[HDR defence] 5 May 2023: Claude Collet: "Bees and toxic risk: from the neurophysiology of ion channels to behaviour", Laboratoire UR06 Abeilles & Environnement - INRAE PACA, Avignon

Claude Collet will defend his Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) on the theme: "Bees and toxic risk: from the neurophysiology of ion channels to behaviour", on 5 May 2023 at Avignon University.

Date and place

Friday 5 May 2023 at 2pm
Avignon Université, Campus Jean-Henri Fabre, Amphithéâtre Agrosciences - Pôle Agrosciences, 546 Rue Spinoza, Avignon

Discipline

Biology of organisms

Laboratory

Laboratory UR06 Bees & Environment - INRAE PACA, Avignon

Composition of the jury

• Mr Bruno ALLARD, Professor, Lyon I University
• Pierre CHARNET, CNRS Research Director, Montpellier
• Mr Philippe LUCAS, Director of Research, INRAE, Versailles
• Ms Valérie RAYMOND, Professor, University of Angers
• Mr Jean-Christophe SANDOZ, CNRS Research Director, Gif-sur-Yvette
• Steeve Thany, Professor, University of Orléans

Summary of the manuscript

The deaths of honeybees observed by beekeepers foreshadowed the decline of the insects, alerting public opinion to a widespread ecological problem. For decades, the bee has been a model for behavioural and neurophysiological studies, used in particular by toxicologists interested in the impact of insecticides on entomofauna. The 3Rs rule for animal experimentation requires us to use approaches that are more respectful of living organisms, and if possible to replace them with alternative approaches. in silico and in vitro. This thesis puts into perspective recent toxicology work and the potential contribution of methods for studying ion channels in bees. Most of the neurotoxic insecticides used in agriculture alter the functioning of ion channels, which orchestrate the excitability of vital tissues such as the nervous system, heart and muscles. Studies of ion channels in bees, combined with behavioural studies, can help to guide public policy on environmental protection.