Description:

Adaptive Processes to Man (Made) Environment: Cupriavidus Metallidurans as a Case Study

Cupriavidus metallidurans was originally isolated from a Belgian industrial sites in the Meuse bassin. Soon, isolates of this species were reported from industrial sites from all over the world. The genomic sequence of the reference strain CH34 has rapidly enlighten the presence of orthologs for most of the metal resistance genes already described in other bacteria. Further, random mutagenesis approach let us suspect additional resistance mechanisms for other metals, including from the lanthanide family. Interestingly the genome showed also a wide range of mobile genetic elements suspected to play a role in adaptive processes of the species that could be further identified up to the International Space station, and among clinical isolates from cystis fibrosis patients.
This presentation will overview omics studies performed with the reference strain C. metallidurans CH34 and experimentation aimed at better understanding its adaptability to anthropogenic environments and beyond. The talk will give insight into potential applications.

Tatiana Vallaeys has been provisionally appointed as attachée for science and technology at the French consulate in September 2017 during a sabbatical. She is Professor (full) of microbial ecology and biotechnology at the University of Montpellier, France. She holds a HDR (DsC ) in Microbial Ecology from the University of Dijon France, a joined PhD degree from the University of Lille (France) and Cardiff (United Kingdom), a master degree in statistics from the Lyon university (France) and a second master in biology –biochemistry from Ecole Normale Supérieure , Paris, France. She also graduate in Management from IAE Montpellier France. Tatiana Vallaeys is fluent in English (Certificate of Proficiency of Cambridge UK), French and Russian. She published over 100 international papers, reports and book chapters. She worked as an international expert for European Union as FP7 and Marie Curie Sklodowska project evaluator and DG SANCO expert. She is also an adviser for European Space Agency Melissa foundation. She coordinated different international and EU research projects.