Team 1 : Mononuclear phagocytes, Immunopathology, Immunovirology

Team 1 leaders: Dr. Elise Chiffoleau & Pr. Régis Josien

Research program

Team 1 projects are dedicated to Mononuclear Phagocytes (MNP), Immuno-pathology and Immuno-virology. Two major axes of research are developed :

1. The team aims to explore MNP heterogeneity and functions in immune-mediated diseases in both human tissues and animal models in order to better understand their role and discover new relevant therapeutic targets. Recently, the team contributed to the understanding of the molecular basis of immunoregulatory MNP functions in transplantation (Cell Metabolism, 2019), anti-tumor immunity (Cancer Cell 2019, Blood adv. 2017, Front Immunol 2020) and inflammatory bowel diseases (Mucosal Immunol 2016, Cell 2019). The current projects focus on deciphering MNP heterogeneity and molecular mechanisms of their immunoregulatory function in the context of cancer, inflammatory diseases and infection to better understand the mechanisms underlying disease progression and develop novel tools for screening diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

2. The second axis aims to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the persistent human viruses-host interactions in immunocompromised hosts and the impact on innate and adaptive immune responses. The team described CMV and BKPyV interactions with dendritic cells (Cheneau et al, JID 2018 ; Sikorski M et al 2020, Plos Pathogens 2021) and investigated BKV capsid evolution and its relationship to the host humoral response (McIlroy, Viruses 2020). The team now aims to decipher intra-tissular CMV and BKV/immune/stromal cells interactions, clarify the role of both BKPyV genetic evolution and host genetic polymorphism in viral pathogenesis, and describe changes in the composition of the human virome in link with immune dysfunction.

team 1

Research Scientists

Régis Josien PU-PH	Elise Chiffoleau CR INSERM	Franck Halary CR INSERM	Dorian McIlroy MCU	Céline Bressollette MCU-PH
Jérôme Martin MCU-PH	Aurélie Moreau CR INSERM	Berthe-Marie Imbert PU-PH