PhD in molecular bacteriology Assistant professor in molecular bacteriology at the University of Lyon I Claude Bernard

• Assistant professor since 2012. (MCF)

• HDR in 2021.

• About 220 hours per year of genetics and molecular microbiology to 3rd year undergraduate students and 1st and 2nd year Master's students.

• My research aims to understand how pectinolytic plant pathogenic bacteria colonize diverse host plants. I employ molecular microbiology techniques to characterize genes involved in the virulence of Dickeya and Pectobacterium species.

CURRENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

My current research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant pathogenicity, specifically in pectinolytic bacteria of the genus Dickeya. I'm particularly interested in identifying genes essential for Dickeya's survival in plant environments and successful host tissue colonization. Using high-throughput transposon sequencing (Tn-seq), I systematically identify genes crucial for Dickeya's growth and virulence. This approach has led to the discovery of novel virulence pathways and previously uncharacterized regulatory mechanisms. I'm also investigating the post-translational regulation of the FlhDC complex—a key regulator of motility and virulence factor production in these bacteria. Additionally, I'm exploring the diversity of secondary metabolites produced by Dickeya solani, including their roles in antagonizing other microorganisms. My work aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between pectinolytic bacteria and their plant hosts.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR; September 2012 – Present MTSB team, Laboratoire MAP, University of Lyon I Claude Bernard, France

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER; May 2010 – May 2012 Dr. Eric Cascales' team, LISM-CNRS, Marseille, France Research: Type 6 secretion systems of Yersinia and Citrobacter genera

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER; March 2007 – March 2010 Dr. Andrew Darwin's laboratory, New York University, USA Research: "Phage-Shock-Protein" system of Yersinia enterocolitica

PhD IN MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY; September 2002 – September 2006 CNRS-LMGM, University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France Thesis: Characterization of IS911 transposase temperature-resistant mutants

TEACHING

• Head of the Molecular Microbiology Educational Team at the University of Lyon Claude Bernard
• Director of the Microbiology Program for the Life Sciences degree at the University of Lyon Claude Bernard
• Course leader for "Molecular Genetics of Microbes" in the Master of Microbiology program since 2016
• Course leader for "Microbial Engineering" in the Master of Microbiology program since 2016
• Course leader for "Techniques and Methods of Molecular Microbiology" in the 3rd year Life Sciences degree program since September 2022
• Course leader for "Molecular Microbiology" at the ENS of Lyon
• Teaching an average of 190 hours per year

STUDENT SUPERVISION

• Since my recruitment in 2012, I have directed the thesis of two PhD students:
• Since 2022, I've been supervising IGEM student teams:

PUBLICATIONS

25 publications in peer-reviewed journal.

As corresponding author, I prioritize publishing in journals from academic societies (such as ASM and FEMS), non-profit publishers (like PLOS), and journals whose publishers have agreements with the Couperin Consortium.