Symbiotron

Advances on multi-partner interactions require appropriate infrastructures allowing experimentation on complete pathosystems in highly confined environments where biotic and abiotic environments are controlled.

Such infrastructures are rare in France, notably for arthropods. In the frame of the Plan Campus Operation, the Plateform Symbiotron is being developed on the campus LyonTech-La DOUA. This platform will facilitate and foster research programs on arthropods of medical, veterinary and agronomic importance and their associated pathogens. The symbiotron will also reinforce interactions between academics and industrials that are highly seeking for state-of-the-art facilities and alternative methods to selectively control insects.

This brand-new infrastructure will provide access to a variety of services and to state-of-the-art equipment and savoir-faire including:

•  Arthropod rearing under standard/custom conditions
• Characterization and manipulation of insect symbiotic content
• Genetic manipulation of arthropods
• Behavioral assays
• Production of pathogens and experimentation in cell cultures
• Experimental infections of vectors and test of vector competency on plant or small vertebrates

Unit 1 in the Pasteur Building (INSA) is constituted of insectarium and microbiology laboratories of level 2, and is now open. This unit of 150m2 is dedicated to the manipulation of the symbiotic content of individuals and the genetic manipulation of the insect genomes and their transcription (RNAi, CRISPR-Cas9).

It is equipped with all the material required for microinjection (micro-injector, micro-mabipulator, microscope), maintenance of insects (climatic chamber), cell culture (PSM, incubator...), and muicrobiology.

 

Abdelaziz Heddi

Unit 2 (security level 2) and 3 (security level 3) (Dubois Building, UCBL) will open mid 2020. Each unit of 350m2 is composed of insectarium and microbiology laboratories. For insects, 5 independent climatic chambers of 4 m2 each and a sixth climatic chamber of 17m2 will provide independent experimental rooms. The biggest room will be dedicated to behavioral studies equipped with state-of-the-art equipment (wind tunnel with video tracking, high throughput video tracking systems…).
 

Fabrice Vavre

 

• Insectarium: 50 m² with direct access to 6 independent climatic chambers
• Microbiology & Amoeba : 50m² with access to 2 climatic chambers
• Mycology: 30m² with access to 2 climatic chambers
• Molecular biology: 30m²
• Storage rooms (chemicals - freezers) and microscopy.
   

 

• Insectarium: 47 m² with access to 6 independent climatic chambers
• 2 rooms dedicated to cell culture: 18 m² each
• Microbiology & Amoeba :65 m²
• Molecular biology: 30m²
• Storage rooms (chemical and freezers)  and microscopy