News

Kudos to Manon for her outstanding public lecture on antibiotic resistance — a clear, engaging, and impactful presentation

On the occasion of the 9th Research Day of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, our students Dario, Béatrice, and Caleb presented their work in the form of posters with great clarity and confidence.

The scientific quality, clarity, and enthusiasm of their presentations were outstanding. Excellent posters — more to come in future publications! Congratulations to them

On the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day, we organized a moment of reflection and discussion around issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

In collaboration with the Vice-Dean for Research and Development, the event featured a screening of the documentary Plus jamais silencieuses, directed by Caroline Pierret Pirson. The film gives voice to women and explores how speaking out can emerge from silence, becoming a space for resistance and transformation.

This screening also served as a reminder that issues related to women’s rights, equality, and violence against women remain a deeply pressing reality. Since the beginning of 2026, seven femicides have already been recorded in Quebec. Behind these numbers are lives, families, and stories that have been abruptly cut short.

A moment of silence was observed in their memory, highlighting the importance of acknowledging these realities and continuing our collective efforts to build a more just and inclusive society.

The screening concluded with a discussion with the filmmaker, a multidisciplinary artist trained at La Cambre (Brussels), whose work explores themes of interiority, memory, and feminism.

We warmly thank all those who attended for their participation in this important event.

The celebration of Black History Month originated in the United States.

For 30 years, February in Canada has been a month dedicated to honoring the heritage and contributions of Black people in Canada and their communities.

This celebration began in the United States in 1926, spearheaded by African-American historian Carter G. Woodson and pastor Jesse E. Moorland. They launched Negro History Week: a week to celebrate contributions that were ignored in school textbooks, during the second week of February. In 1976, it was extended to a month and exported to Canada in late 1995.

But why February? It was a strategic choice. The second week of February coincides with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two iconic figures in the abolition of slavery.

Many activities and celebrations are organized during this month. Discover Black History Month programs in Montreal:

• https://www.moishistoiredesnoirs.com/
• https://www.hec.ca/evenements/mois-histoire-noirs-2026
• https://fonduaunoir.ca/ (Festival fondu au noir, with in-person and online activities)

January 15 is National Living Together Day in Quebec!   

This day symbolizes Quebec’s commitment to respect and inclusion, and acceptance of cultural, religious, and social differences, among others.  

 “Living together” embodies essential values such as tolerance, fairness, and dialogue. It is a great opportunity to learn a little more about the richness of diversity in our society, to get to know and understand each other better, to reduce prejudice and stereotypes, and to avoid discrimination.  

Are you still confused about prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination? Here are some quick reminders:  

• Discrimination in 2 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tebEeIB8WY&t=24s 
• Stereotypes and prejudice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PEIR_tfG7E  

This summer, I had the great pleasure of returning to the field with Corinne (Coco) Audemard (VIMS, USA). Nearly thirty years ago, we worked together on Marteilia and its complex heteroxenous life cycle, a fascinating parasite of mollusks. Today, our research converges again around Vibrio — a remarkable scientific continuity across decades.

This conference offers a data-driven reflection on the challenges faced by trans people in academia, drawing on recent evidence and social observations.

Esteban will begin with a comparative statistical overview of graduates by gender identity (trans, cis, non-binary, etc.), highlighting persistent gaps in access to and success within higher education.

He will then explore the structural and institutional factors shaping these trajectories: the difficulty of obtaining legal recognition of gender identity, barriers related to infrastructure (bathrooms, forms, preferred names), and medical issues associated with transitions (including hormone treatments).

The talk will situate these realities within a broader context marked by the rollback of trans rights and policies in several countries, as well as a measurable decline in social tolerance toward trans people in recent years.

By tracing key milestones in the legal recognition of gender identities, Esteban will remind us how recent and fragile these advances remain.

Finally, he will shed light on the specific realities of academia — success rates, transition pathways during or after studies, and the lack of available data on these issues — inviting a collective reflection on how to make academic institutions truly inclusive for all.

Our new preprint is online!
A beautiful adventure led by Jeffrey Liang with collaborators from UdeM, Roscoff, and the Rocha lab at Institut Pasteur.

Pavithra (Postdoctoral fellow, since September 2025) completed her PhD at the School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University (India). Using genomics, bioinformatics, and evolutionary modelling, she explored how genetic parasites emerge, persist, propagate, and accumulate within bacterial genomes, shaping host population dynamics.
In the Le Roux Lab, she now focuses on the eco-evolutionary dynamics of Vibrio–phage interactions, combining bioinformatics and AI approaches — and proudly operates the most beautiful computer in the lab 😉

Nice discussions on every project, refreshing walks, and breathtaking landscapes on the road to Rimouski — fall was definitely here.
We were joined by two special guests: Damien Piel (from Alexander Harms’ lab) and mini Jack, the newest (and tiniest) member of the team.
Photo credit: Léa Zinsli.