«Networks of Regulatory RNAs across kingdoms and dynamical responses to biotic and abiotic stresses». An innovative, integrated research program on the RNA-based strategies used by pathogens and their hosts during infection, and on insect strategies to resist viral and bacterial infection. NetRNA aims to translate our findings into therapeutical, biotechnological, and agronomical applications.
Jean-Luc Imler, coordinator of NetRNA
NetRNA chair headed by Redmond Smyth
UPR 9002-ARN, IBMC / HIRI, Würzburg
redmond.smyth@helmholtz-hiri.de
Genome biology of viruses
Investigate RNA structure in regulating viral infection and immunity using nanopore sequencing and spatial transcriptomics in order to decipher RNA structural heterogeneity at single molecule level, to study the role of RNA modifications on viral life cycles, and to visualise RNAs during viral assembly.
Headed by Manfred Heinlein
UPR 2357, IBMP
manfred.heinlein@ibmp-cnrs.unistra.fr
Plant-virus interactions during viral cell-to-cell movement
Investigate how plant viruses and dsRNA activate host antiviral immunity and how viral proteins interfere with immunity signaling to enhance the intercellular spread of infection.
Headed by Joao T. Marques
UPR 9022-M3I, IBMC
joao.marques@unistra.fr
Control of arthropod-borne viruses by mosquito antiviral pathways
Dissect virus-host interactions in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and mechanisms contributing to resistance or susceptibility to arbovirus infection in mosquitoes, to identify the natural virome of mosquitoes and its impact on vector competence, and to generate mosquitoes that are resistant to arboviruses.
Headed by Isabelle Caldelari & Stefano Marzi
UPR 9002-ARN, IBMC
i.caldelari@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr
s.marzi@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr
RNA regulation in pathogenic bacteria
Investigate RNA structure in regulating viral infection and immunity using nanopore sequencing and spatial transcriptomics in order to decipher RNA structural heterogeneity at single molecule level, to study the role of RNA modifications on viral life cycles, and to visualise RNAs during viral assembly.
Headed by Pascal Genschik
UPR 2357, IBMP
pascal.genschik@ibmp-cnrs.unistra.fr
Role of ubiquitin in cellular regulation
Explore the role of post-translational modifications and protein turnover in plant antiviral immunity. Elucidate how biotic and abiotic stresses impact the stability and activity of the RNA silencing machinery.
Headed by Michael Ryckelynck
UPR 9002-ARN, IBMC
m.ryckelynck@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr
Digital biology of RNA
Set-up and use ultrahigh-throughput analytical pipelines exploiting droplet-based microfluidics in tandem with next generation sequencing to develop new RNA-based fluorescence imaging tools and to perform single-cell resolution gene expression monitoring (especially non-coding RNAs).
Project leader: Nicolas Matt
UPR 9022-M3I, IBMC
n.matt@unistra.fr
Associate team headed by Dominique Ferrandon
d.ferrandon@unistra.fr
Genetic immune response
Focusing on the roles of non-coding RNAs and transcriptional regulatory proteins, we explore the innate immune response in Drosophila that underlies a complex regulatory network including epigenetic mechanisms involved in the control of NF-kB-induced transcriptional selectivity.
Associate team headed by Claude Sauter
UPR 9002-ARN, IBMC
c.sauter@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr
Structure, evolution & dynamics of protein: tRNA complexes
Focus on tRNA-protein (mainly enzymes) interactions in pathogens through an integrative structural approach combining biochemistry, biophysics, crystallography and cryoEM, to characterize associated recognition and catalytic mechanisms and to derive drug design strategies.
Headed by Sébastien Pfeffer
UPR 9002-ARN, IBMC
s.pfeffer@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr
RNA regulation in viral infections
Explore the importance and regulation of RNA silencing mediated by microRNAs and other small RNAs during viral infection in cultured cells, mice and patient samples with a specific focus on how microRNAs themselves are regulated and the interplay with other innate immunity signaling pathways.
Associate team headed by Roland Marquet & Jean-Christophe Paillart
UPR 9002-ARN, IBMC
r.marquet@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr jc.paillart@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr
RNA packaging and viral assembly
Identify the packaging signals present in the genomic RNA of coronaviruses and explore the impact of the binding of the viral proteins to these signals on RNA packaging, liquid-liquid phase separation, and inhibition of the host innate immunity.
Headed by Christophe Ritzenthaler
UPR 2357, IBMP
ritzenth@unistra.fr
Biology and biotechnology of grapevine virus
Dissect the biology of host-virus interactions to identify factors contributing to resistance or susceptibility of Arabidopsis and grapevine to RNA-virus infection, integrate the generated knowledge for biotechnological purposes with respect to virus-resistant plants and virus detection.
Associate team headed by Benoit Marteyn
UPR 9002-ARN, IBMC
b.marteyn@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr
Pathogenesis of bacterial infections and immunity
Investigate RNA metabolism during Shigella infection (both host cell and bacteria RNA) and develop mRNA vaccines against Shigella. Other projects are related to the study of Shigella virulence factors in vitro and in vivo, including Shigella-neutrophil interaction.
NetRNA chairheaded by Pauline Jullien
UPR 2357, IBMP
pauline.jullien@ibmp-cnrs.unistra.fr
Plant Epigenetics
Investigate the function of DNA methylation and small RNA molecular pathways during plant sexual reproduction and pathogen defense. Explore how small RNA molecules could act as a link between environmental stresses and transgenerational epigenetic changes.
Headed by Dominique Gagliardi & Hélène Zuber
UPR 2357, IBMP
dominique.gagliardi@ibmp-cnrs.unistra.fr
h.zuber@ibmp-cnrs.unistra.fr
RNA degradation in plants
Investigate the impact of uridylation in controlling the degradation of mRNAs, non-coding RNAs and viral RNAs. Explore the biological roles of novel RNA decay factors assisting the RNA exosome, the decapping machinery and novel components of processing
Headed by Todd Blevins
UPR 2357, IBMP
todd.blevins@ibmp-cnrs.unistra.fr
Mechanisms of small RNA biogenesis andaction
Investigate how multisubunit RNA polymerases distinguish genetic parasites from essential host genes in plant chromosomes, allowing the synthesis of small-interfering RNAs and the targeted silencing of repetitive DNA by repressive chromatin modifications and DNA methylation.
Headed by Jean-Luc Imler & Carine Meignin
UPR 9022-M3I, IBMC
jl.imler@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr
c.meignin@ibmc-cnrs.unistra.fr
Insect antiviral immunity: signaling and effectors
Explore the transcriptional response of insects to viral infections to decipher: how viral nucleic acids are sensed by the innate immune system; the role of noncanonical RNA signals such as cyclic dinucleotides in STING dependent responses; the mode of action of novel antiviral restriction factors.