Topic description

This PhD project aims to characterize the evolutionary dynamics of sarbecoviruses and their virus-host

interfaces, building on a longitudinal study spanning over a decade in colonies of Rhinolophus

ferrumequinum bats, as well as experimental, omics, and analytical approaches developed for this study.

By combining genomic and phylogenetic analyses, functional studies targeting innate and adaptive

immune responses, and controlled experiments on virus-cell interactions, the PhD candidate will explore

the mechanisms enabling certain sarbecoviruses to cross species barriers and evolve toward zoonotic-

risk phenotypes. The project is designed in direct continuity with work conducted under the EU MuseCoV

and ANR EmerCoV projects, and closely integrated with a postdoctoral contract dedicated to screening

and functional characterization of bat sarbecoviruses. Ultimately, this integrative approach s...