The term "Dynamic Imaging" has come to refer to a an array of technologies that employ the properties of light (particularly fluorescence and bioluminescence) to probe molecular and cellular biology, and the state-of-the-art is defined by so-called multi-dimensional (multi-D) imaging that allows to quantify biological events through time and space. Consequently, our research is multi-disciplined and collaborative, focused precisely on developing and implementing cutting-edge methods and technologies using dynamic imaging to understand the processes of cell/tissue-biology and their usurpation by infection and disease. Evidently, our R&D efforts take lead from the thematic of Pasteur's researchers. Our team also ensures that the cutting-edge technologies established and/or developed on the platform are made fully available to our users (450 to date). The platform is open to all via a continuous "open-door" lab policy wherein training and expertise provided by our group means that the equipment is always available to those trained to use it autonomously. In this manner we provide some 15,000 hours a year of mostly autonomous user access distributed around some 18 imaging systems situated in P2/P2+ and P3 bio-security environments (see www.pfid.org).

Selected projects 2006:

• Use of FlAsH to produce infection competent fluorescent viruses facilitating quantitative four-dimensional tracking of cytoplasmic and nuclear HIV-1 complexes.

• Adaptation of bioluminescence imaging to probe the kinetics of viral gene expression in single host cells.

• A novel fluorescent probe allowing actin polymerization to be measured in situ.

• In situ fluorescence and bioluminescence imaging to follow pathogen infection inside whole intact living host animals notably for quantitative imaging of Plasmodium transmission from mosquito to mammal.

Methods and device facilitating three-dimensional confocal fluorescence tomography of fluorescent signals inside individual non-adherent living cells (see figure).