The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (INRAe) is a public research establishment. It is a community of 12,000 people with more than 200 research units and 42 experimental units located throughout France. The institute is among the world leaders in agricultural and food sciences, in plant and animal sciences, and is 11th in the world in ecology and environment. INRAe’s main goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. In the face of the increase in population, climate change, scarcity of resources and decline in biodiversity, the institute develops solutions for multiperformance agriculture, high quality food and sustainable management of resources and ecosystems.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND ACTIVITIES
You will be welcomed in the Virology Joined Research Unit (UMR Virologie 1161) managed by INRAe
(French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment), ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety) and ENVA (National veterinary school of Alfort) that is located at the veterinary school at Maisons-Alfort, close to Paris (Metro line 8). This unit is composed of six research groups studying several viruses of importance for animal and/or human health. One of the main objectives of the unit is to better understand virus/host interactions at the molecular and cellular level and to identify factors contributing to interspecies transmission of these viruses of interest.
A 2-year postdoctoral fellowship funded by the National Agency for AIDS and viral hepatitis Research
(ANRS) – Emerging Infectious Diseases (MIE) is available within the « Enteric Viruses and Species Barrier » team that studies two viral families causing emerging zoonosis: hepatitis E viruses (HEV) and coronaviruses (CoV). The group investigates particularly the reservoirs (domestic and wild fauna) and the routes of transmission (foodborne and environmental) of these zoonotic viruses. An important objective is also to characterise the interactions between these viruses and the innate immune system and to identify virulence factors involved in species barrier crossing. The team is funded by projects from the National Agency for Research (ANR) (EPICOREM and HEVISTAR), the ANRS and European projects (PREDEMICS and CoVetLab projects).
You will be hired as a post-doc to work on a research project funded by the ANRS-MIE. The main objective is to characterise the interferon (IFN) response triggered by HEV in human hepatocytes. To perform this study, a model of infection in HepaRG cells that has been characterised in the lab will be used (Pellerin et al, 2021). This human bipotent progenitor cell line is able to differentiate into both biliary and hepatocyte- like cells and is relevant model to study interactions between hepatotropic viruses and the innate immune system. The project aims to identify and characterise cellular effectors of the IFN response that are expressed in HEV-infected cells and have antiviral activity against HEV infection. You will also investigate whether the antiviral activity of these cellular effectors is conserved between strictly human and zoonotic HEV genotypes. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the host and viral factors that play a role in the pathogenesis associated with HEV infection and the barrier species crossing of the virus. This could lead to the identification of new prevention and control strategies. This project will be conducted in collaboration with the team of Dr. David Durantel (HepVir; Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI)-University of Lyon) who is an expert on interactions between hepatotropic viruses and the innate immune system in hepatocytes and the HepaRG model.
You will use molecular and cellular biology techniques such as qRT-PCR, PCR arrays, cell culture, gene
silencing, lentiviral expression system, viral infections, immunofluorescence, HEV replicon system and
immunoblotting.
You will be in charge of:
– Designing, optimising and implementing the techniques required for the project.
– Processing and analysing samples from in vitro experiments.
– Scientific and technological monitoring.
– Data analysis (result analysis, interpretation and validation) using appropriate software.
– Promoting and communicating the results of this project in English by writing scientific papers and
presenting oral communications.
Special conditions of activity: Work in biosafety level 2 and 3 laboratories.
INRAE’S LIFE QUALITY
By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract):
– until 30 days of annual leave + 15 days « Reduction of Working Time » (for a full time);
– parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
– skills development systems: training, career advise;
– social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
– holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
– sports and cultural activities;
– collective catering.
TRAINING AND SKILLS REQUIRED
Required training: PhD in biological sciences
Knowledge required: Cellular biology, virology, biochemistry, molecular biology and laboratory biosafety regulations.
Appreciated experience: Expertise in cellular biology, molecular biology, virology, immunology and
dedicated software.
Skills sought: Motivation, rigour, excellent communication skills to interact with multiple persons,
planning skills, ability to adapt easily to new environment and to act independently and take initiatives.
Reception modalities
Unit: UMR Virologie 1161
Postal code + city: 94700 Maisons-Alfort
Type of contract: CDD
Duration of the contract: 24 months
Starting date: May/June 2022
Remuneration: ≥ 2516.40 euros gross/month (depending on experience)
How to apply
Send a motivation letter end a CV to : Virginie Doceul: virginie.doceul@vet-alfort.fr
Par postal way: UMR Virologie 1161 INRAE-ANSES-ENVA
Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort
Bâtiment Bressou
7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle
94700 MAISONS-ALFORT
FRANCE
Deadline for applications: 07/03/2022
