Bacterial hunting gets organized
Molecular Machines By combining molecular genetics, microscopy, and bioinformatic analysis, researchers from the CNRS Bacterial Chemistry unit, in collaboration with the Integrative and Computational Biology (BIC) platform at BIAM, have revealed a remarkably sophisticated bacterial attack system: a predatory bacterium can modulate the tip of its pili (tiny filaments on the cell surface) to better […]
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. […]
Bacteria form minerals with CO2
Microbial biodiversity A BIAM team has just revealed the diversity of bacteria that produce minerals composed of calcium carbonate inside their cells. This discovery could inspire innovative solutions for carbon capture or ecosystem preservation in the face of climate change, while inviting us to rethink the importance of these processes in natural environments. Imagine microscopic […]
Controlling the flow of electrons in photosynthesis: a key to better carbon storage
BIAM researchers have discovered a new approach to enhancing the ability of microalgae to fix and store atmospheric carbon: by modulating the electron management pathways within the chloroplast, it is possible to improve the energy processes associated with photosynthesis. This breakthrough highlights the central role of energy metabolism and opens up new avenues for the […]