Periodontitis is a public health issue, being one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. However, the aetiology of the disease is still unclear: genetics of patients cannot explain the dispersed or isolated localisation of gingival pockets, while bacteria-based models are insufficient to distinguish gingivitis and periodontitis. The possible role of parasites in the establishment of periodontitis has been poorly studied until now. The aim of this project was to study a potential link between colonisation of gingival crevices by the amoeba Entamoeba gingivalis and periodontitis. In eight different dental clinics in France, samples were taken in periodontal pockets (72) or healthy sites (33), and submitted to microscopic observation and molecular identification by PCR with a new set of primers designed to specifically detect E. gingivalis. This blind sample analysis showed the strong sensitivity of PCR compared with clinical diagnosis (58/72 = 81%), and microscopy (51/65 = 78%). The results of this work show that the parasites detected by microscopy mainly – if not exclusively – belong to the species E. gingivalis and that the presence of the parasite is correlated with periodontitis.

International audienceThe Dy3+ doped Ga5Ge20Sb10S65 bulk glass provides good emission efficiency in the middle IR with a better brightness than the blackbody sources. Sulfide single index fibers doped with Dy3+ (500-​3000 ppm) were drawn with optical attenuation of about 1-​3 dB​/m, suitable to develop fluorescence sources for chem. anal. by optical absorption in middle IR. They particularly present a broad emission around 4-​5 μm, making them attractive for CO2 detection. Considering the low cost and efficient Dy3+ pumping scheme by means of a com. laser diode, the Dy3+ sulfide fiber reveals potential for developing a CO2 optical sensor. Using the 4.35 μm broad emission of a Dy3+ doped Ga5Ge20Sb10S65 fiber combined with a differential measurement technique, the CO2 gas concn. measurement was carried out fruitfully. For this specific application, the CO2 detection threshold was fixed at about 400 ppm corresponding to atm. concn. and was successfully reached for a cell length of 1.5 cm with a resoln. of about 5​%. The sensitivity of the setup is mainly related to the size of the cell, deliberately reduced to develop a robust and compact system for natural geol. sites

International audienceThe deposition of Ge25Sb10S65 and Ge25Sb10Se65 amorphous chalcogenide thin films was performed by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering and pulsed laser deposition technique. The deposited layers were characterized by studying their morphology, topography, chemical composition, structure, and optical functions permitting a direct comparison of two deposition methods for obtaining attractive amorphous chalcogenide films. Reactive ion etching was then used to pattern rib/ridge waveguides in sulfide and selenide films with low surface roughness, vertical sidewalls, and reasonable etching rate. Optical losses of fabricated waveguides were measured at 1550 nm with values better than 1 dB/cm obtained for sulfide/selenide films deposited by both techniques