Claire Husser obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences and a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the University of Strasbourg. She then completed her PhD within the CNRS unit UPR 9002 – Architecture and Reactivity of RNA, in the “Digital Biology of RNA” team under the supervision of Prof. Michaël Ryckelynck.
During her PhD, she specialized in aptamer development using ultrahigh-throughput microfluidic screening (µIVC-seq). She combined molecular biology, microfluidics, and bioinformatics approaches to select and optimize synthetic aptamers endowed with complex functions.
In particular, she developed FluorMango, a fluorescent biosensor that enabled, for the first time, real-time monitoring of defluorination enzyme activity. This biosensor is currently being used for the screening of enzymes capable of degrading perfluorinated compounds (PFAS), which are major environmental pollutants. In parallel, she established an integrated approach (SELEX + µIVC-seq) for the selection of enzyme-inhibiting aptamers, leading to the identification of a modified aptamer capable of specifically inhibiting a beta-lactamase involved in antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria. This innovative strategy is now being applied to other enzymes of therapeutic and biotechnological interest.
Following her PhD, Claire joined the same team as a postdoctoral researcher, where she is continuing the development of a new generation of stable fluorescent biosensors suitable for use in complex environments.