Research
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Antiviral factors that interfere with viral budding
We study how specific cellular antiviral factors interfere with the budding of RNA viruses. Our focus is on MITD1-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 and MS4A4A-mediated restriction of mosquito-transmitted flaviviruses, aiming to uncover the cellular mechanisms underlying this antiviral activity.
Cellular basis of West Nile virus susceptibility in wild and domestic birds
Our research focuses on whether innate antiviral immunity drives the difference in WNV susceptibility between wild and domestic birds. We specifically compare interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in chicken cells with their counterparts in wild birds to uncover the cellular basis of this difference.
Cutaneous innate immunity and mosquito-borne virus dissemination
We investigate how mosquito-borne viruses first replicate in the skin and how cutaneous innate immunity shapes viral dissemination in the host. In addition, we study how components of mosquito saliva modulate skin immune responses and influence the spread of virus throughout the organism.
- Medkour H et al. Single-cell characterization of skin response to a bite by West Nile virus-infected mosquito reveals fibroblast-mediated barrier to transmission. bioRxiv 2026.
- Medkour H et al. Sphingomyelins in mosquito saliva reconfigure skin lipidome to promote viral protein levels and enhance transmission of flaviviruses. Cell Metab. 2025.
- Serrato-Pomar I et al. Multiple orthoflaviviruses secrete sfRNA in mosquito saliva to promote transmission by inhibiting MDA5-mediated early interferon response. bioRxiv 2025.
- Martin MF et al. Usutu Virus escapes langerin-induced restriction to productively infect human Langerhans cells, unlike West Nile virus. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2022.
Viral RNA resistance to antiviral exonucleases
This project investigates how antiviral exonucleases, such as ISG20, selectively target viral RNAs while sparing cellular RNAs. We aim to understand the mechanisms by which some viruses evade degradation and to identify the RNA structural features that confer resistance.
- Zoladek J et al. Not all RNAs are created equal for the antiviral RNase ISG20. Trends Microbiol. 2025.
- Zoladek J et al. A specific domain within the 3′ untranslated region of Usutu virus confers resistance to the exonuclease ISG20. Nat Commun. 2024.
- El Kazzi P et al. Internal RNA 2’O-methylation in the HIV-1 genome counteracts ISG20 nuclease-mediated antiviral effect. Nucleic Acids Research, 2023, 51(6):2501-2515.
Identification of novel antiviral defense mechanisms
We seek to identify new cellular factors that inhibit RNA virus replication through systematic screens of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) from different species. We also investigate how viruses evade these defenses to ensure their replication and spread.
- Cannac M et al. SAMD9L inhibits flavivirus translation independently of its capacity to trigger innate immune response. PLoS Pathog. 2025.
- Bribes I et al. African strains of Zika virus resist ISG-mediated restriction. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025.
- Zoladek J et al. MITD1 is a brain-specific interferon-inducible factor that inhibits flavivirus replication. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025.
The Nisole Lab
Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie
531, boul. des Prairies
Laval H7V 1B7, Québec, Canada
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