September 08, 2023
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
ERC results, Academic Palms: several Institut Pasteur scientists recognized
- ERC Starting and Advanced Grants – results
On September 5, the European Research Council (ERC) published the list of 400 early career researchers, from 24 European countries, who have been selected for Starting Grants in 2023.
The 50 French proposals selected include two projects led at the Institut Pasteur by the following scientists:
Laura Cantini, Head of the Machine Learning for Integrative Genomics five-year group, for the project "MULTIview-CELL – Integration of single-cell multi-omics data across space and time to unlock cellular trajectories," sponsored by the CNRS.
The aim of the ERC project MULTIview-CELL is to develop new machine learning methods to reconstruct cellular trajectories across space and time and then identify the molecular regulators of those trajectories. This basic research will not only have an impact on machine learning; more importantly, it will also have major biological implications. By providing answers to questions about the spatio-temporal phenotypic evolution of cells, MULTIview-CELL will catalyze the generation of crucial knowledge in basic biology and play a key role in preventing the emergence of disease or resistance to treatment, which will have an impact on health, society and the economy.
Daria Bonazzi, a scientist in the Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit (UMR/Inserm – U1225), for the project "HOMEPATH – Control of Host Mechanics by a Bacterial Pathogen and Functional Impact," sponsored by Inserm. The aim of this project is to elucidate the way in which host cell mechanics are affected by meningococcal adhesion and proliferation, and how mechanical forces have a broad impact on the physiology of the epithelial and endothelial tissue barriers. The project will combine the use of quantitative tools, imaging systems and physical models to directly access the forces generated by bacteria and host cells during infection, both in vitro, with 2D and 3D models of tissue barriers, and in vivo. This research will provide new basic knowledge about mechanical homeostasis in tissue barriers by using meningococci and other pathogenic bacteria as novel tools to study the basic principles that determine cell architecture, mechanics and function, leading to improvements in treatment for infections.
ERC Starting Grants support research projects on ambitious and high-risk topics. They are awarded for five years to selected early career researchers (two to seven years' experience since completion of their PhD) so that they can build their own research teams to work on an original topic.
To find out more, read the press release
Guillaume Duménil, Head of the Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit (UMR/Inserm – U1225) and Director of the Department of Cell Biology and Infection, was selected for an ERC Advanced Grant in 2022 for the project "DESTOP, Destabilizing Vascular Colonization to Stop Meningitis."
The project led by Guillaume Duménil explores the concept that there is a form of bacterial persistence to antibiotics which develops inside the host during infections using the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis as a model system. In contrast to genetically acquired bacterial resistance, Guillaume Duménil’s team will test other causes of persistence linked to the lifestyle of the bacteria during infection inside the lumen of blood vessels such as changes in bacterial physiology or the limitation of access of antibiotics to bacteria. DESTOP will focus on different steps of bacterial colonization to identify new pathogenic features and potential therapeutic targets. The researchers will investigate the mechanisms involved in bacterial adhesion and aggregation in blood vessels and how bacteria adapt to a confined mechanical environment in clogged vessels. They will also study the interplay between adherent bacteria and the underlying endothelial cells and how the bacteria-induced coagulation impacts antibiotic treatment. This multidimensional project will rely on in vivo microscopy on a humanized mouse model as well as different microfluidic experimental setups to mimic the biological and physical properties of the blood vessel environment during bacterial colonization. It will ultimately lead to a better understanding of vascular infection and to novel strategies to improve meningitis treatment by circumventing antibiotic resistance.
With the publication of the new ERC list, the Pathogenesis of Vascular Infections Unit led by Guillaume Duménil therefore now has two ERC grants.
- Lluis Quintana-Murci appointed a Knight of the National Order of Academic Palms
On July 14, Lluis Quintana-Murci, Head of the Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit (CNRS UMR2000), was appointed as a Knight of the National Order of Academic Palms.
Academic Palms were established in 1808 by Napoleon I to honor university members with one of three grades: Titulaires, Officiers de l'Université and Officiers des Académies. In 1866, the honor became a symbolic decoration and was extended to anyone not directly involved in teaching who had made a major contribution to education. The decree of October 4, 1955, signed by French President René Coty, introduced the Order of Academic Palms, with three grades: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer) and Commandeur (Commander).
The Order of Academic Palms as established by the decree of October 4, 1955 recognizes individuals who have had a distinguished university career and those who have provided a service to teaching or fine arts.
The honors are announced on January 1 and July 14 by order by the French Ministry of Education, published in the Official Bulletin of Decorations, Medals and Awards.