The VTRIS team is passionate about better understanding how viruses traffic between cellular compartments and the interplay between viruses and innate immunity, both at the level of innate immune cells (dendritic cells, macrophages, innate lymphoid cells) and at the level of signalling pathways that are triggered by foreign pattern recognition within cells. While innate immunity is a powerful first-line defence against pathogens, a response that is too strong or that does not abate, can also be deleterious to the host. These themes are the driving force behind the 3 main projects of our team.
Axis 1- Nuclear trafficking (Nathalie Arhel)
The nuclear pore is the port of passage between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Our team has several ongoing projects to better understand how nuclear pore biology contributes to infection and immunity.
(1) The nuclear pore is a gate of entry to many viruses that must reach the nucleus to replicate. Using HIV as model, we are seeking to better understand how the nuclear pore contributes to productive infection, focusing both on structural components of the nuclear pore, such as nucleoporins and on soluble transporters such as TRN-1/TNPO1. We then channel this understanding into developing inhibitors of viral nuclear import.
(2) We seek to better understand how genetic disorders of the nuclear pore machinery contribute to disease. Using in vitro models and patient samples, we focus on autosomal dominant mutations in genes coding for components of the nuclear transport machinery, such as karyopherins and nucleoporins, and try to understand how these unbalance our immune response to infection.
Axis 2- Antiviral innate immunity (Sébastien Nisole)
Our team is specialized in rare and highly specialized dendritic cell subtypes.
(1) Langerhans cells and dermal DCs are resident in skin and mucosa. We have several ongoing projects to better understand how these resist viral infection, and whether they can be productively infected and contribute to viral spread. We have a particularly strong interest in arboviruses that are spread by mosquitoes and hence are delivered directly into the skin (West Nile, Usutu, Zika and Dengue viruses) and in HIV-1 which encounters these specialised dendritic cells in mucosa.
(2) Plasmacytoid dendritic cells circulate in blood and are the chief producers of interferon. We have a strong interest in better understanding how these regulate the global antiviral response, for instance following infection by Influenza A virus, and characterising the cellular factors that make them refractory to productive infection.
Axis 3- Alpha Centauri HTS (Nathalie Arhel & Sébastien Nisole)
Our team has developed several assays based on the protein complementation assay to measure changes in subcellular compartments during infection and immunity. These have been designed and miniaturised so they are compatible with the high-throughput screening of chemical libraries. A spin-off start-up company will offer custom-based solutions for clients who seek novel assays to identify modulators of innate immunity based on the nuclear translocation of key transcription factors. Our academic team is pursuing developments by applying these assays to identify broad-spectrum antiviral molecules against a diverse range of RNA viruses including Influenza A virus, West Nile virus, SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1.
The team in March 2022
From left to right: N. Arhel, E. Arsac,S. Nisole, P. Gonin, A. Decorsière, M. Cartron, A. Vidal, A. Boulay, J. Zoladek, C. Chamontin.
The team in March 2021
From left to right: C. Chamontin, N. Arhel, S. Nisole, M.F. Martin, H. Abiven, G. Maarifi, J. Fernandez, P. Nouaux, E. Gerber-Tichet, A. Boulay, Q. Hertel, F. Blanchet.
Team members
Nathalie Arhel - CNRS tenured researcher, Team leader
Sébastien Nisole - INSERM tenured researcher, Team leader
Adrien Decorsière - CNRS tenured researcher
Jim Zoladek - Postdoc, ANR
Sophie Desgraupes - Postdoc, ANR
Suzon Perrin - Technician
Inès Bribes - PhD student, Montpellier University
Marion Cannac - Master student, ENS Lyon
Thomas Léocadie - Master student, ENS Saclay
Emmanuel Quevarec - Master student, ENSCM
Benoît Gouy - Master student, ENS Lyon
Chloé Fournie - Master student, Montpellier University
Past members (VTRIS Alumni)
Célia Chamontin - Technician, Montpellier University, 2017-2022
Pauline Gonin, Master student (Montpellier University), 2022
Matéo Cartron, Master student (Rennes University), 2022
Emma Arsac, Master student (Montpellier University), 2022
Amélie Vidal, Master student (Montpellier University), 2022
Aude Boulay, Technician, Sidaction, 2020-2022
Ghizlane Maarifi, Postdoc ANRS, 2019-2021
Marie-France Martin, PhD student, Labex EpiGenMed, 2018-2021
Fabien Blanchet, INSERM tenured researcher, 2019-2022
Quentin Hertel, PhD student, 2020-2022
Camille Talercio, Master student (Montpellier University), 2021-2022
Elina Gerber-Tichet, Master student (Montpellier University), 2021
Pierre Nouaux, Research assistant, SATT AxLR, 2021
Hervé Abiven, 5th year student (Ecole de Biologie Industrielle), 2021
Juliette Fernandez, PhD student, Sidaction / Research assistant, SATT AxLR, 2017-2021
Sarah Maillet, PhD student, ANRS, 2017-2020
Carla Alemany, Bachelor student (Montpellier University), 2020
Lina Lapeyre, Master student (Montpellier University), 2020
Anne-Claire Aurilio, Master student (Montpellier University), 2019-2020
Justine Lagisquet, Research assistant, 2017-2019
Willy Lutz, Bachelor student (Nîmes University), 2019
Richard de Reuver, Master student Erasmus (Leiden University, The Netherlands), 2018
Samah Sharif, Master student (Montpellier University), 2018
Abderezak Zebboudj, Postdoc, 2017-2018Publications 2015-2022
2022
- Vitour D, Nisole S, Lévêque N, Saulnier A, Tordo N, Gatignol A, Gilmer D. A year in Virologie: some viruses persist, others emerge. Virologie. 2022, 26(6):405-408.
- Constant O, Maarifi G, Barthelemy J, Martin MF, Tinto B, Savini G, Van de Perre P, Nisole S, Simonin Y, Salinas S. Differential effects of Usutu and West Nile viruses on neuroinflammation, immune cell recruitment and blood brain barrier integrity. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2022, 12(1):2156815.
- El Kazzi P, Rabah N, Chamontin C, Poulain L, Ferron F, Debart F, Canard B, Missé D, Coutard B, Nisole S, Decroly E. Internal RNA 2’O-methylation in the HIV-1 genome counteracts ISG20 nuclease-mediated antiviral effect. Nucleic Acids Research, in press.
- Pompon J, Nisole S. How flaviviruses make our skin tastier for mosquitoes. Virologie. 2022, 26(4):315-317.
- Maarifi G, Martin MF, Zebboudj A, Boulay A, Nouaux P, Fernandez J, Lagisquet J, Garcin D, Gaudin R, Arhel NJ#, Nisole S#. Identifying enhancers of innate immune signaling as broad-spectrum antivirals active against emerging viruses. Cell Chem Biol. 2022, 29(7):1113-1125.
- Mac Kain A*, Maarifi G*, Aicher SM, Arhel NJ, Baidaliuk A, Munier S, Donati F, Vallet T, Tran QD, Hardy A, Chazal M, Porrot F, OhAinle M, Carlson-Stevermer J, Oki J, Holden K, Zimmer G, Simon-Lorière E, Bruel T, Schwartz O, van der Werf S, Jouvenet N#, Nisole S#, Vignuzzi M#, Roesch F#. Identification of DAXX as a restriction factor of SARS-CoV-2 through a CRISPR/Cas9 screen. Nat Commun. 2022, 13(1):2442.
- Martin MF, Maarifi G, Abiven H, Seffals M, Mouchet N, Beck C, Bodet C, Lévèque N, Arhel NJ, Blanchet FP, Simonin Y, Nisole S. Usutu Virus escapes langerin-induced restriction to productively infect human Langerhans cells, unlike West Nile virus. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2022, 11(1):761-774.
2021
- Chamontin C, Bossis G, Nisole S, Arhel NJ, Maarifi G. Regulation of viral restriction by post-translational modifications. Viruses. 2021, 13: 2197.
- Bekaddour N, Smith N, Beitz B, Llibre A, Dott T, Baudry A, Korganow AS, Nisole S, Mouy R, Breton S, Bader-Meunier B, Duffy D, Terrier B, Schneider B, Quartier P, Rodero M, Herbeuval JP. Targeting the chemokine receptor CXCR4 with histamine analogue to reduce inflammation in juvenile arthritis: a proof of concept for COVID-19 therapeutic approach. BioRxiv, 2021.10.24.465080.
- Sonigo P, Petit C, Arhel NJ. Vaccination endpoints: mucosal PCR or Covid-19 disease? Virologie. 2021 Oct 12.
- Martin MF, Maarifi G, Abiven H, Seffals M, Mouchet N, Beck C, Bodet C, Lévêque N, Arhel NJ, Blanchet FP, Simonin Y, Nisole S. Usutu virus uses langerin as a receptor to productively infect Langerhans cells more efficiently than West Nile virus. BioRxiv, 2021.08.17.456611.
- Arone C, Dibsy R, Inamdar K, Lyonnais S, Arhel NJ, Favard C, Muriaux D. Illuminating the nanoscopic world of viruses by fluorescence super-resolution microscopy. Virologie. 2021, 25(3):47-60.
- Maarifi G, Lagisquet J, Hertel Q, Bonaventure B, Chamontin C, Fuchs K, Moncorgé O, Tauziet M, Mombled M, Papin L, Molès JP, Bodet C, Lévèque N, Gross A, Arhel N, Nisole S, Van de Perre P, Goujon C, Blanchet FP. Alarmin S100A9 restricts retroviral infection by limiting reverse transcription in human dendritic cells. EMBO J. 2021, 40(16):e106540.
- Arhel NJ. An unprecedented interest for the human immunodeficiency virus capsid. Med Sci (Paris). 2021, 37(5):549-552.
- Mac Kain A, Maarifi G, Aicher SM, Arhel NJ, Baidaliuk A, Vallet T, Tran QD, Hardy A, Chazal M, Porrot F, OhAinle M, Carlson-Stevermer J, Oki J, Holden K, Simon-Loriere E, Bruel T, Schwartz O, Jouvenet N, Nisole S, Vignuzzi M, Roesch F. Identification of DAXX as a restriction factor of SARS-CoV-2 through a CRISPR/Cas9 screen. BioRxiv, 2021.05.06.442916.
- Gosselin-Grenet AS, Servan de Almeida R, Roumagnac P, Ayouba A, Simonin Y, Nisole S. Viruses and scientists under the sun of Montpellier. Virologie. 2021, 25(S1):3-5.
- Rebendenne A, Valadão ALC, Tauziet M, Maarifi G, Bonaventure B, McKellar J, Planès R, Nisole S, Arnaud-Arnould M, Moncorgé O, Goujon C. SARS-CoV-2 triggers an MDA-5-dependent interferon response which is unable to control replication in lung epithelial cells. J Virol. 2021, JVI.02415-20.
- Fernandez J, Hassen-Khodja C, Georget V, Rose T, Jacob Y, Janin YL, Nisole S, Vidalain PO, Arhel NJ. Measuring the subcellular compartmentalization of viral infections by protein complementation assay. PNAS 2021, 118(2):e2010524118.
2020
- Volcic M, Sparrer KMJ, Koepke L, Hotter D, Sauter D, Stürzel CM, Scherer M, Stamminger T, Hofmann TG, Arhel NJ, Wiesmüller L, Kirchhoff F. Vpu modulates DNA repair to suppress innate sensing and hyper-integration of HIV-1. Nat Microbiol. 2020, 5(10):1247-1261.
- Arhel NJ. Early HIV replication revisited. Nat Microbiol. 2020, 5(9):1065-1066.
- Clé M, Desmetz C, Barthelemy J, Martin MF, Constant O, Maarifi G, Foulongne V, Bolloré K, Glasson Y, De Bock F, Blaquiere M, Dehouck L, Pirot N, Tuaillon E, Nisole S, Najioullah F, Van de Perre P, Cabié A, Marchi N, Gosselet F, Simonin Y, Salinas S. Zika Virus Infection Promotes Local Inflammation, Cell Adhesion Molecule Upregulation, and Leukocyte Recruitment at the Blood-Brain Barrier. mBio. 2020, 11(4):e01183-20.
- Sa Ribero M, Jouvenet N, Dreux M, Nisole S. Interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and the type I interferon response. PLoS Pathog. 2020, 16(7):e1008737.
- Nisole S, Saulnier A, Gatignol A. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): Should we target the virus, the cell or the disease? Virologie. 2020, 24(3):135-141.
- Maillet S, Fernandez J, Decourcelle M, El Koulali K, Blanchet FP, Arhel NJ, Maarifi G, Nisole S. Daxx inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcription and uncoating in a SUMO-dependent manner. Viruses. 2020, 12(6):E636.
- Burette M, Allombert J, Lambou K, Maarifi G, Nisole S, Di Russo Case E, Blanchet FP, Hassen-Khodja C, Cabantous S, Samuel J, Martinez E, Bonazzi M. Modulation of innate immune signaling by a Coxiella burnetii eukaryotic-like effector protein. PNAS 2020, 117(24):13708-13718.
- Fernandez J, Arhel NJ. HIV capsid and productive infection: taking steps in the right direction. Virologie. 2020, 24(2):88-98.
- Maarifi G, Czubala MA, Lagisquet J, Ivory MO, Fuchs K, Papin L, Birchall JC, Nisole S, Piguet V, Blanchet FP. Langerin (CD207) represents a novel interferon-stimulated gene in Langerhans cells. Cell Mol Immunol. 2020, 17(5):547-549.
- Martin MF, Nisole S. West Nile Virus restriction in mosquito and human cells: A virus under confinement. Vaccines. 2020, 8(2):E256.
- Maarifi G, Smith N, Nisole S. Interferon response: with great power comes great responsibility? Med Sci (Paris). 2020, 36(3):206-209.
- Hayek S, Pietrancosta N, Hovhannisyan AA, Alves de Sousa R, Bekaddour N, Ermellino L, Tramontano E, Arnould S, Sardet C, Dairou J, Diaz O, Lotteau V, Nisole S, Melikyan G, Herbeuval JP, Vidalain PO. Cerpegin-derived furo[3,4-c]pyridine-3,4(1H,5H)-diones enhance cellular response to interferons by de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis inhibition. Eur J Med Chem. 2020, 186:111855.
- Fernandez J, Arhel NJ. Transportin-1 orchestrates HIV-1 uncoating and nuclear entry. Med Sci (Paris). 2020, 36(3):203-206.
2019
- Salinas S, Simonin Y, L'Ambert G, Nisole S. Autochthonous cases of Zika virus in metropolitan France: a new paradigm for this arbovirus? Virologie. 2019, 23(6):329-332.
- Maarifi G, Smith N, Maillet S, Moncorgé O, Chamontin C, Edouard J, Sohm F, Blanchet FP, Herbeuval JP, Lutfalla G, Levraud JP, Arhel NJ, Nisole S. TRIM8 is required for virus-induced IFN response in human plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Sci Adv. 2019, 5(11):eaax3511.
- Fernandez J, Machado AK, Lyonnais S, Chamontin C, Gärtner K, Léger T, Henriquet C, Garcia C, Portilho DM, Pugnière M, Chaloin L, Muriaux D, Yamauchi Y, Blaise M, Nisole S, Arhel NJ. Transportin-1 binds to the HIV-1 capsid via a nuclear localization signal and triggers uncoating. Nat Microbiol. 2019 4(11):1840-1850.
- Smith N, Rodero MP, Bekaddour N, Bondet V, Ruiz-Blanco YB, Harms M, Mayer B, Badder-Meunier B, Quartier P, Bodemer C, Baudouin V, Dieudonné Y, Kirchhoff F, Garcia ES, Charbit B, Leboulanger N, Jahrsdörfer B, Richard Y, Korganow AS, Münch J, Nisole S, Duffy D and Herbeuval JP. Control of TLR7-mediated type I IFN signaling in pDCs through CXCR4 engagement—A new target for lupus treatment. Science Advances. 2019, 5(7):eaav9019.
- Hayek S, Bekaddour N, Besson L, Alves de Sousa R, Pietrancosta N, Viel S, Smith N, Jacob Y, Nisole S, Mandal R, Wishart DS, Walzer T, Herbeuval JP, Vidalain PO. Identification of primary natural killer cell modulators by chemical library screening with a luciferase based functional assay. SLAS Discovery. 2019, 24(1):25-37.
- Nisole S, Fernandez J, Maarifi G, Arhel NJ. SUMO regulates the capacity of TRIM5α to inhibit HIV-1. Med Sci (Paris). 2019, 35(2):106-109.
2018
- Maarifi G, Fernandez J, Portilho DM, Boulay A, Dutrieux J, Oddos S, Butler-Browne G, Nisole S, Arhel NJ. RanBP2 regulates the anti-retroviral activity of TRIM5α by SUMOylation at a predicted phosphorylated SUMOylation motif. Commun Biol. 2018, 1:193.
- Nisole S. Usutu, that which does not kill us makes us stronger. Virologie. 2018, 22(5):231-2.
2017
- Lucas-Hourani M, Dauzonne D, Mulier-Lehmann H, Khiar S, Nisole S, Dairou J, Helynck O, Afonso P, Tangy F, Vidalain PO. An original chemical series of pyrimidine biosynthesis inhibitors that boost the antiviral interferon response. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2017, 61(10): e00383-17.
- Khiar S, Lucas-Hourani M, Nisole S, Smith N, Helynck O, Bourgine M, Ruffié C, Herbeuval JP, Munier-Lehmann H, Tangy F, Vidalain PO. Identification of a small molecule that primes the type I interferon response to cytosolic DNA. Sci Rep. 2017, 7(1):2561.
- Smith N, Pietrancosta N, Davidson S, Dutrieux J, Chauveau L, Cutolo P, Dy M, Scott-Algara D, Manoury B, Zirafi O, McCort-Tranchepain I, Durroux T, Bachelerie F, Schwartz O, Münch J, Wack A, Nisole S, Herbeuval JP. Natural amines inhibit activation of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells through CXCR4 engagement. Nat Commun. 2017, 8:14253.
2016
- Smith N, Vidalain PO, Nisole S, Herbeuval JP. An efficient method for gene silencing in human primary plasmacytoid dendritic cells: silencing of the TLR7/IRF 7 pathway as a proof of concept. Sci Rep. 2016, 6:29891.
- Maarifi G, Hannoun Z, Geoffroy MC, El Asmi F, Zarrouk K, Nisole S, Blondel D, Chelbi-Alix M. MxA mediates SUMO-induced resistance to Vesicular Stomatitis Virus. J Virol. 2016, 90(14):6598-610.
- Portilho DM, Fernandez J, Ringeard M, Machado AK, Boulay A, Mayer M, Müller-Trutwin M, Beignon AS, Kirchhoff F, Nisole S, Arhel NJ. Endogenous TRIM5α function is regulated by SUMOylation and nuclear sequestration for efficient innate sensing in dendritic cells. Cell Reports. 2016, 14(2):355-69.
- Portilho DM, Persson R, Arhel N. Role of non-motile microtubule-associated proteins in virus trafficking. Biomol Concepts. 2016, 7(5-6):283-292.
- Maillet S, Nisole S. Daxx, a broad-spectrum viral restriction factor. Virologie, 2016, 20(5):261-72.
- Maarifi G, Dianoux L, Nisole S, Chelbi-Alix MK. SUMO paralogs and interferon response. Med Sci (Paris). 2016, 32(2):141-3.
2015
- Dutrieux J, Maarifi G, Portilho DM, Arhel NJ, Chelbi-Alix MK, Nisole S. PML/TRIM19-dependent inhibition of retroviral reverse-transcription by Daxx. PLoS Pathog. 2015, 11(11):e1005280.
- Fernandez J, Portilho DM, Danckaert A, Munier S, Becker A, Roux P, Zambo A, Shorte S, Jacob Y, Vidalain PO, Charneau P, Clavel F, Arhel NJ. Microtubule-associated proteins 1 (MAP1) promote human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) intracytoplasmic routing to the nucleus. J Biol Chem. 2015, 290(8):4631-46.
- Maarifi G, Maroui MA, Dutrieux J, Dianoux L, Nisole S, Chelbi-Alix MK. SUMO promotes resistance to interferon. J Immunol. 2015, 195(5):2312-24.
- Dutrieux J, Portilho DM, Arhel NJ, Hazan U, Nisole S. TRIM5α is a SUMO substrate. Retrovirology. 2015, 12:28.
- Brantis-de-Carvalho CE, Maarifi G, Gonçalves Boldrin PE, Zanelli CF, Nisole S, Chelbi-Alix MK, Valentini SR. MxA interacts with and is modified by the SUMOylation machinery. Exp Cell Res. 2015, 330(1):151-63.
- Kotera N, Dubost E, Milanole G, Doris E, Gravel E, Arhel N, Brotin T, Dutasta JP, Cochrane J, Mari E, Boutin C, Léonce E, Berthault P, Rousseau B. A doubly responsive probe for the detection of Cys4-tagged proteins. Chem Commun. 2015, 51(57):11482-4.
- Blondel D, Maarifi G, Nisole S, Chelbi-Alix M. Resistance to Rhabdoviridae Infection and Subversion of Antiviral Responses. Viruses. 2015, 7:3675-702.
Local
- Sara SALINAS & Yannick SIMONIN, INSERM U1058, Montpellier
- Nadir MECHTI & Georges LUTFALLA, DIMNP, Montpellier
- Matteo BONAZZI, Caroline GOUJON & OLivier MONCORGE, IRIM, Montpellier
- Sébastien LYONNAIS & Delphine MURIAUX, CEMIPAI, Montpellier
National
- Jean-Philippe HERBEUVAL, Faculté des Saints-Pères, Paris
- Nicolas LEVEQUE & Charles BODET, CHU de Poitiers
- Etienne DECROLY, AFMB, Marseille
- Pierre-Olivier VIDALAIN, CIRI, Lyon
- Anne-Sophie BEIGNON, CEA Fontenay-aux-Roses
- Jean-Pierre LEVRAUD, Institut Pasteur, Paris
International
- Franck KIRCHHOFF, Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm, Germany
- Yohei YAMAUCHI, Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
- Sam WILSON, Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
- Dominique GARCIN, Université de Genève, Switzerland
- Pepe ALCAMI, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Madrid, Spain
- December 2022: Celebration of Célia Chamontin's promotion with colleagues.
- September 2022: It came back to us… our own, our precious!! The golden pipette is ours once again!
The VTRIS team wins the IRIM 2022 photography contest with this photo.
- August 2022: New postdoc position in our team!
- June 2022: Our paper recently published in Cell Chem Biol (see previous post) was featured in This Week In Virology!!
Click below to watch Vincent Racaniello and his co-hosts explain our paper and the Alpha Centauri technology (starting at 39'55'') :
- June 2022: Another triple combo for the VTRIS team, with 3 papers published in a row... !!
- Maarifi G et al. Identifying enhancers of innate immune signaling as broad-spectrum antivirals active against emerging viruses. Cell Chem Biol (2022).
- Mac Kain A et al. Identification of DAXX as a restriction factor of SARS-CoV-2 through a CRISPR/Cas9 screen. Nat Commun (2022).
- Martin MF et al. Usutu Virus escapes langerin-induced restriction to productively infect human Langerhans cells, unlike West Nile virus. Emerg Microbes Infect (2022).
- Mars 2022: Nathalie Arhel presents her latest work during the Sidaction's Scientific Day at the Pasteur Institute.
- March 2022: Today, it's carnival in the lab!!
- November 2021: The VTRIS team is very happy to welcome a new researcher, Adrien Decorsiere. Adrien is interested in extrachromosomal gene transcription, such as Hepatitis B Virus episomes, and enjoys exploring new technologies to study RNA dynamics. Welcome Adrien, we’re really looking forward to working with you!
- October 2021: We recruit!
- April 2021: Our start-up project, Alpha Centauri, makes headlines in the local newspaper.
- March 2021: A beautiful morning away from the lab.
- November 2020: Congratulations to Sarah Maillet on a great remote PhD defense!
- July 2020: Quentin Hertel obtains a 3-year Ph.D. fellowship from the competitive CBS2 doctoral school. Well done Quentin!! We are glad to keep you in the lab!
- June 2020: A big thanks to the ANR and the Region Occitanie for financing our project Alpha-CoV, which aims to implement a fast and reliable assay for the high-throughput screening of antiviral molecules active against SARS-CoV-2.
- March/April 2020: The VTRIS team is staying in touch during lockdown.
- February 2020: Juliette Fernandez receives the 2019 i-PhD trophy from Frédérique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. Many congratulations, Juliette !!
The 29 laureates of the i-PhD trophy
- February 2020: Nathalie Arhel and Sébastien Nisole are attending the Viruses - Novel Concepts in Virology conference in Barcelona.
Can you spot us?
Nathalie chairing the session "Viral genetics and evolution"
- November 2019: Many congratulations to the newly minted Dr Juliette Fernandez, who successfully defended her PhD! We’re all proud of you, Juliette!
- October 2019: Sébastien Nisole is Guest Editor of a Special Issue entitled "Intrinsic Antiviral Factors" to be published in Viruses. Submissions are now open and we are looking forward to your contributions!
Deadline: November 1, 2020
For further information please visit the website of the Special Issue:
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/viruses/special_issues/antiviral_factors
- September 2019: After 3 years of trying, the highly coveted IRIM golden pipette is ours...!!!
It came to us, our own, our love... our precioussss!!
The VTRIS team wins the IRIM 2019 photography contest with this photo:
The Making-of:
- September 2019: Triple combo after a summer of revisions: the VTRIS team has 3 papers currently in press... watch out our webpage for an update!
- July 2019: Sarah Maillet, Célia Chamontin and Juliette Fernandez join the dIRIM Team for CNRS's 80th anniversary challenge.
- March 2019: IRIM is well represented at the French virology meeting (Journées Francophones de Virologie) in Lyon. Juliette Fernandez presented our work on the role of TNPO1 in HIV-1 uncoating and nuclear import. 
- March 2019: Nathalie Arhel, Célia Chamontin and Sébastien Nisole join the IRIM Greyhound team for the relay marathon of Montpellier! 42.2km in 3h 53min.... well done greyhounds!!
- January 2019: 2019 starts off well for Fabien Blanchet, who obtained a 2-year grant from the ANRS to pursue his exciting research on HIV-1 restriction in Langerhans cells. Well done, Fabien!
- December 2018: Christmas came early this year with the arrival of a new PI in our team! Fabien Blanchet is a tenured INSERM researcher and specialist of myeloid cells, antiviral immunity and HIV biology. He is joining us together with Ghizlane Maarifi, postdoctoral fellow financed by ANRS. A warm welcome to you both, we're delighted to have you!
- December 2018: Nathalie Arhel and Sébastien Nisole are attending the Immunotherapies for Infectious Diseases congress in Lyon, France.
- October 2018: The VTRIS team at the IRIM's cooking contest.
from left to right: J. Fernandez, S. Maillet, G. Maarifi
- September 2018: Nathalie Arhel organizes a very stimulating workshop at Domaine de Verchant, with the support of ANR.
- June 2018: Marie-France Martin has been awarded a 3-year Ph.D. grant from the Labex EpigenMed to study the innate immune response to arboviruses in human immune cells. Congratulation and welcome Marie-France!
- May 2018: Juliette Fernandez organizes Montpellier's first ever Young Research Apprentices symposium on behalf of the "Arbre des Connaissances" association. Teenagers were given the opportunity to discover lab work throughout their school year, then presented their results before their families and teachers during a friendly symposium held in the CNRS amphitheatre. A huge thank you to all IRIM teams who welcomed these budding scientists in their labs.
- April 2018: The VTRIS members join the IRIM team for the "Ruée des Fadas", an 8 km obstacle race.
- April 2018: The team welcomes Richard de Reuver, an Erasmus Master student from the Netherlands, who comes for a 6-month internship. Welcome Richard!
- February 2018: Nathalie Arhel and Sébastien Nisole are attending the "Viruses - Breakthroughs in Viral Replication" conference in Barcelona.
Can you find us?
- October 2017: The VTRIS team wins second prize for the 3-min video contest illustrating life at IRIM. We've got our sights set on first prize for next year's challenge -the highly coveted golden pipette!
Left picture, from left to right: S. Maillet, J. Fernandez, C. Chamontin, A. Zebboudj, J. Lagisquet
Right picture: S. Maillet and J. Fernandez
- October 2017: The VTRIS team is happy to welcome two new members, Abderezak Zebboudj (postdoc) and Justine Lagisquet (Research assistant). Welcome Zak and Justine!
- September 2017: The VTRIS team welcomes Célia Chamontin who joins the team as a permanent research assistant (Montpellier University). We're happy to have you Célia!
- June 2017: Sarah Maillet obtains a 3-year Ph.D. grant from the ANRS to investigate the molecular mechanism of the inhibition of HIV-1 reverse-transcription by the cellular protein Daxx. Well done, Sarah!
- May 2017: The VTRIS team on its first escape game.
From left to right: S. Nisole, N. Arhel, C. Chamontin, J. Fernandez, S. Maillet
- April 2017: The VTRIS team participates in a giant human chain to spell the word "Science" in Montpellier's main square. We're in the second "C" of "Science" on this satellite picture.
- March 2017: Juliette Fernandez holds the Sidaction stand with Véronique in the IRIM lobby.
- January 2017: Juliette Fernandez obtains a 3-year PhD grant from the Sidaction to develop new tools to investigate HIV nuclear import. Well done, Juliette!
- January 2017: Inauguration of the Viral Trafficking, Restriction and Innate Signaling laboratory (VTRIS) at IRIM, Montpellier.
Team leaders
At a glance
The VTRIS team was created on January 1st 2017, following an international call for senior group leaders from the IRIM institute. It is supported by the regional excellence consortium (Labex) EpiGenMed.
Funding
