Virology and Vection

Description

Our team studies the interactions between viruses, their host plants, and their vectors, with the goal of understanding the mechanisms that determine the establishment, replication, transmission, and impact of viral infections, in order to develop innovative and sustainable strategies to control them.

Our research focuses in particular on viruses affecting grapevines and sugar beets, as well as on various experimental models (Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana occidentalis, etc.). We combine approaches from basic virology, molecular and cellular biology, genomics, metabolomics, and entomology to study virus-plant interactions, the consequences of single or multiple infections, and the mechanisms by which viruses manipulate vector behavior.

This research is conducted in particular in collaboration with the grapevine genomics and metabolism (GMV) team, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the plant–virus–vector interactions involved in beet yellows disease, with the ultimate goal, among others, of reducing virus transmission. A significant part of our research focuses indeed on developing strategies to combat viral diseases. These include, in particular, investigating cross-protection against the virus responsible for grapevine fanleaf disease, identifying resistance to this virus  in collaboration with the grapevine genetics and breeding (GAV) and GMV teams—and investigating strategies to reduce the infectious potential of soils. At the same time, the use of tools based on high-throughput sequencing technologies allows us to explore the diversity and evolution of viral populations, particularly in grapevines, as well as to identify new viruses through HTS and data mining. This work has been conducted since 2023 as part of the VitiViroBiome Associated Partnership Laboratory between the French Institute of Vine and Wine (IFV) and INRAE.

Our research thus lies at the intersection of understanding the fundamental mechanisms of virus–plant–vector interactions and developing applied and agroecological approaches to limit the impact of viral diseases on crops.

Research Areas

• Biology of virus transmission by soil-borne (nematode) and airborne vectors (aphids)
• Multiple viral infections
• Cross-protection: mechanisms and applications
• Development of resistance in grapevines
• Biocontrol of nematode populations in vineyards and management of grapevine fanleaf virus impact
• VitiVirobiome: fundamental and applied studies on the virome and grapevine health

Staff (September 2026) 

• ARDILLER Angélique
• BEN CHEHIDA Sélim
• BRAULT Véronique
• CHEREAU Sulyvann
• CHESNAIS Quentin
• DEMANGEAT Gérard
• DJABOUB Dalia
• DJENNANE Samia
• DRUCKER Martin
• HAGEGE Myriam
• HILY Jean-Michel
• KEICHINGER Corinne
• KHECHMAR Souheyla
• LEMAIRE Olivier
• MARMONIER Aurélie
• MARTIN Isabelle
• MASSET—MUNCH Paul
• MEYER Sophie
• MUSTIN Pierre
• NEGREL Lise
• REINBOLD Catherine
• RIGAL Quentin
• SALMON Raoul
• SCHMITT Carine
• SEDE Ana Rocio
• SICARD Anne
• THEN Christiane
• VERDUN Sophie
• VIGNE Emmanuelle
• XU Qiuyu