Assembling new viral particles in infected eukaryotic cells is a highly complex process that must not only ensure the incorporation and correct assembly of the virus constituents, including their genome, but must also avoid the incorporation of cellular restriction factors. One of our main objectives is to understand, at the molecular level, how retroviruses (including HIV-1), influenza A viruses and Coronaviruses incorporate genomic RNA(s) into an infectious particle. It is indeed interesting to compare how viruses with different genome organizations and viral architectures solved this problem. As a prototypical case of exclusion of restriction factors from the viral particles, we also aim to decipher the molecular mechanisms by which HIV-1 avoids the incorporation of the APOBEC3G (A3G) and A3F into virions.
My research investigates the molecular mechanisms governing virus-host interactions, focusing on how viral proteins modulate host cellular environments to facilitate replication and evade innate immune defenses. Spanning positive-sense RNA viruses (flaviviruses) and retroviruses (HIV), my research explores the remarkable functional plasticity of viral proteins. I am particularly interested in uncovering how viral factors extend beyond their canonical roles to reshape molecular interactions, reprogram cellular pathways, and influence the outcome of viral infection. By investigating these often-overlooked functions, I aim to better understand the strategies viruses use to exploit host cell machinery and maximize their fitness. Alongside research, I am deeply invested in scientific community life and mentoring. I actively supervise MSc and PhD students, engage in science communication, and serve on the junior sections of both the French Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SFBBM) and the French Society for Virology (SFV).