Research group Cécile Arrieumerlou

Host cell immune response to bacterial invasion

Our laboratory investigates the molecular processes that control the immune response of human cells infected by bacteria

Inflammation signaling during Shigella infection.

Bacterial infections represent a rising threat on human health. Although the discovery of antibiotics has been an important success story in medicine, the emergence of antibiotic resistance mechanisms among major pathogens limits current therapeutic options. The development of new treatments requires a deep understanding of the complex molecular interactions taking place between the pathogen and the host. These interactions shape the immune response to infection and govern the survival of the host.

Infection by Shigella bacteria

The aim of our research is to characterize the molecular processes occurring during infection by the human pathogen Shigella flexneri. This bacterium invades the colonic and rectal epithelium of humans, causing an acute intestinal inflammation, responsible for 1.1 million deaths annually. We specifically investigate the mechanism of bacterial invasion and the inflammatory response of infected cells.

Bacterial invasion and immunity

We use large scale genetic screens, automated imaging and phosphoproteomics to analyze the molecular strategies used by bacteria to force their internalization into intestinal cells. We also study how infected cells detect infection, alert uninfected neighboring cells for the presence of invasive bacteria and orchestrate the host immune response.

A model to study inflammation

Our research will help identifying key bacterial or/and host processes that can be targeted by therapeutic drugs to treat infections or diseases associated with inflammation such as inflammatory bowel disorders and cancer.