The Virology Department of the Institut Pasteur (Paris, France) held its biennial Jourńees D́epartementales de Virologie (JDV) on May 13–15, 2024, in the seaside town of Le Touquet, France. This event brought together virologists across the department for a gathering of scientific exchange and collaboration. Placing young researchers in the spotlight, the meeting featured 25 talks, 31 posters, and a keynote address. In this meeting report, we aim to introduce the department, present its current activities, and communicate its vision.
The Institut Pasteur Virology Department
Established in 1888, the Institut Pasteur is a private, non-profit foundation built on four mission pillars—research, education, public health, and innovation. These are fulfilled through the involvement of committed people, internal dedicated teams (research teams, scientific departments, technological platforms, reference centres for infectious disease monitoring, and support services and facilities), the Pasteur Network of >30 institutes worldwide, and close cooperative ties with Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, and numerous international partners.
The Virology Department, directed by Jean-Pierre Vartanian, is one of 13 departments within the institute and is composed of 22 research teams. The department has been at the forefront of the fight against viral diseases through emergence prevention and transmission mitigation. The department, with a focus on major viral pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), actively contributes to tackle research on emerging viral diseases at the Institut Pasteur. In addition, the department hosts two National Reference Centres that conduct population surveillance of viral diseases, including haemorrhagic fevers and respiratory viral infections such as influenza and COVID-19, as well as a WHO Collaborating Centre for polioviruses and non-polio enteroviruses. The Virology Department is also extensively involved in education, participating in nine infectious disease courses and seven massive open online courses (MOOCs).
The breadth of research foci within the department (Figure 1) includes virus pathogenesis, dissemination and transmission, host population genetics and phylogeny, molecular and cellular mechanisms of the viral replication cycle, virus epidemiology, surveillance and control strategies, virus structural biology and evolution, and virus–host interactions. Our department sits at the cutting edge of fundamental research, providing discoveries that can be translated into solutions to address current viral threats to global public health.
Figure 1.
Overview of the Virology Department of the Institut Pasteur in July 2024. It briefly describes the scientific topics covered by the department and the virus families studied by the teams. Some key figures on organizational, human, and collaborative aspects are presented at the bottom of the figure, with emphasis on surveillance activities, collaboration with the Pasteur Network, and some original outputs of the department in terms of education, training, and ecological initiatives led by the laboratories. Illustrations were contributed by Bertsy Goic (http://www.drawinscience.fr).
Research
Research teams in the department perform discovery-driven fundamental research on a wide range of topics and viruses that can be classified into main research areas (Figure 1). However, the department's research is inherently interdisciplinary and continuously evolving. The following subsections outline the teams’ main goals and the research presented by their members at JDV2024. Works that were published at the moment of writing this report are cited.
Pathogenesis
Jean-Pierre Vartanian is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Virus and Cellular Stress team. This team (i) deciphers the mitochondrial network dysfunction caused by cellular stress (viral, genotoxic, oxidative, and hypoxic) and (ii) identifies sensing molecules leading to the production of interferon, using released mitochondrial DNA as a biomarker. Théo Defresne presented his work on the impact of mitochondrial network disruption following SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Omicron infections.
The Hepacivirus–Host Interactions team (PI: Annette Martin) links hepatitis C virus (HCV) strains and pathological disorders. Angeliki Anna Beka showed that Rattus norvegicus isolate 1 induces HCV-like pathology in rats, using this virus to successfully set up an animal model to study hepatitis-like disease.
The HIV, Inflammation, and Persistence team (PI: Michaela Müller-Trutwin) deciphers the mechanisms of protective immunity of natural killer (NK) cells to find novel immunotherapeutic strategies against viral diseases, with a primary focus on HIV. Aurelio Orta-Resendiz shed light on the role of unconventional CD8+ T cells in inflammation within individuals living with HIV-2 (Orta-Resendiz et al., 2023). Emma Beaumont presented evidence on the role of adaptor proteins in regulating NK cell activity during persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of the viral cycle
The Viral Replication and Nucleic Acids team (PI: Marc Lavigne) studies how G4s (non-canonical DNA/RNA structures) regulate the replication of several DNA and RNA viruses. Marc Lavigne talked about the role of guanine quadruplexes in HIV-1 (Lista et al., 2023) and SARS-CoV-2 replication (Lavigne et al., 2021).
The Virus and Immunity team (PI: Olivier Schwartz) focuses on cellular and molecular aspects of the replication of HIV and SARS-CoV-2. William Bolland shared new insights into viral cytopathy linked to SARS-CoV-2-induced cell-to-cell fusion and the emerging role of lipid rafts in the phenotype (Bolland et al., 2025). In addition, Jeanne Postal lifted the curtain on the mechanisms behind the replication and entry of the seasonal human coronavirus OC43.
The Advanced Molecular Virology team (PI: Francesca Di Nunzio) aims to untangle the mechanism underlying HIV-1 membraneless organelle biogenesis and its role in viral reverse transcription, replication, and latency. Selen Ay mapped the nuclear landscape remodeling induced by HIV-1 infection and described the biogenesis of membraneless organelles as a site of nuclear reverse transcription (Scoca et al., 2022; Ay and Nunzio, 2023).
The Molecular Mechanisms of Multiplication of Pneumoviruses team (PI: Marie-Anne Rameix-Welti) seeks to illuminate the multiplication processes of the respiratory syncytial virus from RNA replication to virion release. Of note, the virus utilizes cellular microtubules to transport viral ribonucleoprotein complexes to assembly and budding sites (Cosentino et al., 2022).
Transmission and One Health
The Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Oncogenic Viruses team (PI: Antoine Gessain) is dedicated to the epidemiology, physiopathology, and immunology of retroviruses, herpes viruses, and some emerging viruses. Manon Curaudeau presented her investigative trail in identifying the African mammal reservoir host for the monkeypox virus, the squirrel Funisciurus anerythrus (Curaudeau et al., 2023). Jeanne Pascard demonstrated the potential of mother-to-child transmission of the yellow fever virus during breastfeeding.
The Arboviruses and Insect Vectors team (PI: Anna-Bella Failloux) seeks to understand the mechanisms of arboviral emergence by developing three complementary lines of research: (i) offering scientific expertise for public health actions, (ii) deciphering the molecular mechanisms that limit/promote arbovirus infections in mosquitoes, and (iii) developing alternative strategies to complement insecticide-based control measures. Christian Mitri presented his work on fungal priming of mosquito immunity to reduce their vector competence.
The Insect–Virus Interactions team (PI: Louis Lambrechts) investigates the causes (evolutionary drivers, genetic and non-genetic factors, and mechanisms) and consequences (virus transmission dynamics and evolution) of natural variation in the ability of mosquitoes to carry arboviruses. Thomas Vial presented work on cellular and metabolic signatures of resistance to dengue virus in the mosquito Aedes aegypti (Vial et al., 2024). Théo Maire introduced a new assay to continuously monitor mosquito flight activity over weeks after an infectious blood-meal, which he used to test the impact of dengue virus infection on the mosquito daily flight rhythm activity.
The Viruses and RNA Interference team (PI: Carla Saleh) studies insect immunity with a focus on factors that enable insects to cope with viral infections and manipulation of insect antiviral immunity to prevent disease spread in humans. Mauro Castelló-Sanjuán presented work on how the fruit fly (an insect model system) survives and maintains persistent RNA viral infections using endogenous retrotransposons to generate viral DNA. Rubén González showed that the bacteriome composition of the fruit fly modulates host mortality upon enteric viral infection.
Virus epidemiology and evolution
The Virus Sensing and Signaling team (PI: Nolwenn Jouvenet) has its research axis in enterovirus surveillance, epidemiology, and evolution. Felix Streicher presented how type I and type III interferon responses protect against tick-borne orthoflaviviruses through IFI6.
The Pathogen Discovery team (PI: Nolwenn Dheilly) aims to discover, characterize, and demonstrate the attributability of new or unexpected infectious agents in clinical syndromes of unknown etiology. Sarah Temmam described the circulation of sarbecoviruses in horseshoe bats in Southeast Asia, which are hosts for a high diversity of viruses, including close ancestors of SARS-CoV-2 (Temmam et al., 2023).
The Evolutionary Genomics of RNA Viruses team (PI: Etienne Simon-Lorière) uses viral genomics to study the evolutionary processes of RNA viruses, with a focus on respiratory viruses and arboviruses. Artem Baidaliuk applied a metatransciptomics approach to profile insect-specific viruses in mosquitoes, delving into the phylogeography of viruses and virus–host phylogenetic co-divergence.
Surveillance and control strategies
The Viral Reservoirs and Immune Control team (PI: Asier Sáez-Cirión) aims to develop tools and strategies for HIV remission. Dr Sáez-Cirión presented how CD8+ T cell reprogramming may constitute a new therapeutic opportunity with improved persistence and durability of the response (Sáez-Cirión and Sereti, 2021).
Viral structure
The Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases team (PI: Pablo Guardado-Calvo) seeks to develop novel therapies, based on a better understanding of the entry mechanisms of large DNA viruses (poxviruses and related viruses) and the mechanisms of action of antibodies that clear the infection. Dr Guardado-Calvo spoke about the use of structural virology to understand the mechanisms of antiviral drugs against poxviruses.
The Structural Virology team (PI: Félix A. Rey) focuses on enveloped viruses, including both zoonotic (flaviviruses, alphaviruses, bunyaviruses, and retroviruses) and non-zoonotic (herpesviruses) ones. They study (i) the structure of enveloped viral proteins to understand mechanisms of cell entry and how envelope glycoproteins are neutralized by antibodies and (ii) the effect of non-structural proteins on the replication of mosquito-transmitted viruses. Max Baker resolved the first structure of a human rotavirus, gaining insights into structural mechanisms underlying rotavirus infection. Ignacio Fernández presented work on the structural basis of TMPRSS2 zymogen activation and recognition by the HKU1 seasonal coronavirus (Fernández et al., 2024).
Virus–host interactions
In his keynote lecture, John Gross (University of California San Francisco) presented his work on evolutionary pressures that shape virus–host interactions, focusing on the viral antagonism of innate immunity. The lecture focused on the arms race between the human APOBEC3G enzyme and HIV-1 Vif (Li et al., 2023).
From the RNA Biology of Influenza Viruses team (PI: Nadia Naffakh), Maud Dupont presented her investigation of the RNA-binding protein interactome with influenza A viral mRNAs. Her findings highlighted TDP-43, a protein recruited by the viral polymerase that orchestrates the assembly of viral mRNAs into infectious viral particles (Dupont et al., 2024). Catherine Isel described a proof-of-concept for peptide-based inhibition of protein–protein interactions as a therapeutic strategy against influenza viruses.
The Interactomics, RNA and Immunity team (PI: Caroline Demeret) develops methods for detecting direct, binary interactions between pairs of proteins. Mikaël Attia constructed a 3D contactome network of SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins to better elucidate virus–host interactions.
Translating discoveries to solutions
The department hosts two Joint Research laboratories in close collaboration with companies that bridge the gap between academic and biotechnological research. Oncovita aims to develop a therapeutic anti-cancer vaccine using technology derived from the measles Schwarz vaccine virus. From Oncovita, Aleksandr Barinov presented results on a new therapeutic vaccine with promising preclinical immuno-oncolytic activities. TheraVectys, represented by Pierre Charneau, introduced lentiviral vector technology for immuno-onco vaccine applications as well as therapeutics for emerged and emerging infectious diseases.
Beyond science
In addition to research sessions, the JDV2024 held sessions dedicated to sustainability, scientific integrity, and funding acquisition. Nicoletta Casartelli and Florence Guivel-Benhassine presented Vir'O Vert, a departmental initiative dedicated to promoting environmentally conscious laboratory practices through actions aimed toward reducing carbon footprint, energy use, and plastic waste. The Scientific Integrity session, led by Pierre-Emmanuel Ceccaldi, highlighted institutional mechanisms to ensure the highest standard of rigor and protocols to address integrity breaches. A roundtable featuring Francesca Di Nunzio and Michaela Müller-Trutwin (from the Virology Department), joined by Immaculada Ortega Perez and Zélie Godin (as representatives from Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida, les hépatites virales et les Maladies Infectieuses Emergentes, ANRS-MIE), discussed current and future funding opportunities, as well as the possibility for young post-doctoral researchers to apply.
Future perspectives
The Virology Department will continue its relentless efforts to understand and combat viruses affecting human health. The department aims to perform excellent research while also strengthening interdisciplinary partnerships with the currently expanding Pasteur Network, international partners, and industry stakeholders.
We strive to extend our knowledge in fundamental virology and develop new therapies, in particular medicinal chemistry, vaccines, and diagnostic tools for future viral threats that will emerge on the planet.
We will build on the lessons learned from previous epidemics and pandemics, particularly those caused by respiratory pathogens. It is a challenge to accelerate preparedness for pandemics and emerging threats on a global scale, as effective prevention requires solid planning and coordinated action. The Virology Department of the Institut Pasteur will continue to be a key player in the fight against viral diseases through cutting-edge fundamental research developed across the different laboratories and translating ground-breaking discoveries into tangible benefits for public health and emergence preparedness.
Collective mobilization will inevitably be key to success, and the Virology Department will continue to follow the path paved by all its previous esteemed members.
Final remarks
Following three days of intensive scientific exchange, engaging discussions, delightful meals, networking activities, and beachfront promenades, the department members have strengthened professional relationships—a crucial aspect for fostering excellent science. We eagerly look forward to our next biennial meeting.
[The JDV2024 organizing committee is grateful to the ANRS-MIE and to numerous commercial sponsors for their participation and generous funding support: Agilent, Eurofins, Eurogentec, Fisher Scientific, InvivoGen, Merck, Novogene, ThermoFisher, and VectorBuilder. The Virology Department acknowledges Christine Letellier for administrative assistance and the Institut Pasteur for its support. We acknowledge the commissioned work of Bertsy Goic (http://www.drawinscience.fr) for the figure. We thank Louis Lambrechts and Carla Saleh for thoroughly reading and commenting on the text. We also acknowledge all the members of the department for stimulating discussions, insightful presentations, and enriching interactions.]
Contributor Information
Rubén González, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, Institut Pasteur, Virology Department, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France.
Cassandra Koh, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, Institut Pasteur, Virology Department, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France.
Bérangère Virlon, Institut Pasteur, Virology Department, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France.
Sarah Hélène Merkling, Insect–Virus Interactions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Virology Department, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, 75015 Paris, France.
Jean-Pierre Vartanian, Virus and Cellular Stress Unit, Institut Pasteur, Virology Department, Université Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France.
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