Integrative and multidisciplinary tools for the study of infectious diseases from the wild to the lab

"One Health" is now recognized as a major concept in the field of prevention and management of emerging infectious diseases (EID), particularly in the context of (i) (re)emerging diseases, the vast majority of which are zoonotic, (ii) vector-borne diseases and (iii) antimicrobial resistance. The EquipEx+ InfectioTron takes up the challenge of integrating ecology, evolution, immunology and infectiology by relying on 3 drivers: an interdisciplinary community, the implementation of integrative tools, and a favorable local ecosystem. Our ambition is to develop a suite of equipment to address EID from the field up to the lab at the cellular & molecular levels in BSL2/BSL3-confined laboratories, and to integrate studies on various aspects of host-pathogen systems to respond to particular threats by including diagnostic, development of preventive methods (e.g. vaccines, control of arthropod vectors), development of curative methods (high throughput test of antimicrobial molecules), taking into account environmental, ecological and evolutionary issues, as well as sanitary crisis situations.

Major progress has been made in 2025 as all equipment has now been purchased, even though some machines still have to be installed and other are not yet fully accessible because of delays in the reception and validation of confined environments. Importantly, great progress has been made regarding the installation of a cryomicroscopy platform on the ENS site. The BSL2 platform will eventually comprise all the equipment necessary for sample preparation, the cryo-TEM, as well as a FIB-SEM for cellular investigations. Additional funds were necessary as the budget now exceed 5M€, but all the budget is secured. Construction of the platform has started and  the Cryo-TEM has been purchased for an installation beginning of 2027.

Finally, InfectioTron was evaluated at mid-term by the international Jury that was ‘fully satisfied by the trajectory of the project’.