A Taste of Provence, France in the US

I am supporting the Center for Microbiome Sciences & Therapeutics (CMiST) projects and collaborations which aim to explore the how intestinal perturbations caused by genetics and/or environmental factors (e.g., diet, infection, pollution) alter its microbial landscape and to use this knowledge to develop strategies and therapies to treat human disease. I am also investigating the prevalence of B.fragilis and E.coli among patients in pre-clinical stage of Colorectal cancer.

My current Research project focus on the host-receptor interactions responsible for malaria parasite sequestration in the human brain. I'm dissecting the complex combination or interplay of multiple factors that may contribute to the severity of the disease in brain microvasculature beds.

I'm currently investigating the role of EPCR and others receptors for DC8 and DC13 IEs binding during endothelial activation under pro-inflammatory conditions. This study help to better understand the PfEMP1-EPCR interaction in order to develop greater anti-disease interventions.• Demonstrated leadership skills and consensus building approach.• Showed project management abilities by planning, executing and monitoring project through its life cycle • Validated complex data sets by having meaningful discussion with group leader/research team for progress reports and grant proposal.• Ability to formulate and carry out research agendas in a collaborative manner.

I currently lead a study to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms of severe malaria to develop interventions to inhibit parasite adhesion to brain endothelium. Our data suggests that specific Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein (PfEMP1) proteins are associated with severe malaria.• Identified a novel Plasmodium falciparum ligand/receptor interaction linked to cerebral binding.• Generated several Plasmodium falciparum lines by selection on diverse primary and transformed human endothelial cells lines originated from brain, lung, dermis or heart.• Applied real-time PCR methods to evaluate Plasmodium var genes expression.• Trained and supervised new staff.• Prepared and edited data and figures for project reports, manuscripts, presentations, and for grant proposal. • Mentored responsibilities for lab technicians, work study students, and post-doc scientists • Presented routinely data for internal group meetings and outside collaborators through teleconferences

During my 5 years Post-Doc training at Seattle BioMed, in the lab of Dr Joseph Smith, Seattle, WA, I have learned techniques investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in Infected Erythrocytes binding to host cells such as placenta and brain endothelial cells. I first developed Pichia pastoris recombinant proteins corresponding to the Pregnancy-Associated-Malaria vaccine candidate VAR2CSA in order to better understand their immunogenic properties for a vaccine development.• Identified DBL4 and DBL5 VAR2CSA proteins as promising vaccine candidate against placental malaria• Developed and optimized successfully the expression of P. falciparum recombinant protein in Pichia pastoris yeast.• Designed and executed binding inhibition assays and high-throughput flow cytometry techniques to evaluate antibodies reactivity to placental Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes• Performed transfection of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes.• Processed and reported data under strict timelines for NIH grant submissions, impact publications and international collaborations.• Supervised weekly activities of a team of two research technicians and three lab assistant by organizing work load and allocating tasks.• Presented research progress and data collection results at group meetings and international parasitology conferences.

During my 4 years of PhD training in the lab of Dr Jurg Gysin in Marseille, France, I have learned cellular biology techniques involving mammalian and human tissue cultures, Plasmodium falciparum infected blood cultures and production of monoclonal antibodies. In addition, I have developed an adhesion model under flow condition closely mimicking placental sequestration of infected erythrocytes (IEs) during pregnancy. • Led the project to develop an adhesion model under flow condition closely mimicking placental sequestration of infected erythrocytes (IEs) during pregnancy • Maintained diverse Plasmodium falciparum infected blood cultures (lab-adapted, field isolates or KO-strains) and grow different endothelial and mammalian cells cultures.• Produced mouse monoclonal antibodies against the Pregnancy-Associated-Malaria vaccine candidate• Worked 3 weeks in Tanzania in collaboration with the team of Patrick E. Duffy, M.D.