The Mouse Functional Genetics laboratory has been established in May, 2005. The research programmes focus on two main topics within the fields of activity of the Institut Pasteur:

- Genetic mechanisms of susceptibility to infectious diseases.

- The biology of embryonic and adult stem cells.

Genetics of susceptibility to infection diseases

An outgrowth of concern about newly emerging and re-emerging diseases and the progressive development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens justifies increased interest in infectious disease research. The clinical outcome of infectious diseases is determined by complex interactions between the pathogen and the genome of affected individuals, under the influence of environmental and stochastic factors. To identify genetic mechanisms of susceptibility to infectious diseases, mouse models are essential. Actually, experimental standardized infection of mice from controlled mating between inbred strains, bred in specific-pathogen-free conditions, with a given dose of pure inoculum offers a powerful approach. This approach eliminates several sources of environmental variance hence making easier the identification of genes influencing host susceptibility. In an initial phase, we focus our research on few life-threatening micro-organisms, including Yersinia pestis, the agent of Plague, West Nile virus, responsible for fatal encephalitis, and the Rift Valley fever virus, responsible for hemorrhagic fever.

Biology of embryonic and adult stem cells

Stem cells are capable of both generating identical progeny, and producing transit-amplifying cells (TA-cells) committed to differentiate. Regulation of the number of stem cells, TA-cells and differentiated cells is a crucial problem in multicellular organisms. Defects in stem cell renewal may lead to lineage disappearance or cancer. Indeed, tissues and organs in the embryo and in the adult rely heavily on homeostasis, where, as cells die accidentally or naturally, they are replenished. Many of the features that govern the behavior of stem cells remain unknown. Our research takes advantage of various mouse lines carrying spontaneous or targeted mutations in a number of genes, including Notchless, Strawberry notch and Omcg1, to study the cellular and molecular basis of stem cell renewal and maintenance, and its differentiation into TA-cell and mature cell. Our research focuses on the study of the early embryo and melanogenesis using the mouse as an experimental model.