CHRISTINE CITTI
- Interactions hôtes-agents pathogènes [Toulouse] (IHAP)
Présentation
My research interest focuses on combating and preventing animal infectious diseases including zoonoses. Early in my career, I studied how pathogenic bacteria (mycoplasmas) evade the host immune system by altering their surface composition and how they use cell-invasion to hide from the host immune response, survive, and disseminate. I further developed mycoplasma genetic tools and shifted my focus to functional genomics using new generation sequencing technologies. Using these tools, my group and I discovered a new mechanism of bacterial gene transfer which one plays a major role in their evolution, survival, and in accelerating the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance. My interest further shifted 10 years ago towards the ecological aspects of infectious diseases leading to my participation in the "Pathobiome" concept in 2014 (Vayssier-Taussat M, Albina E, Citti C et al. 2014 Shifting the paradigm from pathogens to pathobiome: new concepts in the light of meta-omics. Front Cell Infect Microbiol.) and in obtaining a 6-million-euro Horizon Europe project in 2022 to study the ecology of wildlife, livestock, human, and infectious diseases in changing environments (WiLiMan-ID). Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for better preparedness and prevention of future pandemics. I was then appointed as the INRAE scientific focal point for the PREZODE initiative and co-pilot of the French PREZODE research program launched in January 2023. These initiatives aim to structure the scientific community to prevent zoonoses with pandemic potential, promote interdisciplinary global approaches, and involve decision-makers, citizens, and stakeholders to ensure their success. At an early stage of career, I was appointed as the co-chair of the Institute of Bacteriology, Hygiene and Mycology, at the Veterinary University of Vienna, Austria (from 1997 to 2003). Since then and until today, I have been involved in the management of numerous collectives or collective programs of various sizes and at different scales (local, national or international) with the measured ambition of creating links and synergies between researchers, research teams and/or partners to address the growing complexity of the issues and the interdisciplinary or even transdisciplinary nature of the research questions we face. Among these, my contribution as Deputy Director then Director of the research unit “Host-Pathogen Interactions” (IHAP, Toulouse, ca. 100 members, 6 research groups on infectious diseases) from 2006-2021 and as Scientific Director and member of the management team of the National Veterinary school of Toulouse from 2010 to 2015, were in my view the most sticking and instructive. These positions have enlarged my understanding and global vision of the research needs in terms of animal, human and environmental health. Main research positions held.
Since 2023 Co-director of the “Programme et équipement Prioritaire de Recherche” (PEPR) Prezode (France 2030 and ANR). Main administrative and management positions held.
2015-2021 Chair of the joint research unit, UMR 1225 INRA-ENVT, Host-Pathogen Interactions, National Veterinary School of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
2010-2015 Dean for Research and Scientific affairs, Veterinary School of Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
2006-2015 Vice Chair of the joint research unit, UMR 1225 INRA-ENVT, Host-Pathogen Interactions, National Veterinary School of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
2000-2004 Deputy Chair, Institute of Bacteriology, Mycology and Hygiene, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
Since 2022 Scientific focal point for INRAE for the International Initiative Prezode (Preventing zoonotic disease)
Since 2004 Research Director, UMR 1225 INRA-ENVT, Host-Pathogen Interaction, Veterinary National School of Toulouse and National Institute for Research in Agronomy, Toulouse, France
Since 2006 Group leader of the mycoplasma team, UMR 1225 INRA-ENVT Toulouse, France
1997-2004 Assistant Professor (until 2001) and Associate Professor (from 2001) in Molecular Microbiology, Research Group Leader, Institute of Bacteriology, Mycology and Hygiene, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
1993-1996 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, US
Publications
Publications
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Dynamism of Calves' Microbiomes: Stability, Resilience, and Patterns in Health and DiseaseEAAP, Aug 2025, Innsbruck, Austria |
Relationship between microbiome and pathogens in the context of bovine respiratory complex: a longitudinal studyJournées d'animation scientifique du Département Santé Animale, Département SA INRAE, Sep 2024, Seignosse, France |
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Host Environmental Factors Promote Horizontal Dissemination of Integrative Conjugative Elements (ICE) in Ruminant Mycoplasmas25th Congres of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2024, Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Spain |
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The dynamism of calves’ respiratory and gut microbiome axis: stability, resilience, and individual patterns through health and diseaseJournées d'animation scientifique du Département Santé Animale, Département SA INRAE, Sep 2024, Seignosse, France |
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Role of the glycome-microbiome axis on susceptibility to bovine viral infections and on animal welfareSéminaire du métaprogramme SANBA, Oct 2024, Paris, France |
Airways and gut microbiome disturbance and resilience dynamics during polymicrobial bovine respiratory disease25th Congres of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2024, Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Spain |
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Milk microbiota: potential allies for mammary gland healthADSA annual meeting 2023, American Dairy Science Association, Jun 2023, Ottawa, Canada. pp.146 |
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The conjugative properties of Mycoplasma agalactiae are critically influenced by the expression of lipoprotein P48 at the surface of the recipient mating partner24th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2023, Osaka, Japan |
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ICE invasion into genome-reduced bacteria is driven by a lipoprotein exposed on the surface of the recipient cell23rd National Congress on Transposable Elements (CNET 2022), French research community working on transposable elements (CNET), Jul 2022, Gif-sur-Yvette, France |
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Cartographie des régions chromosomiques participant au transfert d’ICE chez les mycoplasmes de ruminantsColloque International Francophone en Maladies Infectieuses Animales (CIFMIA 2022), May 2022, Montréal, Canada |
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Mycoplasma conjugative chromosomal transfer: Influence of the antibiotic on the extent of genome mosaicismMICROBES 15ème congrès national de la SFM, Société française de la microbiologie (SFM), Sep 2019, Paris, France |
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In mycoplasma, horizontal chromosomal transfer could accelerate the emergence of antimicrobial resistance22th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM), IOM, Jul 2018, Portsmouth, United States |
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The myth of codon optimisation: Higher exogenous protein expression in U. parvum, M. agalactiae, and M. capricolum when the lowest frequency codons were sporadically introduced22th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM 2018), IOM, Jul 2018, Portsmouth, United States |
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Horizontal distributive transfers and the extraordinary plasticity of the mycoplasma genome22th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM), IOM, Jul 2018, Portsmouth, United States |
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Mutualisation de l’information génétique chez les mycoplasmes : une stratégie « open source » pour des génomes minimaux7ème Colloque international francophone de Microbiologie animale (CIFMA), Mar 2017, Liège, Belgique |
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Functional genomics of the Mycoplasma agalactiae Integrative Conjugative Element (ICEA)21th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM), Jul 2016, Brisbane, Australia |
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Large chromosomal replacements occur in vitro within and among ruminant mycoplasmas via an unconventional mechanism involving conjugation and homologous recombinationIOM 2014 - 20. Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jun 2014, Blumenau, Brazil |
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Wide dispersal and diversity of integrative conjugative elements within ruminant MycoplasmasIOM 2014 – 20th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jun 2014, Blumenau, Brazil |
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Evolutionary history of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia using Next generation sequencing of <em>Mycoplasma mycoides</em> subsp.<em> mycoides</em> “small colonyIOM 2014 - 20. Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jun 2014, Blumenau, Brazil |
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Predicting the minimal translation apparatus: lessons from the reductive evolution of mollicutesIOM 2014 - 20. Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jun 2014, Blumenau, Brazil |
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Finishing bacterial genome assemblies with Mix11. Annual Research in Computational Molecular Biology (RECOMB) Satellite Workshop on Comparative Genomics, Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA). FRA., Oct 2013, Lyon, France. ⟨10.1186/1471-2105-14-S15-S16⟩ |
Genome-scale analysis of mycoplasma-host interactions: from cell culture to the natural host19th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2012, Toulouse, France |
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Changing paradigm on the evolution of Mycoplasmas by exploring their pan-genome.112th General meeting of American society for Microbiology (ASM), Jun 2012, San Francisco, United States |
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Transposon-mediated gene-delivery to Ureaplasma parvum: development of a powerful tool for tracking infection and for functional genomic studies19th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM), Jul 2012, Toulouse, France |
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The mycoplasma evolutive romance: a tale of DNA attraction19th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM), Jul 2012, Toulouse, France |
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Plasmid Diversity in Ruminant Mycoplasmas19th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM), Jul 2012, Toulouse, France |
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A nano-love story for kilobase exchanges…Mycoplasma European Congress (Veterinary Laboratories Agency), Jun 2011, Weybridge, United Kingdom |
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Genome evolution and host specificity shape the surface proteome of mollicutesJournées des microbiologistes de l'INRA 2010, May 2010, Poitiers, France |
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Tetracycline-inducible gene expression in mollicutes18. Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2010, Chianciano Terme, Italy |
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Shaping the surface proteome of minimal bacteria18. Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2010, Chianciano Terme, Italy |
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Shaping the surface proteome of minimal bacteriaCongress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology ; 2010/07/11-16 ; Chianciano Terme (ITA). IOM congress 2010, 2010, Chianciano Terme, Italy |
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Exploration fonctionnelle d'un génome minimal en systèmes cellulaires : application à Mycoplasma agalactiae, un pathogène des petits ruminantsJournées d’Animation Scientifique du Département Santé Animale, 2009, Port d'Albret, France. pp.Inconnu |
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Gene exchange among mycoplasmas: acquiring new potentials in a general context of massive gene loss4. European conference on prokaryotic genomics, Oct 2009, Göttingen, Germany |
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Prédire et identifier le protéome de surface de bactéries pathogènes minimalistes : une étape clé dans la compréhension des interactions hôtes-mollicutesAgroBI 2008, Dec 2008, Bordeaux, France |
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Small but dynamic genomes: evidences for massive horizontal gene transfer between ruminant pathogenic mycoplasmasGenomes 2008, Apr 2008, Paris, France |
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Gene exchange among mycoplasmas : acquiring new potentials in a general context of massive gene loss17. IOM Congress, Jul 2008, Tianjin, China |
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Comparing the genome and proteome of two Mycoplasma agalactiae strains : clues to the macro- and micro-events that are shaping mycoplasma diversity17. IOM Congress, Jul 2008, Tianjin, China |
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Anatomy of a hyper-variable genetic system in the Mycoplasma agalactiae species : extent, dynamics and evolution17. IOM Congress, Jul 2008, Tianjin, China |
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Horizontal gene transfert detection in mollicutes bacteriaJOBIM 2007, Jul 2007, Marseille, France |
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Plasticité génomique de Mycoplasma agalactiae : mécanismes et conséquences7e Rencontre Francophone de Mycoplasmologie, 2007, Lyon, France. pp.Inconnu |
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Horizontal gene transfer detection in mollicute bacteriaJournées Ouvertes Biologie, Informatique et Mathématiques (JOBIM),, 2007, Marseille, France. pp.Inconnu |
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Mycoplasmas: from genomics to typingInternational Conference on Chlamydia and Mycoplasma Human Infections, 2007, Ferrara, Italy. pp.Inconnu |
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Evolution des génomes de mollicutes : une histoire pleine de rebondissements7e Rencontre Francophone de Mycoplasmologie, 2007, Lyon, France. pp.Inconnu |
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Plasticité génomique de Mycoplasma agalactiae : mécanismes et conséquences7. Rencontre francophone de mycoplasmologie, Jul 2007, Lyon, France |
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Mycoplasmas: from genomics to typingInternational conference, Apr 2007, Ferrare, Italy |
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Leçon sur une question d'actualité par Mycoplasma agalactiae : comment gérer des ressources minimales tout en restant compétitif ?Journées d’Animation Scientifique du Département de Santé Animale, 2007, Tours, France. pp.Inconnu |
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Evolution des génomes de mollicutes : une histoire pleine de rebondissements7. Rencontre francophone de mycoplasmologie, Jul 2007, Lyon, France |
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Leçon sur une question d'actualité par Mycoplasma agalactiae : comment gérer des ressources minimales tout en restant compétitif ?Journées d'animation scientifique du Département Santé Animale, Jun 2007, Tours, France |
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Mycoplasma agalactiae genome: evidence for massive horizontal gene transfer between pathogenic, ruminant mycoplasmas16. International congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2006, Cambridge, United Kingdom |
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Colibacilles et mycoplasmes dans l'interaction hôte pathogène: du génome à la celluleJournées des Microbiologistes Toulousains «MicrobioToul 2005», 2005, Toulouse, France. pp.Inconnu |
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First steps towards the genetic manipulation of Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma bovis using modified Tn4001 transposons15th IOM Congress, 2004, Athens, United States |
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In vivo and In vivo approaches to investigate Mycoplasma gallisepticum factors involved in colonization and systemic infection of chickens15th IOM Congress, 2004, Athens, United States |
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Suppression substractive hybridization for the identification of Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma bovis species-specific DNA sequences15th IOM Congress, 2004, Athens, United States |
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Role of Mycoplasma gallisepticum cythadherence proteins in colonization of experimentally infected chickens15th IOM Congress, 2004, Athens, United States |
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Transposon mutagenesis of Mycoplasma gallisepticum : defining virulence genes15th IOM Congress, 2004, Athens, United States |
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Mycoplasma gallisepticum - Ein geeignetes Modell in der molekularen Pathogeneseforschung an Mykoplasmen,DVG-Tagung Fachgruppe, 2004, Berlin, Germany |
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Molekulare Grundlage der Pathogenität von Mycoplasma agalactiaeProceedings of the DVG-Tagung Fachgruppe, 2004, Berlin, Germany |
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Mycoplasma bovis : facteurs impliqués dans les interactions avec l'hôteJournées Européennes organisées par la Société Française de Buiatrie, 2004, Paris, France |
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UGA-UGG tryptophan tRNA genes in Spiroplasma citri8. International Congress, Jul 1990, Istanbul, Turkey |
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Genome of Spiroplasmas8. International Congress, Jul 1990, Istanbul, Turkey |
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Chromosomal DNA sequences coding for tRNAs recognizing UGA as a tryptophan codon in mollicutes7. Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, 1988, Baden, Austria |
Propriétés conjugatives de Mycoplasma agalactiae et Mycoplasma bovis ex vivoColloque International Francophone en Maladies Infectieuses Animales 2025 (CIFMIA), May 2025, Rabat, Maroc |
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Projet RAMbo-V : vers le développement de vaccins synthétiques contre Mycoplasma bovisColloque International Francophone en Maladies Infectieuses Animales 2025 (CIFMIA), May 2025, Rabat, Maroc |
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The lung-gut axis during polymicrobial respiratory infections in calves holobionts: the impact of microbiota dynamics on disease outcomes75th Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP 2024), Sep 2024, Florence, Italy. Wageningen Academic Publishers, 75èmes Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science |
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Detection of hemoplasmas and direct sequencing in blood from cattle reveals a diversity amongst Mycoplasma wenyonii species25th Congres of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2024, Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Spain |
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BoviScan: a Phage Immuno-Precipitation Sequencing library to study the humoral response to Mycoplasma bovis25th Congres of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2024, Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Spain |
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The MnuA Nuclease and 5'-Nucleotidase Impact Mycoplasma bovis Fitness in Mastitis24th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2023, Osaka, Japan |
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Exploration of dairy cow holobiont revealed an important sharing of microbes between anatomic sites within individual hosts throughout lactation but sharing was limited in the herdhttps://www.adsa.org/Meetings/2023-Annual-Meeting. ADSA annual meeting 2023, Jun 2023, Ottawa, Canada. , 2023 |
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RAMbo-V project: paving the way for the development of synthetic vaccines against Mycoplasma bovis24th Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jul 2023, Osaka, Japan |
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Dissémination des éléments génétiques mobiles chez les mycoplasmes : identification d’un récepteur potentiel à la surface de la cellule cibleJournées d'Animation Scientifique du Département Santé Animale, Oct 2022, Anglet, France |
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Mycoplasma bovis subtypes circulating in Spain differ in their susceptibility to fluoroquinolones23rd Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM2021), Nov 2021, Tel Aviv, Israel |
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New insights into cow holobiont in relation to heath16e congres national de la SFM-MICROBES 2021, Sep 2021, Nantes, France |
New insights into cow holobiont in relation to healthJournées Ouvertes de Biologie, Informatique et Mathématique (JOBIM), Jun 2020, Montpellier, France. , 2020 |
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Le protéome membranaire de Mycoplasma bovis : à la recherche d'antigènes stables chez un pathogène hypervariableJournées d'Animation Scientifique du Département Santé Animale (JSA DSA), Oct 2018, La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, France. INRA - SANTE ANIMALE, 110 p., 2018, Journées d'Animation Scientifique du Département Santé Animale (JSA DSA) |
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New insights into cow holobiont in relation to healthPathobiome 2018 "Pathogens in Microbiotas in Hosts", Jan 2018, Ajaccio, France |
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Predicting the minimal translation apparatus: lessons from the reductive evolution of mollicutes25. tRNA Conference, Sep 2014, Kyllini, Greece. 2014 |
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Characterization of the secreted polysaccharides of the<em> Mycoplasma mycoides</em> cluster and analysis of their associated predicted genomic pathwaysIOM 2014 - 20. Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, Jun 2014, Blumenau, Brazil. 2014 |
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Recherche de gènes essentiels pour la multiplication de Mycoplasma agalactiae chez l'höte mais accessoires en milieu axénique : Identification du locus conditionnel NIFJournées d’Animation Scientifique du Département Santé Animale, 2009, Port d'Albret, France. pp.Inconnu, 2009 |
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Horizontal gene transfert detection in mollicutes bacteriaCongrès JOBIM, 2007, Marseille, France. pp.Inconnu, 2007 |
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Function of the Xer1 Recombinase of Mycoplasma agalactiae in Escherichia coli16th IOM Congress, 2006, Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp.Inconnu, 2006 |
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Generation of Mycoplasma agalactiae Vpma Phase-Locked Mutants by Disruption of the xer1 Recombinase Gene via Homologous Recombination16th IOM Congress, 2006, Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp.Inconnu, 2006 |
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Mycoplasma agalactiae genome: evidence for massive horizontal gene transfer between pathogenic, ruminant mycoplasmas16th International Congress of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology, 2006, Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp.Inconnu, 2006 |
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Mycoplasma agalactiae Genome: Evidence for Massive Horizontal Gene Transfer Between Pathogenic, Ruminant Mycoplasmas16th IOM Congress, 2006, Cambridge, United Kingdom. pp.Inconnu, 2006 |
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Development of oriC-based Shuttle Vectors for Mycoplasma agalactiaeIUMS Congress, 2005, San Francisco, United States. pp.Inconnu, 2005 |
Molecular genetic tools for MollicutesMollicutes : Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis, Caister Academic Press, 2014, 978-1-908230-30-0 |
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Phenotypic diversity and cell invasion in host subversion by pathogenic mycoplasmasMycoplasma: Molecular biology, pathogenicity, and strategies for control, Horizon Bioscience, 2005, 0-8493-9861-4 |
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Decoding the dynamics of calves’ respiratory and gut microbiota: exploring stability, resistance, and individual patterns2025 |
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Nucleoside Binding by a Surface Lipoprotein Governs Conjugative ICE Acquisition in Ruminant Mycoplasmas2025 |
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Bacterial Conjugation in the Ruminant Pathogen Mycoplasma agalactiae is Influenced by Eukaryotic Host Factors2025 |
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Réflexion prospective interdisciplinaire Science pour les élevages de demain. Rapport de synthèse[0] INRAE. 2020, 53 pp |
Contribution a l'etude de l'organisation du genome de S. citri : caracterisation de deux tRNAsTRP chez S. citri et des genes correspondants. Organisation de genes de tRNAs et identification des genes pyrG, purA et purBSciences du Vivant [q-bio]. Université de Bordeaux Ségalen (Bordeaux 2), 1992. Français. ⟨NNT : ⟩ |
Mécanismes d'adaptation des mycoplasmes de ruminants : comprendre les difficultés rencontrées dans le contrôle de l’infection par Mycoplasma bovisJournées nationales GTV 2023, 2023, /, France. 2023 |