UMR754 IVPC "Viral Infections and Comparative Pathology"

In recent years, the circulation of infectious agents has increased significantly, along with the health risks potentially associated with them. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OMSA) highlights the threat that animal diseases pose to public health: 60% of human pathogens and 75% of emerging human pathogens originate from animals. These emerging, re-emerging, or endemic diseases highlight the importance of the animal–human or animal–vector–human interface in a context of globalized exchanges and environmental changes, suggesting that the control and management of these health risks can only be considered through a global and integrated approach.
The research conducted in our unit, UMR754 “Viral Infections and Comparative Pathology” (IVPC), therefore follows a One Health approach, which considers that human and animal health are interdependent and closely linked to the ecosystems in which they coexist.

By studying infections caused by retroviruses and arboviruses (viruses transmitted by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks), we aim to better understand disease pathogenesis as well as host–virus interactions, not only in mammals (humans and livestock) but also in insect vectors in the case of arboviruses. Our research programs are developed in collaboration with clinicians and veterinarians within a framework of comparative pathology, using in vitro, ex vivo, and in insecto approaches. We also develop diagnostic tools and antiviral strategies.

IVPC is a joint research unit co-supervised by INRAE, Lyon 1 University, and École Pratique des Hautes Études. The unit is affiliated with the Animal Health Division of INRAE and with the INRAE Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes Center. It also hosts staff from Inserm and VetAgro Sup, and collaborates with the Hospices Civils de Lyon. Located on the Gerland university campus, an environment rich in academic and private partners in human and animal health, particularly in infectious diseases, UMR IVPC is one of the contributing units of the SFR Biosciences, which brings together a range of technological platforms (BSL-2 and BSL-3 containment laboratories and animal facilities, imaging, cytometry, etc.).

Our activities are organized into four research teams: ATP, DEER, EARLi, and MIMIC.

Understanding host–virus interactions to prevent, detect, and combat animal and zoonotic diseases.