Two pathogens, two tactics to preserve macrophage mitochondrial Δψm: Legionella reverses FOF1-ATPase with ANT forward, Salmonella does not. But the involvement of mito Complex I is common during infection of both pathogens if they can inject bacterial effectors.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Our last paper is out at IAI @asm.org . With @cbuch.bsky.social, at @pasteur.fr . Congrats Francisco & Paula !
Mitochondrial Complex I emerges as a common energetic checkpoint distinguishing virulent from secretion-deficient bacteria during Legionella and Salmonella infection of human macrophages.
Backtracking metabolic dynamics in single cells predicts bacterial replication in human macrophages
@natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Great work! HCS❤️AI
Thus, single-cell metabolic dynamics can forecast infection outcomes. In the spirit of @stephenwolfram.bsky.social's ideas, bacterial infection exhibits pockets of computational reducibility at the single-cell scale. Might this point to new ways to predict infection progression?
So we trained an explainable Machine Learning model using Δψm + mROS dynamics, and the AI model predicted which infected cell will support replication with 83% accuracy before bacterial replication begins
What make these permissive macrophages different? Before bacteria replicate, macrophages that will permit bacterial growth already show sustained mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and higher mitochondrial ROS (mROS). These are early mitochondrial signals of permissive cells!
We tracked thousands of living primary human macrophages during infection with Legionella pneumophila, using high-throughput live imaging + our BATLI backtracking software. Legionella only replicates in ~20% infected primary macrophages!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New paper finally out on @natcomms.nature.com! Led by first author Maria Dramé with the collaboration of Francisco Garcia, @cbuch.bsky.social and @jytinevez.bsky.social at @pasteur.fr. Early mitochondrial signals in single human macrophages predict later Legionella replication. Link + details👇🧵
Extracellular ATP is an environmental cue in bacteria
@cp-cellreports.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Job alert!
We are looking for a bioimage analysis to work in an image analysis core facility in beautiful Paris. Can I ask you to share this opportunity with your networks?
See also on the forum:
forum.image.sc/t/research-e...
New preprint in the lab! How the mitochondrial ETC works during infection of human macrophages with #Legionella or #Salmonella? Spoiler: there are some similarities and also pathogen-specific differences. Work led by Francisco Garcia and Paula Martínez, with @cbuch.bsky.social at @pasteur.fr
🦠 Mycobacteria aren't just tough, they're interior designers! 🦠 Check out our latest #preprint 🚨, led by our PhD student @camimille.bsky.social , where we show that #Mycobacterium tuberculosis builds secret cytoplasmic membranes to adapt its metabolism and sneak past immunity 🤫
Thread coming soon!
© Institut Pasteur
🟢 The Institut Pasteur goes green for Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week! 🟢
These rare diseases affect 1 in 5,000 people. Mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of our cells, are also thought to play a role in Alzheimer's disease.
Research today, cure tomorrow. 🔬 #WorldMitoWeek2025
Hydrogen sulfide production distinguishes Salmonella from close relatives, but its biological significance remains obscure. This study uncovers the secret: Salmonella uses hydrogen sulfide production as a weapon to outcompete E. coli and gain a foothold in the gut.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
So excited our antibiotic potentiation story is out 🤩 Led by the extraordinary @manonlang.bsky.social with @fox-science.bsky.social & @amazeld.bsky.social +amazing collaborators @immunobladder.bsky.social @imaneelmeouche.bsky.social 🦠 We believe it can make a difference in #AMR infections!
New preprint in the lab! How the mitochondrial ETC works during infection of human macrophages with #Legionella or #Salmonella? Spoiler: there are some similarities and also pathogen-specific differences. Work led by Francisco Garcia and Paula Martínez, with @cbuch.bsky.social at @pasteur.fr
Complex-I Preserves Mitochondrial Polarization during Infection of Human Macrophages by Secretion-competent Bacteria www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09....
That concludes GRC Salmonella 2025. What a fantastic meeting it was - topnotch science, great discussions and a wonderful spirit. I am proud to be part of this amazing scientific community.
A Salmonella T3SS-2 mutant grows fine in spleen macrophages, contradicting tissue culture dogma (PMID: 23236281). This observation was largely ignored, but adding certain carbon sources rescues growth in cultured macrophages, hinting that T3SS-2 may be doing something entirely different in vivo.
Shigella-trained pro-inflammatory macrophages protect zebrafish from secondary infection
@cgmargarida.bsky.social
New pre-print in the lab! Beautiful work by Francisco Garcia-Rodriguez in collab with @kamovalenz.bsky.social
and @joaquinbernal.bsky.social : when macrophages are provided with specific nutrients, Salmonella can bypass its requirement of the T3SS to replicate, a process that occurs within the SCV
New study reveals that Salmonella can replicate inside macrophages even without its T3SSs, if the nutrient conditions are right! Metabolic heterogeneity of host cells is a game-changer in bacterial replication dynamics. #MicroSky
✍️ @pescoll.bsky.social and coll. @pasteur.fr
📖 shorturl.at/a9a06
Congrats Lea Jost and team!! Really beautiful paper!!
Our latest paper is out! Congratulations to @leaswistak.bsky.social et al for this amazing #cryoET work that elucidates the initial stages of #T3SS dependent vacuolar damage during #Shigella infection. We will do a deep-dive later! journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Provision of Preferred Nutrients to Macrophages Enables Salmonella to Replicate Intracellularly Without Relying on Type III Secretion Systems www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05....
New pre-print in the lab! Beautiful work by Francisco Garcia-Rodriguez in collab with @kamovalenz.bsky.social
and @joaquinbernal.bsky.social : when macrophages are provided with specific nutrients, Salmonella can bypass its requirement of the T3SS to replicate, a process that occurs within the SCV
Another very cool story I was lucky enough to be involved in! Congrats @pescoll.bsky.social and Francisco! Now let’s hope for a smooth submission!
Congrats Jose and team!!!!!
🧪
Finally out after peer review, our work showing that "Mobile #Integrons carry Phage Defense Systems" is now published in Science 🎉
Short 🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...