Infection Biology

This course aims to reinforce and illustrate the knowledge acquired in the "Molecular Bases of Infectious Diseases" course by analyzing scientific publications on infectious diseases. Publications using a variety of molecular and cellular approaches in Bacteriology, Parasitology and Virology (from the most classical to the most recent) are analyzed with the students.

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The program offers a refresher course and an in-depth study of the major concepts and methodologies of cell biology, organized around different themes:

1 Cytoskeleton:Introduction to the different types of cytoskeleton. Polymerization properties of actin and tubulin. Proteins associated with the cytoskeleton and regulating polymerization. Molecular motors. Principles of cell migration.

2.cell adhesion & signaling: cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesive structures, their molecular organization and dynamics. Functions and regulation during development and pathogenesis. Regulation by signaling pathways. Mechanotransduction.

3 Addressing and cell trafficking: Ubiquitination and proteasome. Addressing to subcellular compartments, endocytosis and secretion pathways. Molecular basis of vesicular transport, budding, fusion, molecular motors. Signaling in membrane trafficking, trafficking-related genetic diseases and pathogen detour.

4 Cell cycle: Historical introduction. Molecular regulation of the cell cycle. The mitotic spindle, microtubule dynamics and molecular motors, chromosome attachment mechanisms, checkpoints, regulation of mitosis exit and cytokinesis. Mitotic disorders associated with cancer cells.

5 Stem cells: cell differentiation, toti-, pluri- and multipotency, embryonic, adult and cancer stem cells.

6 Programmed cell death: Apoptosis, autophagy, necrosis. Stages and modalities of apoptosis, signaling pathways involved. Role in maintaining homeostasis. Pathophysiological consequences of deregulation of programmed cell death.

Different study models are presented, to introduce the importance of the contribution of biological diversity to the discovery of cellular and molecular mechanisms, and to the understanding of human pathologies.

The program offers a refresher of knowledge and an in-depth study of the major concepts and methodologies of cell biology, organized around different themes:

1. Cytoskeleton: Introduction to the different types of cytoskeleton. Polymerization properties of actin and tubulin. Proteins associated with the cytoskeleton and regulating polymerization. Molecular motors. Principles of cell migration.

2. Cellular Adhesion & Signaling: Cell-cell and extracellular cell-matrix adhesive structures, their molecular and dynamic organization. Functions and regulations during development and pathogenesis. Regulation by signaling channels. Mechanotransduction.

3. Addressing and cell traffic: Ubiquitination and proteasome. Addressing to subcellular compartments, endocytosis and secretion pathways. The molecular bases of vesicular transport, budding, fusion, molecular motors. Signaling in membrane trafficking, genetic diseases linked to trafficking and diversion by pathogens.

4. Cell cycle: Historical introduction. Molecular regulation of the cell cycle. The mitotic spindle, microtubule and molecular motor dynamics, chromosome attachment mechanisms, checkpoints, regulation of mitosis output and cytokinesis. Mitotic disorders associated with cancer cells.

5. Stem cells: cell differentiation, toti-, pluri-and multipotency, embryonic, adult and cancer stem cells.

6. Programmed cell death: Apoptosis, autophagy, necrosis. Stages and modalities of apoptosis, signaling pathways involved. Role in maintaining homeostasis. Physiopathological consequences of deregulation of programmed cell death.

Different study models are presented, in order to introduce the importance of the contribution of biological diversity in the discovery of cellular and molecular mechanisms, as well as in the understanding of human pathologies.

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This UE consists mainly of theoretical courses dealing with the molecular aspects of infectious diseases (bacteriology, virology, parasitology).

Bacteriology: The nature of infectious agents. Methods for studying pathogenesis (in vivo, in vitro, in silico and post-genomic study technologies) Strategies of pathogenic bacteria to survive in organisms: Bacterial adhesion to eukaryotic cells, antigenic variation and phase variation, invasion of non-phagocytic eukaryotic cells, mechanisms of resistance to phagocytosis, mechanisms of bacterial survival in phagocytic cells, membrane permeability management, bacterial secretion systems (types I, II, III, IV, V and VI), iron acquisition mechanisms, bacterial exotoxins, bacterial biofilms, examples of environmental regulation (thermoregulation, quorum sensing, etc.).).

Parasitology: Organization and cellular physiology of major pathogens in unicellular eukaryotic parasites (invasion and modification of the host cell; metabolic particularities and therapeutic targets); Genetics and molecular biology (genome organization, antigenic variation); Physiopathology and escape from the immune response.

Virology: Molecular mechanisms of the viral cycle; Expression of viral genomes; Transformation by viruses; Viral replication strategy; Plasticity of viral genomes; Structural importance of viruses in host interaction; 

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Teaching is done by teachers and/or researchers at the Faculties of Medicine, Sciences or Pharmacy, or at local research institutes.Course contents will be adapted to current scientific advances.

Teaching is organized in topics (lectures/tutorials, 4 to 5:30 hrs each);each includes an introduction and a seminar. In addition, for each topic, a group of students is in charge of presenting one or two recent scientific research articles.

Examples of subjects treated:

Immune adaptive responses, vaccination

Immune tolerance

Aging of the immune system

Metabolic regulation of the immune response

Immune response regulation by microbiota

Immune system-central nervous system interactions

Immunotherapy, therapeutic antibodies

The Unit is complemented by practical work by groups on a mini-research project that includes design of experiments, realization and analysis. Training is available in the use of flow cytometry data analysis software.Results are presented orally to the entire class.

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Teaching is carried out by teacher-researchers from the UFRs of Medicine, Science and Pharmacy. It is organized into 42 hours of lectures and supervised work divided into 7 themes (see Syllabus) including 2 series of article presentations; 1 series on articles proposed by the lecturers in each theme. A second series on articles chosen by the students. At the end of the course, students organize a mini-colloquium at which the articles are presented. They write brief reviews of these articles for the journal Medecine-Sciences.

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The aim of the TER course is to prepare students to organize and carry out an in-depth bibliographical analysis, enabling them to approach their internship with a knowledge of the state of the art in the field, and in particular to produce a relevant and thoughtful introduction to their experimental work.

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Minimum 4-month internship in a research laboratory or company in France or abroad.

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