HEADLINE

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, February 11th, we celebrate the essential contribution of women across all scientific research professions. This UN-established day aims to promote gender equality in scientific fields and inspire future generations.
We invite you to discover on our social media the inspiring portraits of 7 exceptional women from the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy: researchers, engineers, technicians, and support staff. Through their careers, expertise, and commitments, they illustrate the excellence and diversity of essential professions in immunology research. Each one, in their field, contributes daily to the success of our scientific missions. Join us on our BlueSky and LinkedIn accounts to discover these portraits that highlight their passion and expertise!

(30) CIML : posts | LinkedIn Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (@ciml.bsky.social) — Bluesky

women

 

A Major Discovery on the Persistence of Bacterial Infections

Marseille Researchers Identify a New Bacterial Escape Mechanism

A team of researchers from the Centre for Immunology of Marseille-Luminy (CIML, Inserm U1104 and UMR7280) has just made a major discovery that could revolutionize the treatment of chronic bacterial infections. Sylvie Mémet, CRHC CE Inserm, Jean-Pierre Gorvel, DR1 CE CNRS, and their collaborators have uncovered a novel mechanism explaining how an intracellular bacterium manages to hide in the organism for long periods and thus escape the immune system.
At the heart of this discovery is the omentum, a tertiary lymphoid organ located in the abdominal adipose tissue. The researchers discovered that this organ serves as a refuge for the bacterium Brucella abortus, responsible for brucellosis, a serious disease affecting both animals and humans.
"We have identified a complex mechanism where the bacterium actively manipulates its immune environment," explains Sylvie Mémet, who co-directed the study with Jean-Pierre Gorvel. "The bacterium triggers the accumulation in the omentum, lasting into the chronic phase of infection, of particular immune cells called PD-L1+Sca-1+ myeloid cells, which, instead of fighting it, create an environment conducive to its survival." This cellular accumulation is maintained by a specific component of a bacterial surface molecule (LPS).
The team discovered that these cells produce an immunosuppressive molecule called IL-1RA, which inhibits the normal immune response. This mechanism is triggered by the LPS of Brucella abortus, which has a unique structure that distinguishes it from that of other bacteria like E. coli. The researchers also observed that this phenomenon is accompanied by the appearance of particular T lymphocytes, bearing PD-1 and LAG-3 markers, which are inhibited in their function.
Remarkably, these observations made in mice are echoed in humans: patients with brucellosis show elevated levels of IL-1RA and GM-CSF in their blood, as well as increased expression of PD-L1 and LAG-3 genes.
This discovery opens promising therapeutic perspectives. "By specifically targeting PD-L1, Sca-1, or IL-1RA molecules, we could develop new strategies to combat not only brucellosis but potentially other chronic bacterial infections," the researchers emphasize. These results could even have implications in other fields, such as cancer immunotherapy.

Brucella abortus impairs T lymphocyte responsiveness by mobilizing IL-1RA-secreting omental neutrophils | Nature Communications

s

Groundbreaking Immunologists Bernard Malissen and Eric Vivier Recognized as Highly Cited Researchers

CIML is proud to announce the exceptional recognition of two outstanding French immunologists, Bernard Malissen and Eric Vivier, who have been honored as Highly Cited Researchers. This prestigious distinction celebrates their extraordinary scientific contributions and remarkable impact in the field of immunology.The Highly Cited Researchers program identifies scientists whose groundbreaking research has substantially influenced their academic disciplines. Selected from a rigorous global evaluation, Bernard Malissen and Eric Vivier have demonstrated scientific excellence, with research papers ranking in the top 1% of citations in their field over the past decade.

Highly Cited Researchers | Clarivate

ev

A major discovery opens new perspectives in understanding the immune system.

Researchers from the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (CIML) have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are essential players in controlling our immune system. This discovery could have important implications for the treatment of various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The team led by Dr. Magali Irla identified a new checkpoint that regulates the development of Tregs in the thymus, a crucial organ for the production of T lymphocytes, key players in our immune system. A molecule called lymphotoxin (LTα1β2) plays an unexpected role in limiting the production of these Treg cells. This inhibitory mechanism involves another molecule, interleukin-4 (IL-4), produced by thymic epithelial cells. This discovery helps us better understand how our body maintains a delicate immune balance. Treg cells are essential to prevent autoimmune reactions, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's healthy tissues.
Dr. Magali Irla, the study's author, explains: "Our discovery reveals a new natural 'brake' in the development of Treg cells. Understanding this mechanism could help us develop new therapies for diseases where the immune system is dysregulated, such as multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, type 1 diabetes or certain forms of arthritis." Researchers will now explore how this knowledge can be applied to develop new treatments. They hope that this discovery will pave the way for more targeted and effective therapies for certain autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, with potentially fewer side effects than current treatments.
This study, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, once again underscores the importance of fundamental research in improving our understanding of the human body and, ultimately, our health.

Inserm National Press Release

 

Events

Kim JACOBSON - Monash University, Clayton, AUS
Host : Mauro GAYA

Steeve BOULANT, University of Florida, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Gainsville, USA
Host : Achille BROGGI

 

Nelson GEKARA - Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Freiburg, DEU
Host : Achille BROGGI

News

CIML is proud to announce the exceptional recognition of two outstanding French immunologists, Bernard Malissen and Eric Vivier, who have been honored as Highly Cited Researchers…

Researchers from the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy (CIML) have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the development of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are essential…

Researchers from the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), led by Dr. Achille Broggi, have uncovered a key mechanism that slows tissue repair in the intestines during…

What is Immunology

At the crossroads of biology and medicine, immunology is a scientific discipline that focuses on the operating mechanisms of the immune system. Appeared early in the evolution, this system enables living organisms to defend themselves against pathogens or their own components when they are altered. It involves a large number of cells whose capacity for cooperation, recognition and memory are far from having revealed all their secrets.

Publications

Santamaria JC, et al., Science Translational Medicine, , 16, PMID: 39630886
Rebuffet L et al., Nat.Immunol, , PMID: 38956378
Da Mesquita S. et al., Trends Immunology, , 45, 346-357, PMID: 38632001
Vivier E et al., Nature., , PMID: 38383621
Narni-Mancinelli E et al., Immunity, , PMID: 38198854
Fenis A et al., Nat Rev Immunol., , PMID: 38273127

CIML ERC GRANTS

ERC "Advanced Grants"
Bernard Malissen – 2018 – Basilic Projet
Michael Sieweke – 2016 – Macrophage Aging and Rejuvenation
Eric Vivier – 2016 – Targeting  Innate Lymphoid Cells
Bernard Malissen – 2012 – Integrative biology of T cells and dendritic cells in vivo
Eric Vivier – 2010 – The Immune Function of Natural Killer
ERC "Consolidator Grants"
Sophie Ugolini – 2014 – Neural regulation of immunity
Marc Bajénoff – 2014 – Immunobiology of lymphoid stromal cells
ERC "Starting Grants"
Mauro Gaya - 2022 - Outlining the role of IgA in Memory Instruction
Réjane Rua - 2020 - Spatiotemporal control of neuroinfection by meningeal macrophages
Marc Dalod – 2011 – Harnessing systems immunology to unravel dendritic cell subset biology
Toby Lawrence - 2010 – Targeting tumor associated macrophages in Cancer
ERC "Proof of Concept (PoC) Grant"
Eric Vivier - 2019 - MInfla-TilcERC
ERC "Synergy Grant"
Eric Vivier - 2023 - Immunotherapy of liver metastases

Vidéos

Discover our close-ups and our video archives.