Research topic
Our group studies leishmaniasis, a severe parasitic disease that affects millions of people worldwide and that is also present in the south of France. It is caused by microscopic parasites called Leishmania, which are transmitted through the bite of an insect called sand fly. Once inside the body, the parasites infect cells of the immune system. The disease can present as skin lesions, which are generally not life-threatening, but in some cases it can affect internal organs and become fatal if left untreated.
The primary goal of our research is to understand, at the molecular level, the internal organization of these parasites and how their cellular architecture enables them to move, survive and infect human cells. We are particularly interested in the cytoskeleton which is mainly made of microtubules and which determines the parasite’s shape, polarity, and motility.
In Leishmania, microtubules form both the cilium (or flagellum), a structure essential for parasite motility, and a submembrane network that gives the parasite its characteristic shape and mechanical strength. The dynamics and organization of these microtubules are regulated by specialized proteins whose roles remain largely unknown.
By analyzing the structure and function of the parasite’s cilium and cytoskeleton, we aim to identify the molecular mechanisms that are essential for Leishmania survival and infectivity. Ultimately, this fundamental knowledge will contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies against leishmaniasis, a disease for which current treatments remain limited.
Methods
To address these questions, we primarily use cryo-electron microscopy techniques, including cryo-electron tomography, single-particle analysis, subtomogram averaging, and focused ion beam milling. The resulting images are processed using advanced computational methods, including artificial intelligence, to reconstruct three-dimensional models of the parasite’s internal structures.
These imaging approaches are combined with cell biology and genetic tools that allow us to modify or delete specific parasite proteins and analyze the resulting effects using light microscopy.
Key words
Leishmania ; cryo-electron tomography ; subtomogram averaging ; cryo-electron microscopy ; cytoskeleton ; microtubules ; kinetoplastid ; artificial intelligence
Interested in joining us ?
Interested candidates should directly get in touch with Thibault Legal
(thibault.legal@gmail.com) to discuss potential opportunities.
Ongoing PhD offer (deadline : Thursday, April 9, 2026, 11:59 p.m.)