The Institut Pasteur has developed unparalleled expertise in infectious diseases over the past 140 years, but it has also long been recognized as a leading actor in monitoring, understanding and studying emerging diseases. Recognizing this heritage and expertise, one of the aims of the Pasteur 2030 Strategic Plan is to strengthen the Institut Pasteur's position as a leader and authority in understanding and controlling emerging infections, especially vector-borne infections. The Institut Pasteur is also recognized as a global leader in pandemic prevention and management.

In 2023, to increase its impact, and the impact of France, in these fields, at a time when the planet has entered a new era of climate and environmental change, the Institut Pasteur embarked on the construction of a research center that will offer scientific and technological expertise of the highest caliber. The infrastructure will enable scientists to pursue ambitious research projects, consolidating the Institut Pasteur's position as a global reference in understanding and elucidating pathogens. The center is a flagship project under Scientific Priority 2 “Environmental transitions and health” in the Pasteur 2030 Strategic Plan, but it will also be of great benefit for the work being carried out under Scientific Priority 1 “Infectious disease threats”.

The CMTV will bring together a breeding center for most of the vectors responsible for transmitting major pathogens and unique microscopy facilities capable of imaging infection at all levels (molecular, cellular, tissue, whole organism), all in highly secure environments. The building has been designed to facilitate and stimulate interactions between units, thereby promoting interdisciplinary aspects and accelerating opportunities for innovation. The three platforms (photonics bioimaging, nanoimaging, and insect vector production center) will work closely not only with the 14 units that will ultimately join the CMTV, but also with teams on campus, those in the Pasteur Network, and our national and international partners. The CMTV will therefore be a major contributor to the Institut Pasteur's influence. 

•   Seven units set to join the CMTV in 2028 

During a meeting of the Scientific Management Board, in close conjunction with the senior management team, a first series of seven Institut Pasteur units were selected and invited to move to the center in 2028.

The Institut Pasteur management team is pleased to announce that the following units will be moving to the center:

• the Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit led by Rogerio Amino
• the Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit led by Philippe Bastin
• the Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit led by Anna-Bella Failloux
• the Insect-Virus Interactions Unit led by Louis Lambrechts
• the Biology of Plasmodium Infection and Transmission five-year unit (U5) led by Liliana Mancio
• the Insect Infection and Immunity five-year group (G5) led by Sarah Merkling
• the Viruses and RNA Interference Unit led by Carla Saleh
   

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"Malaria remains the deadliest vector-borne disease in the world. This disease is caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The “Malaria Infection & Immunity” unit focuses its research on three areas: (1) Understanding how parasites develop in mosquitoes and how they infect their insect and mammalian hosts. (2) Understanding how the immune system effectively eliminates parasites that pass through the skin and multiply in the liver. (3) Ultimately, developing multi-antigen antibodies and vaccines to block infection, disease, and parasite transmission.

With state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to imaging, mosquito production, and host infection, our CMTV facility will enable us to contribute to the creation of a local and community synergy of multidisciplinary expertise. This innovative and original combination will greatly promote the training of students and collaborators, mechanistic studies to understand the biology of pathogens and the diseases they cause, and the development of new strategies to combat these vector-borne diseases. The CMTV will also strengthen global strategies associated with other initiatives, such as the Center for Vaccinology and Immunotherapy (CVI), among others."

Rogerio Amino, on behalf of the Malaria Infection and Immunity Unit 

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"The Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit studies the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, which is transmitted through a bite from the tsetse fly and causes severe disease in humans and cattle in Africa. Brice Rotureau's team focuses on how the parasite is transmitted and its development in flies, animal models and also humans, in partnership with the Institut Pasteur de Guinée.

Philippe Bastin's team analyzes the cell biology of this atypical parasite, paying particular attention to its cytoskeleton and flagella. Moving to the CMTV will speed up their research in many ways: the new vector production center (CEPIV) will provide optimal conditions for rearing tsetse flies, and state-of-the-art imaging tools will reveal the anatomy of the parasite and its dynamics as it develops in flies and animal models, providing an integrative view of infection that will drive the development of effective tools for diagnosis and treatment. Philippe Bastin initiated the CMTV project and has been working since 2013 to get it off the ground, in cooperation with the Institut Pasteur's research units, technology core facilities and technical and administrative departments."

 Philippe Bastin, on behalf of the Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit

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"The Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit develops research in three main areas: (i) contributing to public health initiatives by offering its expertise in experimental mosquito infection with arboviruses, (ii) improving understanding of the mechanisms that control virus-vector interactions, and (iii) exploring alternative vector control methods to the use of insecticides (for example Wolbachia bacteria). The unit is on the front line in tackling emerging diseases, helping to identify arboviruses in mosquitoes collected on the ground and analyzing the vector competence of suspected vectors (chikungunya on Reunion Island in 2005, Zika in America in 2015 and yellow fever in Brazil in 2018). It has made a significant contribution to improving our understanding of the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors influencing the vector competence of mosquitoes for arboviruses.

We are delighted to be joining the CMTV, which will offer a unique environment that exists nowhere else in the world, with a series of teams aiming to develop solutions to tackle vector-borne diseases. The research conducted in the center will form a scientific basis for the development of vector control tools that are more environmentally friendly than insecticides. The close links that we have established with the Pasteur Network will be a real asset in developing these new tools. The CMTV will also be open to all the other teams on campus and will benefit from collaboration with the Institut Pasteur's partners (IRD, INRAe, Cirad, ANRS-MIE, CNRS, Inserm, etc.), while also maintaining the close link we have with the institutes in the Pasteur Network."

Anna-Bella Failloux, on behalf of the Arboviruses and Insect Vectors Unit led by 
 

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"The Virus–Insect Interactions Unit seeks to understand the mechanisms governing arbovirus transmission by mosquitoes, from the variability observed in natural populations to the underlying molecular processes. Our research is based on a truly integrative approach: we explore how the ecology and evolution of mosquitoes determine their ability to transmit viruses and epidemiological dynamics. For example, we have shown that the recent evolution of the Aedes aegypti mosquito has contributed to shaping the emergence of the Zika virus around the world. The unit combines forward genetics approaches, which leverage natural diversity to identify genes responsible for differences in viral transmission efficiency, with reverse genetics, which then allows us to elucidate the function of these genes in vector-virus interactions.

The installation of our unit at CMTV will mark a key step in expanding our integrative approach, linking levels of analysis from genes to behavior and populations. It will also pave the way for new avenues of research into mosquito adaptation to rapid environmental changes, such as urbanization and global warming, which profoundly influence the biology, distribution, and vector capacity of these insects. This move represents a unique opportunity to accelerate our contribution to the integrated understanding of vector-borne diseases, which is at the heart of the Pasteur Network."

Louis Lambrechts, on behalf of the the Insect-Virus Interactions Unit 

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“The Biology of Plasmodium Infection and Transmission five-year unit contributes to understanding the mechanisms involved in the infection and transmission of malaria parasites, particularly species that cause relapses. Our work is based on humanized mouse models, bioengineered human tissue systems, and cutting-edge imaging and multi-omic analysis technologies. The integration of our unit into the new building will strengthen our research capabilities thanks to state-of-the-art infrastructure. This environment will promote synergies with other scientific teams at CMTV, as well as the development of collaborations with international teams working in endemic areas and with the Pasteur Network.”

Liliana Mancio, on behalf of the Biology of Plasmodium Infection and Transmission five-year unit (U5)

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"The Insect Immunity and Infection Unit (G5) focuses its research on the Aedes aegypti mosquito and one of the main viruses it transmits, the dengue virus. The aim is to identify the molecular determinants that determine infection and transmission of the virus by the vector. To do this, we use integrated approaches combining single-cell sequencing, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and advanced computational analyses.

The CMTV offers a unique opportunity to develop new interdisciplinary projects, in synergy with the teams that will be based there, the new technological platforms, and a network of French, European, and international partners associated with the project.

Between now and 2028, we will define and launch priority projects to be deployed at the CMTV, particularly those related to climate change, in collaboration with overseas institutes and the Pasteur Network."  

Sarah Merkling, on behalf of the Insect Infection and Immunity five-year group (G5)

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"The Viruses and RNA Interference Unit investigates a fundamental question: How do insects cope with viral infections? This question has profound implications for human health, as mosquitoes and other insects are major vectors of viral diseases affecting millions worldwide. We work with Drosophila melanogaster for detailed mechanistic studies and with Aedes mosquitoes (vectors of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever) to translate findings to disease control, combining expertise in genetics, virology, entomology, evolution, molecular and cell biology, and bioinformatics. 

The CMTV will revolutionize our research by enabling in vivo tracking of viral infections in insects and addressing fundamental questions such as viral tissue tropism, how infections disrupt intestinal homeostasis, and how the microbiota influences mosquito fitness, gut health, and vector competence. The human expertise and state-of-the-art resources at the CMTV will cross-fertilize our research and accelerate discovery. Beyond our team, the CMTV will strengthen collaborations with the Pasteur Network, providing partners worldwide with advanced tools and expertise in medical entomology and arbovirology, while enriching our research through their field-based knowledge and diverse pathogen surveillance. 

For Institut Pasteur, the CMTV represents a unique opportunity to lead the field of vector-borne diseases by embracing the full complexity of disease ecosystems: human host, arthropod vector, pathogen, and environment."

 Carla Saleh, on behalf of the Viruses and RNA Interference Unit