10 selected Research Luxembourg results – January & February 2024

11 March 2024

This article was originally in French and German on science.lu 

What is the link between allergy and brain cancer?

Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH)

Gliomas are the most common brain cancers in adults, and their association with certain allergies has been the subject of numerous studies. Indeed, in some patients, allergic inflammation of the respiratory tract appears to delay the progression of gliomas, making immunotherapy more effective.

A team from LIH has compiled a comprehensive synthesis of knowledge on the subject, in collaboration with the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO). New biomarkers (proteins, genes, or molecules that characterize certain biological processes) are summarized, as well as recent advances in understanding both diseases, confirming that a link exists between them but varies depending on the patient’s allergic profile and the type of glioma developed.

The purpose of such work is to facilitate the targeted implementation of immunotherapies as treatments for brain tumors. By identifying the necessary biomarkers to characterize both phenomena (allergy and cancer), patients can be identified and treated specifically.

To the press release / To the publication

Cyanowatch: 4 photos awarded

Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)

In 2023, bathing areas infected by blue-green algae were successfully detected thanks to the general public. As part of this “Cyanowatch” project, 4 user photos were rewarded.

“Cyanowatch” is a citizen science project aimed at monitoring cyanobacteria, also known misleadingly as blue-green algae (they are actually bacteria). Reporting of cyanobacteria can be done by anyone by sending photos via the LIST’s free app, Bloomin’ Algae. A contest was organized in 2023 to reward the best shots.

The jury, composed of the LIST, the Water Management Administration (AGE), the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), and the Upper Sûre Natural Park, evaluated both the visual quality and the scientific value of the reports. These shots are of great interest to LIST researchers as they provide important information for monitoring the evolution of these invasive bacteria.

To the press release

Batten Disease: Zebrafish Help Us Understand It

Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) – University of Luxembourg

Batten Disease (or juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) is a rare, rapidly fatal neurodegenerative disease. Caused by a genetic mutation, it affects children from the age of 4 and leads, among other things, to vision loss and epileptic seizures. There is currently no cure. A group of researchers from the LCSB has now generated a new zebrafish model that mimics key aspects of the disease.

Dr. Ursula Heins-Marroquin, lead author of the study, explains the model: “We used CRISPR/Cas9 technology (Editor’s note: a biotechnology for modifying the genetic code) to mutate in zebrafish the equivalent of the gene responsible for the disease in humans.” Due to its transparency during the larval stage, zebrafish is often used as a model to study neurological diseases and brain development.

This work will deepen understanding of the disease in the hope of developing future diagnostic and treatment strategies.

To the press release / To the publication

How has the tradition of Buergbrennen evolved since the Middle Ages?

Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE), University of Luxembourg

Every year, to chase away winter, the inhabitants of Luxembourg gather around large bonfires at the beginning of Lent. A Luxembourgish researcher has looked into the evolution of this tradition since the Middle Ages. Far from declining, the religious tradition is experiencing a revival. The number of these fires has increased since the early 1970s, from around a hundred localities to 260 cases recorded in 2020. The researcher describes a trend towards urban events, combining bonfires with other attractions such as shows and brass bands. But even without additions, the spectacle enjoys great popularity throughout the country in the 21st century.

And what about the environmental aspect? Currently, it is prohibited to burn chemically treated wood or other materials. However, given the cultural and historical value of the event, a ban is unlikely.

To the press release / To the publication

Dementia Prevention Centers

Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) – University of Luxembourg

The Luxembourgish dementia prevention program is showing its first results: 425 patients meeting the inclusion criteria are now being followed in the new specialized centers, and have already been able to benefit from this personalized offer.

This program, launched in 2018 with the assistance of the Ministry of Health, aims to prevent or at least delay the onset of dementia through targeted lifestyle changes tailored to each individual. Following a neuropsychological assessment and thorough profiling of risk factors, participants have access to several interventions as well as regular follow-up. The authors share their expertise and the methodology they have implemented in Luxembourg in a detailed publication, aiming to contribute to the deployment of similar concepts in other countries.

In Luxembourg as elsewhere, the number of people affected by dementia will increase significantly in the coming decades, as the population ages. Prevention strategies are therefore essential to reduce this societal burden.

To the press release / To the publication

magSIMS, a microscope that allows seeing the nanoscopic

Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)

A revolutionary microscope not only allowing to visualise the nanoscopic in all its details but also to determine its chemical composition has just been brought to market by LIST.

magSIMS is the first nanoimaging instrument capable of visualizing samples through electron microscopy while determining their chemical composition through mass spectrometry (a technique for identifying molecular structures by measuring their mass). In the field of photovoltaics, magSIMS helps understand the composition of thin layers crucial for the performance and longevity of solar cells. In materials science, it enables the analysis of complex 3D nanoscopic architectures, and in life sciences, the analysis of biological samples; it even finds application in geology.

After 10 years of research, a licensing agreement between LIST and the German manufacturer Raith has been signed, allowing the commercialization of magSIMS. This technology has been internationally recognized.

To the press release

Pathogenic Fungi: a Threat to Certain Luxembourgish Amphibians

Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) 

Two fungi are currently threatening the survival of some amphibians in Luxembourg. One of them has already caused the extinction of numerous species worldwide and has a strong impact on European populations; it causes a devastating skin disease. Researchers from the MNHN have highlighted its spread in 15 ponds in the Grand Duchy, which is concerning.

To gauge the extent of the phenomenon, scientists analyzed the DNA of these fungi, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, in water samples from 24 Luxembourgish ponds. According to the lead author, David Porco, the sensitivity of the method was enhanced by a new sample repetition technique.

Their work highlights the need to stem the spread of the fungi. An action plan is being developed for Luxembourg: it involves quantitative monitoring of around twenty different ponds each year. Great caution is necessary in reintroductions and movements of amphibians, given the risks of pathogen transmission.

To the press release / To the publication

Predicting the Risk of Depression Using Life History

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER); University of Luxembourg

In order to predict the risk of depression in elderly individuals, it is essential to consider the complete biographical data of the person. Researchers from LISER and the University of Luxembourg were able to assess a number of biographical factors predisposing to the onset of depression, thanks to a large dataset of retrospective data and 6 machine learning models.

The researchers also identified under-studied predictive factors: emotional state changes, which have been little studied in this context, as well as low utilization of dental care throughout life. The study further showed that the risk of depression was more easily predictable in women.

With the aging of populations, understanding depression in the elderly is a growing public health concern. Identifying factors that increase this risk, such as occupational history, marital status, health, childhood, or financial stress, is essential for disease prevention.

To the press release / To the publication

Expert Opinion: Measuring Evapotranspiration for Better Water Resource Management

Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)

A researcher from LIST co-authored an expert opinion for the peer-reviewed journal Nature on a major environmental topic: evapotranspiration, which refers to the phenomenon of water evaporation from the soil, water bodies, and transpiration of vegetation.

The scientist and his co-author from the University of Berkeley, were tasked with evaluating a large international study on OpenET, a remote sensing initiative for evapotranspiration. This initiative enables the use of satellite data to optimize water use in agriculture. The LIST expert emphasizes the importance of monitoring and measuring evapotranspiration in agriculture, as it plays a crucial role in determining the irrigation water needed by plants throughout their growth cycle.

The OpenET initiative, which includes a set of six remote sensing models, was developed in the United States to improve access to evapotranspiration data and enhance the management of agricultural water resources.

To the press release / To the publication

New Caledonian Rusa Deer: a Threat to Biodiversity

Luxembourg National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) 

The ecosystem of New Caledonia (a group of islands in the South Pacific) is currently threatened by one species: the Rusa deer, imported from Java in 1870. New Caledonia boasts considerable biodiversity, but like all island ecosystems, its balance is fragile. Rusa deer directly impact rare species and affect vegetation composition.

An international team of researchers, with lead author Alain Frantz from MNHN, genotyped 628 New Caledonian Rusa deer to identify natural barriers to animal movement. Their results suggest that the deer form a single genetic population on the main island, and that males have significant dispersal distances.

According to the authors, this influences the deer management strategy, as the natural landscape characteristics do not seem to affect their movements. Population size will need to be reduced across the entire archipelago, not just in certain sensitive areas, which requires significant financial investment.

To the press release (in French) / To the publication

Author: Diane Bertel

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