École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort

About: École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort is a education organization based out in Maisons-Alfort, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Tick. The organization has 1564 authors who have published 2031 publications receiving 43117 citations. The organization is also known as: National Veterinary School of Alfort & École Nationale Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort.

Ultrahigh dose-rate FLASH irradiation increases the differential response between normal and tumor tissue in mice

Abstract: In vitro studies suggested that sub-millisecond pulses of radiation elicit less genomic instability than continuous, protracted irradiation at the same total dose. To determine the potential of ultrahigh dose-rate irradiation in radiotherapy, we investigated lung fibrogenesis in C57BL/6J mice exposed either to short pulses (≤500 ms) of radiation delivered at ultrahigh dose rate (≥40 Gy/s, FLASH) or to conventional dose-rate irradiation (≤0.03 Gy/s, CONV) in single doses. The growth of human HBCx-12A and HEp-2 tumor xenografts in nude mice and syngeneic TC-1 Luc + orthotopic lung tumors in C57BL/6J mice was monitored under similar radiation conditions. CONV (15 Gy) triggered lung fibrosis associated with activation of the TGF-b (transforming growth factor–b) cascade, whereas no complications developed after doses of FLASH below 20 Gy for more than 36 weeks after irradiation. FLASH irradiation also spared normal smooth muscle and epithelial cells from acute radiation-induced apoptosis, which could be reinduced by administrationofsystemicTNF-a(tumornecrosisfactor–a)beforeirradiation.Incontrast,FLASHwasasefficientasCONVinthe repression of tumor growth. Together, these results suggest that FLASH radiotherapy might allow complete eradication of lung tumors and reduce the occurrence and severity of early and late complications affecting normal tissue.

The genus Malassezia with description of four new species.

Abstract: The genus Malassezia has been revised using morphology, ultrastructure, physiology and molecular biology. As a result the genus has been enlarged to include seven species comprising the three former taxa M. furfur, M. pachydermatis and M. sympodialis, and four new taxa M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. restricta and M. slooffiae. The descriptions of all the species include morphology of the colonies and of the cells, together with ultrastructural details. The physiological properties studied were the poesence of catalase, the tolerance of 37°C and the ability to utilize certain concentrations of Tween 20, 40, 60 and 80 as a source of lipid in a simple medium. Information is given for each of the taxa on mole % GC and also the rRNA sequence from the comparison previously described for the genus.

PD-1–Expressing Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells Are a Favorable Prognostic Biomarker in HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract: Head and neck cancers positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) have a more favorable clinical outcome than HPV-negative cancers, but it is unknown why this is the case. We hypothesized that prognosis was affected by intrinsic features of HPV-infected tumor cells or differences in host immune response. In this study, we focused on a comparison of regulatory Foxp3(+) T cells and programmed death-1 (PD-1)(+) T cells in the microenvironment of tumors that were positive or negative for HPV, in two groups that were matched for various clinical and biologic parameters. HPV-positive head and neck cancers were more heavily infiltrated by regulatory T cells and PD-1(+) T cells and the levels of PD-1(+) cells were positively correlated with a favorable clinical outcome. In explaining this paradoxical result, we showed that these PD-1(+) T cells expressed activation markers and were functional after blockade of the PD-1-PD-L1 axis in vitro. Approximately 50% of PD-1(+) tumor-infiltrating T cells lacked Tim-3 expression and may indeed represent activated T cells. In mice, administration of a cancer vaccine increased PD-1 on T cells with concomitant tumor regression. In this setting, PD-1 blockade synergized with vaccine in eliciting antitumor efficacy. Our findings prompt a need to revisit the significance of PD-1-infiltrating T cells in cancer, where we suggest that PD-1 detection may reflect a previous immune response against tumors that might be reactivated by PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.

Bartonella Spp. in Pets and Effect on Human Health

Abstract: Among the many mammals infected with Bartonella spp., pets represent a large reservoir for human infection because most Bartonella spp. infecting them are zoonotic. Cats are the main reservoir for Bartonella henselae, B. clarridgeiae, and B. koehlerae. Dogs can be infected with B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, B. washoensis, B. elizabethae, and B. quintana. The role of dogs as an important reservoir of Bartonella spp. is less clear than for cats because domestic dogs are more likely to be accidental hosts, at least in nontropical regions. Nevertheless, dogs are excellent sentinels for human infections because a similar disease spectrum develops in dogs. Transmission of B. henselae by cat fleas is better understood, although new potential vectors (ticks and biting flies) have been identified. We review current knowledge on the etiologic agents, clinical features, and epidemiologic characteristics of these emerging zoonoses.

Factors associated with the rapid emergence of zoonotic Bartonella infections.

Abstract: Within the last 15 years, several bacteria of the genus Bartonella were recognized as zoonotic agents in humans and isolated from various mammalian reservoirs. Based on either isolation of the bacterium or PCR testing, eight Bartonella species or subspecies have been recognized as zoonotic agents, including B. henselae, B. elizabethae, B. grahamii, B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis, B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, B. grahamii, B. washoensis and more recently B. koehlerae. The present manuscript reviews the factors associated with the emergence of these zoonotic pathogens, including better diagnostic tools and methods to identify these fastidious bacteria, host immunosuppression (caused by infectious agents, cancer, aging or induced by immunosuppressive drugs), the interaction of co-infection by several infectious agents that may enhanced the pathogenecity of these bacteria, increased outdoor activity leading to exposure to wildlife reservoirs or vectors, poverty and low income associated with infestation by various ectoparasites, such as body lice and finally the dispersal of Bartonellae around the world. Furthermore, a description of the main epidemiological and clinical features of zoonotic Bartonellae is given. Finally, the main means for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these diseases are presented.