Internship OT-27462
Master Internship : Elucidating Stomatal Contribution to Pathogen Evasion
06903 Sophia Antipolis
INRAE presentation
The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.
Work environment, missions and activities
You will be welcomed into the ISA unit (Institut Sophia Agrobiotech), a Joint Research Unit (UMR) involving INRAE, CNRS, and Université Côte d’Azur. ISA brings together around 250 people working primarily on plant health and their interactions with pathogenic microorganisms (oomycetes, root-knot nematodes) and symbiotic ones (nitrogen-fixing bacteria), as well as with pest parasites (insects). You will be more specifically integrated into the IPO team (Plant–Oomycete Interactions).
Project context :
The aim of the project is to understand the role of stomata in the release of sporulating structures necessary for the dissemination of the oomycete phytopathogen responsible for downy mildew–type diseases. The biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa), a pathogen of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, penetrates plant tissues through mechanical and enzymatic means but exits primarily through stomata during sporulation. The Hpa/Arabidopsis system therefore provides an ideal context for studying stomatal regulation during the final phase of the pathogen’s life cycle.
We aim to determine how the presence, position, and function of stomata influence the exit of Hpa during sporulation. Our research will also assess how stomatal movement contributes to pathogen release, and in particular whether Hpa manipulates stomatal opening to promote its spread. By uncovering the mechanisms through which biotrophic oomycetes exploit plant stomata, this research could lead to new strategies for improving crop resilience and developing sustainable agricultural practices adapted to climate change.
The proposed M1 or M2 Master’s project will specifically involve comparative studies of the pathogen’s sporulation efficiency in wild-type plants and mutants affected in stomatal density and aperture. Functional analysis of candidate genes involved in stomatal biology during the plant–pathogen interaction will also be undertaken using tools already available.
You will be specifically in charge of :
Characterize the efficiency of Hpa sporulating structure dissemination in Arabidopsis thaliana mutant plants through staining and pathogenicity tests.
Measure the modulation of stomatal aperture during different phases of invasion using infrared thermography, and correlate the observed changes with the presence of molecular markers known to be involved in stomatal movements (measured by qPCR or reporter genes).
Initiate the functional analysis of candidate genes in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Training and skills
-Desired knowledge: Molecular and/or cellular biology, plant physiology.
-Sought-after skills: Ability to work in a team, to communicate in English and French.
INRAE's life quality
By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):
- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.
How to apply
CV, cover letter, and transcript from the previous academic year.
All persons employed by or hosted at INRAE, a public research establishment, are subject to the Civil Service Code, particularly with regard to the obligation of neutrality and respect for the principle of secularism. In carrying out their functions, whether or not they are in contact with the public, they must not express their religious, philosophical or political convictions through their behaviour or by what they wear. > Find out more: fonction publique.gouv.fr website (in French)