By Thomas Henry, CIRI-Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie
Alain Charbit was trained in bacterial genetics in France. He obtained his PhD in Microbiology in 1984 and joined the CNRS in 1991.
Early research
From 1982 to 1998, at the Pasteur Institute, his work focused on fundamental mechanisms of maltose uptake and bacteriophage binding mediated by the LamB protein, a multifunctional outer membrane porin of Escherichia coli.
Focus on intracellular pathogens
In 1998, he turned his research to pathogenic bacteria replicating within host cells. After working on Listeria monocytogenes, he devoted his career to the study of Francisella tularensis.
Major scientific contributions
As a group leader at the Institut Necker Enfants Malades (INEM, Paris), he investigated Francisella metabolism within host cells. His key discoveries include:
- Identification of glutathione as a cysteine source essential for intracellular replication
- Elucidation of the roles of specific amino acids (notably asparagine and glutamate) during the intracellular life cycle
- Demonstration of the importance of the pentose phosphate pathway for Francisella virulence
In his later work, he used advanced proteomic approaches applied to both the bacterium and the host cell, uncovering novel regulatory mechanisms, including phosphorylation-dependent control of the Francisella type VI secretion system.
A lasting legacy
Alain Charbit was an enthusiastic scientist fascinated by the biology of pathogenic bacteria (and notably Francisella) and always willing to share his fascination and his science. Beyond his scientific achievements, Alain Charbit was deeply committed to the promotion of young colleagues, helping them grow, gain visibility, and build independent careers. He has been a colleague and a friend for many of us in this community and he will be deeply missed.