ATIP-avenir Team – Bacterial RNA biology

BacRB – Bacterial RNA Biology

Our team focuses on the mechanism of regulation of type I toxin-antitoxin systems from pathogenic bacteria. These systems are composed of an antibacterial toxin and a complementary small RNA antitoxin that can prevent the translation of the toxin coding mRNA. Due to their killing activity, the production of these toxins is tightly regulated by the bacteria. We aim at understanding the regulation mechanisms and activation pathways of type I toxin-antitoxin systems. Indeed, this precise characterization is crucial to ultimately hijack these systems for the development of novel antibiotic strategies. To this end, we are using a recent technique, a genetic screen combined with deep-sequencing. Compared to traditional antibiotics, the activation of type I toxin-antitoxin systems is a targeted strategy which would not affect the commensal flora, thus hindering the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

Topics :

• Identification of novel toxin-antitoxin systems in bacterial pathogens
• Post-transcriptional regulation
• Maturation of bacterial RNA 5′ et 3′ ends
• Characterization of toxin-antitoxin activation pathways

Approaches :

• Molecular microbiology
• Bacterial genetics
• Biochemistry
• Next-generation sequencing