- Contact me:

E-mail: Vincent Sanchis

Téléphone: +33 (0)1 34 65 28 76

Cursus:

 - 1985: Master's degree in Microbiology (DEA), University Paris 7

- 1989: Ph. D. in Molecular Biology, University Paris 7.

- 1990: Postdoctoral training (2 years), University of Cambridge (UK).

Positions:

 - 1985-1988: Graduate research student, Ministry of research fellowship, Pasteur Institute.

- 1989: Research fellow (Pasteur-Weizmann Foundation), Pasteur Institute.

- 1990-1991: Postdoctoral research associate, University of Cambridge (UK).

- 1992-2004: Research scientist INRA (CR1), Pasteur Institute.

- 2005-2010: Research director INRA (DR2) in the Microbiology division of INRA.  INRA, UR1249, Domaine de La Minière, Guyancourt, France.

- 2011-present: Research director INRA (DR2) at the Food and Gut Microbiology for Human Health Institute (MICALIS) in the Microbiology & food chain division (MICA) of INRA. INRA, Micalis, UMR1319, Jouy-en-Josas, France

Career:

 I am a senior scientist in D. Lereclus group. I obtained a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Paris 7 in 1989 for studying the regulation of insecticidal toxin genes expression and specificity in B. thuringiensis. I was then a postdoctoral research associate (1990-1991) in the department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge (UK) and gained expertise in toxin-receptor interactions and in purification of membrane proteins.I started my research career as a Research Scientist (CR) in the crop protection division of INRA in 1992. From 1992 to 2004, I worked in the Department of Biotechnology of the Pasteur Institute in Paris on genetic manipulation of spore forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus and the development of new recombinant B. thuringiensis strains with improved insecticidal properties to control agricultural pests. In 2005, I became a Research Director (DR2) in the Microbiology division of INRA and initiated research on the characterization of genes important for adaptation of B. cereus strains to environmental changes and successful niche colonisation. Since 2010 I work at the Food and Gut Microbiology for Human Health Institute (MICALIS) in the Microbiology & food chain division (MICA) of INRA at Jouy-en-Josas, France. The aim of my current research is to better characterise the members of the B. cereus group with particular emphasis on the genetic basis of their different disease phenotypes and to develop sensitive/specific genetic-based methods for identification, typing, and characterization of the pathogens that pose safety threats. I am author or co-author of more than 46 original publications and reviews published in international peer-reviewed journals and of 5 book chapters and 4 international patents. I am also a regular referee for more than 10 scientific journals in Molecular Biology, Genetics or Microbiology. My areas of expertise include the molecular genetics and genomics of low G+C Gram-Positive bacteria and the basic and applied biology of insect microbial pathogens.

Main Areas of Research:

• Molecular genetics and genomics of low G+C Gram-Positive bacteria.
• Applied biology of insect microbial pathogens.
• Genetics of bacterial adaptation and successful niche colonization.

Grants and contracts (since 1995):

1995-1997: Project R95/15. DGAL. Programme Aliment 2002- Aliment demain : « Etude des mécanismes et du déterminisme génétique du développement de la résistance à Bacillus thuringiensis par les insectes ». Coordinator : V. Sanchis, INRA, France).

1996-1997: Actions Concertées Coordonnées des Sciences du Vivant (ACC-SV) : « Les réactions de défense des organismes aux agressions de l'environnement et sélection de génotypes résistants » » Coordinator : N. Pasteur (Université de Montpellier, France).

1995-1998: R&D contract on the development of new biopesticides between Institut Pasteur, INRA and AgrEvo. Scientific manager: V. Sanchis (INRA, France).

1998-2000: Project funding under the 1998-2000 strategic framework of the SPE department of INRA. Project 11-071-01 : «caractérisation et étude du mode d’action de toxines insecticides d’origine bactérienne». Scientific Manager: V. Sanchis (INRA, France).

1999-2002: R&D contract on the characterization of new insecticidal molecules between Institut Pasteur, INRA and AgrEvo. Scientific managers: V. Sanchis and D. Lereclus  (INRA, France)

2000-2002: Franco-Chinese cooperation project. AFCRST. Project PRA BT00-02. «Mécanisme moléculaire de l’activité antifongique et amélioration génétique de la souche B916 de Bacillus subtilis». Scientific managers: V. Sanchisand D. Lereclus (INRA, France)

2001-2003: DGAL contract. Programme Aliment-Qualité-Sécurité. Project AQS-R00/13 : « Caractérisation de la virulence de Bacillus cereus et approche quantitative de la dose minimale infectieuse. Comparaison entre souches à l’origine de toxi-infections alimentaires (TIA) et Souches d’aliments». (9 partners). Coordinator: C. Ngyuen-Thé (INRA Avignon, France).

2005-2008: ANR contract. Programme de recherche en Alimentation et nutrition humaine. Project ANR-05-PNRA-013 (10 partners). Coordinator: Christophe Ngyuen-Thé (INRA Avignon, France).

2005-2010: Participation to the European COST action 862: “Bacterial toxins for insect control”. Coordinator: Ralf-Udo Ehlers (Germany).

2008-2009: Participation to an AUF contract. Projet de coopération scientifique inter-universitaire (PCSI). « Study of the resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antimicrobial peptides ».  Coordinators : D. Lereclus and C. Nielsen-LeRoux  (INRA, France).

2013-2016 : ANR BIOADAPT 2012 contract « Adaptation : des gènes aux populations. Génétique et biologie de l’adaptation aux stress et aux perturbations ». Project ANR-12-ADAP-0018-01-PathobactEvol. Title : Evolution of a sporeforming food-borne opportunistic pathogen in the environment. (8 partners).  Coordinator : V. Sanchis (INRA, France).

2014-2018 : Participation to a PHC COFECUB-CAPES France-Brésil 2013. Title: Role of the plasmids in the behaviour of bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group in insects. Project managers : D. Lereclus (INRA, France) et G. Vilas-Boas (UEL, Brésil).

2015-2016 : Project PHC CEDRE 2015. Title: Etude des mécanismes de résistance à la réponse immunitaire innée dans un modèle d’infection Drosophile/B. cereus. Project managers : V. Sanchis (INRA, France) et L. El Chamy (USJ, Liban).

Expert Panels and Boards of Scientific Organizations:

- Member of the EFSA - BIOHAZ working group on Public health risks related to the presence of Bacillus spp. in foodstuffs (2015-2016).

- Member of the French normalization commission AFNOR/V08B « Food Microbiology ». (since 2014)

- National expert of the CASDAR steering committee of the Bt ID project for agriculture and rural development « Outils pour identifier, tracer et contrôler les contaminations de la fourche à la fourchette » (Since 2016).

- Member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) WG 20 working group « Differentiation between Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus cereus », Technical committee TC34 « food products », subcommittee SC9 « Microbiology » (Since 2014).

Recent collaborations:

- J-B. Ferdy, Laboratoire Evolution et diversité Biologique, UMR CNRS-UPS 5174, Toulouse

- P. Nicolas, Unité Mathématiques et Informatique Appliquées, du Génome à l’Environnement (MaIAGE), Jouy en Josas

- M-H Guinebretière, V. Broussolle et  J. Brillard, unité SQPOV, INRA Avignon.

- M. Kallassy Awad et Laure El Chamy, Laboratoire Génétique de la drosophile et virulence microbienne- Faculté des sciences, Université Saint-Joseph, Liban.

- L. Stenfors Arnesen, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway.

- J. Mahillon, Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, UCL, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

- G. Vilas-Bôas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Londrina, Brazil.

- L. Stenfors Arnesen, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway.

Biometrics:

Vincent Sanchis - Citations Google Scholar

•  Author or co-author of 46 publications in peer-reviewed international journals.
•  Author or co-author of 6 book chapters and of 3 international patents
•  h index = 22 (Web of science; April 2019). Search for Title = (Bacillus*) AND Author = (Sanchis V*) OR Author= (Sanchis-Borja v*).
•  Number of citations without self-citations: 2503 (Web of science; April 2019).
•  Citing articles without sel-citations:2129 (Web of science; April 2019).
•  Average citation per item: 57.16 (Web of science; April 2019).

Publications of the last five years – peer reviewed:

- Zervas A, Aggerbeck MR, Allaga H, Güzel M, Hendriks M, Jonuškienė I, Kedves O, Kupeli A, Lamovšek J, Mülner P,  Munday D, Namli S, Samut H, Tomičić R, Tomičic Z, Yeni F, Zribi Zghal R, Zhao X, Sanchis Borja V, Hendriksen NB. (2020). Identification and characterization of 33 Bacillus cereussensu lato isolates from agricultural fields from eleven widely distributed countries by whole genome sequencing. Microorganisms 2020, 8, 2028, doi:10.3390/microorganisms8122028.

- Attieh Z, Mouawad C, Rejasse A, Jehanno I, Perchat S, Hegna IK, Økstad OA, Kallassy Awad M, Sanchis-Borja V and El Chamy L. (2020). The fliK Gene Is Required for the Resistance of Bacillus thuringiensis to Antimicrobial Peptides and Virulence in Drosophila melanogaster. Front. Microbiol. 2020. 11:611220. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.611220

- Attieh Z., Kallassy M., Rejasse A., Courtin P., Gomperts-Boneca I., Chapot-Chartier M-P., Sanchis-Borja V. and El Chamy L. (2019). D-alanylation of Teichoic Acids in Bacilli impedes the immune sensing of peptidoglycan in Drosophila. Submitted to eLIFE (in review). bioRxiv 631523; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/631523;

- Fayad N,  Patino-Navarrete R, Kambris  Z., Antoun M., Osta M., Chopineau J., Mahillon J., El Chamy L. Sanchis V. and Kallassy Awad, M. (2019). Characterization and whole genome sequencing of a new highly toxic Bacillus thuringiensis sv. israelensis strain AR23 isolated from Lebanese soil. Curr Microbiol (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-019-01775-9.

- Kamar R, Réjasse A, Jéhanno I, Attieh Z,  Courtin P., Chapot-Chartier M-P, Nielsen-Leroux C, Lereclus D, El Chamy L, Kallassy Awad M, Sanchis-Borja V. (2017). DltX of Bacillus thuringiensis is essential for D-alanylation of teichoic acids and resistance to antimicrobial response in insects. Frontiers in Microbiology. 8:1437. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01437.

- Guinebretière M-H, Loux V, Martin V, Nicolas P, Sanchis V, Broussolle V. (2017). Draft Genome Sequence of 18 psychrotolerant and 2 thermotolerant strains representative of particular ecotypes in the Bacillus cereus group sensu lato. Genome announc. 2017 Feb 2; 5(5). pii: e01568-16. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01568-16.

- Bolotin A., Gillis A., Sanchis V., Nielsen-LeRoux C., Mahillon J., Lereclus D. and Sorokin A. (2017). Comparative genomics of extrachromosomal elements in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. Res. Microbiol. 2017 May;168(4):331-344. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.10.008. Epub 2016 Nov 1

- Patino-Navarrete R and Sanchis V. (2017). Evolutionary processes and environmental factors underlying the genetic diversity and lifestyles of Bacillus cereus group bacteria. Research in Microbiology. doi:10.1016/j.resmic.2016.07.002.

- Sanchis V. (2016). - EFSA BIOHAZ Panel (EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards). Scientific opinion on the risks for public health related to the presence of Bacillus cereus and other Bacillus spp. Including Bacillus thuringiensis in foodstuffs. EFSA Journal 2016; 14(7): 4524, 93 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4524.

- Ramarao R., Sanchis V. (2013).The pore-forming haemolysins of Bacillus cereus: a review. Toxins. 5(6): 1119-1139. Doi:10.3390/toxins5061119.

- Kamar, R., Gohar, M., Jéhanno, I., Rejasse, A., Kallassy Awad, M., Lereclus, D., Sanchis V. Ramarao, R. (2013). Pathogenic potential of Bacillus cereus strains as revealed by phenotypic analysis. J. Clin. Microbiol, 51(1): 320-323. (IF2013: 4.232).

- Réjasse, A., Gilois, N., Barbosa, I., Bevilacqua, C., Huillet, E., Tran, S., Ramarao, N., Stenfors Arnesen, L. P., Sanchis, V. (2012). Temperature-dependent production of various PlcR-controlled virulence factors in Bacillus weihenstephanensis strain KBAB4. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 78(8): 2553-2561. DOI: 10.1128/AEM.07446-11. (IF2012: 3.670).

Twenty most important publications:

- Kamar R, Réjasse A, Jéhanno I, Attieh Z,  Courtin P., Chapot-Chartier M-P, Nielsen-Leroux C, Lereclus D, El Chamy L, Kallassy Awad M, Sanchis-Borja V. (2017). DltX of Bacillus thuringiensis is essential for D-alanylation of teichoic acids and resistance to antimicrobial response in insects. Frontiers in Microbiology. 8:1437. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01437.

- Kamar R, Gohar M, Jéhanno I, Rejasse A, Kallassy Awad M, Lereclus D, Sanchis V, Ramarao R. (2013). Pathogenic potential of Bacillus cereus strains as revealed by phenotypic analysis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 51(1): 320-323.

- Réjasse A, Gilois, N, Barbosa I, Jéhanno, I, Huillet, E, Tran, S, Ramarao N, Stenfors Arnesen LP, Sanchis V. (2012). Temperature-dependent production of various PlcR-controlled virulence factors in Bacillus weihenstephanensis strain KBAB4. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78(8): 2553-2561.

- Sanchis, V. (2011). From microbial sprays to insect-resistant transgenic plants: history of the biospesticide Bacillus thuringiensis. A review. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 31: 217-231. DOI: 10.1051/agro/2010027.

- Brillard, J., Jehanno, I., Dargaignaratz, C., Barbosa, C., Carlin, F. Fedhila, S., Nguyen-thé, C., Broussolle, V., Sanchis V. (2010). Identification of genes specifically expressed during Bacillus cereus growth at low temperature. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 76: 2562-2573.

- Guinebretiere M.H., Thompson, F., Sorokin, A., Dawyndt, P., Ehling-schulz, M., Svensson, B., Sanchis, V., Nguyen-The, C., Heyndrickx, M., De Vos, P. (2008). Ecological diversification in the Bacillus cereus group. Environ. Microbiol., 10: 851-865.

- Lapidus A, Goltsman E, Auger S, Galleron N, Ségurens, B, Dossat C, Land ML, Broussole V, Brillard J, Guinebretiere MH, Sanchis V, Nguyen-the C, Lereclus D, Richardson P, Winker P, Weissenbach J, Ehrlich SD, Sorokin A. (2008). Extending the Bacillus cereus group genomics to putative foodborne pathogens of different toxicity. Chem-Biol. Interact. 171: 236-249.

- Sorokin, A., Candelon, B., Guilloux, K., Galleron, N., Wackerow-Kouzova, N., Dusko Ehrlich, S., Bourget, D., Sanchis, V. (2006). Multiple Locus Sequence Typing of the Versailles forest collection of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis reveals separate clustering of psychrotrophic strains. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72: 1569-1578.

- Gohar, M., Gilois, N., Graveline, R., Garreau, C., Sanchis, V., Lereclus, D. (2005). A comparative study of Bacillus cereus, B. thuringiensis and B. anthracis extracellular proteomes. Proteomics, 5: 3696-3711.

- Slamti, L, Perchat, S., Gominet, M., Vilas-Bôas, G., Fouet, A., Mock, M., Sanchis, V., Chaufaux, J., Gohar, M. and Lereclus, D. (2004). Distinct mutations in PlcR explain why some strains of the Bacillus cereus group are nonhemolytic. J. Bacteriol,. 186: 3531-3538.

- Espinasse S., Gohar, M., Lereclus, D. and Sanchis, V. (2004). An ECF sigma factor is involved in a pathway controlling ß-exotoxin I production in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis strain 407-1. J. Bacteriol. 186: 3108-3116.

- Espinasse S., Gohar, M., Lereclus, D. and Sanchis, V. (2002). An ABC transporter from Bacillus thuringiensis is essential for ß-exotoxin I production. J. Bacteriol., 184: 5848-5854.

- Espinasse S., Gohar, M., Chaufaux J., Buisson C., Perchat S. and Sanchis, V. (2002). Correspondence of high levels of ß-exotoxin I and cry 1B in Bacillus thuringiensis.Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 68: 4182-4186.

- Gohar, M., Olkstad, O. E., Gilois, N., Sanchis, V., Kolsto, A-B and Lereclus D. (2002) Two dimensional electrophoresis analysis of the extracellular proteome of Bacillus cereus reveals the importance of the PlcR regulon. Proteomics, 2: 784-791.

- Vilas-Boas, G., Sanchis, V., Lereclus, D. Lemos, M.V.F., and Bourguet, D. (2002). Genetic differentiation between sympatric populations of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 68: 1414-1424.

- Sanchis, V., Gohar, M., Chaufaux, J., Arantes, O., Meier, A., Agaisse, H., Cayley, J. and Lereclus, D. (1999). Development and field performance of a broad spectrum non-viable asporogenic recombinant strain of Bacillus thuringiensis with greater potency and UV resistance. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 69: 4032-4039. 

- Sanchis, V., Agaisse, H., Chaufaux, J. and Lereclus, D. (1997). A recombinase-mediated system for the elimination of antibiotic resistance gene markers from genetically engineered Bacillus thuringiensis strains. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 63: 779-784.

- Chaufaux, J., Müller-Cohn, J., Buisson, C., Sanchis, V., Lereclus, D. and Pasteur, N. (1997). Inheritance of resistance to the Bacillus thuringiensis CryIC toxin in Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Econ. Entomol., 90: 873-878.

- Lereclus, D., Agaisse, H., Gominet, M., Salamitou, S. and Sanchis, V. (1996). Identification of a Bacillus thuringiensis gene that positively regulates the transcription of the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C gene at the onset of the stationary phase. J. Bacteriol., 178: 2749-2756.

- Sanchis, V., Agaisse, H., Chaufaux, J. and Lereclus, D. (1996). Construction of new insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis recombinant strains by using the sporulation non-dependent expression system of cryIIIA and a site specific recombination vector. J. Biotechnol., 48: 81-96.

Recent book chapters:

 - Sanchis, V. (2012). Genetic improvement of Bacillus thuringiensis strains and development of novel biopesticides. pp. 215-228. In “Bacillus thuringiensis Biotechnology”, Sansinenea E. (Ed.). Springer. (DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-3021-2)

- Sanchis, V. and Bourguet, D. (2009). Bacillus thuringiensis: applications in agriculture and insect resistance management. pp 243-255. In Sustainable Agriculture book series, Volume 1-2009. Lichtfouse, E.; Navarrete, M.; Debaeke, P.; Véronique, S.; Alberola, C. (Eds.) EDP Sciences & Springer. (DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-2666-8_16).

Recent Expert Reports:

- EFSA BIOHAZ Panel (EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards). Sanchis V. (2016). Scientific opinion on the risks for public health related to the presence of Bacillus cereus and other Bacillus spp. Including Bacillus thuringiensis in foodstuffs. EFSA Journal 2016; 14(7): 4524, 93 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4524.