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"My leadership is centered on building interdisciplinary research programs, fostering international collaborations, and translating scientific discoveries into impactful advances in human health."
My research leadership is structured around the development of integrated programs that explore how tissue microenvironments shape immune responses during infection. By bridging immunology, metabolism, and stromal biology, I have established a coherent framework centered on lung niches, including alveolar, perivascular, and neuro-immune compartments. These programs are designed to evolve from discovery-driven science toward mechanistic understanding and translational applications, supported by advanced multi-omics, imaging, and human-relevant model systems.
I actively develop and coordinate international collaborations to address complex questions in infectious diseases, with a strong emphasis on transatlantic partnerships. My work has contributed to sustained scientific exchanges between Europe and Latin America, particularly through collaborative programs on tuberculosis and TB–HIV co-infection. These efforts aim not only to advance research but also to create training opportunities, promote mobility of young scientists, and build long-term collaborative networks.
Within my institution, I contribute to the scientific and training environment through mentorship, collaborative project development, and participation in collective research dynamics. I am committed to fostering a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment that promotes interdisciplinarity, diversity, and scientific excellence. Beyond the laboratory, I engage in initiatives that strengthen community building, training programs, and the integration of early-career researchers into the scientific ecosystem.
🔽 Extramural Grants and Research Contracts
🔽 Extramural Grants and Research Contracts
Defining the Pulmonary Neuroimmune Niche in Tuberculosis (NINe-TB)
Funding agency: Agence nationale de recherche sur le sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS)
Grant ID: ECTZ385779
Duration: 2026–2029
Funding amount: €363,211
Partners: IPBS/CNRS (Dr. Vérollet)
Role and responsibilities: Principal Investigator (PI).
Theme and content: This project investigates the lung neuroimmune niche emerging during TB infection, with particular emphasis on Schwann cells and nerve-associated macrophages. The program integrates advanced imaging, spatial transcriptomics, and functional immunology to determine how neural-associated stromal components regulate immunity within granulomas.
Significance and impact: The project aims to define a previously unexplored neuro–immune regulatory axis in TB, potentially identifying new host-directed therapeutic targets and expanding the conceptual framework of TB pathogenesis beyond classical immune-cell-centric paradigms.
Characterization, Origin, and Function of a Novel Population of Pulmonary Neuronal Cells in Tuberculous Granulomas (Neuro-TB)
Funding agency: Agence nationale de recherche sur le sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS)
Grant ID: ECTZ293306
Duration: 2025–2028
Funding amount: €208,008
Partners: IPBS/CNRS (Dr. Vérollet)
Role and responsibilities: Work Package Manager.
Theme and content: This project investigates the identity and function of TUBB3⁺ stromal cells emerging within TB granulomas, combining histology, spatial transcriptomics, and functional studies in mouse models.
Significance and impact: The work contributes to defining novel stromal and neuro-associated cellular components of the TB granuloma, providing a mechanistic foundation for understanding tissue-level regulation of immunity during infection.
Understanding Cell-to-Cell Transfer of HIV-1 Toward Activated Macrophages: A Perspective for HIV/Tuberculosis Co-Infection
Funding agency: Agence nationale de recherche sur le sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS)
Grant ID: ECT278855
Duration: 2023–2026
Funding amount: €210,000
Partners: IPBS/CNRS (Dr. Vérollet)
Role and responsibilities: Work Package Manager.
Theme and content: This project examines how TB-associated microenvironments enhance macrophage susceptibility to HIV-1 infection, focusing on metabolic reprogramming, intercellular communication, and tunneling nanotube formation.
Significance and impact: The work provides mechanistic insight into TB-driven exacerbation of HIV infection, contributing to the development of host-directed therapeutic strategies targeting macrophage metabolic pathways.
Characterization of Novel Pulmonary Neuron-Like Cells in Tuberculous Granulomas
Funding agency: Agence nationale de recherche sur le sida et les hépatites virales (ANRS)
Call: AO 2023-2 CSS11
Duration: 2023–2024
Funding amount: €19,991
Partners: IPBS/CNRS (Dr. Vérollet)
Role and responsibilities: Work Package Manager.
Theme and content: This exploratory project provided initial funding to investigate the presence of TUBB3⁺ neuron-like stromal cells within TB granulomas, integrating histological analyses and early spatial transcriptomic approaches.
Significance and impact: The results generated the preliminary data supporting larger ANRS-funded projects on neuroimmune niches, establishing the basis for subsequent research programs on tissue niche biology in TB.
Organoids4TB: Development of a Multi-Organoid Chip-Based Model for Screening Candidate TB Vaccines and Therapies
Funding agency: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (TissUse GmbH consortium)
Duration: 2022–2025; 9-month extension until September 31st, 2026
Funding amount: €217,000
Partners: IPBS/CNRS (Dr. Céline Cougoule) and TissUse GmbH (Germany).
Role and responsibilities: Work Package Manager.
Theme and content: This project develops human lung organoid and multi-organ chip platforms to model TB infection and evaluate candidate vaccines and host-directed therapies.
Significance and impact: The work contributes to the development of human-relevant experimental systems for TB research, reducing reliance on animal models and accelerating translational evaluation of therapeutic strategies.
How Does Mycobacterium tuberculosis Exacerbate HIV-1 Infection? Role of Macrophage Metabolism
Funding agency: Sidaction
Grant ID: AAP33-2_13457
Duration: 2022–2025
Funding amount: €122,000
Partners: IPBS/CNRS (Dr. Vérollet)
Role and responsibilities: Work Package Manager.
Theme and content: The project investigates how TB-induced metabolic rewiring of macrophages facilitates HIV-1 infection and dissemination, integrating immunometabolic analyses and functional infection models.
Significance and impact: The work advances understanding of metabolic determinants of TB–HIV co-infection, informing potential host-directed therapeutic strategies.
MAC-TB/HIV: Understanding How TB-Associated Microenvironments Increase Susceptibility to HIV-1 Infection
Funding agency: CNRS – International Research Project (IRP)
Duration: 2021–2025
Funding amount: €75,000
Partners: IPBS/CNRS (Dr. Vérollet) and INBIRS/University of Buenos Aires (Dr. Balboa)
Role and responsibilities: Principal Investigator.
Theme and content: The project investigates how TB-induced metabolic rewiring of macrophages facilitates HIV-1 infection and dissemination, integrating immunometabolic analyses and functional infection models.
Significance and impact: The work advances understanding of metabolic determinants of TB–HIV co-infection, informing potential host-directed therapeutic strategies.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Tuberculosis-Mediated Exacerbation of HIV-1 Infection
Funding agency: Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida et les Hépatites Virales (ANRS)
Duration: 2020–2023
Funding amount: €265,842
Partners: IPBS/CNRS (France) and Inserm teams studying macrophage cytoskeleton dynamics.
Role and responsibilities: Co-Principal Investigator.
Theme and content: This project examined the roles of Siglec-1 and tunneling nanotubes in macrophage-mediated HIV-1 dissemination during tuberculosis infection.
Significance and impact: The work contributed to identifying cellular communication pathways facilitating viral spread in TB-HIV co-infection, highlighting new therapeutic targets.
Role of the microbiome in the macrophage response to M. tuberculosis: research program to integrate microbiota, metabolism, and Immunity (MMI-TB)
Funding agency: Agence Nationale de la Recherches (ANR)– Jeunes Chercheuses / Jeunes Chercheurs (JC/JC)
Duration: 2015–2018
Funding amount: €256,308
Role and responsibilities: Principal Investigator.
Weblink: https://anr.fr/Projet-ANR-15-CE15-0012
Theme and content: This project examined the role of resident lung microbiota strains in harnessing the local immune system during tuberculosis infection.
Significance and impact: This work provides experimental evidence that specific members of the lung microbiota can actively regulate local immune homeostasis and modulate inflammatory responses during chronic lung infection. By identifying airway commensal bacteria as key regulators of host–pathogen interactions, this study opens new perspectives for microbiota-based or host-directed strategies to limit immunopathology in tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases.
🔽 Data Sharing, Management, and Publication
🔽 Data Sharing, Management, and Publication
As part of my responsibilities as a DR2, I actively promote open science and responsible data management practices in my research. Datasets generated by my group, including transcriptomic, spatial omics, imaging, and lipidomic data, are curated and documented in accordance with FAIR principles and CNRS open science policies. When appropriate, datasets are deposited in discipline-specific repositories (e.g., GEO, MetaboLights) and linked to publications through data availability statements and supplementary materials. In addition, our manuscripts are routinely disseminated through preprint platforms such as bioRxiv, and final versions are systematically archived in the HAL open repository, ensuring long-term accessibility in line with French national open science policies.
I also prioritize publishing in open-access journals whenever possible, and when funding allows, we cover article processing charges to ensure immediate open access. Otherwise, we ensure that author manuscripts are made publicly available through PubMed Central (PMC) and HAL. To further increase the visibility and accessibility of our work, publications, and associated outputs, we also share them through ResearchGate and other academic networking platforms. Within my group and collaborations, I oversee the implementation of data management plans in funded projects and train students and postdoctoral researchers in best practices for data organization, documentation, and data sharing, thereby promoting transparency, reproducibility, and long-term preservation of research outputs.
🔽 Expertise and Consultancy
🔽 Expertise and Consultancy
PhD DEFENSE JURY: EXAMINER/REVIEWER
1) Louise Simonnet, PhD candidate, Microbes, Évolution, Phylogénie et Infection (MEPHI) – AMU UMR D-258, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France (2020-2024)
Team leader and supervisor: Dr. Jean-Louis Mege
Thesis title: “Macrophage Characterization: The Tongue as a Model.”
Date of Defense: 6th of May 2024
(2) Marie Woottum, PhD candidate, Institut Cochin - INSERM U1016 - CNRS UMR8104, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France (2020-2024)
Team leader and supervisor: Dr. Serge Benichou
Thesis title: “Characterization of cellular and virological factors modulating HIV-1 cell-to-cell spreading in macrophages.”
Date of Defense: 15th of November 2024
PhD THESIS COMMITTEE MEMBER IN FRANCE
(1) Mohamad Alaeddine, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, UMR 152, Université IRD, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Agnès Coste and Bernard Pipy
First audition: 17 January 2014
Second audition: 22 January 2012
(2) Delphine Boulet, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, CPTP Toulouse Purpan U1043 INSERM-UMR 5282 CNRS, Toulouse
Team leader and supervisor: Dr. Sylvie Guerder
First audition: 17 March 2015
Second audition: 31 March 2016
(3) Melissa Prat, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, UMR 152, Université IRD, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Agnès Coste and Bettina Couderc
First audition: 2 February 2016
Second audition: 8 February 2017
(4) Anna Salvioni, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, CPTP Toulouse Purpan U1043 INSERM-UMR 5282 CNRS, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Nicolas Blanchard and Ellen Robey
First audition: 4 January 2016
Second audition: 23 February 2017
(5) Mehdi Benamar, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, CPTP Toulouse Purpan U1043 INSERM-UMR 5282 CNRS, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Abdelhadi Saoudi and Renaud Lesourne
First audition: 15 December 2016
Second audition: 23 January 2018
(6) Jérémy Santamaria, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, CPTP Toulouse Purpan U1043 INSERM-UMR 5282 CNRS, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Adoue Valerie and Romagnoli Paola
First audition: 3 May 2018
Second audition: 24 June 2019
(7) Cui Yang, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, CPTP Toulouse Purpan U1043 INSERM-UMR 5282 CNRS, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Renaud Lesourne and Hélène Daniels-Traffandier
First audition: 11 March 2019
Second audition: 13 March 2020
(8) Rémi Marrocco, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, CPTP Toulouse Purpan U1043 INSERM-UMR 5282 CNRS, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Dr. Abdelhadi Saoudi
First audition: 27 January 2020
Second audition: 10 March 2021
(9) Fanny Martinez, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, CPTP Toulouse Purpan U1043 INSERM-UMR 5282 CNRS, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Nicolas Fazilleau and Meryem Aloulou
First audition: 20 January 2021
Second audition: not available
(10) Clément Blot, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, RESTORE UMR 1301-Inserm 2070 CNRS, EFS, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Agnès Coste and Lise Lefèvre
First audition: 2 March 2021
Second audition: not available
(11) Ali Sanouj, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé-Biotechnologies » Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, RESTORE UMR 1301-Inserm 2070 CNRS, EFS, CIRIMAT, Toulouse
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Agnès Coste and Sophie Fullana Girod
First audition: 1 December 2023
Second audition: 25 September 2024
Third audition: 21 September 2025
(12) Joan Fine, PhD candidate, École doctorale « Biologie-Santé » de Lille (EDBSL), Université de Lille, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille INSERM U1019 - CNRS 9017 - Institut Pasteur de Lille CGIM team (Chemical Genomics of Intracellular Mycobacteria) & I2M (Influenza, Immunity and Metabolism)
Supervisor and Co-supervisor: Drs. Arnaud MACHELART and François TROTTEIN
First audition: 4 October 2024
Second audition: 28 October 2025
PhD THESIS COMMITTEE MEMBER INTERNATIONALLY
(1) Jose Luis Marin-Franco, PhD candidate, laboratory of Dr. Maria del Carmen Sasiain, supervisor Dr.Luciana Balboa, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IMEX), University of Buenos Aires, CONICET, Argentina (2017- present)
(2) Monica Alejandra Valtierra-Alvarado, PhD candidate, laboratory of Dr. Jose Antonio Enciso-Moreno, supervisor Dr. Carmen Serrano, Unidad de Investigación Biomedica de Zacatecas, Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Mexico (2018-present)
EDITORIAL AND REVIEWER ROLES
2016 — present Associate Editor – Frontiers in Immunology
2016 — present Associate Editor – Frontiers in Microbiology
2024 — 2025 Associate Editor – Microbes and Infection
2012 — present Review editor – Frontiers in Immunology (Molecular Innate Immunity)
2025 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – eBiomedicine
2020 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – Nat. Immunol, Nat. Microbiol, Nat. Comm.
2020 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – EMBO Press: EMBO J., EMBO Reports
2020 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – Elife
2020 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – Retrovirology
2019 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (The Blue)
2016 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – Journal of Immunology
2016 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – Infection and Immunity
2015 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – Scientific Reports
2012 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – Frontiers in Cellular/Infection Microbiology
2012 — present Frequent Invited Reviewer – PLOS ONE, PLOS PATHOGENS
GRANT EVALUATION
2025 — present Reviewer, Health Research Board (HRB), Ireland.
2025 — present Expert, Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR), France 2030, France.
2025 — present Expert, Institut de Recherche en Santé Respiratoire (IRSR), France.
2024 — present Reviewer, Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR), France.
2020 — present Reviewer, Crick African Network, Africa
2016 — present Reviewer, Fondo Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCYT), Argentina
2016 — present Reviewer, ABIES Doctoral School, 2018, AgroParisTech, France
2015 — 2020 National Science Centre, Review Grant Proposal, Poland
🔽 Technological Transfer, Industrial Relations and Valorization
🔽 Technological Transfer, Industrial Relations and Valorization
Industrial Contracts and Collaborations:
Development of a Human Multi-Organ Chip to Evaluate TB Vaccines
Duration: 2023–present
Industrial Partner: TissUse GmbH (Germany)
Funding: Collaborative research project supported by international partners and private foundation funding (Gates Foundation-supported consortium activities): EUR 217,000
Role: Work Package Manager
Summary: To overcome limitations of conventional in vitro and animal models in TB research, we established a collaboration with TissUse GmbH to develop a human multi-organ-on-chip microphysiological platform integrating vascularized lung, liver, and lymph node compartments. This system is designed to reproduce key aspects of human immune responses to airborne Mtb infection, enabling the simultaneous study of infection dynamics, antigen presentation, and adaptive immune activation. The lung module supports Mtb infection, the lymph node compartment enables T-cell priming and vaccine-induced immune responses, and the liver compartment contributes to metabolic homeostasis and long-term stability of the system. Within this framework, we are currently evaluating candidate anti-TB vaccines provided by consortium partners and comparing their ability to induce protective immune responses against Mtb infection with that of the reference Bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccine (BCG).
Significance and Impact: This project aims to establish the first human multi-organ microphysiological platform capable of modeling TB infection and vaccine-induced immunity in a controlled, human-relevant system. By enabling comparative preclinical testing of novel TB vaccines, this technology offers a promising alternative to animal models and supports the development of next-generation vaccination strategies. The work is ongoing and is expected to result in a peer-reviewed research publication (anticipated in 2027).
PATENT
Development of a Microbiota-Based Therapeutic Strategy to Limit Lung Inflammation in TB
Patent: PCT WO2020201145A1
Inventors: L. Bernard-Raichon, T. Molle, A. Remot, P. Langella, O. Neyrolles, G. Lugo-Villarino
Funding: Young Investigator JC/JC award, ANR (ANR-15-CE15-0012): EUR 265,842
Role: Principal Investigator, co-inventor, and contributor to the experimental discovery and translational development of the patented concept.
Summary: This patent emerged from our discovery that the pulmonary commensal bacterium Lactobacillus murinus CNCM I-5314, isolated from neonatal mouse lungs and deposited in the French National Collection of Microorganism Cultures (CNCM), exerts a strong immunomodulatory effect in the respiratory tract. Our work demonstrated that intranasal administration of this strain promotes a balanced immune response in the lung, characterized by expansion of Th17 cells and RORγt⁺regulatory T cells, while simultaneously limiting the recruitment of inflammatory monocytes and reducing tissue-damaging inflammation during Mtb infection. Importantly, this protective immunoregulation occurs without increasing bacterial burden, indicating that the bacterium modulates host immunity rather than compromising antimicrobial defense.
Challenges and Development: A key challenge was demonstrating that a lung-resident commensal microorganism could be harnessed therapeutically without exacerbating infection. Through a combination of microbiological isolation, in vivo infection models, and immunological characterization, we established that the pulmonary microbiota can be leveraged as next-generation probiotics to restore immune homeostasis in the respiratory tract.
Impact: This patent provides a translational framework for microbiota-based therapeutic strategies targeting inflammatory respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It illustrates how fundamental discoveries about host–microbiota interactions in the lung can lead to innovative interventions to control infection-associated immunopathology while preserving antimicrobial immunity.
INVENTOR LICENSE
Name of mouse model: “TRUC mice” Tbx21-/-.Rag2-/- (BALB/c) mice
Use: spontaneous ulcerative colitis and for host-commensal relations at the mucosal surface.
Case number: 6663
Inventors: G. Lugo-Villarino AND Laurie H. Glimcher
Weblink: TRUC MICE @Harvard
Role: Principal Investigator and co-inventor.
Summary: The TRUC mouse model demonstrated that innate immune dysregulation alone can drive chronic intestinal inflammation in a microbiota-dependent and transmissible manner. This model established a direct functional link between host genetics, innate immunity, and microbial communities in inflammatory disease.
Challenges and Development: This work addressed the challenge of isolating innate immune contributions to chronic inflammation by combining targeted genetic models with controlled microbial environments. It revealed that loss of T-bet in innate immune cells alters host–microbiota interactions and drives pathogenic inflammatory circuits.
Impact: The TRUC model redefined understanding of inflammatory disease by highlighting microbiota-driven and innate immune–mediated mechanisms, and has informed the development of microbiota-based and host-directed therapeutic strategies with translational potential.
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