Know more

Respiratory tract infections are particularly severe in early life and we and others have shown that the nature of the innate responses, i.e. the produced neonatal cytokines and their pathways (type I interferon) and the innate cell types, in particular macrophages, play a major role in the neonatal sensitivity to infection. We are investigating the innate response mechanisms and their genetic bases associated with the fragility to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in young mice and cattle. We are also deciphering the mechanisms involved in the respiratory tract primo-colonization by the microbiota and its effect on RSV susceptibility, and we develop immunomodulation strategies based on the pulmonary microbiota manipulation both to control the viral replication and to avoid the detrimental immune sensitization induced by the virus.

Collaborations: M. Thomas (Micalis-Jouy), F. Laurent & A. Remot (ISP-Nouzilly), D. Boichard & H Jammes (GABI & BREED-Jouy), G. Foucras & G. Meyer (UMR1225 IHAP-Toulouse), B. Pain & F. Archer (SBRI & IPVC, Lyon, Fr).