Common Cell Shape Evolution of Two Nasopharyngeal Pathogens

Posted on 10 juillet 2015 Updated on 21 juillet 2015

Our article is now accessible in open access (PLoS Genetics) here. In this paper we described how, at least two nasopharyngeal pathogens, (Neisseria meningitidis and Moraxella catarrhalis) evolved from a rod to a coccus cell-shape. This asks a lot of question on the importance of cell-shape in the colonisation of different ecological niches in particular the one located in our body. To be continued !

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Frédéric Veyrier obtained his M.Sc. degree from the INRS-Institut Armand Frappier Laval (Qc) on the metal homeostasis in different pathogens. He completed his PhD studies at McGill University, Montréal (Qc) on the evolution of the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. He moved back to France in 2010 as a young researcher at the Institut Pasteur, Paris (France). His research focused on the common evolution of nasopharyngeal pathogens like Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis . Specifically, he is studying how bacterial metal transport and cell-wall have evolved to adjust to the stringent and competitive nasopharynx environment. He is now an associate professor at the INRS-Institut Armand Frappier in Canada continuing his work on human bacterial symbionts evolution.

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