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

Claude Collet will defend his Habilitation to Supervise Research (HDR) on the theme: "Bees facing toxic risk: from the neurophysiology of ionic channels to behaviour", on 5 May 2023 at Avignon University.

Date and place

Friday 5 May 2023 at 2pm
Avignon University, Campus Jean-Henri Fabre, Amphitheatre 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, University of Lyon I
• Mr Pierre CHARNET, Director of Research CNRS, 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
• Mr 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 honeybee has been a model for behavioural and neurophysiological studies, used in particular by toxicologists interested in the impacts of insecticides on entomofauna. The 3Rs rule for animal experimentation requires the use of more humane approaches, and if possible the replacement of these with alternative approaches in silico and in vitro. This thesis puts into perspective recent toxicology work and the potential contributions 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. Thus, studies of ion channels in bees, combined with behavioural studies, can help to orient public policies for environmental preservation.