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The research of the PhylHom team aims to understand the functions of the human microbial digestive ecosystem and their physio-pathological consequences. The approach is integrated and includes anaerobic microbiology, microbial ecology, "omics" tools and mathematical modelling.

From anaerobic culture and bacterial physiology to molecular approaches, I have been interested since my doctorate in the functions of microorganisms involved in anaerobic metabolisms. In 1995, I had the chance to follow the Microbial Ecology course at Woods Hole, whose intense program of courses and field experiments seduced me and confirmed my desire to take an interest in microbial ecology. Stemming from the work of Carl Woese, phylogenetic analyzes based on the sequence of the gene coding for 16S rDNA began to be applied there and I witnessed strong methodological confrontations between the two directors, A. Salyers, a pioneer in genetics at Bacteroides and E. Leadbetter for culture. Beyond this anecdote, it appeared to me very early on that the different approaches and techniques for studying bacterial functions were not to be scientifically opposed but to be mastered, because they were complementary. Having been recruited after my thesis, in 1997, I was able to choose mobility in France and abroad which allowed me to keep this common thread to build my career development.

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