Microbiology, Adaptation and Pathogenesis

Research topics

Areas of research:

The UMR 5240 scientific project was created based on a shared interest in adaptation processes of micro-organisms. The unit combines several experienced teams and emerging issues, and includes an ATIP-Avenir team. These various teams make a contribution to the overall issue, relying on their expertise in various organisms: bacteria, yeasts, fungi and protists. The general aim is to contribute to the knowledge of the adaptation ability and resistance levels of these living organisms that interact with varied and variable environments. The parameters of the environments in question include abiotic factors (toxic molecules, metals, stress etc.) as well as, in the case of pathogens, of complex conditions generation when they react with their host (plant, insect, amoeba, man etc.). The diversity of the models and the environmental contexts studied add value to the unit's overall scientific project.
The research unit team aims to characterise the molecular mechanisms of the adaptive response that are used by the micro-organisms and which lead to a change to the cellular metabolism and exchanges with the external world. They concern, more particularly, detection of the environment, characterisation of signalling paths (signs, regulators and targets), modulation of the expression of genes by specific or global factors, resistance mechanisms, and membrane traffic.
The technologies used rely on genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and genomics. The overall methods are for the most part applied, and are mainly proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and comparative genomics. The combination of various approaches means that integrated metabolic and microbial physiology studies can be carried out.
The variety of the systems studied enhances this fundamental research in various fields such as environment, biotechnology, animal and vegetal pathogenesis. Some areas help to deal with some societal concerns regarding public health. For example, a team is evaluating how the conditions generated by human activities foster the multiplication of amoebae and associated pathogenic bacteria. With regard to environmental protection, a team is proposing the design of biosensors to estimate the level of metal pollution in a given environment. Other possibilities for applications are agricultural production, and in particular the fight against bacterial or fungal pathogens in plants. In this field, the team's close partnership with the research centre of Bayer CropScience is helping to create an interface between public research and business that is able to stimulate initiatives to exploit the results of fundamental research.

Subjects

• Virulence and interactions in phytopathogenic bacteria
• Structure of chromatin and the dynamics of networks for regulating virulence
• Bacteria and metals
• RNA regulators and adaptation
• Signalling and genetics of competence in pathogenic bacteria
• Amoebae and interactions
• Molecular genetics of yeasts
• Functional genomics of the pathogenic fungi of plants