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VEBE

VEBE

The “Enteric Viruses and Species Barrier” (VEBE) team focuses on two viral families with high zoonotic potential: coronaviruses and hepatitis E viruses. These viruses infect several animal species and many incidents of animal to human transmissions have been described. Coronaviruses infect many animal species, including cats, dogs, pigs and birds. They are characterized by their rapid genetic evolution, allowing cross-species transmission. The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the SARS epidemic in 2002 and the MERS-CoV strain in the Arabian Peninsula are dramatic examples of these properties. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for enterically-transmitted acute hepatitis in humans. Some genotypes infect exclusively humans while others are detected both in humans and other animals. HEV can be found in wild boar, deer, rabbit but the major animal reservoir of HEV worldwide is domestic pig. Zoonotic HEV is transmitted mainly via the consumption of undercooked or raw meat containing pork liver. More recently, several cases of zoonotic transmission of strains of rat HEV (HEV-C1, belonging to the Rocahepevirus genus) have also been reported worldwide.

Our missions:

  • Characterize the animal reservoirs of coronaviruses and HEV in France
  • Identify their transmission routes and risk factors
  • Develop in vitro and in vivo models to study their biology and pathogenesis
  • Characterize the molecular determinants involved in their virulence and interspecies transmission

 

Our research axes:

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Our members :

Head : LE PODER Sophie, DOCEUL Virginie

Scientific Staff : PAVIO Nicole, GUERIN Virginie

Technical Staff : HUET Hélène, BOUJEDLI Younes

Postdoctoral researcher : GELLENONCOURT Stacy

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PhD candidates : SOUDAN Chloé, MARCADET-HAUSS Aïlona, PELLERIN Marie, IRTELLI Paul, BERT Jean-Baptiste

Visiting scientists : ROQUE-AFONSO Anne-Marie

Past members : GAMBINO Adèle

 

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Latest publications :

- Meyer, L.; Duquénois, I.; Gellenoncourt, S.; Pellerin, M.; Marcadet-Hauss, A.; Pavio, N.; Doceul, V. Identification of Interferon-Stimulated Genes with Modulated Expression during Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Pig Liver Tissues and Human HepaRG Cells. Front. Immunol. 2023, 14, 1291186, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1291186.

- Pellerin, M.; Trabucco, B.; Capai, L.; Laval, M.; Maestrini, O.; Jori, F.; Falchi, A.; Doceul, V.; Charrier, F.; Casabianca, F.; et al. Low Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus in the Liver of Corsican Pigs Slaughtered after 12 Months despite High Antibody Seroprevalence. Transbound. Emerg. Dis. 2022, 69, e2706–e2718, doi:10.1111/tbed.14621.

- Pellerin, M.; Hirchaud, E.; Blanchard, Y.; Pavio, N.; Doceul, V. Characterization of a Cell Culture System of Persistent Hepatitis E Virus Infection in the Human HepaRG Hepatic Cell Line. Viruses 2021, 13, doi:10.3390/v13030406.

 

Fundings:

ANR , ANRS-MIE, DIM 1Health

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