630 research outputs found
Parasites or Cohabitants: Cruel Omnipresent Usurpers or Creative “Éminences Grises”?
This paper presents many types of interplays between parasites and the host, showing the history of parasites, the effects of parasites on the outcome of wars, invasions, migrations, and on the development of numerous regions of the globe, and the impact of parasitic diseases on the society and on the course of human evolution. It also emphasizes the pressing need to change the look at the parasitism phenomenon, proposing that the term “cohabitant” is more accurate than parasite, because every living being, from bacteria to mammals, is a consortium of living beings in the pangenome. Even the term parasitology should be replaced by cohabitology because there is no parasite alone and host alone: both together compose a new adaptive system: the parasitized-host or the cohabitant-cohabited being. It also suggests switching the old paradigm based on attrition and destruction, to a new one founded on adaptation and living together
AMBER/VLTI high spectral resolution observations of the Br emitting region in HD 98922. A compact disc wind launched from the inner disc region
We analyse the main physical parameters and the circumstellar environment of
the young Herbig Be star HD 98922. We present AMBER/VLTI high spectral
resolution (R =12000) interferometric observations across the Br line,
accompanied by UVES high-resolution spectroscopy and SINFONI-AO assisted
near-infrared integral field spectroscopic data. To interpret our observations,
we develop a magneto-centrifugally driven disc-wind model. Our analysis of the
UVES spectrum shows that HD 98922 is a young (~5x10^5 yr) Herbig Be star
(SpT=B9V), located at a distance of 440(+60-50) pc, with a mass accretion rate
of ~9+/-3x10^(-7) M_sun yr^(-1). SINFONI K-band AO-assisted imaging shows a
spatially resolved circumstellar disc-like region (~140 AU in diameter) with
asymmetric brightness distribution. Our AMBER/VLTI UT observations indicate
that the Br emitting region (radius ~0.31+/-0.04 AU) is smaller than
the continuum emitting region (inner dust radius ~0.7+/-0.2 AU), showing
significant non-zero V-shaped differential phases (i.e. non S-shaped, as
expected for a rotating disc). The value of the continuum-corrected pure
Br line visibility at the longest baseline (89 m) is ~0.8+/-0.1, i.e.
the Br emitting region is partially resolved. Our modelling suggests
that the observed Br line-emitting region mainly originates from a disc
wind with a half opening angle of 30deg, and with a mass-loss rate of ~2x10(-7)
M_sun yr^(-1). The observed V-shaped differential phases are reliably
reproduced by combining a simple asymmetric continuum disc model with our
Br disc-wind model. The Br emission of HD 98922 can be modelled
with a disc wind that is able to approximately reproduce all interferometric
observations if we assume that the intensity distribution of the dust continuum
disc is asymmetric.Comment: Accepted for publication on Astronomy \& Astrophysics. High
resolution figures published on the main journal (see Astronomy &
Astrophysics: Forthcoming) or at
www.researchgate.net/profile/Alessio_Caratti_o_Garatti/publication
The encapsulation of DNA molecules within biomimetic lipid nanocapsules
Most of DNA synthetic complexes result from the self-assembly of DNA molecules with cationic lipids or polymers in an aqueous controlled medium. However, injection of such self-assembled complexes in medium like blood that differ from that of their formulation leads to strong instability. Therefore, DNA vectors that have physico-chemical properties and structural organisation that will not be sensitive to a completely different medium in terms of ionic and protein composition are actively sought. To this end, the goal here was to discover and optimize a nanostructured system where DNA molecules would be encapsulated in nanocapsules consisting in an oily core and a shell covered by PEG stretches obtained through a nanoemulsion process in the absence of organic solvent. This encapsulation form of DNA molecules would prevent interactions with external hostile biological fluid. The results show the entrapment of lipoplexes into lipid nanocapsules, leading to the formation of neutral 110 nm-DNA nanocapsules. They were weakly removed by the immune system, displaying an increased blood half-life, and improved carcinoma cell transfection, in comparison to the parent lipoplexes. Our results demonstrate that the fabrication of nanocapsules encapsulating hydrophilic DNA in an oily core that meet criteria for blood injection is possible
First AMBER/VLTI observations of hot massive stars
AMBER is the first near infrared focal instrument of the VLTI. It combines
three telescopes and produces spectrally resolved interferometric measures.
This paper discusses some preliminary results of the first scientific
observations of AMBER with three Unit Telescopes at medium (1500) and high
(12000) spectral resolution. We derive a first set of constraints on the
structure of the circumstellar material around the Wolf Rayet Gamma2 Velorum
and the LBV Eta Carinae
Strong near-infrared emission in the sub-AU disk of the Herbig Ae star HD 163296: evidence of refractory dust?
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from EDP Sciences via the DOI in this record.We present new long-baseline spectro-interferometric observations of the Herbig Ae star HD 163296 (MWC 275) obtained in the
H and K bands with the AMBER instrument at the VLTI. The observations cover a range of spatial resolutions between ∼3 and
∼12 milliarcseconds, with a spectral resolution of ∼30. With a total of 1481 visibilities and 432 closure phases, they represent the
most comprehensive (u, v) coverage achieved so far for a young star. The circumstellar material is resolved at the sub-AU spatial scale
and closure phase measurements indicate a small but significant deviation from point-symmetry. We discuss the results assuming that
the near-infrared excess in HD 163296 is dominated by the emission of a circumstellar disk. A successful fit to the spectral energy
distribution, near-infrared visibilities and closure phases is found with a model in which a dominant contribution to the H and K band
emission originates in an optically thin, smooth and point-symmetric region extending from about 0.1 to 0.45 AU. At a distance of
0.45 AU from the star, silicates condense, the disk becomes optically thick and develops a puffed-up rim, whose skewed emission can
account for the non-zero closure phases. We discuss the source of the inner disk emission and tentatively exclude dense molecular gas
as well as optically thin atomic or ionized gas as its possible origin. We propose instead that the smooth inner emission is produced by
very refractory grains in a partially cleared region, extending to at least ∼0.5 AU. If so, we may be observing the disk of HD 163296
just before it reaches the transition disk phase. However, we note that the nature of the refractory grains or, in fact, even the possibility
of any grain surviving at the very high temperatures we require (∼2100−2300 K at 0.1 AU from the star) is unclear and should be
investigated further.We acknowledge fundings from CNRS and INAF (grant
ASI-INAF I/016/07/0). This work was in part performed under contract with
the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) funded by NASA through the Michelson
Fellowship Progra
Strong near-infrared emission in the sub-AU disk of the Herbig Ae star HD163296: evidence for refractory dust?
We present new long-baseline spectro-interferometric observations of the
HerbigAe star HD163296 obtained in the H and K bands with the AMBER instrument
at VLTI. The observations cover a range of spatial resolutions between 3 and 12
milli-arcseconds, with a spectral resolution of ~30. With a total of 1481
visibilities and 432 closure phases, they result in the best (u,v) coverage
achieved on a young star so far. The circumstellar material is resolved at the
sub-AU spatial scale and closure phase measurements indicate a small but
significant deviation from point-symmetry. We discuss the results assuming that
the near-infrared excess in HD163296 is dominated by the emission of a
circumstellar disk. A successful fit to the spectral energy distribution,
near-infrared visibilities and closure phases is found with a model where a
dominant contribution to the H and K band emissions arises from an optically
thin, smooth and point-symmetric region extending from about 0.1 to 0.45 AU. At
the latter distance from the star, silicates condense, the disk becomes
optically thick and develops a puffed-up rim, whose skewed emission can account
for the non-zero closure phases. We discuss the nature of the inner disk
emission and tentatively rule out dense molecular gas as well as optically thin
atomic or ionized gas as its possible origin. We propose instead that the inner
emission traces the presence of very refractory grains in a partially cleared
region, extending at least to 0.5 AU. If so, we may be observing the disk of
HD163296 just before it reaches the transition disk phase. However, we note
that the nature of the refractory grains or even the possibility for any grain
to survive at the very high temperatures we require (~2100-2300 K at 0.1 AU
from the star) is unclear and should be investigated further.Comment: 14 pages; 12 figures; accepted by A&
A low optical depth region in the inner disk of the HerbigAe star HR5999
Circumstellar disks surrounding young stars are known to be the birthplaces
of planets, and the innermost astronomical unit is of particular interest. We
present new long-baseline spectro-interferometric observations of the HerbigAe
star, HR5999, obtained in the H and K bands with the AMBER instrument at the
VLTI, and aim to produce near-infrared images at the sub-AU spatial scale. We
spatially resolve the circumstellar material and reconstruct images using the
MiRA algorithm. In addition, we interpret the interferometric observations
using models that assume that the near-infrared excess is dominated by the
emission of a circumstellar disk. We compare the images reconstructed from the
VLTI measurements to images obtained using simulated model data. The K-band
image reveals three main elements: a ring-like feature located at ~0.65 AU, a
low surface brightness region inside, and a central spot. At the maximum
angular resolution of our observations (1.3 mas), the ring is resolved while
the central spot is only marginally resolved, preventing us from revealing the
exact morphology of the circumstellar environment. We suggest that the ring
traces silicate condensation, i.e., an opacity change, in a circumstellar disk
around HR 5999. We build a model that includes a ring at the silicate
sublimation radius and an inner disk of low surface brightness responsible for
a large amount of the near-infrared continuum emission. The model successfully
fits the SED, visibilities, and closure phases, and provides evidence of a low
surface brightness region inside the silicate sublimation radius. This study
provides additional evidence that in HerbigAe stars, there is material in a low
surface brightness region, probably a low optical depth region, located inside
the silicate sublimation radius and of unknown nature.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure
Oxygen as a Driver of Early Arthropod Micro-Benthos Evolution
BACKGROUND: We examine the physiological and lifestyle adaptations which facilitated the emergence of ostracods as the numerically dominant Phanerozoic bivalve arthropod micro-benthos. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The PO(2) of modern normoxic seawater is 21 kPa (air-equilibrated water), a level that would cause cellular damage if found in the tissues of ostracods and much other marine fauna. The PO(2) of most aquatic breathers at the cellular level is much lower, between 1 and 3 kPa. Ostracods avoid oxygen toxicity by migrating to waters which are hypoxic, or by developing metabolisms which generate high consumption of O(2). Interrogation of the Cambrian record of bivalve arthropod micro-benthos suggests a strong control on ecosystem evolution exerted by changing seawater O(2) levels. The PO(2) of air-equilibrated Cambrian-seawater is predicted to have varied between 10 and 30 kPa. Three groups of marine shelf-dwelling bivalve arthropods adopted different responses to Cambrian seawater O(2). Bradoriida evolved cardiovascular systems that favoured colonization of oxygenated marine waters. Their biodiversity declined during intervals associated with black shale deposition and marine shelf anoxia and their diversity may also have been curtailed by elevated late Cambrian (Furongian) oxygen-levels that increased the PO(2) gradient between seawater and bradoriid tissues. Phosphatocopida responded to Cambrian anoxia differently, reaching their peak during widespread seabed dysoxia of the SPICE event. They lacked a cardiovascular system and appear to have been adapted to seawater hypoxia. As latest Cambrian marine shelf waters became well oxygenated, phosphatocopids went extinct. Changing seawater oxygen-levels and the demise of much of the seabed bradoriid micro-benthos favoured a third group of arthropod micro-benthos, the ostracods. These animals adopted lifestyles that made them tolerant of changes in seawater O(2). Ostracods became the numerically dominant arthropod micro-benthos of the Phanerozoic. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our work has implications from an evolutionary context for understanding how oxygen-level in marine ecosystems drives behaviour
DETC Induces Leishmania Parasite Killing in Human In Vitro and Murine In Vivo Models: A Promising Therapeutic Alternative in Leishmaniasis
Background: Chemotherapy remains the primary tool for treatment and control of human leishmaniasis. However, currently available drugs present serious problems regarding side-effects, variable efficacy, and cost. Affordable and less toxic drugs are urgently needed for leishmaniasis. Methodology/Principal Findings: We demonstrate, by microscopy and viability assays, that superoxide dismutase inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) dose-dependently induces parasite killing (p,0.001) and is able to ??????sterilize?????? Leishmania amazonensis infection at 2 mM in human macrophages in vitro. We also show that DETC-induced superoxide production (p,0.001) and parasite destruction (p,0.05) were reverted by the addition of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, indicating that DETC-induced killing occurs through oxidative damage. Furthermore, ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy demonstrates a rapid and highly selective destruction of amastigotes in the phagosome upon DETC treatment, without any apparent damage to the host cell, including its mitochondria. In addition, DETC significantly induced parasite killing in Leishmania promastigotes in axenic culture. In murine macrophages infected with Leishmania braziliensis, DETC significantly induced in vitro superoxide production (p = 0.0049) and parasite killing (p = 0.0043). In vivo treatment with DETC in BALB/C mice infected with Leishmania braziliensis caused a significant decrease in lesion size (p,0.0001), paralleled by a 100-fold decrease (p = 0.0087) in parasite burden. Conclusions/Significance: Due to its strong leishmanicidal effect in human macrophages in vitro, its in vivo effectiveness in a murine model, and its previously demonstrated in vivo safety profile in HIV treatment, DETC treatment might be considered as a valuable therapeutic option in human leishmaniasis, including HIV/Leishmania co-infection
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