CV Science

Sébastien Besteiro PhD in Biology and health

Course and current status

Education :

1998-2002 University of Bordeaux II, France PhD in Biology and Health (with honours)

1997-1998 University of Bordeaux II, France D.E.A. (pre-doctoral research) in Biology and Health

1996-1997 University of Bordeaux II, France Maîtrise (MSc) in Cellular Biology and Physiology

1995-1996 University of Bordeaux II, France Licence (BSc) in Cellular Biology and Physiology

1993-1995 University of Bordeaux I, France DEUG B (Diploma of Higher Education) in Life Sciences

1992-1993 Lycée Jean Moulin, Langon, France Baccalauréat D (secondary school diploma) in Biology and Mathematics

 Jobs and practical training :

December 2024-present Inserm research director at the LPHI laboratory UMR5294 CNRS, UA15 Inserm, Université de Montpellier, France.

October 2007-present Inserm researcher at the DIMNP/LPHI laboratory, UMR5235 then UMR5294 CNRS UA15 Inserm. Université de Montpellier. France.

December 2006-October 2007 Post-doctoral research assistant at the DIMNP laboratory, UMR5235 CNRS laboratory. University of Montpellier II. France.

April 2002-October 2006  Post-doctoral research assistant at the Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow.  United Kingdom.

October 1998-March 2002   PhD student at the Génomique Fonctionnelle des Trypanosomatides. UMR CNRS 5162 laboratory. University of Bordeaux II. France.

September 1997-September 1998  Pre-doctoral research internship at the UMR Génomique-Développement-Pouvoir Pathogène, Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Institut de Biologie Végétale Moléculaire, INRA laboratory. France

Scientific summary

I have been involved in the study of parasitic protozoa since my PhD, which focused on the energy metabolism of African trypanosomes. During my post-doc in the UK, I then studied various aspects of the cell biology of other trypanosomatids (Leishmania mexicana and L. major), including vesicular trafficking and proteolysis. I then went to the University of Montpellier, where I currently co-lead the “Cell Biology of Apicomplexan Parasites” team with M. Lebrun. I first started working on the host invasion process by apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii and then I subsequently conducted independent research on different aspects of T. gondii biology. For instance, for about ten years my group characterised canonical and non-canonical functions of the autophagy-related machinery in this parasite. I am now focusing more generally on metabolic features that could be exploited for anti-Toxoplasma drug design, and the metabolic changes accompanying parasite differentiation in response to stress.