Immunologic and virologic characterization of an ART-treated HIV-I patients cohort with long-term control of viremia

Background Long-term treatment of primary HIV-1 infection (PHI) may allow the immune reconstitution of responses lost during the acute viremic phase and decrease of peripheral reservoirs. This in turn may represent the best setting for the use of therapeutic vaccines in order to lower the viral set-point or control of viral rebound upon ART discontinuation. Methods We investigated a cohort of 16 patients who started ART at PHI, with treatment duration of ≥4 years and persistent aviremia (<50 HIV-1 copies/ml). The cohort was characterized in terms of viral subtype, cell-associated RNA, proviral DNA and HLA genotype. Secretion of IFN-γ, IL-2 and TNF-α by CD8 T-cells was analysed by polychromatic flowcytometry using a panel of 192 HIV-1-derived epitopes. Results This cohort is highly homogenous in terms of viral subtype: 81% clade B. We identified 44 epitope-specific responses: all patients had detectable responses to >1 epitope and the mean number of responding epitopes per patient was 3. The mean frequency of cytokines-secreting CD8 T-cells was 0.32%. CD8 T-cells secreting simultaneously IFN-γ, IL-2 and TNF-α made up for about 40% of the response and cells secreting at least 2 cytokines for about 80%, consistent with a highly polyfunctional CD8 T-cell profile. There was no difference in term of polyfunctionality when HLA restriction, or recognized viral regions and epitopes were considered. Proviral DNA was detectable in all patients but at low levels (mean = 108 copies/1 million PBMCs) while cell-associated mRNA was not detectable in 19% of patients (mean = 11 copies/1 million PBMCs when detectable). Conclusion Patients with sustained virological suppression after initiation of ART at PHI show polyfunctional CD8 T-cell and low levels of proviral DNA with an absence of residual replication in a substantial percentage of patients. The use of therapeutic vaccines in this population may promote low level of rebound viremia or control of viral replication upon ART cessation.

Investigation of the Reproductibility of Third-Level Characteristics

The process of comparing a fingermark recovered from a crime scene with the fingerprint taken from a known individual involves the characterization and comparison of different ridge details on both the mark and the print. Fingerprints examiners commonly classify these characteristics into three different groups, depending on their level of discriminating power. It is commonly considered that the general pattern of the ridge flow constitutes first-level detail, specific ridge flow and minutiaes (e.g. ending ridges, bifurcations) constitutes second-level detail, and fine ridge details (e. g. pore positions and shapes) are described as third-level details.In this study, the reproducibility of a selection of third-level characteristics is investigated. The reproducibility of these features is examined on serveral recordings of a same finger, first acquired using only optical visualization techniques and second on impressions developed using common firngermark development techniques. Prior to the evaluation of the reproducibility of the considered characteristics, digital images of the fingerprints were recorded at two different resolutions (1000 and 2000 ppi). This allowed the study to also examine the influence of higher resolution on the considered characteristics. It was observed that the increase in the resolution did not result in better feature detection or comparison between images.The examination of the reproducibility of a selection of third-level characteristics showed that the most reproducible features observed were minutiae shapes and pore positions along the ridges.

4e et dernier catalogue d'estampes composant le cabinet de M. Laterrade : pièces historiques, antérieures à la Révolution de 1789, portraits... / rédigé par A. Rochoux... [expert]

[Vente. Estampes. 1859-12-12 - 1859-12-15. Paris]

Chanson de la foire ; M'tougga / Abouch Tamassit, chant [acc. voc. et perc.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Ksida El Nouar ; Blad El Bacha / Abouche Tammassit, chant [acc. voc. et perc.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Kessida Dialt Atbir ; Kessida Dialt Boulhranse / Abouche Tammassit, chant [acc. voc. et perc.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Kessida Dialt Mohamed ou M'hamed ; Bakhchich / Abouche Tammassit, chant [acc. voc. et perc.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Kessida Ahyoua ; Kessida Dialt El Baz / Abouche Tammassit, chant [acc. voc. et perc.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Kessida Dialt Moual Djinan ; Kessida Dialt Aoud Rih / Abouche Tammassit, chant [acc. voc. et perc.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Dialt Ahbib ; Dialt Sidna / Abouche Tammassit, chant [acc. voc. et perc.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Diri Hlal ; Diri Hlal (suite) / Mira El Marrakchia, chant [acc. instr.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Moual Zidan ; Ya nas Zarouni El Gharaïm / Mira El Marrakchia, chant [acc. instr.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Nar Houakoum ; Melkek El Gharam / Mira El Marrakchia, chant [acc. instr.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]

Moual Fassi ; Alach ya Habibi / Mira El Marrakchia, chant [acc. instr.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Maroc]