IMCBio

The IMCBio team wish you the best for this new year. May all your scientific and personal projects be successful. 🎇 About that, our International PhD Call is still open until January 26 (account creation deadline January 19). If you want to start a PhD in October 2025 in a stimulating scientific environment, don’t miss this opportunity! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/ekCVySiw All the best for 2025! ✨

📢 La date limite de dépôt par les établissements des dossiers de candidatures concernant le programme de bourses France Excellence #Eiffel arrive vite ! ⏰ 8 janvier 2025 ! ⏰ Retrouvez-ici les différentes modalités concernant les domaines d'études, le calendrier, les résultats.. Tout est sur notre site, que vous soyez un établissement ou un étudiant ! 👉 https://swll.to/p2QFRuh ⚠️ Seuls les établissements français d’enseignement supérieur peuvent déposer des dossiers de candidatures ⚠️ #RendezVousEnFrance Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche

🎉 Thesis Accepted! 🎉 We are thrilled to announce that José TOMAS AHUMADA SAAVEDRA has successfully defended his PhD thesis titled: "Craniofacial analysis of Down syndrome rodent models", conducted under the supervision of Dr. Agnès Bloch-Zupan at the IGBMC. Summary of his work  The most frequent and distinctive alterations found in Down syndrome (DS) are learning disability and craniofacial (CF) dysmorphism. The CF phenotype includes reduced head dimensions, brachycephaly, reduced mediolateral orbital region, reduced bizygomatic breadth, small maxilla, small mandible, and increased individual variability. Until now, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this CF phenotype remain unknown. This thesis, using a new panel of rats and mice models proposed new candidate genes for the DS-CF phenotype. We confirmed the role of Dyrk1a in neurocranium brachycephaly and identified the overdosage of the transcription factor Ripply3 for midface shortening through the downregulation of Tbx1, another transcription factor involved in similar phenotypes was found in Di George Syndrome. We defined new dosage-sensitive genes responsible for DS-CF malformations, and new models were proposed to rescue the DS-CF phenotype. This new knowledge may also lead to insights for specific brain and cardiovascular phenotypes observed in Tbx1 mutants and DS models. Skills acquired Animal experimentation (rat and mouse), protocol development. Imaging techniques, microCT, 3D modeling, Voxel analysis. Surgical techniques and dissection. Histological techniques: inclusion, kerosene sections, histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. Digital microphotography. Molecular biology techniques: PCR, real time PCR, ddPCR, Western Blot.   Highlights at IGBMC: The continuous learning and cooperative environment. Something that is not easily found in other institutions. Funding and collaborations: His work was supported by funding from IMCBio Interdisciplinary Thematic Institute (ITI) as part of the French Investments for the Future Program, as well as the ANID / BECAS CHILE / DOCTORADO 2020 scholarship. What’s next? José’s journey will continue with a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Research Center in the team of Professor Ophir D. Klein, MD, PhD. Congratulations, José, on this outstanding achievement! 🎉👏 We wish you every success in your future endeavors! 🌟

Congratulation to Emilie Vantard who brilliantly defends her thesis on role of DRB proteins in antiviral defense.

🎉 Thesis Accepted! 🎉 We are thrilled to announce that Amélie ZACHAYUS has successfully defended her PhD thesis titled: ✨ "Study of the transcription/repair factor TFIIH during NER in a cellular context" ✨ This work was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Arnaud Poterszman and Dr. Emmanuel Compe at the IGBMC. 🧬🔬 Summary of her work Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), Cockayne syndrome (XP/CS), and Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) are three rare genetic disorders characterized by severe photosensitivity. These diseases are associated with mutations in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) factors, particularly the transcription/repair factor TFIIH, leading to defective repair of UV-induced DNA damage. Amélie’s thesis aimed to overcome the limitations of available models for studying TFIIH in a cellular context. She developed innovative cellular models to fuse GFP tags to key TFIIH subunits (XPB, XPD, and MAT1) and introduced patient-specific mutations commonly observed in XP/CS and TTD. Using multiphoton laser technology, she induced UV-like DNA damage and monitored the recruitment dynamics of TFIIH. Her results revealed that core-TFIIH and CAK have distinct recruitment and release kinetics. She further demonstrated that mutations affecting XPD helicase activity impair TFIIH recruitment and release. Additionally, inhibition of CDK7 kinase activity with THZ1 significantly reduced TFIIH recruitment, highlighting the role of CAK in NER. Finally, her findings showed increased CAK accumulation in the absence of XPA and XPG. This work provides crucial insights into the dynamics of TFIIH and NER in both normal and pathological conditions, advancing our understanding of NER dysfunction in XP, XP/CS, and TTD patients. 🌟   Skills acquired Throughout her PhD, Amélie developed key skills, including: Advanced imaging techniques (multiphoton microscopy) Molecular biology methods for model development Analytical and experimental rigor She also honed critical soft skills, such as autonomy, perseverance, and problem-solving.   Highlights at IGBMC: The IGBMC provided an exceptional environment with access to cutting-edge platforms and expertise, enabling her to successfully complete her project. Funding and collaborations: Amélie’s thesis was funded by an ANR grant for the first three years, followed by a prestigious fellowship from the FRM (Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale) in her fourth year. Amélie’s research benefitted from collaborations with: Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris (MNHN) Dr. Caroline Kisker’s team at the University of Würzburg   What’s next? Amélie will remain at the IGBMC until the end of the year before pursuing new opportunities abroad to further her career in research. 🌍✨ Congratulations, Amélie, on this outstanding achievement! We wish you all the best for the exciting journey ahead. 🎉👏

💰 Funding announcement! Eloi VERRIER was recently awarded funding under the framework of IdEx University of Strasbourg, to study the mechanisms of infection of Hepatitis D Virus 🦠

Thesis Accepted! 🎉 We are thrilled to announce that Annabelle KLEIN has successfully defended her PhD thesis titled: "Characterization of developmental senescence using a new reporter mouse model to identify genes common across senescence states" under the supervision of Bill KEYES and co-supervision of Muriel RHINN. 🧬🔬 Summary of her work: Cellular senescence is a cell state characterized by stable cell cycle arrest, numerous intracellular changes, and a secretion phenotype. While senescence can have detrimental effects in many contexts, it also plays beneficial roles, such as during embryonic development. However, there are currently no specific markers for cellular senescence. In her PhD project, Annabelle validated a new murine model of senescence, the p21-mCherry-CreERT2 mouse, both in vitro and in vivo. Using this model, she defined the transcriptome of developmental senescence in embryonic limb buds. This developmental senescence signature was subsequently used in a meta-analysis alongside 18 other senescence studies, leading to the identification of numerous candidate genes that may serve as novel markers or mediators of senescence. 🧠✨ For more details, the thesis will be officially deposited in the coming months: Thesis link Skills acquired: During her PhD, Annabelle acquired a wide range of experimental skills, from classic techniques such as western blotting and qPCR to more specialised methods such as in ovo electroporation and SA-ß-Gal staining. Her project enabled her to deepen her understanding of cellular senescence, work effectively in a team, understand how academic research works, present her work effectively and, of course, write a doctoral thesis!🧑🔬🛠️ Highlights at IGBMC: The IGBMC offers cutting-edge scientific platforms that are essential for high-quality research. During her PhD, Annabelle benefited from the flow cytometry, imaging and cell culture platforms, as well as the ICS (Institut Clinique de la Souris) for the creation and management of genetically modified mouse models. She also enjoyed the social and scientific events organised by the institute, including Get Togethers, Poster Sessions, annual barbecues organised by the SPB, or management. 🍔🔬   Funding and collaborations: Her thesis was funded by the IMCBio doctoral school for three years, followed by a one-year extension funded by the ARC Foundation for Cancer Research.. 💡💰 Next step: After her thesis, Annabelle will remain with her team for the time being to finalise and publish her project. During these few months, she will also begin to explore opportunities for her next position. Although she hasn't yet precisely defined the direction she wants to take, this period will be crucial for maturing her thinking and guiding her career choices.🌍✨ Congratulations to Annabelle, and best wishes for her future endeavors! 🎉

New publication alert! 🚨 We are excited to share our latest work on the cooperation between RNA polymerase and the ribosome in bacteria. 🧬🔬 📄 Read the full article here: Science Journal - https://lnkd.in/eFSQvCFN This research was made possible thanks to the support of @IGBMC, @Inserm, @CNRS, @Unistra, @ERC_Research, @IMC_Bio, and @Instructhub. #Research #GeneExpression #RNA #Ribosome #ScienceInnovation

🌟 Congratulations to Prof. Pauline Jullien at IBMP (Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes) for receiving the prestigious ERC Consolidator grant! This remarkable funding will support her groundbreaking research on the role of epigenetics in plant immunity and reproduction. 🌱🔬 #ERCGrant #PlantScience #Epigenetics #Innovation Read more: https://lnkd.in/dSmxctkp

🚨 Exciting discovery at IBMP (Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes)! Todd Blevins' team (Todd Blevins), in collaboration with Julie Law's lab, reveals how the Pol IV RNA polymerase uniquely interacts with CLSY proteins via a specific docking motif. This “one CLSY per Pol IV” model sheds light on TE silencing mechanisms crucial for genome stability in plants. 🌱 Published in Nature Communication : https://lnkd.in/dPEFu4n8 #Epigenetics #PlantBiology #GenomeStability