Bacteria, allies for reforestation in the face of drought
Faced with the increasing frequency and intensity of droughts that threaten young trees, BIAM is taking part in the RESTORE project, which offers a nature-inspired, eco-friendly approach to making forests more resilient. Their solution? Custom‑designed bacterial communities, isolated from forest soils that have been partially deprived of rainfall, to support the growth and survival of […]
From blue light to green fuel: bacteria that produce heptane
press release Researchers from BIAM have succeeded in producing heptane using only microorganisms and blue light. Published in Biofuel Research Journal on 1 September, this result paves the way for new solutions in green chemistry and sustainable fuel production. To produce heptane without using a single drop of oil, researchers from the CEA, CNRS, and […]
The scientific journey behind naming a new bacterium
Isolated from a lake in Southern California, Magnetovirga frankelii is a newly identified species of magnetotactic bacterium recently characterized by researchers at BIAM. Beyond expanding our understanding of life, this discovery contributes to biodiversity preservation and opens up exciting possibilities around the bacterium’s ability to navigate using Earth’s magnetic field—a promising trait for developing innovative […]
Observing metals within living cells is possible!
Nanoscale Imaging An international team of researchers has reached a technological milestone by managing to directly observe interactions between metals and living cells at the nanoscale1 . Thanks to a novel X-ray imaging technique, this advancement provides a new means to study relationships between metals and living systems—from how metallodrugs work to the behavior of […]
Management and Operation of the BIC
Management and Operation of the BIC To meet the growing demand from BIAM teams for bioinformatics analyses, the institute launched the BIC platform in 2021. It is co-led by three permanent bioinformatics researchers: Caroline Monteil, CEA researcher, Scientific Lead Philippe Ortet, CEA researcher Thien-Phong Vu Manh, CNRS researcher These three members currently dedicate 50% of […]
BIC team
BIC Team Responsable(s) plateforme Caroline MONTEIL Responsable scientifiqueCEA Personnel permanent Philippe ORTET ChercheurCEA Thien-Phong VU MANH ChercheurCNRS
BIC
Culture de riz en hydroponie The BIC platform Scientific Discoveries Accelerator The BIC, the Integrative and Computational Biology platform of BIAM, supports scientists and their partners in the analysis and interpretation of omics data. Co-led by three bioinformatics researchers, the BIC offers expertise, guidance, and training in bioinformatics and biostatistics. The team also develops tools […]
Magnetite: tracing the hidden origins of life on Earth
A research team from BIAM, in collaboration with IPGP and l’IMPMC, has shown that the isotopic composition of iron found in certain magnetic crystals—produced by magnetotactic bacteria—could serve as a reliable indicator of biological origin. This work offers a promising new tool to distinguish fossil traces left by the first microorganisms, which appeared over 3 […]
Nuclear decontamination: a bacterium that captures strontium-90
As part of a French collaboration1, BIAM researchers have just demonstrated the decontamination capabilities of a cyanobacterium: Gloeomargarita lithophora, which captures strontium-90 (90Sr), a radionuclide present in power plant effluents. This discovery opens the way to highly effective, environmentally-friendly bioremediation. Co-discovered several years ago by IMPMC1 in a stromatolite from Lake Alchichica in Mexico, a […]
Bioenergy: oil production from microalgae just multiplied by five!
By deactivating a natural inhibitor of fatty acid synthesis, BIAM researchers have succeeded in increasing the oil content of microalgae fivefold. This is a major advance in the optimisation of bioenergy, paving the way for more efficient, sustainable production. Fatty acids play an essential role in the structure of cell membranes, carbon storage and signalling. […]