HDR defense: Structural and functional characterization of Bunyavirus replication and transcription

By Dr Hélène Malet (IBS/Methods and Electron Microscopy Group)

During my HDR defense I will retrace my research experiences, starting from my PhD thesis to the research project I develop since my recruitment as an assistant professor at Grenoble Alpes University in 2015. During my thesis at the AFMB laboratory in Marseille, I analyzed the replication of West Nile and Dengue flaviviruses using X-ray crystallography and biochemistry (2005-2008). Then, eager to learn a complementary method, I did my first post-doc in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) at Birkbeck College, London (2008-2011). Fascinated by both viral replication and cryo-EM, I then performed a second post-doctorate at EMBL Grenoble (2011-2015) that was focusing on the cryo-EM analysis of La Crosse bunyavirus replication. These experiences led me, upon my recruitment in 2015, to initiate a project focusing on the analysis of replication and transcription of La Crosse and Hantaan bunyaviruses, using cryo-electron microscopy as the main method. I perform my research at the Institut de Biologie Structurale in Grenoble, in the Electron Microscopy and Methods group. This document therefore retraces my past career prior to recruitment, and then presents the current project, which has involved the work of three PhD students whom I have co-supervised with Dr. Guy Schoehn. Results already obtained and published from the project are presented, as well as current research, and ideas for the future.