Laurent Abi-RachedMicrobes evolution phylogeny and infections (MEPHI) - Aix-Marseille Université / IRD / APHM / IHU-Méditerranée Infection
Mes recherches
My research relies on evolutionary and functional genomics to tackle the question of the molecular basis for the immune differences between individuals and species against infectious diseases. Following a PhD thesis (1998-2001) on the study of the emergence of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates, I joined the laboratory of Peter Parham at Stanford (USA), first as a post-doctoral researcher (2001-2006) then as a research associate (2006-2011). During that time, my research focused on the emergence and diversification in primates of the variable Natural Killer cell receptors and their equally plastic Major Histocompatibility Complex ligands. In 2012, I received an ATIP-Avenir fellowship and was recruited by CNRS as a Research Scientist (CR1) to work on novel approaches to reconstruct the evolution and diversity of the immune system in vertebrates. That research was first developed in the ‘Institut de Mathématiques de Marseille (I2M)’ from 2012-2014 and then in IHU-Méditerranée Infection (2014-present) and led in particular to the isolation of two multigenic families of immune receptors displaying extreme levels of plasticity in primates and in humans. As a consequence of this, my current research focuses on the functional consequences for human health of the extreme plasticity of these two immune gene families.
Mon projet ATIP-Avenir
Genome-Wide Reconstruction of the Evolution of the Immune System in Vertebrates and Redefinition of Immune Relatedness to Develop Novel Approaches to Control Pathogenic Threats
The proposed research aims to understand the principles underlying the evolution of vertebrate immune systems and their co-evolution with pathogens, and to use this knowledge to develop novel approaches to control pathogenic threats. This approach of using evolutionary biology to benefit medical research relies on the fact that immune systems have to adapt to shifting pathogenic environments to ensure long term survival of species. Characterization of the molecular basis for these adaptations then provides control strategies for naïve species. Both fundamental and medically-oriented aspects of the immune system will be explored through two major aims: an exploration of the immune specializations that accompanied major evolutionary transitions and a reevaluation of immunological relatedness using evolutionary approaches. These two aims will uncover novel data about the function of our immune system genes, fundamental data regarding the conservation of human immune molecules in other species, and data on the immune adaptations that occurred in species that are reservoir hosts for disease-causing pathogens in human. By characterizing ‘natural’ strategies to reduce or eliminate pathogenicity, these data will have potential to benefit medical research and human health. These two aims will be analytical at first but the findings will be confirmed and extended experimentally for genes with unusual or interesting pattern of diversification and evolution.