AnnualReport2020

HOST LABORATORIES IN
LIFE & HEALTH SCIENCES
IMMUNOLOGIE ET NEUROGÉNÉTIQUE EXPÉRIMENTALES ET
MOLÉCULAIRES (INEM) - UMR 7355 - UNIVERSITÉ D’ORLÉANS, CNRS
The research unit “Experimental and Molecular Immunology and Neurogenetics” (INEM), UMR
7355 affiliated to CNRS and University of Orleans, is located on Orleans CNRS campus. Created in
2001, INEM is presently composed of 2 Teams, “Immune responses to infection and injury” led by V. Quesniaux/ I.
Couillin, and “Neurogenetics” led by S. Briault / S. Mortaud, focusing on « Autism, mental deficiency and genetics
» and « Developmental Neurotoxicity». A spin-off company Artimmune SAS was created in 2010 based on our
immunology team expertise and research. A joined laboratory is being created with INEM (Site: http://www.
artimmune.com/). Upcoming public health challenges will have to integrate the constant increase of 1) asthma
and lung pathologies, 2) neuropathologies such as autism due notably to pesticides neurotoxic effects, and 3) the
emergence of drug resistant bacteria and parasites. Inflammatory responses, either exacerbated and pathogenic,
or protecting and controlling infection, are central. Our strategy to contribute to these clinical challenges is
multifold and transversal, by addressing novel regulatory mechanisms that are being unraveled and may concern
these different pathologies. We aim at fostering the progress of the main research themes through common
transversal approaches and research on mechanistic pathways, either in silico or in vitro when it is possible, but
mainly through integrated in vivo approaches based on functional analysis of murine models.
CENTRE D’ÉTUDE DES PATHOLOGIES RESPIRATOIRES (CEPR)
UMR 1100 - INSERM, UNIVERSITÉ DE TOURS
Respiratory diseases have a major impact in medical and socio-economic terms. It is against this
backdrop that the CEPR is aimed to develop innovative research that gives a better understanding
of the pathophysiology of these diseases and improves inhalation therapy devices. These activities
therefore fall in line with Inserm’s scientific priorities which are: - To identify the mechanisms at work in respiratory
mucosal cell alterations and characterise their regulation during inflammatory and infectious processes; - To identify
the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate tissue remodelling in the various structures of the respiratory
system; - To develop better targeted treatment strategies. This translational research has yielded an abundance of
results that are complementary. Also, knowledge transfer from CEPR’s scientific programmes was achieved both at
the academic level (e.g. publications, oral presentations, student training, conferences organisation, etc), at the socioeconomic
level (e.g. acquisition of licences, patents deposits, development of public-private partnerships, etc) and at the
clinical level (e.g. coordination of three national “PHRC” programs by clinicians affiliated with the CEPR’s three teams,
etc).
CONDITIONS EXTRÊMES ET MATÉRIAUX : HAUTE TEMPÉRATURE ET
IRRADIATION (CEMHTI) - UPR 3079 - CNRS
The lab was originally formed in 1969 and renamed the «Centre de Recherche sur les Materiaux à
Hautes Températures» in 1998. In 2008, it merged with the Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches par
Irradiation laboratory. Its goals are to analyze and understand the physical and chemical properties of
materials under extreme conditions based on a detailed description of the atomic-scale structures and defects in the solid
state or the melt.
CEMHTI has an international level of expertise in chemistry and physics at high temperature and/or under irradiation. Its
objectives are the analysis and the understanding of the physicochemical properties of solid and molten materials and their
behavior in extreme conditions of temperature (up to more than 2500°C) and irradiation, from a better description of the local
atomic structure and defects in the solid and liquid states. The laboratory has expertise in the fields of high temperatures,
fusion and solidification, phase transitions, local order and disorder, meta-stability, in optical, radiative, thermic and electrical
properties which are studied in crystalline and amorphous oxides, ceramics, cements and molten salts.
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INFECTIOLOGIE ET SANTÉ PUBLIQUE (ISP)
UMR 1282 - UNIVERSITÉ DE TOURS, INRAE
The Multi-resistance and Pathogenicity of Nematodes team (MPN) belonging to Infectiology and Public Health
Unit (ISP, UMR 1282). The main aim of the MPN team is the sustainable control of gastro-intestinal parasitic
nematodes (GIN) in livestock. During the past ten years, they have investigated several different aspects of
anthelmintic resistance, from field studies to molecular characterisation of parasite anthelmintic targets. The team
identified the first molecular markers for levamisole resistance, and was the first to perform the functional expression
of strongylid AChR in Xenopus oocytes. The range of expertise includes: molecular ecology, mathematical modelling,
biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology. They have participated in numerous international projects dealing with
anthelmintic resistance.
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