Synthèse et évaluation d’un candidat vaccin à 3 composantes (Agoniste TLR7-glycopeptoïde-OVA 323-339) dans le cadre d’une application en immunothérapie anti-tumorale

Tumor-Associated Carbohydrate Antigen (TACAs) are considered as cancer cells markers. The development of synthetic vaccine candidates which are able to induce a robust immune response against these TACAs is a field of great interest since many years. In this context, my work has been focused mainly on the design of a three-component vaccine candidate with the ability to activate specifically dendritic cells, T H cells and B cells. The first part of the thesis consisted in making a deep study on the submonomer and monomer methods for solution-phase synthesis of a β-tripeptoid O-α-GalNAc scaffold (B epitope). Its role is to mimic the Tn (GalNAc-α-O-Ser/Thr) trimeric cluster which is naturally present on tumor cells surface. To strengthen the stimulation of the immune system, a TLR7 agonist (receptor express by dendritic cells) has been, firstly, coupled through an amino-caproic acid spacer. The vaccine candidate has been next completed by conjugation with the OVA 323- 339 peptide (TH epitope) using the Copper-catalized Alkyne-Azide Cycloaddition (CuAAC). Finally, the capacity of this construction to generate anti-Tn response have been evaluated by the groupe of C. Leclerc of Institut Pasteur of Paris. At the same time, we have also developed conditions for multivalent ligations using thiol-ene coupling (TEC) to obtain a β-tripeptoid S-α-GalNAc scaffolds.Les antigènes saccharidiques associés aux tumeurs (TACAs) sont considérés comme des marqueurs de cellules tumorales. Le développement de candidats vaccins synthétiques capables d'induire des réponses immunitaires robustes dirigées contre ces TACAs est un vaste champ d'investigation depuis de nombreuses années. Dans cette optique, mon travail s'est principalement focalisé sur la conception d'un candidat vaccin à trois composantes qui peut activer spécifiquement les cellules dendritiques, les cellules TH et les cellules B. La première partie de la thèse consistait à effectuer une étude approfondie des méthodes submonomère et monomère en solution pour accéder à une plateforme β-tripeptoïde O-α-GalNAc (épitope des cellules B), servant de mime du cluster trimérique de l'antigène Tn (GalNAc-α-O-Ser/Thr). Pour renforcer la stimulation du système immunitaire, un agoniste du récepteur Toll 7 (TLR7) préalablement synthétisé (exprimé par les cellules dendritiques) a été ensuite couplé à cette plateforme par l'intermédiaire de l'acide amino-caproïque, pris comme espaceur. L'édifice candidat vaccin a ensuite été complété par conjugaison au peptide OVA 323-339 (épitope des cellules TH ) grâce à la réaction de cycloaddition 1,3-dipolaire CuAAC. Enfin, l'aptitude du candidat vaccin à induire une réponse anti-Tn a été évaluée par l'équipe du Pr. C. Leclerc de l'Institut Pasteur de Paris. En parallèle de ces études, nous avons mis au point des conditions de ligation multivalente par couplage thiol-ène (TEC) pour l'obtention de peptoïdes S-glycosylés

Suicide methods in Europe: a gender-specific analysis of countries participating in the "European Alliance Against Depression"

Objective: To identify the most frequent gener-specific suicide methods in Europe. Design: Proportions of seven predominant suicide methods utilised in 16 countries participating in the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD)were reported in total and cross-nationally. Relative risk (RR)relating to suicide methods and gender was calculated. To group countries by pattern of suicide methods, hierarchical clustering was applied. Setting and participants: Data on suicide methods for 119 122 male and 41 338 female cases in 2000-4/5 from 16 EAAD countries, covering 52% of European population were obtained. Results: Hanging was the most prevalent suicide method among both males (54.3%) and females (35.6%). For males, hanging was followed by firearms (9.7%) and poisoning by drugs (8.6%); for females, by poisoning by drugs (24.7%)and jumping from a high place (14.5%). Only in Switzerland did hanging rank as second for males after firearms. Hanging ranked first among females in eight countries, poisoning by drugs in five and jumping from a high place in three. In all countries, males had a higher risk than females of using firearms and hanging and a lower risk of poisoning by drugs, drowning and jumping. Grouping showed that countries might be divided into five main groups among males; for females, grouping did not yield clear results. Conclusions: Research on suicide methods could lead to the development of gender-specific intervention strategies. Nevertheless, other approaches, such as better identification and treatment of mental disorders and the improvement of toxicological aid should be put in place

HHV-8 encoded LANA-1 alters the higher organization of the cell nucleus

The latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA-1) of Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8), alternatively called Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus (KSHV) is constitutively expressed in all HHV-8 infected cells. LANA-1 accumulates in well-defined foci that co-localize with the viral episomes. We have previously shown that these foci are tightly associated with the borders of heterochromatin [1]. We have also shown that exogenously expressed LANA-1 causes an extensive re-organization of Hoechst 33248 DNA staining patterns of the nuclei in non-HHV-8 infected cells [2]. Here we show that this effect includes the release of the bulk of DNA from heterochromatic areas, in both human and mouse cells, without affecting the overall levels of heterochromatin associated histone H3 lysine 9 tri-methylation (3MK9H3). The release of DNA from the heterochromatic chromocenters in LANA-1 transfected mouse cells co-incides with the dispersion of the chromocenter associated methylcytosin binding protein 2 (MECP2). The localization of 3MK9H3 to the remnants of the chromocenters remains unaltered. Moreover, exogeneously expressed LANA-1 leads to the relocation of the chromocenters to the nuclear periphery, indicating extensive changes in the positioning of the chromosomal domains in the LANA-1 harboring interphase nucleus. Using a series of deletion mutants we have shown that the chromatin rearranging effects of LANA-1 require the presence of a short (57 amino acid) region that is located immediately upstream of the internal acidic repeats. This sequence lies within the previously mapped binding site to histone methyltransferase SUV39H1. We suggest that the highly concentrated LANA-1, anchored to the host genome in the nuclear foci of latently infected cells and replicated through each cell generation, may function as "epigenetic modifier". The induction of histone modification in adjacent host genes may lead to altered gene expression, thereby contributing to the viral oncogenesis

High-Speed Hardware Implementations of BLAKE, Blue Midnight Wish, CubeHash, ECHO, Fugue, Grøstl, Hamsi, JH, Keccak, Luffa, Shabal, SHAvite-3, SIMD, and Skein

In this paper we describe our high-speed hardware implementations of the 14 candidates of the second evalution round of the \mbox{SHA-3} hash function competition. We synthesized all implementations using a uniform tool chain, standard-cell library, target technology, and optimization heuristic. This work provides the fairest comparison of all second-round candidates to date

Elevated Ratio of Urinary Metabolites of Thromboxane and Prostacyclin Is Associated with Adverse Cardiovascular Events in ADAPT

Results from prevention trials, including the Alzheimer's Disease Anti-inflammatory Prevention Trial (ADAPT), have fueled discussion about the cardiovascular (CV) risks associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). We tested the hypotheses that (i) adverse CV events reported among ADAPT participants (aged 70 years and older) are associated with increased ratio of urine 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (Tx-M) to 2′3-donor–6-keto-PGF1 (PGI-M) attributable to NSAID treatments; (ii) coincident use of aspirin (ASA) would attenuate NSAID-induced changes in Tx-M/PGI-M ratio; and (iii) use of NSAIDs and/or ASA would not alter urine or plasma concentrations of F2-isoprostanes (IsoPs), in vivo biomarkers of free radical damage. We quantified urine Tx-M and PGI-M, and urine and plasma F2-IsoPs from 315 ADAPT participants using stable isotope dilution assays with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and analyzed these data by randomized drug assignment and self-report compliance as well as ASA use. Adverse CV events were significantly associated with higher urine Tx-M/PGI-M ratio, which seemed to derive mainly from lowered PGI-M. Participants taking ASA alone had reduced urine Tx-M/PGI-M compared to no ASA or NSAID; however, participants taking NSAIDs plus ASA did not have reduced urine Tx-M/PGI-M ratio compared to NSAIDs alone. Neither NSAID nor ASA use altered plasma or urine F2-IsoPs. These data suggest a possible mechanism for the increased risk of CV events reported in ADAPT participants assigned to NSAIDs, and suggest that the changes in the Tx-M/PGI-M ratio was not substantively mitigated by coincident use of ASA in individuals 70 years or older

Performance of the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers with Cosmic Rays

The Cathode Strip Chambers (CSCs) constitute the primary muon tracking device in the CMS endcaps. Their performance has been evaluated using data taken during a cosmic ray run in fall 2008. Measured noise levels are low, with the number of noisy channels well below 1%. Coordinate resolution was measured for all types of chambers, and fall in the range 47 microns to 243 microns. The efficiencies for local charged track triggers, for hit and for segments reconstruction were measured, and are above 99%. The timing resolution per layer is approximately 5 ns

Performance and Operation of the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter

The operation and general performance of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter using cosmic-ray muons are described. These muons were recorded after the closure of the CMS detector in late 2008. The calorimeter is made of lead tungstate crystals and the overall status of the 75848 channels corresponding to the barrel and endcap detectors is reported. The stability of crucial operational parameters, such as high voltage, temperature and electronic noise, is summarised and the performance of the light monitoring system is presented

Protective effect of antirheumatic drugs on dementia in rheumatoid arthritis patients

INTRODUCTION Rheumatoid Arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease and classical disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) have proven efficacy. It is unknown what impact cDMARDs might have on dementia as an outcome. METHODS Incident diagnoses of Rheumatoid Arthritis in persons over 18 years from 1995 to 2011 were identified from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. 3,876 cDMARD users were propensity score matched to 1,938 non-users, on a wide range of confounders. Impact on dementia was assessed using survival models. RESULTS cDMARD users were at reduced risk of dementia (hazard ratio: 0.60; 95% confidence intervals: 0.42-0.85). The effect was strongest in Methotrexate users (0.52; 0.34-0.82). DISCUSSION The strong effect of cDMARD use on a halving of dementia risk requires replication in a trial and may provide an important therapeutic pharmacological treatment. </p