Topics: Origin: Project type: Development
Name of Applicant: Nadia BENAROUDJ
Date of application: 14-08-2026
Unit: Biology of Spirochetes
Location: 12-03-16
Phone: @ Mail: nadia.benaroudj@pasteur.fr
Project context and summary: Leptospires encompass free-living and pathogenic environmental species that are exposed to endogenous and exogenous reactive oxygen species. The adaptation to oxidative stress has been thoroughly characterized in the models for pathogenic species (Leptospira interrogans) and saprophytes (Leptospira biflexa) but has never been explored in the species of the P2 clade which encompasses mainly environmental species that might be responsible for asymptomatic form of leptospirosis. We have identified a PerRB regulator that controls the adaptation to oxidative stress in these species. Our aim is to identify the factors and the PerRB-regulated network that participate in the defense of P2 Leptospira species against oxidants.
Related team publications:Zavala-Alvarado C, Sismeiro O, Legendre R, Varet H, Bussotti G, Bayram J, G Huete S, Rey G, Coppée JY, Picardeau M, Benaroudj N. (2020) The transcriptional response of pathogenic Leptospira to peroxide reveals new defenses against infection-related oxidative stress. PLoS Pathog. Oct;16(10):e1008904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008904
Zavala-Alvarado C, G Huete S, Vincent AT, Sismeiro O, Legendre R, Varet H, Bussotti G, Lorioux C, Lechat P, Coppée JY, Veyrier FJ, Picardeau M, Benaroudj N. (2021) The oxidative stress response of pathogenic Leptospira is controlled by two peroxide stress regulators which putatively cooperate in controlling virulence. PLoS Pathog. Dec 2;17(12):e1009087. DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009087
Huete SG, Leyva A, Kornobis E, Cokelaer T, Lechat P, Monot M, Duran R, Picardeau M, Benaroudj N. Revisiting oxygen toxicity: evolution and adaptation to superoxide in a SOD-deficient bacterial pathogen. mBio. 2025 Aug 13;16(8):e0064525. doi: 10.1128/mbio.00645-25. Epub 2025 Jul 23. DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00645-25
Status: New
