Effect of input pulse chirp on nonlinear energy deposition and plasma excitation in water

We analyze numerically and experimentally the effect of the input pulse chirp on the nonlinear energy deposition from $5\ \mu$J fs-pulses at $800$ nm to water. Numerical results are also shown for pulses at $400$ nm, where linear losses are minimized, and for different focusing geometries. Input chirp is found to have a big impact on the deposited energy and on the plasma distribution around focus, thus providing a simple and effective mechanism to tune the electron density and energy deposition. We identify three relevant ways in which plasma features may be tuned.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

A selective chromogenic plate, YECA, for the detection of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica: specificity, sensibility and capacity to detect pathogenic Y. enterocolitica from pig tonsils

A new selective chromogenic plate, YECA, was tested for its specificity, sensitivity and accuracy to detect pathogenic Y. enterocolitica from pig tonsils. We tested a panel of 26 bacterial strains on YECA and compared it to PCA, CIN and YeCM media. Detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica was carried out on 50 pig tonsils collected in one slaughterhouse. Enrichment was done in PSB and ITC broths. Streaking on YECA and CIN was done in direct, after 24H incubation of ITC, after 48H incubation of PSB and ITC. All the plates were incubated at 30°C during 24 hours. Presence of typical colonies on CIN and YECA was checked and isolates were biotyped

Shedding of Listeria monocytogenes by sows in French farrow-to-finish pig farms: prevalence, serotype and risk factors of contamination

This work was undertaken in 2008 to estimate the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in French farrow-to-finish pig farms at the breeding pig level and to determine risk factors of contamination of sows by L. monocytogenes. A total of 730 feces (10 per farm) were sampled from sows in 73 pig farms. 172 samples were also taken during the fattening stage, at 43 of the 73 farms (4 per farm). Detection of L. monocytogenes was carried out according to the ISO 11290-1/A1 method and isolates were serotyped. Generalized Estimating Equations were used in order to determine risk factors associated to contamination of sows by L. monocytogenes

Detection of Yersinia enterocolitica on slaughtered pig tonsils in France

This study was conducted to obtain data about the presence of Yersinia enterocolitica (YE) in French slaughtered pigs and to evaluate detection methods. Nine hundred tonsil swabs were taken from pigs at slaughter (one slaughterhouse in Brittany, France, 45 batches of pigs with 20 pigs sampled per batch from January to March 2009). The swabs were vortexed in 10 ml PSB broth and I ml was transferred in 9 ml lTC broth. After 48h at 25°C, PSB enrichment was streaked on CIN plates and lTC enrichment on SSDC and CIN plates

Epitope mapping and fine specificity of human T and B cell responses for novel candidate blood-stage malaria vaccine P27A

P27A is a novel synthetic malaria vaccine candidate derived from the blood stage Plasmodium falciparum protein Trophozoite Exported Protein 1 (TEX1/PFF0165c). In phase 1a/1b clinical trials in malaria unexposed adults in Switzerland and in malaria pre-exposed adults in Tanzania, P27A formulated with Alhydrogel and GLA-SE adjuvants induced antigen-specific antibodies and T-cell activity. The GLA-SE adjuvant induced significantly stronger humoral responses than the Alhydrogel adjuvant. Groups of pre-exposed and unexposed subjects received identical vaccine formulations, which supported the comparison of the cellular and humoral response to P27A in terms of fine specificity and affinity for populations and adjuvants. Globally, fine specificity of the T and B cell responses exhibited preferred recognized sequences and did not highlight major differences between adjuvants or populations. Affinity of anti-P27A antibodies was around 10−8 M in all groups. Pre-exposed volunteers presented anti-P27A with higher affinity than unexposed volunteers. Increasing the dose of GLA-SE from 2.5 to 5 μg in pre-exposed volunteers improved anti-P27A affinity and decreased the number of recognized epitopes. These results indicate a higher maturation of the humoral response in pre-exposed volunteers, particularly when immunized with P27A formulated with 5 μg GLA-SE

Clinical development of placental malaria vaccines and immunoassays harmonization:a workshop report

International audiencePlacental malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum infection constitutes a major health problem manifesting as severe disease and anaemia in the mother, impaired fetal development, low birth weight or spontaneous abortion. Prevention of placental malaria currently relies on two key strategies that are losing efficacy due to spread of resistance: long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy. A placental malaria vaccine would be an attractive, cost-effective complement to the existing control tools. Two placental malaria vaccine candidates are currently in Phase Ia/b clinical trials. During two workshops hosted by the European Vaccine Initiative, one in Paris in April 2014 and the other in Brussels in November 2014, the main actors in placental malaria vaccine research discussed the harmonization of clinical development plans and of the immunoassays with a goal to define standards that will allow comparative assessment of different placental malaria vaccine candidates. The recommendations of these workshops should guide researchers and clinicians in the further development of placental malaria vaccines

Earlier onset of tumoral anglogenesis in matrix metalloproteinase-19-deficient mice

Among matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), MMP-19 displays unique structural features and tissue distribution. In contrast to most MMPs, MMP-19 is expressed in normal human epidermis and down-regulated during malignant transformation and dedifferentiation. The contribution of MMP-19 during tumor angiogenesis is presently unknown. In an attempt to give new insights into MMP-19 in vivo functions, angiogenic response of mutant mice lacking MMP-19 was analyzed after transplantation of murine malignant PDVA keratinocytes and after injection of Matrigel supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that MMP-19 is produced by host mesenchymal cells but not by endothelial capillary cells or CD11b-positive inflammatory cells. Based on a new computer-assisted method of quantification, we provide evidence that host MMP-19 deficiency was associated with an increased early angiogenic response. In addition, increased tumor invasion was observed in MMP-19-/- mice. We conclude that, in contrast to most MMPs that promote tumor progression, MMP-19 is a negative regulator of early steps of tumor angiogenesis and invasion. These data highlight the requirement to understand the individual functions of each MMP to improve anticancer strategies