Aude BERNHEIM (Institut Pasteur - France)

Host: Filipe De VADDER

"What principles govern immunity across all forms of life? Addressing this question requires understanding how immune systems function at the molecular level, how they evolve, and how this knowledge can be leveraged for therapeutic discovery. This work builds on the emerging realization that bacteria harbor a vast and previously underappreciated diversity of immune mechanisms, including homologs of eukaryotic systems. The diversity and conservation of these mechanisms challenge the view that immunity is fundamentally organized differently across life domains, instead pointing to shared underlying logic.
By systematically mapping the diversity, function, and evolution of microbial immune systems, this research aims to uncover their connections to eukaryotic immunity and to exploit these links to identify novel immune genes across fungi, plants, algae, and animals. This cross-domain framework—termed ancestral immunity—offers a way to dissect what is conserved, what is innovative, and how immune systems remain both ancient and adaptable."

Monday

2026, 02/02

Margot SMIT (ZMBP Tübingen - Germany)

Host: Benoit LANDREIN

Monday

2026, 02/09

Erwin LAMPING (Otago University - New Zealand)

Host: Vincent CHAPTAL

"Overexpression of Cdr1 causes antifungal resistance of Candida albicans clinical isolates. C. albicans is a human commensal that can, however, cause life-threatening fungal infections with rather high mortality rates in vulnerable, immuno-comprised populations. Over the past three decades we have used the genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae AD∆∆ strain and a suite of optimized expression vectors to successfully overexpress and study the structure and function of many important membrane proteins, including C. albicans Cdr1. Cdr1 is one of the best studied pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) transporters. PDR transporters are ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters that can only be found in plants and fungi. This presentation will provide an overview of what we know about the structure and function of this archetypal fungal PDR transporter. Highlights will include an in-depth analysis of i) the pivotal transmembrane domain contact residues, G521 and A1207; and ii) all residues of the two elbow helices that surround the drug exit gate and are critically important for the complex interaction of the protein with the lipid bilayer during drug efflux. A model of how complex membrane protein-lipid interactions possibly contribute to the structural and functional integrity of Cdr1 will be provided."

Tuesday

2026, 02/17

Dr. Janire SAEZ (University of the Basque Country)

Host: Jérôme SOHIER 

"Replicating the complexity of biological systems in vitro is essential not only for reducing the use of animal models but also for advancing healthcare technologies and environmental diagnostics. Smart materials and microtechnologies, particularly those based on responsive polymers, conductive materials, and microfluidic systems, offer innovative ways to sense, control, and study both biological and environmental processes.
Microstructured electrodes fabricated through advanced lithography provide defined topographies that promote selective cell adhesion or microorganism growth, while enabling the integration of electrical signals into complex monitoring environments. These microelectrodes, when combined with temperature-sensitive polymers such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAAm) and conducting polymers like PEDOT:PSS, allow precise modulation of adhesion, detachment, and electrochemical sensing. By functionalising PEDOT with biopolymers such as collagen or hyaluronic acid, three-dimensional biointerfaces can be developed to emulate tissue conditions and capture biochemical signals more accurately.
When integrated into transparent, miniaturised microfluidic platforms with controlled flow, these systems enable real-time monitoring of biological responses and environmental parameters using both optical and electrical readouts. Such “lab-on-chip” architectures represent a significant step forward in the development of compact, multifunctional tools for health diagnostics, pollution detection, and biosensing in complex microenvironments."

Tuesday

2026, 02/24

Dr. Leandra BAPTISTA (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Duque de Caxias - Brazil)

Host: Sandrine VADON-LE GOFF