Invasiones biologicas en Francia: Alarmantes costos y lagunas de conocimiento aun mas alarmantes.

International audienceThe ever-increasing number of introduced species profoundly threatens global biodiversity. While the ecological and evolutionary consequences of invasive alien species are receiving increasing attention, their economic impacts have largely remained understudied, especially in France. Here, we aimed at providing a general overview of the monetary losses (damages caused by) and expenditures (management of) associated with invasive alien species in France. This country has a long history of alien species presence, partly due to its long-standing global trade activities, highly developed tourism, and presence of overseas territories in different regions of the globe, resulting in a conservative minimum of 2,750 introduced and invasive alien species. By synthesizing for the first time the monetary losses and expenditures incurred by invasive alien species in Metropolitan France and French overseas territories, we obtained 1,583 cost records for 98 invasive alien species. We found that they caused a conservative total amount ranging between US$ 1,280 million and 11,535 million in costs over the period 1993–2018. We extrapolated costs for species invading France, for which costs were reported in other countries but not in France, which yielded an additional cost ranging from USD 151 to 3,030 millions. Damage costs were nearly eight times higher than management expenditure. Insects, and in particular the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus and the yellow fever mosquito Ae. aegypti, totalled very high economic costs, followed by non-graminoid terrestrial flowering and aquatic plants (Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ludwigia sp. and Lagarosiphon major). Over 90% of alien species currently recorded in France had no costs reported in the literature, resulting in high biases in taxonomic, regional and activity sector coverages. To conclude, we report alarming costs and even more alarming knowledge gaps. Our results should raise awareness of the importance of biosecurity and biosurveillance in France, and beyond, as well as the crucial need for better reporting and documentation of cost data

Contribution of Geosciences to Cultural Heritage Conservation Assessment: The Case Study of the Loggiato dei Cappuccini in Comacchio (Italy)

Geoscience disciplines play a pivotal role in the assessment of the conservation state of Cultural Heritage to orient the subsequent restoration interventions. In this report, we exemplify the potential of petrographic and thermographic analyses for the evaluation of the conservation state of a unique symbol of the architectural heritage in the challenging lagoon environment of Comacchio city (Ferrara Province, northeastern Italy). This study focuses on the Loggiato dei Cappuccini, starting from the historical analysis of the maintenance and restorations that this simple and pleasant monument has undergone over time. The degradation morphologies and the related triggering causes, characterized by macroscopic observations, were contextualized based on the recent restoration interventions. The current state of conservation has been evaluated quali-quantitatively, combining optical petrographic analyses of the main construction materials with thermographic analyses of the structures. The results of this study highlight the detrimental effects of previous restoration interventions on the long-term conservation state of the monument, emphasizing the need for a general environmental evaluation preliminarily to any conservative action. In particular, geoscience can contribute to a knowledge-based choice of materials that minimize the risk for alveolization and detachments

Les coûts économiques des invasions biologiques en France. Synthèse à l’intention des décideurs

De 1,1 à 10,2 milliards d’euros en 25 ans ! Voilà l’estimation des coûts économiques des invasions biologiques en France. En s’appuyant sur les résultats du programme de recherche InvaCost, ce rapport présente une nouvelle évaluation des coûts économiques des espèces exotiques envahissantes (EEE) en France. Il propose une analyse spécifique de ces coûts selon i) les différentes voies d’introductions des EEE, ii) les différentes régions françaises concernées, iii) les secteurs d’activités impactés et les types de coûts et iv) les différentes espèces impliquées. Les coûts en France sont également comparés avec ceux d’autres pays. Enfin, des recommandations sont présentées pour renforcer la prévention et l’anticipation des invasions biologiques

Les coûts économiques des invasions biologiques en France. Synthèse à l’intention des décideurs

De 1,1 à 10,2 milliards d’euros en 25 ans ! Voilà l’estimation des coûts économiques des invasions biologiques en France. En s’appuyant sur les résultats du programme de recherche InvaCost, ce rapport présente une nouvelle évaluation des coûts économiques des espèces exotiques envahissantes (EEE) en France. Il propose une analyse spécifique de ces coûts selon i) les différentes voies d’introductions des EEE, ii) les différentes régions françaises concernées, iii) les secteurs d’activités impactés et les types de coûts et iv) les différentes espèces impliquées. Les coûts en France sont également comparés avec ceux d’autres pays. Enfin, des recommandations sont présentées pour renforcer la prévention et l’anticipation des invasions biologiques

Mother-to-child transmission of oncogenic polyomaviruses BKPyV, JCPyV and SV40

Objectives: Polyomavirus (PyV) infections have been associated with different diseases. BK (BKPyV), JC (JCPyV) and simian virus 40 (SV40) are the three main PyVs whose primary infection occurs early in life. Their vertical transmission was investigated in this study. Methods: PyV sequences were analyzed by the digital droplet PCR in blood, serum, placenta, amniotic fluid, vaginal smear from two independent cohorts of pregnant females and umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples. IgG antibodies against the three PyVs were investigated by indirect E.L.I.S.As with viral mimotopes. Results: DNAs from blood, vaginal smear and placenta tested BKPyV-, JCPyV- and SV40- positive with a distinct prevalence, while amniotic fluids were all PyVs-negative. A prevalence of 3%, 7%, and 3% for BKPyV, JCPyV and SV40 DNA sequences, respectively, was obtained in UCBs. Serum IgG antibodies from pregnant females reached an overall prevalence of 62%, 42% and 17% for BKPyV, JCPyV and SV40, respectively. Sera from newborns (UCB) tested IgGpositive with a prevalence of 10% for BKPyV/JCPyV and 3 % for SV40. Conclusions: In this investigation, PyV vertical transmission was revealed by detecting PyV DNA sequences and IgG antibodies in samples from females and their offspring suggesting a potential risk of diseases in newborns

Detection of Insulitis By Pancreatic Scintigraphy With99mTc-Labelled-IL2 and MRI in Patients With LADA (Action LADA 10)

Pancreatic scintigraphy with interleukin-2 radiolabeled with (99m)Tc ((99m)Tc-IL-2) is a technique used to image chronic inflammatory-mediated disorders. We used this method to detect a signal consistent with the presence of insulitis in patients with autoimmune diabetes. Positive and negative controls (patients with pancreatic carcinoma and type 2 diabetes, respectively) also were studied

Highlighting the positive aspects of being a PhD student

International audienceArticles about doing a PhD tend to focus on the difficulties faced by research students. Here we argue that the scientific community should also highlight the positive elements of the PhD experience

Central obesity, smoking habit, and hypertension are associated with lower antibody titres in response to COVID‐19 mRNA vaccine

AIMS: To explore variables associated with the serological response following COVID‐19 mRNA vaccine. METHODS: Eighty‐six healthcare workers adhering to the vaccination campaign against COVID‐19 were enrolled in January–February 2021. All subjects underwent two COVID‐19 mRNA vaccine inoculations (Pfizer/BioNTech) separated by 3 weeks. Blood samples were collected before the 1st and 1–4 weeks after the second inoculation. Clinical history, demographics, and vaccine side effects were recorded. Baseline anthropometric parameters were measured, and body composition was performed through dual‐energy‐X‐ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Higher waist circumference was associated with lower antibody (Ab) titres (R = −0.324, p = 0.004); smokers had lower levels compared to non‐smokers [1099 (1350) vs. 1921 (1375), p = 0.007], as well as hypertensive versus normotensive [650 ± 1192 vs. 1911 (1364), p = 0.001] and dyslipideamic compared to those with normal serum lipids [534 (972) vs 1872 (1406), p = 0.005]. Multivariate analysis showed that higher waist circumference, smoking, hypertension, and longer time elapsed since second vaccine inoculation were associated with lower Ab titres, independent of BMI, age. and gender. CONCLUSIONS: Central obesity, hypertension, and smoking are associated with lower Ab titres following COVID‐19 vaccination. Although it is currently impossible to determine whether lower SARS‐CoV‐2 Abs lead to higher likelihood of developing COVID‐19, it is well‐established that neutralizing antibodies correlate with protection against several viruses including SARS‐CoV‐2. Our findings, therefore, call for a vigilant approach, as subjects with central obesity, hypertension, and smoking could benefit from earlier vaccine boosters or different vaccine schedules