UM atUM [S01-ep09]: From Oyster Vaccination to the Abiophen Greenhouse

[Podcast] - Published on January 27, 2022 in Science and Society

This week, Caroline Montagnani, a researcher atIfremer and director of the IHPE unit, talks to us about vaccinating oysters against oyster herpesvirus 1. In the second part of the program, Denis Fabre from the Agap laboratory gives us a tour of the Abiophen greenhouse at CIRAD.

Breaking news! Like a tidal wave, a virus is sweeping across the planet and targeting the youngest people, killing up to 50% of them—and as many as 90% in some areas. Given the scale of the crisis, and in the absence of a truly effective treatment to stem this epidemic, our only hope lies in science.

A promise kept! Last November, a team of scientists announced that they had developed a revolutionary vaccine capable of offering 100% protection against this virus. Yet controversy is growing among the public, and despite warnings from government officials—“In the face of this wave, no one will slip through the cracks!”—resistance is mounting and protests are being organized. On the benches, slogans such as the following could be seen:“Yes to lemons, no to vaccines!”;“Stop the mad rush!”;“Yes to Picpoul, no to jabs!”;“They’re messing with our heads!”;“My valves, my choice!”….

• "But Lucie, what are you talking about? What's all this about a virus and a basket?"
• "I'm talking about vaccinating Aline oysters! And the Star project—which stands for Antiviral Stimulation of Pacific Oysters. It's a research project coordinated by our guest, Caroline Montagnani. She leads the Host-Pathogen-Environment Interactions team at Ifremer."

In the second part of the program, we’ll take you to CIRAD’s Abiophen greenhouse with ecophysiologist Denis Fabre from the Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Adaptation of Mediterranean and Tropical Plants (AGAP). This high-tech greenhouse is dedicated to studying the impact of global warming on plants, where researchers are currently growing the varieties that may one day be found in our fields.

AtUM , you’ve got the schedule—let’s get started!

Co-production: Divergence FM / University of Montpellier
Host: Lucie Lecherbonnier
Interview: Aline Périault / Lucie Lecherbonnier
Report: Aline Périault
Director: Adeline Floc’h

Listen to the show “AUM science” on Divergence FM 93.9

Keywords: UM atUM, Research, Science