Institut Pasteur

Participant's Lead

Project Staff

Partner Presentation

The Institut Pasteur contributes to the prevention and treatment of human diseases through research, teaching and public health initiatives. Within the Neuroscience department, the Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions unit is working on the genetic susceptibility to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for more than 10 years. The group identified the first synaptic pathway associated with ASD also known as the NLGN-NRXN-SHANK pathway. This pathway has a key role in synapse formation and in the excitatory-inhibitory balance within the brain. Based on these results, mouse models (Nlgn4, Shank2) are now used to study in details the role of the genes that the group identified in patients with ASD. The group is developing new paradigms for characterising mouse social behaviour and vocalisations. Dr. Elodie Ey is working for 6 years on animal vocalization (primates and rodents) and has all the expertise to analyze in depth the vocalisation pattern of mice carrying mutations in synaptic proteins associated with ASD. Nicolas Torquet has been working for 8 years on mouse/rat behaviour. In the laboratory, he has set up all the routine behavioural tests as well as the database to handle the data collected during the tests. Anne-Marie Le Sourd and Nathalie Lemière have all the expertise for collecting behavioural data and mouse genotyping. Space (4 independent experimental rooms), equipments (video tracking, open field, soundproof chamber, audio-recording equipment) as well as mouse housing capacities dedicated for behavioural analyses (200 cages) are located within the animal facility of the Institut Pasteur and available for this project.