Philippe Grellier

Possui doutorado em Bioquímica pela Universidade de Poitiers (1990). , atuando principalmente nos seguintes temas: plamodio e trypanosoma. Actual position: Professor at the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), Associate Director of Department RDDM of MNHN, and Head of the team ?Adaptation of Protozoan to their Environment? (16 persons) of the UMR 5289 CNRS/MNHN and in charge of the MNHN Master. The general thematic of my group deals with the adaptation processes, both at the molecular and cellular level, of protozoa, free or parasitic, to their environment with the following objectives: the understanding of the mechanisms controlling the development of protozoa by identifying the key molecules and their regulation. In addition to the therapeutic interest that can emerge for the parasites, the identification of key molecules involved in vital processes allows the search for orthologs in other organisms, and therefore the comprehension and the comparison of their biological roles in organisms that are phylogenetically more or less close, illustrating thereby different evolutionary contexts. The acquisition of post-genomic analysis methodologies during the last years (transcriptomic, proteomic, inverse genetics...) allows us to propose an integrative approach at the interface between chemistry and biology, from the comprehension of the adaptative processes via the definition of their molecular basis to the functional analysis of the genes of interest and of their products. Our main models are the parasitic protozoa Plasmodium, belonging to the family of the Apicomlexa and responsible for malaria, and Trypanosoma, belonging to the Kinetoplastida and responsible for sleeping sickness and Chagas? disease. Other Apicomplexa, such as Gregarina as well as free ciliates are studied as well. Main research interests: - Molecular and evolutionary aspects of parasitic morphogenesis and differentiation, with a focus on Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. - Definition of new chemotherapeutic targets and synthesis of specific inhibitors. - Research of new anti-parasite drugs or substances reversing parasite resistance derived from traditional medicine (ethnopharmcology, natural products). - Molecular cross-talk between bacteria and protozoa: intestinal bacteria?Giardia, cyanobacteria-ciliates.

doctorate at Bioquímica from Universidade de Poitiers (1990). , acting on the following subjects: plamodio and trypanosoma.