertussis Infection Exacerbates Influenza Virus Infection through Pertussis Toxin-Mediated Suppression of Innate Immunity
Pertussis (whooping cough) is frequently complicated by concomitant infections with respiratory viruses. Here we report the effect of Bordetella pertussis infection on subsequent influenza virus (PR8) infection in mouse models and the role of pertussis toxin (PT) in this effect. BALB/c mice infected with a wild-type strain of B. pertussis (WT) and subsequently (up to 14 days later) infected with PR8 had significantly increased pulmonary viral titers, lung pathology and mortality compared to mice similarly infected with a PT-deficient mutant strain (ΔPT) and PR8. Substitution of WT infection by intranasal treatment with purified active PT was sufficient to replicate the exacerbating effects on PR8 infection in BALB/c and C57/BL6 mice, but the effects of PT were lost when toxin was administered 24 h after virus inoculation. PT had no effect on virus titers in primary cultures of murine tracheal epithelial cells (mTECs) in vitro, suggesting the toxin targets an early immune response to increase viral titers in the mouse model. However, type I interferon responses were not affected by PT. Whole genome microarray analysis of gene expression in lung tissue from PT-treated and control PR8-infected mice at 12 and 36 h post-virus inoculation revealed that PT treatment suppressed numerous genes associated with communication between innate and adaptive immune responses. In mice depleted of alveolar macrophages, increase of pulmonary viral titers by PT treatment was lost. PT also suppressed levels of IL-1β, IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-6, KC, MCP-1 and TNF-α in the airways after PR8 infection. Furthermore PT treatment inhibited early recruitment of neutrophils and NK cells to the airways. Together these findings demonstrate that infection with B. pertussis through PT activity predisposes the host to exacerbated influenza infection by countering protective innate immune responses that control virus titers