At theUM : Science [S01-ep09]: From Oyster Vaccination to the Abiophen Greenhouse

This week, Caroline Montagnani, a researcher atIfremer and director of the IHPE unit, talks to us about vaccinating oysters against ostreid herpesvirus 1. In the second part of the program, Denis Fabre from the Agap laboratory gives us a tour of the Abiophen greenhouse located 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 providing 100% protection against this virus. Yet controversy is mounting among the public, and despite warnings from government officials—“In the face of this wave, no one will slip through the cracks!”—resistance is growing and protests are being organized. On the benches, signs read:“Yes to lemons, no to vaccinations!”;“Stop the mad rush!”;“Yes to Picpoul, no to jabs!”;“They’re pulling our leg!”;“My valves, my choice!”….

  • "But Lucie, what are you talking about? What's 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—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; here, researchers are growing the varieties that we may one day see in our fields.

At "UM : Science," here's the lineup—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 “A l’UM la science” on Divergence FM 93.9


Check out theUM podcasts, now available on your favorite platform (Spotify, Deezer, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, etc.).