Welcome to the website of the « Chimie et Biochimie de Molécules Bioactives » group.

Didier LIEVREMONT & Catherine GROSDEMANGE-BILLARD

Antimicrobial multi-drug resistance is one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. It is therefore urgent to find innovative targets for new antimicrobial drugs. Based on the team expertise of the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids, which is present in many pathogenic bacteria, but absent in human, we develop new strategies for the design of novel and unexplored types of antibacterial and antiparasitic drugs, with minimal side effects expected for the patient.

The approaches are diverse and concern the synthesis of MEP pathway protein inhibitors as well as small molecules involved in the intra- and inter-species mechanisms of bacterial communication. The original feature of the CBMB lab lies in its interdisciplinary since the group includes both drug-design and organic synthesis but also the evaluation of biological activities in vivo (microorganism) and in vitro (target enzyme).

Biogeochemical cycles, governed by interactions between microorganisms and inorganic elements, are key to understanding the environmental fate of emerging contaminants. In this context, carbon-based materials such as graphene, widely used for their remarkable properties, raise concerns regarding their environmental and health impacts. Their increasing production suggests a growing likelihood of environmental release, while their biodegradability remains poorly understood. Our work investigates the interactions between these nanomaterials and environmental bacteria to evaluate their potential for transformation or degradation—an aspect still largely unexplored.