CV Science

Fabrizio Mammano PhD, Virology

Course and current status

Current position:

Director of Research at INSERM;

Director, INSERM Unit 1259 MAVIVH, University of Tours Medical School, France

Education:

M.Sc. Nov 1989, (Biology) Faculty of Sciences, University of Padua, Italy

Ph.D. Sept 1994, (Virology) University of Padua Medical School, Italy

HDR Apr 2005 (Habilitation to Direct Research) University Paris Diderot, France

Professional Experience:

2024-present Director, INSERM Unit 1259 MAVIVH, University of Tours 

2021-23 Deputy Director, INSERM Unit 1259 MAVIVH, University of Tours, France

2019-21 DR2, PI Host-Pathogen Interactions group, INSERM U1124, Univ of Paris, France

2011-18 DR2, Head of Viral Evolution and Pathogenesis group, INSERM U941, Univ/Hosp Saint-Louis, Paris, France

2007-10 DR2, PI, Dpt of Virology, Institut Pasteur, Paris France

2005-2007 Director of Research (DR2), INSERM U552 Antiviral Research, Univ/Hosp Bichat, Paris, France

1999-2005 Staff Scientist (CR1), INSERM U552 Antiviral Research, Univ/Hosp Bichat, Paris, France

1996-98 Post-Doc, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, Paris France

1992-96 PhD Student + Post-Doc, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA

1990-92 PhD Student, Institute of Oncology, University of Padua, Italy

Scientific summary

My research has focused for 3 decades on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), working in different institutions in Italy, the US and France. HIV leads to a chronic infection with invariable fatal outcome in the absence of treatment, and the establishment of long-lived latent viral reservoirs. I have explored with particular interest the protein interactions required for the formation of infectious virus particles, virus tropism, the evolution of the virus under the pressure of drugs and of the immune system, and the establishment and persistence of viral reservoirs in patients. The viral reservoirs (which represent the major obstacle to an HIV cure), and virus escape from innate immunityare issues that we continue to study in our research group. 

Following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, I have approached this virus whose interaction with the host is very different from HIV. SARS-CoV-2 drives a fiery acute infection with extremely diverse clinical outcomes, and long-term sequelae in approximately 10-20 % of the infected individuals. I have studied (and continue to be interested in) the factors that are implicated in the induction of an efficient humoral response in the course of the natural infection and after vaccination. 

The explosive SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and the identification of the continuous threat posed by “Emerging viruses”, have highlighted the need for better preparedness. Our group has engaged in this direction. In particular, in the context of a European Commission sponsored consortium aiming the rapid development of broad-spectrum antivirals, we study their effectiveness on several emerging viruses (Zika, Dengue, West-Nile, Chikungunya, SARS-CoV-2).