The “Archaea” thematic group was created in 2011 at the initiative of Patrick Forterre and Bruno Franzetti in order to gather biochemists and molecular biologists from the French archaea community. The goal was to facilitate exchanges and discussions around unifying themes related to Archaea, the third domain of life, in ecosystems, evolution and the fundamental processes of life. In 2021, the organization of the "Archaea" thematic group relies on an organizing committee made up of 8 members (Toulouse, Brest, Palaiseau, Paris, Gif-sur-Yvette).
Our com
munity is interested in understanding the fundamental molecular mechanisms of archaea, the diversity of their viruses and the adaptive limits of their living environment. Studies of Archaea lead to new scenarii for the appearance of life on Earth. The presence of archaea everywhere on earth, their diversity and their molecular characteristics is still puzzling. Studied by biochemists, microbiologists, evolutionists, molecular biologists and used by industry. Archaea are now considered as essential study models for life understanding.
Scientific interests
- Place of archaea in evolution
- Role of Archaea in soil and ocean microbial communities and in human microbiota
- Molecular mechanisms responsible for the extraordinary adaptive capacities of archaea
- How to harness the biodiversity and unique properties of Archaea to discover new molecules for biotechnology
- Understand the fundamental cellular mechanisms based on Archean models
Missions of the “GT Archaea”
- Animate the archaea community within the SFBBM
- Organize scientific events such as the annual day and seminars
- Promote collaboration / cooperation between teams of the “GT Archaea”
- Actions aimed at the general public
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Next Meetings, News
- On October 17-18, 2024, Tamara Basta-Le Berre and Béatrice Clouet d'Orval organized the Archaea 2024 Symposium. On this occasion, Vicatoria Sevilla (Institut Pasteur) and Mael Ansart (University of Toulouse) were awarded the SFBBM prize for best oral presentation.

- The EMBO workshop “Molecular Biology of Archaea” took place at the Ecole Polytechnique in Palaiseau from June 24-27, 2024. Miguel Gomez (Institut Pasteur) and Rami Baes (Université Libre de Bruxelles) received the SFBBM prize for best oral presentation.
- Day to celebrate 20 years of Pyrococcus abyssi genome sequencing on September 28, 2023 at the Genoscope in Evry.
- The SFBBM prize for best poster was awarded to Markel Martinez-Carranza (Institut Pasteur- Equipe Ludovic Sauget) at the GDR Archées congress in Autrans in November 2022.
Series of seminars in 2023:

Series of seminars in 2022:

Organizational chart
Tamara Basta-Le Berre (I2BC- Gif sur Yvette)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.(CBI-Toulouse), Chair
Didier Flament (Ifremer, Brest)
Adrienne Kish (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris)
Roxane Lestini (Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau)
Hannu Myllykallio (Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau)
Ludovic Sauguet (Institut Pasteur, Paris)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau), Vice-Chair
History
2024 |
17-18 October, Symposium Archaea, I2BC, Gif |
2024 |
24-27 June, MboA, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau |
2023 |
P. abyssi sequencing, genoscope, Evry |
2022 |
23-25 Novembre, GDR Archaea, Autrans |
2021 |
18-19 Octobre, GDR Archaea, en distanciel |
2020 |
Renewal of the scientific animation committee |
2010 |
Creation of the group on november 17 |