LPHI News
MARCH 2024
New publication in Virulence by the group of Sébastien Besteiro
The group has investigated the impact of iron deprivation on the viability and the metabolism of different Toxoplasma gondii strains and uncovered that cystogenic parasite strains are more likely to sustain this type of stress by converting into persistence forms.
February 2024
‘Colloque Français des Jeunes Chercheurs VLM’ in Paris
Flore Nilly from Anne Blanc-Potard’s group wins the ‘Best Talk’ award at the CFJC VLM 2024 in Paris. Congratulations!
January 2024
The ROAdMAP project of Ana Rita Gomes is highlighted on the CNRS website!
January 2024
New publication in eLife journal by the group of M. Nguyen Chi
Illuminating the hiding place of Salmonella in living host – The group of Mai Nguyen Chi developed a new model of persistent infection in zebrafish allowing to visualize in live where Salmonella enterica establishes its niche to persist long-term in the host. This study showed that Salmonella persist in anti-inflammatory/ pro-regenerative motionless macrophages.
December 2023
‘Montpellier Innovation Booster’ prize awarded at LPHI!
Diana Penarete and Arnault Graindorge have been awarded the ‘Montpellier Innovation Booster’ prize (€30,000) for their visionary project: NecroSTOP.
Their dedication to innovation and positive impact exemplifies Montpellier’s spirit of creativity and sets a promising course for the future.
November 2023
Novel lymphoid organ in the zebrafish, and other teleost fish
A collaborative study between groups from University of Oslo, INRAE, A*STAR, Wageningen University & Research, CNRS and the group of Mai Nguyen Chi identifies a new tonsil-like organ in fish which probably protect them from pathogens and suggests that the fish immune system is more sophisticated than previously thought.
The study was just published in Science Advances and made the cover of the November issue. It was also highlighted in a Commentary in Science.
October 2023
Prof. Thomas Otto from University of Glasgow joins the LPHI laboratory to start a new research group, thanks to a ‘Chaire ExposUM’ grant from University of Montpellier.
October 2023
The group of Laure Yatime has elucidated the role of the IbeA protein, a virulence factor from the adherent invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) strain involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease.
The biological function of this protein has long remained of debate. But this new study,conducted by PhD student Théo Paris, has allowed to demonstrate that IbeA function as a FAD-dependent oxidoreductase, thus permitting survival of the AIEC bacteria within the highly oxidative environment of the phagosomal compartments within host macrophages through the modulation of redox processes.
September 2023
August 2023
The group of Sébastien Besteiro has unraveled the importance of the apicoplast for the viability and persistence of Toxoplasma gondii in the bradyzoite stage.
This work, conducted by PhD student Syrian Sanchez, has been published in PNAS.