Section: Partnerships and Cooperations

National initiatives

National programmes

• ANR-GeMCo: The objective of this project is to do model reduction, experimental validation, and control for the gene expression machinery in E. coli. The project is funded by ANR (2010-BLAN-0201-01) coordinated by M. Chaves, and ran through April 2014.

• ANR-Facteur 4: The objective of this project (2012-2015) is to propose non OGM strains of microalgae with enhanced performance. BIOCORE is involved in the directed selection of microalgae with interesting properties from an industrial point of view. The theory of competition is used to give a competitive advantage to some species. This competitive advantage can be provided by an online closed loop controller.

• ANR-Purple Sun: The objective of this project (ANR-13-BIME-004: 2013-2017) is to propose, study, and optimize a new concept consisting in coupling the production of microalgae with photovoltaic panels. The main idea is to derive the excess of light energy to PV electricity production, in order to reduce both the phenomena of photoinhibition and process overwarming.

• ANR-Phycover: The overall objective of the project (2014-2018) is to draw the scientific, technical and industrial contexts for an evolution of wastewater treatment plants, combining three modules: a high-rate algal pond dedicated to the treatment of municipal wastewater, an anaerobic digester, and a module aiming at enhancing the digestate valorization.

• ANR-FunFit: The objective of this project (2013-2017) is to develop a trait-based approach linking individual fitness of fungal plant pathogens to ecological strategies. The idea is to derive eco-epidemiological strategies from fitness optimization in colonized environments and during colonization, as well as understanding the coexistence of sibling species. This project is co-coordinated by F. Grognard.

• ANR-TripTic: The objective of this project (2014-2018) is to document the biological diversity in the genus of the minute wasps Trichogramma, and to study the behavioral and populational traits relevant to their use in biological control programs.

• ANR-GESTER: “Management of crop resistances to diseases in agricultural landscapes as a response to new constraints on pesticide use”, ANR Agrobiosphère, 2011–2015. This project aims at producing allocation scenarios of resistant varieties at the scale of cultivated landscapes, that will allow to limit disease development while ensuring sustainable efficiency of genetic resistances. BIOCORE participates in this project via MIA, INRA Jouy-en-Josas.

• RESET: The objective of this project is to control the growth of E. coli cells in a precise way, by arresting and restarting the gene expression machinery of the bacteria in an efficient manner directed at improving product yield and productivity. RESET is an “Investissements d'Avenir” project in Bioinformatics (managed by ANR) and it is coordinated by H. de Jong (Ibis, Inria)

• MIHMES: “Multi-scale modelling, from animal Intra-Host to Metapopulation, of mechanisms of pathogen spread to Evaluate control Strategies”, ANR – Investissement d'avenir, action Bioinformatique (ANR-10-BINF-07) & Fond Européen de Développement Régional des Pays-de-la-Loire (FEDER), 2012–2016. This project aims at producing scientific knowledge and methods for the management of endemic infectious animal diseases and veterinary public health risks. BIOCORE participates in this project via MIA, INRA Jouy-en-Josas.

• SIGNALIFE: Biocore is part of this Labex (scientific cluster of excellence) whose objective is to build a network for innovation on Signal Transduction Pathways in Life Sciences, and is hosted by the Université Nice Sophia Antipolis.

• Peps BMI 2013 -J-A Sepulchre (INLN CNRS UNS) - Projet "Pectolyse". Study of a virulence factor of a bacterium.

• FUI-Salinalgue: The objective of this project is to take benefit of endemic microalgae species in areas of high salinity (previously used to produce salt) to produce both biofuel (either lipid based or methane) and co-products. BIOCORE is in charge of lab scale experiments and of the modeling of the process.

• OPTIBIO: This project is devoted to the analysis of optimal control problems related to bioprocesses. The project is funded by Programme Gaspard Monge pour L’Optimisation et la Recherche Opérationnelle and coordinated by T. Bayen (U. Montpellier 2).

INRA funding

• Dynamique spatiale: INRA-SPE is funding the project “Intégration des approches comportementales et démographiques de la dynamique spatiale des populations d’insectes” in which Biocore is a partner with INRA Sophia Antipolis and Agrocampus Ouest (2012-2014).

• Take Control: This project, “Deployment strategies of plant quantitative resistance to take control of plant pathogen evolution,” is funded by the PRESUME call of the SMAcH INRA metaprogram. BIOCORE is a partner together with INRA PACA (Sophia Antipolis and Avignon) and INRA Toulouse (2013-2016). This project provides the major part of the funding for the experiments held for Elsa Rousseau's thesis.

• Coexistence:. INRA-SPE is funding the project “Coexistence d’espèces cryptiques par différenciation temporelle de niches écologiques : de la théorie à l’application via l’exemple des oïdiums du chêne et de la vigne", which aims at understanding the co-existence of closely related plant pathogens in temperate environments. It is closely related to the FunFit ANR project.

• K-Masstec: “Knowledge-driven design of management strategies for stem canker specific resistance genes”, INRA Metaprogramme SMaCH, PRESUME action, 2013–2016. The project aims at demonstrating that the knowledge issued from the understanding of the molecular interaction between distinct avirulence genes, and mainly the discovery of non-conventional gene-for-gene interactions, can be used to develop efficient strategies for the deployment of genetic resistance in the field.

• PRRSeval: “An integrated approach to PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome)”, INRA Metaprogramme GISA, 2013–2015. PRRSeval has three main objectives: to develop a live-attenuated, miRNA-controlled vaccine effective to protect from emerging PRRSV strains; to identify and prioritize relevant parameters for dynamic epidemiology of herds based on in vivo profiling of PRRSV and vaccine response; and to consolidate and empower the existing French networks and collaborations with external partners and stakeholders. BIOCORE participates in this project via MIA, INRA Jouy-en-Josas.

Networks

• M3D: “Mathématiques et décision pour le développement durable”, supported by the RNSC (Réseau National des Systèmes Complexes) and INRA, MIA department. BIOCORE participates in the M3D network. L. Mailleret and S. Touzeau are among the network's co-leaders.

• GDR PROBBE: The objective of this GDR is the development of new biotechnological processes based on microorganisms producing metabolites which can be used as fuel for transportation (lipids, sugars, methane, hydrogen, ...). BIOCORE is taking part mainly in the modeling and control aspects of the processes involving anaerobic bacteria or microalgae.

• GDR Invasions Biologiques: The objectives of this GDR are to encourage multidisciplinary research approaches on invasion biology. It has five different thematic axes: 1) invasion biology scenarios, 2) biological invasions and ecosystem functioning, 3) environmental impact of invasive species, 4) modeling biological invasions, 5) socio-economics of invasion biology. L. Mailleret is a member of the scientific comittee of the GDR

• Seminar: BIOCORE organizes a regular seminar “Modeling and control of ecosystems” at the station zoologique of Villefranche-sur-Mer, at INRA-ISA or at Inria.