Jean-Marc Ghigo

  BACTERIAL STRUCTURES PROMOTING BIOFILM FORMATION   Commensal and pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli produce various surface structures promoting their interaction with living or inert surfaces. We are particularly interested in identifying E. coli adhesins that are […]

• Bacterial Interactions in in vitro Biofilms Although competitive interactions between bacteria (bacterial interference) are likely to represent a key aspect of many infectious processes, the nature of these interactions within mixed biofilm communities […]

We are interested in deciphering the relationships that link gut microbiota with the immune system and the brain. So far, the mechanisms underlying these interplay, and most importantly their consequences, remain largely unknown. Therefore […]

    IDENTIFICATION OF BIOFILM-SPECIFIC MOLECULES    Specific metabolic changes occurring during biofilm formation were hypothesized to lead to the production of biofilm-associated molecules and biofilm-specific functions. The  identification of biofilm-specific metabolites could reveal new aspects of biofilm […]

BIOFILM-ASOCIATED TOLERANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS    One of the  of the hallmarks of biofilm physiology is its tolerance to a high level of antimicrobials. We are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms that lead to this transient […]

Bacteria produce hundreds of volatile compounds, important for the crafting of microbe-based foods like wine, beer, or cheese. Although  the odorant chemicals emitted by bacteria were rarely characterized in the context of bacteria-bacteria or bacteria-host […]

   Bacteria produce and release into their headspace a wide variety of volatile secondary metabolites. However, While detection and quantification of these volatiles as attractive or repellent odors and aromas are of great interest in food and cosmetic […]

 Biofilm formation on medical devices is associated with hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections. Due to biofilms’ high tolerance to antibiotics, classical treatments lack efficacy, and removal of the biofilm-contaminated device is often the only therapeutic option. […]

In collaboration with physico-chemists and biophysicists, we use multidisciplinary approaches to investigate bacterial adaptation to surface contact and biomechanical properties of adhesins.

We originally developed genetic tools to study adhesion and biofilm formation in commensal and pathogenic E. coli species. These tools are made freely available to the scientific community upon request.• pKOBEG Lambda Red plasmidsBased […]

We developed a clinically relevant in vivo model of catheter-associated biofilm infections to design new and efficient biofilm-eradication approaches applicable to contaminated totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP) catheters.   Key publication• Chauhan, A., D. Lebeaux, B. Decante, I. Kriegel, M.C. […]

We designed a continuous-flow culture system in which biofilm formation can be reproducibly monitored and controlled in microfermentors handled at flow-rates avoiding accumulation of planktonic bacteria. This model is suited for biofilm macroscopic analysis, […]