Institut de génétique humaine (IGH)

Handling a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 in a BSC (biosafety cabinet) in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH). All the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are collected in order to mark them with a specific antibody. The PBMC ring (formed element of the blood: mainly leucocytes) has been separated from the red blood cells and the plasma. The PBMC contain both healthy cells (the vast majority) and infected cells (very rare). It is in this laboratory…

Monsef Benkirane (on the right), Director of the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH), and Gaël Petitjean, a research scientist at IGH, are part of the team that discovered a marker of HIV reservoir cells in patients.

Inserting a sample into a FACS (fluorescence-activated cell sorting) machine used to characterise the infected cells (lymphocytes) of patients with the marker CD32+. This machine makes it possible to view the cells and analyse their specific surface markers by using fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies directed against the markers of interest. The aim is to analyse and characterise these CD32+ cells in detail.

FACS (fluorescence-activated cell sorting) machine used to characterise the infected cells (lymphocytes) of patients with the marker CD32+. This machine makes it possible to view the cells and analyse their specific surface markers by using fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies directed against the markers of interest. The aim is to analyse and characterise these CD32+ cells in detail.

Sample in a FACS (fluorescence-activated cell sorting) machine used to characterise the infected cells (lymphocytes) of patients with the marker CD32+. This machine makes it possible to view the cells and analyse their specific surface markers by using fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies directed against the markers of interest. The aim is to analyse and characterise these CD32+ cells in detail.

Sample placed in a FACS (fluorescence-activated cell sorting) machine used to characterise the infected cells (lymphocytes) of patients with the marker CD32+. This machine makes it possible to view the cells and analyse their specific surface markers by using fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies directed against the markers of interest. The aim is to analyse and characterise these CD32+ cells in detail.

Sample placed in a FACS (fluorescence-activated cell sorting) machine used to characterise the infected cells (lymphocytes) of patients with the marker CD32+. This machine makes it possible to view the cells and analyse their specific surface markers by using fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies directed against the markers of interest. The aim is to analyse and characterise these CD32+ cells in detail.

Cell sample (healthy and infected cells) from a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 being placed into the sorter in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH). The aim is to sort and separate the cells expressing the identified marker (infected cells) from the cells not expressing it (healthy and infected cells). This marker characterises 54% of the total infected cells in the blood on average. It is in this laboratory that this marker has been identified, making it…

Pipetting all the cells (healthy and infected) in a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1. They have been marked and prepared for the sorter (homogenisation and filtration). It is in this laboratory, the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH), that a marker has been identified that makes it possible to differentiate between dormant or reservoir cells, infected with HIV, and healthy cells. This discovery will make it possible to isolate and analyse these reservoir cells…

Preparation and calibration of a sorter in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH) to ensure that sorting takes place in optimum conditions. Here, the deflectors that transmit the sorting orders are being cleaned. The cells (healthy and infected) in a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 are marked and prepared for this sorter (homogenisation and filtration). It is in this laboratory that a marker has been identified that makes it possible to differentiate between…

Access airlock to the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH), where a marker has been identified that makes it possible to differentiate between dormant or reservoir cells, infected with HIV, and healthy cells. This discovery will make it possible to isolate and analyse these reservoir cells which, by silently hosting the virus, are responsible for its persistence even in patients receiving antiretroviral treatment, whose viral load is undetectable. It offers new therapeutic…

Calibration of a sorter in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH) before the introduction of cells (healthy and infected) from a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1. This sorter works using FACS (fluorescence-activated cell sorting) and makes it possible to collect cell populations that meet precise criteria in sterile conditions suitable for culturing. The cells are sorted depending on combinations of predefined markers. It is in this laboratory that a marker…

Tubes of cells (healthy and infected) from a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 being placed into the sorter in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH). These first tubes will be used to adjust and validate the combination of markers selected. The aim is to sort and separate the cells expressing the identified marker (infected cells) from the healthy and infected cells not expressing it. This marker characterises 54% of the total infected cells in the blood on…

Cell sample (healthy and infected cells) from a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 being placed into the sorter in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH). The aim is to sort and separate the cells expressing the identified marker (infected cells) from the cells not expressing it (healthy and infected cells). This marker characterises 54% of the total infected cells in the blood on average. It is in this laboratory that this marker has been identified, making it…

Cell sample (healthy and infected cells) from a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 being placed in a centrifuge to wash away the excess of the antibodies required to label the cells before sorting. The total sample is fractionated before being sent to the sorter (given the high number of cells to start with). These experiments are performed in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH), where a marker has been identified that makes it possible to differentiate…

Preparation and calibration of a sorter in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH) to ensure that sorting takes place in optimum conditions. Here, the deflectors that transmit the sorting orders are being cleaned. The cells (healthy and infected) in a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 are marked and prepared for this sorter (homogenisation and filtration). It is in this laboratory that a marker has been identified that makes it possible to differentiate between…

Preparation and calibration of the sorter in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH) to ensure that sorting takes place in optimum conditions. Here, the deflectors that transmit the sorting orders are being cleaned. The cells (healthy and infected) in a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 are marked and prepared for this sorter (homogenisation and filtration). It is in this laboratory that a marker has been identified that makes it possible to differentiate…

Monsef Benkirane (facing the camera), Director of the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH), and Gaël Petitjean (on the right), a research scientist at IGH, are part of the team that discovered a marker of HIV reservoir cells in patients.

Sorted cell samples being placed in a centrifuge in the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH). These cells will then be cultured (for the detection of viruses competent for viral replication) or used for molecular biology experiments (HIV-1 DNA qPCR to quantify the number of infected cells). It is in this laboratory that a marker has been identified that makes it possible to differentiate between dormant cells, infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and healthy cells…

In the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), certain cells from a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 are sorted and cultured. The supernatant from these cultures is then collected. In order to find out whether the HIV-1 virus is present in these cells, and whether it is replicating (virus present in the supernatant), the viral RNA that may be present in the supernatant is extracted into silica columns. Each RNA sample extracted is then…

In the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), certain cells from a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 are sorted and cultured. The supernatant from these cultures is then collected. In order to find out whether the HIV-1 virus is present in these cells, and whether it is replicating (virus present in the supernatant), the viral RNA that may be present in the supernatant is extracted into silica columns. Each RNA sample extracted is then…

In the P3 laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier (IGMM), certain cells from a blood sample from a patient infected with HIV-1 are sorted and cultured. The supernatant from these cultures is then collected. In order to find out whether the HIV-1 virus is present in these cells, and whether it is replicating (virus present in the supernatant), the viral RNA that may be present in the supernatant is extracted into silica columns. Each RNA sample extracted is then…

Plate holding RNA samples for testing and RT-qPCR (reverse transcription – quantitative polymerase chain reaction) reagents. This plate is inserted into the LightCycler instrument, which carries out the RT-qPCR reaction. The RNA is transformed into DNA, then amplified. The aim is to find out whether there is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the sample, and in what quantity.

Plate holding RNA samples for testing and RT-qPCR (reverse transcription – quantitative polymerase chain reaction) reagents. This plate is inserted into the LightCycler instrument, which carries out the RT-qPCR reaction. The RNA is transformed into DNA, then amplified. The aim is to find out whether there is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the sample, and in what quantity.

Plate holding RNA samples for testing and RT-qPCR (reverse transcription – quantitative polymerase chain reaction) reagents. This plate is inserted into the LightCycler instrument, which carries out the RT-qPCR reaction. The RNA is transformed into DNA, then amplified. The aim is to find out whether there is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the sample, and in what quantity.

Plate holding RNA samples for testing and RT-qPCR (reverse transcription – quantitative polymerase chain reaction) reagents. This plate is inserted into the LightCycler instrument, which carries out the RT-qPCR reaction. The RNA is transformed into DNA, then amplified. The aim is to find out whether there is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the sample, and in what quantity.