How we raised the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes to the rank of a model system – Pascale COSSART

The 5th de Duve Lecture, which will be given by Professor Pascale COSSART, who will enlighten us on the molecular and cellular bases of bacterial infections. The lecture will take place on Thursday, 14 December at 17:30, in the auditorium A (Lacroix) on the UCLouvain Health Sciences campus in Brussels. It will be followed by a reception.

Professor Pascale Cossart is a pioneering figure in Cellular Microbiology, renowned for her groundbreaking work. She holds a PhD from the Pasteur Institute in Paris and has directed the Bacteria-Cell Interactions unit. Her research journey began with studying DNA-protein interactions, but in 1986, she shifted her focus to investigate the molecular and cellular aspects of bacterial infections, using Listeria monocytogenes as a model. Cossart’s work has yielded groundbreaking insights into how Listeria monocytogenes crosses the intestinal and feto-placental barriers, its actin-based motility within host cells, and novel mechanisms governing gene expression through RNAs. Her research also highlights the role of mitochondria in infection and host post-translational modifications, like histone modifications, influencing infection outcomes. Her contributions have garnered international recognition, with prestigious awards including the L’Oréal/Unesco award, the Robert Koch prize, the Jeantet prize, and the Balzan prize. She is a member of several prominent academies, such as the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine (USA), the Royal Society (UK), and the French Academy of Sciences, where she served as Perpetual Secretary. Currently, she holds the position of visitor at EMBL in Heidelberg, Germany.

For security reasons, registration before 11 December is mandatory, through the registration page or the QR code on the flyer.