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In bacteria, the rigid external cell wall (CW) and the intracellular actin-like (MreB) cytoskeleton are major determinants of cell shape. Synthesis and chemical composition of the CW, a three dimensional polymer network that is one of the most prominent targets for antibiotics, are well understood. However, despite decades of study, little is known about the complex CW ultrastructure and the molecular mechanisms that control cell shape in time and space. MreB homologues assemble into dynamic membrane-associated structures thought to control shape by serving as organizers for the movement and assembly of macromolecular machineries responsible for CW biogenesis. However, the mechanistic details used by the MreB cytoskeleton to fulfill this role remain to be elucidated. I am combining modern high-resolution fluorescence microscopy techniques and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study the role of the MreB cytoskeleton and CW synthesis proteins in cell shape determination and maintenance. Additionally, I am studying the role of mechanical forces in the control of CW organization.

-Tesson, B*.,Latz, M*.  2015. Atomic Force Microscopy Investigation of Dinoflagellate bioluminescence: Cell Biomechanics Related to Physiological Sensitivity. Biophys. J. 108, 1341–1351.

-Tesson B* and Charrier B* (2014) Brown algal morphogenesis: Atomic Force Microscopy as a tool to study the role of mechanical forces. Front. Plant Sci. 5:471. doi:10.3389/fpls.2014.00471.

-Kopanska, K. S., Tesson, B., Lin, H., Meredith, J. C., Hildebrand, M., Davis, A. 2014. Morphological Factors Involved in Adhesion of Purified Diatom Silica. Silicon, 6, 95-107.

-Tesson, B*., Hildebrand, M*. 2013. Characterization and Localization of Insoluble Organic Matrices Associated with Diatom Cell Walls: Insight into Their roles During Cell Wall Formation. PLoS ONE 8(4): e61675. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0061675

-Shrestha, R., Tesson, B., Norden-Krichmar, T., Federowicz, S., Hildebrand^, M., Allen, A. 2012. Whole Transcriptome Analysis of the Silicon Response of the Diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. BMC Genomics, 13, 499.

-Martin-Jezequel, V., Tesson, B. 2012. Phaeodactylum tricornutum polymorphism: An overview. In Advances in algal cell biology. Ed. by Heimann, Kirsten and Katsaros, Christos. Walter De gruyter publishing group. (ISBN 978-3-11-022960-8).p. 43-80.

-Tesson, B., Hildebrand, M. 2010. Extensive and Intimate Association of the Cytoskeleton with Forming Silica in Diatoms: Control Over Patterning on The Meso- and Micro-scale. PLoS One. 5(12): e14300. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0014300

-Tesson, B., Hildebrand, M. 2010. Dynamics of Silica Cell Wall Morphogenesis in the Diatom Cyclotella cryptica: Substructure Formation and the Role of Microfilaments. Journal of Structural Biology. 169 (1), 62-74.

-Tesson, B., Genet, M., Fernandez, V., Martin-Jézéquel, V. Rouxhet, P.  2009. Surface chemical analysis of the diatoms Thalassiosira pseudonana and the three morphotypes of Phaeodactylum tricornutum. ChemBioChem. 10, 2011-2024.

-Tesson, B., Gaillard C., Martin-jézéquel V. 2009. New insights on Phaeodactylum tricornutum polymorphism. Botanica Marina. Special issue, Algae Cell Biology. 52, 2, 104-116.

-Francius, G., Tesson, B., Dague, E., Martin-Jézéquel, V., Dufrêne, Y. F. 2008. Nanostructure and nanomechanics of live Phaeodactylum tricornutum morphotypes. Environmental Microbiology. 10 (5), 1344-1356.

-Tesson, B., Masse, S., Laurent, G., Maquet, J., Livage, J., Martin-Jézéquel V., Coradin, T. 2008. Contribution of multi-nuclear solid state NMR to the characterization of Thalassiosira pseudonana diatom cell wall. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 390, 1889-1898.

-Hatte, C. Y., Hodgins, G., Jull, T., Bishop, B., Tesson, B. 2008. Marine chronology based on 14C dating on diatoms proteins. Marine Chemistry. 109, 143-161.

-Tesson, B., Gaillard, C., Martin-Jézéquel, V.2008. Biologically mediated formation of brucite crystal by the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Marine Chemistry. 109, 60-76.

2015-2017      Marie Curie fellow, Team ProCeD, INRA Jouy en Josas.

2014-2015      Postdoctoral position at INRA Jouy en Josas. Team ProCeD.

2008-2013       Postdoctoral position at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, San Diego.

2004-2008     PhD. in marine biology. University of Nantes.