June 17, 2016
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
Publication of the book La nouvelle microbiologie, des microbiotes aux CRISPR, by Pascale Cossart
The book
La Nouvelle Microbiologie
Des microbiotes aux CRISPR
("The new face of microbiology: from microbiota to CRISPR"), by Pascale Cossart, Head of the Bacteria-Cell Interactions Unit, laureate of several international awards and Permanent Secretary of the French Academy of Sciences, was published this month by Odile Jacob.
"Microbes" aren't what we thought they were!
Microbiology has undergone radical changes in the past few decades. Microbes, and especially bacteria, are incredibly diverse: more often than not they are beneficial rather than pathogenic, they live in complex societies and are able to communicate among themselves and to interact and participate in symbiosis with the organisms they colonize.
In plants, animals and humans, the role of biofilms and microbiota - complex societies of bacteria - has finally been recognized, and the incredibly sophisticated strategies used by Listeria, Salmonella and S. aureus are gradually being elucidated.
Research into a bacterial immune system led to the development of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, a powerful molecular Swiss army knife that can be used to "edit" DNA like a word processor. Bacteria are living organisms that are undergoing a major revolution.
From antibiotic resistance to the bioluminescent bacteria of bobtail squid, from the eradication of malaria mosquito vectors to "terrorist" bacteria and the mysteries of the intestinal microbiota – world-renowned specialist Pascale Cossart gives us a comprehensive overview of microbiology.
This book will appeal to scientists and non-scientists alike - it is aimed at anyone interested in finding out more about the fascinating world of bacteria.
A signing session will be held on September 14. Check out the Institut Pasteur newsletter in early September for more details about this event - but in the meantime, note the date down in your diary.