Organisation profile

Every living organism, from bacteria to plants and humans, is expected to harbor several viruses. These obligate cellular parasites arguably represent one of the most diverse biological entities known to us. Thanks to high-throughput sequencing in the last decade, the number of new viruses discovered has skyrocketed. However, very little is known about these viruses' transmission, evolution, and impact (i.e., their ecology) and how most viruses interact with their host.

Our group focuses on RNA viruses infecting eukaryotes, from unicellular organisms to whales. While we work on a wide range of hosts, we have a special place in our hearts for insects (including mosquitoes). Using an integrated combination of "wet" (experimental evolution, fieldwork, high-throughput sequencing) and "dry" (bioinformatics, phylodynamics, modeling, and simulations) approaches, we explore virus diversity and evolution across scales: from within- to between-hosts, from small transmission chains to epidemics and from deep to recent evolutionary processes.

Because viral evolution takes place at the same time scale as viral ecological processes, our work also uncovers elements of viral ecology: How do they spread? Where do they come from? What is their host range? What is their impact on their hosts? All critical pieces of information to understand and manage their impact on us, our domesticated animals and plants, our ecosystems, and even our biosphere.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 14 - Life Below Water
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

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