Activities Archives - Infectiopôle

Category: Activities

Events organised by the Infectiopole (Ex: symposium, open doors...)

10/12/2023

The Pierre Talbot Conferences of the INRS Infectiopole – Dr. David Langlais: “IRF1 deficiency: epigenomic and immunological consequences”

On January 16th, 2024, it will be our pleasure to welcome Dr. David Langlais to our research centre as a presenter for the first Pierre Talbot conference of the INRS Infectiopole of 2024. Dr. David Langlais is an Associate Professor at McGill University for the Department of Human Genetics as well as an Associate Member of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and a Principal Investigator for the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine.

Dr. Langlais and his team operate in the field of genetics and immunology, where they attempt to identify and characterize the function of transcription factors in normal or pathologic immune responses. More specifically, they are currently investigating the involvment of human genetic variations in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, identifying and characterizing transciption factors involved in chronic inflammation and developping anti-inflammatory treatment, especially to target cerebral malaria.

Make sure to be present at 11:00 in the “Salle Pasteur” of the AFSB Centre, in order to attend Dr. Langlais presentation, titled “IRF1 deficiency: epigenomic and immunological consequences”, during which it will be out invitee’s pleasure to share with you his and his team’s innovative work, and the results of the various experiments they conducted.

By Erik Bellerive

ActivitiesNon classé

21/11/2023

Pierre Talbot Conferences – Dr. Yves Durocher: “Stable CHO pools to accelerate biologics manufacturing for clinical trials”

On Tuesday, December 12th, it will be our pleasure to welcome Dr. Yves Durocher at the AFSB research centre as a speaker for the Pierre Talbot conferences of the INRS Infectiopôle. Dr. Durocher is an associate professor at the University of Montreal, as well as a research officer for the National Research Council of Canada, which he joined in 1995 after obtaining his doctorate from the University of Montreal. Dr. Durocher also has the title of Section head of mammalian cell expression at the Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre of the NRC, where he leads a team of 33 members.

Thanks to his multiple years of experience, Dr. Yves Durocher has an unparalleled expertise regarding protein expression and CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cell line manufacturing, which he applies towards various internal projects at his research centre as well as for external clients, such as various SMBs (small and medium size businesses) that seek the help of the Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre of the NRC. As an example, his most recent publication explores the possibility of using CHO cell lines in order to produce VLP (virus-like particles) that express the spike antigen of SARS-CoV-2, a technology that could allow the production of new vaccines against COVID-19.

Thus, on December 12th, at 11 A.M, Dr. Durocher will give a presentation titled “Stable CHO pools to accelerate biologics manufacturing for clinical trials” in the “Salle Pasteur” of the AFSB Centre, which should offer insights in the manufacturing process of stable CHO cell lines and their modification. Be sure to mark your calendars, and dont miss this opportunity to learn from one of the leading figures in the field.

By Erik Bellerive

ActivitiesNews

12/10/2023

Pierre Talbot conferences – Dr. Eric Oswald, “Bacterial extracellular vesicules: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.

On Monday, October 16th 2023, at 11am, it will be our pleasure to welcome the Dr. Eric Oswald, professor at the medical faculty of the University of Toulouse and deputy director of the “Institut de recherche en santé digestive” (IRSD) (link in french), as a speaker for the Pierre Talbot conferences of the Infectiopôle INRS. A trained veterinarian (1987, National Veterinary School of Toulouse), Dr. Oswald also obtained a Ph.D. in microbiology in 1991 at the Claude Bertrand University, and acted until 2009 as a research director for the National Veterinary School of Toulouse until eventually being appointed as a professor at the medical faculty of the University of Toulouse in 2009. He is currently a bacteriology professor at the same faculty, and a hospital practitioner in the laboratory of bacteriology of the university hospital.

The principal research interests of Dr. Oswald and his team are focused on the study of toxins, by trying to discover the fine line between pathogenicity and commensalism. To learn more, you may consult his mini curriculum vitae, available on the web site of the IRSD.

His presentation, which will be held on October 16th at 11am in the Pasteur room of the AFSB centre, is titled “Bacterial extracellular vesicules: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. As its name suggests, the conference will focus mostly on the role of bacterial extracellular vesicules, and how these small structures can exacerbate pathogenic properties of bacteria. Dr. Oswald was kind enough to provide us with an abstract, which you can read below:

“Escherichia coli strains are responsible for a majority of human extra-intestinal infections, resulting in huge direct medical and social costs. We have shown that HlyF encoded by large conjugative virulence plasmids is a Short-chain. Dehydrogenases/Reductases (SDRs) which modify the bacterial outer membrane composition. Expression of HlyF leads to the overproduction of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). We showed that these specific nanosized proteoliposomes, fuse to the host cells and inhibit the autophagic flux by impairing the autophagosome-lysosome fusion, thus preventing the formation of acidic autolysosomes and autophagosome clearance. Furthermore, these specific OMVs are more prone to activate the non-canonical inflammasome pathway. Our findings revealed an unsuspected role of OMVs, highlighting the fact that these extracellular vesicles have exacerbated pathogenic properties beyond the simple overproduction of nanoparticles loaded with PAMPs.“

Following the conference, a pizza lunch will be offered to all who may be interested to join us for further discussion with Dr. Oswald, as well as to those who simply want to take advantage of this opportunity to discuss and have a good time with their colleagues. All are invited, but we wish to highlight that this invitation is also extended to all students, who are encouraged to join us and participate!

By Erik Bellerive

ActivitiesNews

19/09/2023

Pierre Talbot Conferences – Peter Tijssen, “Praesidium libertatis and virus vitalium”

On Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 at 11:00, it will be our pleasure to welcome professor emeritus Peter Tijssen to the “salle Pasteur” of the Armand-Frappier Santé et Biotechnologie centre as the presenter of the first Pierre Talbot conference of the INRS Infectiopôle. This presentation will last roughly one hour and be followed by lunch, offered to all participants in order to allow to everyone an opportunity to chat amongst each other or with Pr. Tijssen.

Peter Tijssen, having held a position at the INRS from 1985 until his well deserved retirement in 2016, remains a very active member of the scientific community, whether at the level of INRS activities or in the global framework of scientific research. Despite his retirement, Pr. Tijssen continues publishing high quality articles in well regarded journals, an example being his latest paper which was published in Nature Communications in June 2023.

His expertise in molecular virology will be highlighted during his conference, during which he will present another, less frequently discussed aspect of viruses: their essential role for life. The title of his conference, “Praesidium libertatis and virus vitalium” makes a reference to this, considering that virus vitalium translates from Latin to “vital viruses” in english. As for Praesidium libertatis, it translates to protector of freedom, a very relevant and necessary aspect to academic research, of which the freedom of publication must most certainly be protected.

NB: At the time of publication, videoconferencing equipment has yet to be installed in the “salle Pasteur. As such, we cannot currently offer an alternative for those who cannot assist in person to the conference. However, we are working tirelessly to find an alternative that allows everyone to participate, and will update our articles when such an alternative is found.

By Erik Bellerive

ActivitiesNews

19/09/2023

An introduction to the Pierre Talbot Conferences of the INRS Infectiopôle

With the arrival of autumn and the start of a new college year, it is our pleasure to invite you to the Pierre Talbot conferences of the INRS Infectiopôle. But what does that imply?

The Pierre Talbot conferences is a series of seminars held in honor of professor Pierre Talbot, pioneer of research on coronaviruses, former director of the Armand-Frappier Santé et Biotechnologie centre and key participant in the admission of the centre to the Pasteur Network.

Periodically, a person of interest in research and the fight against infectious diseases will be invited to hold a conference where they can share the results of their works to the community of the Infectiopôle. These one hour seminars will be held in the “Salle Pasteur” of the ASFB centre. Afterwards, all participants will be invited to a pizza lunch, offered by the executive of the Infectiopôle, in order to allow discussion between students, the speaker and all participants, whether it is to ask additional questions, to network or simply to socialize.

The main goal of the Pierre Talbot conferences is to offer to students an opportunity to learn from the works of other researchers and to broaden their horizons regarding the wide variety of issues in the fight against infectious diseases, knowledge that will surely be very useful during their studies and their time at INRS. These events will remain nonetheless open to all members of the INRS community, and we encourarage all available to join us to learn more on the progress of research inside and outside of our walls.

This article will be periodically updated with the dates of any future presentations when they are confirmed. An article will also be published before each presentation, in order to introduce the speakers.

– Tuesday September 26, 2023, 11:00 a.m.: Dr. Peter Tijssen – “Preasidium libertatis and virus vitalium”

– Monday October 16, 2023, 11:00 a.m.: Dr. Eric Oswald – “Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”.

NB: As the materials necessary to hold videoconferences have yet to be installed in the “salle Pasteur”, we cannot offer a method to attend remotely. However, IT services have previously told us that this issue should be resolved very soon. Thus, as soon as the “salle Pasteur” will be sufficiently equipped, we will gladly offer an alternative to those who cannot assist in person to the conferences.

By Erik Bellerive