Elucidating the origins of malaria -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two studies have shed new light on the origins of Plasmodium falciparum, the main causative agent of malaria. A team has discovered a new strain of P. falciparum in Cercopithecus, small African monkeys also known as guenons. Since these primates are from a different lineage than humans and the great apes, it follows that this pathogen must predate the African hominids. To trace its early evolutionary history, another team analyzed mitochondrial genes from several species of Plasmodium, which can infect mammals (primates and rodents) or reptiles and birds. It turns out that P. falciparum is closely related to the species that infect rodents. Contrary to previous assumptions, it does not come directly from reptiles and birds, and is not related to the species that infect the other primates. These findings also show that the origin of P. falciparum and its close relatives goes back further than expected. Both these pieces of research could give better insight into how this pathogen adapted to humans, and help find more of its weaknesses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences July 2011 BMC Evolutionnary Biology March 2011 Researchers have shown that dendritic cells, the sentinels of the immune system, are able to transform normal blood vessels into HEV vessels. These can help the body to fight Cercopithecus nictitans, Gabon. Researchers have shown that Plasmodium falciparum is present cancer by allowing ‘killer lymphocytes’ to in this small African monkey, whose lineage is different from that of humans. penetrate cancerous tumors. -------------------------------------------- Badges to study epidemic outbreaks Five hundred participants to a congress were recently equipped with RFID badges by an international team including CNRS physicists and epidemiologists. The objective was to accurately measure the dynamics of interactions (duration and frequency) between individuals in order to refine models for epidemic outbreaks in a population. To further improve accuracy, contacts between pupils in a school are being analyzed, while researchers are preparing a measuring campaign in a Rome hospital. BMC Medicine July 2011 A gentle way of restoring heart rate blood vessel (in green) surrounded by lymphocytes (in red).Microscope image of a breast tumor section showing an HEV Defibrillation methods are often painful and can damage heart tissue. Based on a detailed study of the effect of an electric field on the heart, an international The same team has shown that the more team of physicists and cardiologists came to the conclusion that repeated shocks of low intensity can be just as effective and are less risky than a single HEV-type blood vessels there are in breast intense shock. This hypothesis was subsequently verified in vivo in animals. tumors, the more likely the patients This could eventually lead to painless defibrillation methods. are to recover. -------------------------------------------- Nature July 2011 15 2011 A year at CNRS
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