Team 1

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF LUNG INFECTIONS

Team leader : Sandrine HENRI

The ‘Pathophysiology of Lung Infections’ team conducts cross-disciplinary research in the field of respiratory infections.

The team’s strength lies in its membership which includes researchers, associate professors, clinicians, engineers, technicians, post-docs and PhD students with complementary expertise in immunology, microbiology, molecular and cell biology. We are engaged in developing fundamental research programs, pre-clinical and clinical studies.

Our goal is to develop innovative immune-intervention and antimicrobial strategies.
Specifically, we investigate the interplay of key molecular and cellular effectors in response to respiratory infections caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
Our goal is to develop innovative immune-intervention and antimicrobial strategies.

Our axis

Axis 1

Mechanisms of anti-infectious immunity” with a main focus on the role of lung myeloid cells and epithelial cells

Axis 2

Development of innovative anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal therapies

Axis 3

Human-like experimental models & clinical investigations

Members

Team leaders

Sandrine HENRI

Team Leader

sandrine.henri@univ-tours.fr

Mustapha SI-TAHAR

Deputy Team Leader

mustapha.si-tahar@univ-tours.fr

Research interests

Our team focuses on the following research topics:

Pioneering novel approaches for combating influenza virus infection by targeting host immune and metabolic signaling pathways

Investigating the metabolic reprogramming of alveolar macrophages triggered by viral infections, shedding light on potential therapeutic interventions

Advancing understanding of bacterial infections, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, and fungal respiratory diseases, like aspergillosis or Pneumocystis pneumonia

Spearheading the development of sophisticated models to explore the intricacies of lung mucosa and facilitate therapeutic targeting. This includes cultivating 3D cultures of primary respiratory epithelial cells (both nasal and bronchial) and precision-cut lung slices sourced from human, mouse, and swine subjects

Undertaking clinical investigations, including a phase 1 trial titled “Nebulization of flagellin for the treatment of respiratory infections”. Additionally, we are leading a phase II randomized multicenter placebo-controlled trial entitled “Efficacy and safety of caspofungin aerosols for the curative treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in conjunction with conventional systemic antifungal therapy”

Pioneering novel approaches for combating influenza virus infection by targeting host immune and metabolic signaling pathways

Investigating the metabolic reprogramming of alveolar macrophages triggered by viral infections, shedding light on potential therapeutic interventions

Advancing understanding of bacterial infections, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, and fungal respiratory diseases, like aspergillosis or Pneumocystis pneumonia

Spearheading the development of sophisticated models to explore the intricacies of lung mucosa and facilitate therapeutic targeting. This includes cultivating 3D cultures of primary respiratory epithelial cells (both nasal and bronchial) and precision-cut lung slices sourced from human, mouse, and swine subjects

Undertaking clinical investigations, including a phase 1 trial titled “Nebulization of flagellin for the treatment of respiratory infections”. Additionally, we are leading a phase II randomized multicenter placebo-controlled trial entitled “Efficacy and safety of caspofungin aerosols for the curative treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in conjunction with conventional systemic antifungal therapy”