Anne Durandy Research director
Course and current status
MD: 1974
PhD: 1984
1978-1980 : Attachée de recherche à l’INSERM (INSERM U132)
1981-1986 : Chargée de recherche à l’INSERM (INSERM U132)
1986-2000 : Directeur de Recherche 2ème classe (INSERM U 429)
2001-2005 : Directeur de Recherche 1ère classe (INSERM U 429)
2006-2008 : Directeur de Recherche 1ère classe (INSERM U 768)
2008- : Directeur de Recherche classe Exceptionnelle (INSERM U768)
Head of the team "Interactionslymphocytaires et maturation terminale des lymphocytes B" at INSERM U768
Scientific summary
I am working on human B cell terminal maturation, i.e immunoglobulin class switch recombination and somatic hypermutations, through the study of natural mutants (hyper-IgM-HIGM-patients). By this approach, we gave evidence for the essential role of the Activation-Induced cytidine deaminase (AID) in both processes. We provided evidence for a DNA-editing activity of AID by the description of an HIGM phenotype in Uracyl-N glycosylase (UNG)-deficient patients. More recently, we described the role of the mismatch (MMR) enzymes in antibody maturation, for the first time in humans.
Besides this research activity, I am involved in the diagnosis (including molecular diagnosis) of several humoral defects (HIGM and common variable immunodeficiency-CVID). Moreover, I am involved in prenatal diagnosis of several inherited and severe immunodeficiencies and in genetic counselling.
