Education

Ph.D. in in Sciences, Biotechnology, University Gent, Belgium, 1996

Current Position

Research director, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Group leader, Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell

Publications (since 2009)

1. Sami, D., Mokhtar, R., Peter, M. and Mohamed, M. (2016). Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiovar trifolii, Ensifer numidicus and Mesorhizobium amorphae symbiovar ciceri (or Mesorhizobium loti) are new endosymbiotic bacteria of Lens culinaris Medik. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 92(8).
2. Gully, D., Gargani, D., Bonaldi, K., Grangeteau, C., Chaintreuil, C., Fardoux, J., Nguyen, P., Marchetti, R., Nouwen, N., Molinaro, A., Mergaert, P. and Giraud, E. (2016). A Peptidoglycan-Remodeling Enzyme Is Critical for Bacteroid Differentiation in Bradyrhizobium spp. During Legume Symbiosis. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 29(6): 447-457.
3. Crespo-Rivas, J. C., Guefrachi, I., Mok, K. C., Villaecija-Aguilar, J. A., Acosta-Jurado, S., Pierre, O., Ruiz-Sainz, J. E., Taga, M. E., Mergaert, P. and Vinardell, J. M. (2016). Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 bacteroids are not terminally differentiated and show altered O-antigen in nodules of the Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade legume Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Environ Microbiol 18(8): 2392-2404.
4. Takeshita, K., Matsuura, Y., Itoh, H., Navarro, R., Hori, T., Sone, T., Kamagata, Y., Mergaert, P. and Kikuchi, Y. (2015). Burkholderia of Plant-Beneficial Group are Symbiotically Associated with Bordered Plant Bugs (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoroidea: Largidae). Microbes Environ 30(4): 321-329.
5. Guefrachi, I., Pierre, O., Timchenko, T., Alunni, B., Barriere, Q., Czernic, P., Villaecija-Aguilar, J. A., Verly, C., Bourge, M., Fardoux, J., Mars, M., Kondorosi, E., Giraud, E. and Mergaert, P. (2015). Bradyrhizobium BclA Is a Peptide Transporter Required for Bacterial Differentiation in Symbiosis with Aeschynomene Legumes. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 28(11): 1155-1166.
6. Czernic, P., Gully, D., Cartieaux, F., Moulin, L., Guefrachi, I., Patrel, D., Pierre, O., Fardoux, J., Chaintreuil, C., Nguyen, P., Gressent, F., Da Silva, C., Poulain, J., Wincker, P., Rofidal, V., Hem, S., Barriere, Q., Arrighi, J. F., Mergaert, P. and Giraud, E. (2015). Convergent Evolution of Endosymbiont Differentiation in Dalbergioid and Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade Legumes Mediated by Nodule-Specific Cysteine-Rich Peptides. Plant Physiol 169(2): 1254-1265.
7. Carro, L., Pujic, P., Alloisio, N., Fournier, P., Boubakri, H., Hay, A. E., Poly, F., Francois, P., Hocher, V., Mergaert, P., Balmand, S., Rey, M., Heddi, A. and Normand, P. (2015). Alnus peptides modify membrane porosity and induce the release of nitrogen-rich metabolites from nitrogen-fixing Frankia. ISME J 9(8): 1723-1733.
8. Guefrachi, I., Verly, C., Kondorosi, E., Alunni, B. and Mergaert, P. (2015). Role of the bacterial BacA ABC-transporter in chronic infection of nodule cells by Rhizobium bacteria. In: de Bruijn, F. J. (ed). Biological Nitrogen Fixation pp. 315–324, Wiley-Blackwell.
9. Mardirossian, M., Grzela, R., Giglione, C., Meinnel, T., Gennaro, R., Mergaert, P. and Scocchi, M. (2014). The host antimicrobial peptide Bac71-35 binds to bacterial ribosomal proteins and inhibits protein synthesis. Chem Biol 21(12): 1639-1647.
10. Guefrachi, I., Nagymihaly, M., Pislariu, C. I., Van de Velde, W., Ratet, P., Mars, M., Udvardi, M. K., Kondorosi, E., Mergaert, P. and Alunni, B. (2014). Extreme specificity of NCR gene expression in Medicago truncatula. BMC Genomics 15: 712.
11. Berrabah, F., Bourcy, M., Eschstruth, A., Cayrel, A., Guefrachi, I., Mergaert, P., Wen, J., Jean, V., Mysore, K. S., Gourion, B. and Ratet, P. (2014). A nonRD receptor-like kinase prevents nodule early senescence and defense-like reactions during symbiosis. New Phytol 203(4): 1305-1314.
12. Farkas, A., Maróti, G., Dürgo, H., Györgypal, Z., Lima, R.M., Folkl-Medzihradsky, K., Kereszt, A., Mergaert, P., and Kondorosi, E. (2014). Medicago truncatula symbiotic peptide NCR247 contributes to bacteroid differentiation through multiple mechanisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111: 5183-5188.
13. Kondorosi, E., Mergaert, P. and Kereszt, A. (2013). A paradigm for endosymbiotic life: cell differentiation of Rhizobium bacteria provoked by host plant factors. Annu Rev Microbiol 67: 611-628.
14. Baloban, M., Vanstraelen, M., Tarayre, S., Reuzeau, C., Cultrone, A., Mergaert, P. and Kondorosi, E. (2013). Complementary and dose-dependent action of AtCCS52A isoforms in endoreduplication and plant size control. New Phytol 198(4): 1049-1059.
15. Bourcy, M., Brocard, L., Pislariu, C. I., Cosson, V., Mergaert, P., Tadege, M., Mysore, K. S., Udvardi, M. K., Gourion, B. and Ratet, P. (2013). Medicago truncatula DNF2 is a PI-PLC-XD-containing protein required for bacteroid persistence and prevention of nodule early senescence and defense-like reactions. New Phytol 197(4): 1250-1261.
16. Arnold, M. F., Haag, A. F., Capewell, S., Boshoff, H. I., James, E. K., McDonald, R., Mair, I., Mitchell, A. M., Kerscher, B., Mitchell, T. J., Mergaert, P., Barry, C. E., 3rd, Scocchi, M., Zanda, M., Campopiano, D. J. and Ferguson, G. P. (2013). Partial complementation of Sinorhizobium meliloti bacA mutant phenotypes by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis BacA protein. J Bacteriol 195(2): 389-398.
17. Haag, A. F., Arnold, M. F., Myka, K. K., Kerscher, B., Dall'Angelo, S., Zanda, M., Mergaert, P. and Ferguson, G. P. (2013). Molecular insights into bacteroid development during Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. FEMS Microbiol Rev 37(3): 364-383.
18. Redondo-Nieto, M., Maunoury, N., Mergaert, P., Kondorosi, E., Bonilla, I. and Bolanos, L. (2012). Boron and calcium induce major changes in gene expression during legume nodule organogenesis. Does boron have a role in signalling? New Phytol 195(1): 14-19.
19. Haag, A. F., Kerscher, B., Dall'Angelo, S., Sani, M., Longhi, R., Baloban, M., Wilson, H. M., Mergaert, P., Zanda, M. and Ferguson, G. P. (2012). Role of cysteine residues and disulfide bonds in the activity of a legume root nodule-specific, cysteine-rich peptide. J Biol Chem 287(14): 10791-10798.
20. Mergaert, P. and Kondorosi, E. (2012). Controlling symbiotic microbes with antimicrobial peptides. In: Rajasekaran, K., Cary, J. W., Jaynes, J. and Montesinos, E. (eds). Small Wonders: Peptides for Disease Control  pp 215-233, Washington DC, ACS Publications.
21. Kereszt, A., Mergaert, P. and Kondorosi, E. (2011). Bacteroid development in legume nodules: evolution of mutual benefit or of sacrificial victims? Mol Plant Microbe Interact 24(11): 1300-1309.
22. Haag, A. F., Baloban, M., Sani, M., Kerscher, B., Pierre, O., Farkas, A., Longhi, R., Boncompagni, E., Herouart, D., Dall'angelo, S., Kondorosi, E., Zanda, M., Mergaert, P. and Ferguson, G. P. (2011). Protection of Sinorhizobium against host cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides is critical for symbiosis. PLoS Biol 9(10): e1001169.
23. Kevei, Z., Baloban, M., Da Ines, O., Tiricz, H., Kroll, A., Regulski, K., Mergaert, P. and Kondorosi, E. (2011). Conserved CDC20 cell cycle functions are carried out by two of the five isoforms in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS One 6(6): e20618.
24. Ishihara, H., Koriyama, H., Osawa, A., Zehirov, G., Yamaura, M., Kucho, K., Abe, M., Higashi, S., Kondorosi, E., Mergaert, P. and Uchiumi, T. (2011). Characteristics of bacteroids in indeterminate nodules of the leguminous tree Leucaena glauca. Microbes Environ 26(2): 156-159.
25. Maroti, G., Kereszt, A., Kondorosi, E. and Mergaert, P. (2011). Natural roles of antimicrobial peptides in microbes, plants and animals. Res Microbiol 162(4): 363-374.
26. Batut, J., Mergaert, P. and Masson-Boivin, C. (2011). Peptide signalling in the rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Curr Opin Microbiol 14(2): 181-187.
27. Kereszt, A., Mergaert, P., Maroti, G. and Kondorosi, E. (2011). Innate immunity effectors and virulence factors in symbiosis. Curr Opin Microbiol 14(1): 76-81.
28. Kereszt, A., Mergaert, P. and Kondorosi, E. (2011). Bacteroid development in legume nodules: evolution of mutual benefit or of sacrificial victims? Mol Plant Microbe Interact 24(11): 1300-1309.
29. Brown, S., Catrice, O., Siljak-Yakovlec, S., Mergaert, P. and Satiat-Jeunemaître, B. (2010). Le cycle et l’endoréplication chez les végétaux. In: Grunwald, D., Mayol, J. F. and Ronot, X. (eds). Cycle cellulaire et cytométrie en flux pp. 191-213, Paris, Tec & Doc - Lavoisier.
30. Van de Velde, W., Zehirov, G., Szatmari, A., Debreczeny, M., Ishihara, H., Kevei, Z., Farkas, A., Mikulass, K., Nagy, A., Tiricz, H., Satiat-Jeunemaitre, B., Alunni, B., Bourge, M., Kucho, K., Abe, M., Kereszt, A., Maroti, G., Uchiumi, T., Kondorosi, E. and Mergaert, P. (2010). Plant peptides govern terminal differentiation of bacteria in symbiosis. Science 327(5969): 1122-1126.
31. Maunoury, N., Redondo-Nieto, M., Bourcy, M., Van de Velde, W., Alunni, B., Laporte, P., Durand, P., Agier, N., Marisa, L., Vaubert, D., Delacroix, H., Duc, G., Ratet, P., Aggerbeck, L., Kondorosi, E. and Mergaert, P. (2010). Differentiation of symbiotic cells and endosymbionts in Medicago truncatula nodulation are coupled to two transcriptome-switches. PLoS One 5(3): e9519.
32. Vanstraelen, M., Baloban, M., Da Ines, O., Cultrone, A., Lammens, T., Boudolf, V., Brown, S. C., De Veylder, L., Mergaert, P. and Kondorosi, E. (2009). APC/C-CCS52A complexes control meristem maintenance in the Arabidopsis root. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106(28): 11806-11811.
33. Bozso, Z., Maunoury, N., Szatmari, A., Mergaert, P., Ott, P. G., Zsiros, L. R., Szabo, E., Kondorosi, E. and Klement, Z. (2009). Transcriptome analysis of a bacterially induced basal and hypersensitive response of Medicago truncatula. Plant Mol Biol 70(6): 627-646.