More and more infectious diseases are becoming resistant to current drugs. With this in mind, researchers from the Université Paris Cité-Inserm collaborative are launching a major participatory research program to find future drugs using bacteria living in soils. Coordinated by Vincent Libis and Aude Bernheim of the research team Evolution and Engineering of Dynamic Systems, The Learning Planet Institute (Université Paris Cité, Inserm), led by Ariel Lindner, invites all citizens to take part in the project. Science à la Pelle and collect soil samples throughout the summer of 2022. These contributions will collectively help advance research into medicines to combat infectious diseases.
More and more infectious diseases, caused by pathogenic bacteria or viruses, are becoming resistant to today's drugs. Yet these diseases pose a growing threat to human health.
Numerous drugs used today are derived from molecules produced naturally by bacteria in the soil, But only a tiny fraction of these bacteria have been studied in the laboratory.
To speed up research in this field, researchers need access to a huge quantity of soil samples from all over France, potentially containing a large number of bacteria to be studied for their potential therapeutic value.
With this in mind, researchers from Université Paris Cité and Inserm's Evolution and Engineering of Dynamic Systems at the Learning Planet Institute are inviting citizens to join the participatory research program Science à la Pelle. Their contribution, crucial to the success of this research project, is simple. During their summer walks, participants are invited to take a tablespoonful of soil from the area where they are walking, send the sample to the researchers and fill in the information on the application available at project website, and a photo of the sampling site.
The research team, which has developed innovative research methods to study these bacteria on a large scale and identify the interesting molecules they produce, will analyze all the samples received and present the results of their research to the participants.
This participatory research project will also address issues such as the links between health and biodiversity, antibiotic resistance and the fabulous variety of life living in soils.
The aim of the project Science à la Pelle is to use the bacteria that live in soils to find effective medicines for infectious diseases that develop resistance to drugs. The campaign will run throughout the summer.
Press contacts :
presse@u-paris.fr
presse@inserm.fr
Université Paris Cité Université Paris Cité : An intensive, multi-disciplinary research university with the «Initiative d'Excellence» label, Université Paris Cité is at the top international level thanks to its research, the diversity of its training courses, its support for innovation, and its active participation in the construction of the European research and training area. Université Paris Cité is made up of three faculties (Health, Sciences and Societies and Humanities), a component institution, the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, and a partner research organization, the Institut Pasteur. Université Paris Cité has 63,000 students, 7,500 professors and researchers, 21 doctoral schools and 119 research units. https://u-paris.fr
Inserm: Created in 1964, Inserm is a public scientific and technological establishment, under the dual authority of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Research. Inserm is the only French public research organization entirely dedicated to human health. Our aim: to improve the health of all through the advancement of knowledge about living organisms and diseases, and through innovation, thanks to our 300 research units and 150,000 employees. Inserm values exchanges between researchers, patient associations, healthcare professionals, support groups and civil society in general. Reinforcing the Institute's commitment to participatory research is part of its strategic plan.
