Cyrille Botte, ApicoLipid Group Head, CNRS, University of Grenoble, France, will give a talk about
"Membrane biogenesis, host-parasite interaction and apicomplexa parasite survival: It’s all about lipids!"

Abstract:  Apicomplexa parasites are unicellular eukaryotes responsible for major human diseases that represent a massive burden, such as malaria and toxoplasmosis. These parasites are obligate intracellular parasites that have to invade, and depend on their host cell and the nutrients it provides, to survive and propagate. Current evidence shows that lipid synthesis and membrane biogenesis are crucial pathways for intracellular development. The success of Apicomplexa parasites relies on their capacity to adapt to the various physiological conditions of their host cells and their nutritional environment. How can the parasite control and orchestrate metabolic adaptation and lipid acquisition upon physiological and environmental changes in its host? Here, I will present our latest results showing the different metabolic and molecular strategies developed by the parasite for optimal intracellular development and propagation.

Cyrille Botte, CNRS Research Director, and his research team (https://twitter.com/ApicoLipid @ApicoLipid) focuses on understanding how Apicomplexan parasites (intracellular human pathogens responsible for malaria and toxoplasmosis) acquire lipids and nutrient essential for their propagation and survival within their host cells. He initially obtained his PhD in 2007 at the Université Grenoble Alpes/CEA Grenoble under the supervision of Dr Eric Maréchal. His project focused on the characterization of plant-like lipid synthesis as drug target against plants and apicomplexans. Then he coordinated a FP7 Marie Curie Actions project (2008-2011) articulated between with the team of Prof Geoff McFadden at the University of Melbourne (Australia) and the Université Grenoble Alpes to perform the first isolation and lipidomic analysis of the non-photosynthetic plastid (apicoplast) of the malaria parasite.  He was recruited as CR2 CNRS in 2013 and set up his research team “Lipid synthesis and membrane biogenesis in malaria and toxoplasmosis” at the Institute for Advanced Biosciences (CNRS UMR5309 INSERM U1209 Université Grenoble Alpes) under the financial support of ATIP-Avenir. They developed a strong expertise in parasite lipid analysis, lipidomic and fluxomic analysis, which allowed them to answer major questions in the parasite metabolic interactions with its human host. They have set up major facilities and equipements within their facilities, such as a P3* cell culture facility, and a fully independent lipidomic-fluxomic platform that are both part of the core facilities of our Institution and the Université Grenoble Alpes (http://gemeli-uga.fr/GEMELI.html). This expertise and facilities has allowed them to currently extend into a larger metabolomic-lipidomic platform dedicated to health, which activity spans beyond their initial scope (infections, cancer, metabolic signature…) and develop national and international collaboration (LIA Uni Melbourne, CEFIPRA). The team, which is part of the national labex Parafrap (https://labex-parafrap.fr/en/labex-parafrap) currently focuses on the metabolic pathways allowing membrane biogenesis, lipid synthesis/trafficking/signalling between, nutrient acquisition and host-parasite metabolic interactions and adaptation.

Inviting group: Sven Gould

Guests are welcome!

Thursday, June 30th, 2022
4:30 p.m..
HS 6K

Meeting-Link: hhu.webex.com/hhu/j.php
Meeting-Kennnummer: 2734 980 9031
Passwort: pXp6qPC4H6U