Keywords:
Mollusks – Bivalves – Gonad – Gametogenesis – Reproductive Cycle – Extracellular Vesicles

Regulatory pathways of reproductive cycles in marine mollusks in the context of environmental change
Primary Model: The cupped oyster Magallana gigas

My research focuses on the reproductive cycles of marine mollusks, particularly the key stages of gametogenesis and their regulation in response to environmental conditions.

My primary study model is the cupped oyster Magallana gigas, a coastal species extensively farmed in Normandy (France) and worldwide. This mollusk displays remarkable environmental adaptability. Its physiological plasticity allows it to adjust to its habitat over both short timescales (tidal cycles) and longer ones (seasonal changes). Understanding the mechanisms underlying this plasticity is especially relevant in the broader context of climate change. To this end, I investigate the signaling and regulatory pathways involved in communication between reproductive and storage tissues.

The oyster’s anatomy—including a rudimentary nervous system, semi-open circulatory system, and highly interconnected digestive, storage, and reproductive tissues—suggests that paracrine signaling plays a key role in regulating its physiological processes. I am particularly interested in cellular communication mediated by extracellular vesicles in this mollusk model.

Methodologies employed:
Optical, confocal, electron microscopies, cell enrichment techniques, flow cytometry, impedance-based cell analysis and primary cell cultures.

Scientific expertise:

• Isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles in oyster
• Analysis of stem and proliferative cell compartments within the gonads of M. gigas
• Investigation of gametogenesis in various bivalve species (M. gigas, Corbicula sp., Ruditapes decussatus) using qualitative histology and quantitative histo-imaging
• Cell enrichment techniques including density gradient centrifugation, successive cell seeding, and flow cytometry-based sorting

Teaching

• Head of the Aquatic Products specialization at ESIX AgroA, the agri-food engineering school of the University of Caen Normandy
• Coordinator of the second year of the agri-food engineering cycle and first-year student research projects
• Teaching in biology, food product analysis, and introductory agronomy for aquatic product specialization

Administrative responsibilities

• Member of the School Council and Scientific Council at ESIX Normandie
• Member of the Agri-food Department Council at ESIX Normandie