Autophagy and antiviral immunity

A team of virologists and immunologists dissecting the interactions between cells and viruses.

Our research focuses on viruses that lead to persistent infections in humans such as Herpesviruses and HIV-1. We study the cellular pathways used by viruses to multiply and bypass host responses; as well as the cellular compartments involved in the degradation of viral proteins/antigens and their presentation to T lymphocytes by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. We characterize the cellular mechanisms hijacked by viruses to spread and/or escape innate and adaptive immune responses. Our work will help identify new strategies for antiviral drugs and immunotherapies.

Our team is located on the campus of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Châtenay-Malabry of the Université Paris-Saclay, but we will soon be joining the I2BC campus in Gif-sur-Yvette. The team is made up of CNRS researchers, faculties from the University of Paris Saclay, engineers (CNRS and University), post-docs and students. We teach Virology at the Faculty of Pharmacy

Within the team, in collaboration with I2BC teams or platforms, and with other institutions in France or abroad, we use cell biology approaches in our projects (e.g. RNA silencing, CRISPR), imaging (immunofluorescence, confocal and electron microscopy), cytometry, OMIC (Ribosome profiling, protein interactome, immunopeptidome) and immunology (Elispot, ICS).

Topics

Our research program is divided into three complementary topics. Topic-1: we have a particular interest in studying autophagy, a ubiquitous degradation mechanism of the cellular components, which is hijacked by Herpesviruses in order to spread. Topic-2: we are characterizing the relationships between autophagy machinery and antiviral immunity, whether innate or adaptive. Topic-3: we are working to define the links between the translation mechanisms of viral proteins and/or polypeptides and the generation of antigens presented by MHC molecules.

Understanding how and why Herpesviruses hijack
autophagy

Characterizing the relationship between autophagy and antiviral immunity

The translation of alternative reading phases as a source of viral antigen

team

Our team is located on the campus of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Châtenay-Malabry of the Université Paris-Saclay, but we will soon be joining the I2BC campus in Gif-sur-Yvette.

The team is made up of CNRS researchers, faculties from the University of Paris Saclay, engineers (CNRS and University), post-docs and students. We teach Virology at the Faculty of Pharmacy.