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Molecular Biology technical platform

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this technical platform is to pool technologies and skills in molecular biology to support the unit’s research programmes.

The methods used generate the genetic data needed to characterise biodiversity and study phylogeny and population genetics, as well as genome structure, organism adaptation and gene function for species or communities of interest.

The site has 13 permanent staff and welcomes a large number of students.

Co-hosts and scientific representative
CLAMENS Anne-Laure
Anne-Laure CLAMENS
Technician, INRAE
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Anne-Laure CLAMENS
Technician, INRAE
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NIDELET Sabine
Sabine NIDELET
Technician, INRAE
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Sabine NIDELET
Technician, INRAE
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ALLIO Rémi
Rémi ALLIO
Research manager, INRAE
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Rémi ALLIO
Research manager, INRAE
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See the platform permanent members

Activities and main facilities available

The platform has 200 m2 of laboratories dedicated to the various activities based on the principle of forward progress. The main activities are as follows:

  • High-throughput purification of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA)
    Main equipment: Sigma 4K15 centrifuge, Eppendorf epMotion 5075 robot
  • PCR amplification for genotyping (microsatellites, RFLP, AFLP) and sequencing (conventional and high-throughput)
    Main equipment: 96 Eppendorf block thermocyclers (Mastercycler, epGradient and Nexus) and 384 TProfessional (Biometra)
  • Quantitative PCR: measurement of gene expression, pathogen detection, target quantification
    Main equipment: LightCycler 480 (Roche), 96- and 384-well blocks
  • Preparation of libraries for high-throughput sequencing: AmpliconSeq (metabarcoding, 16S metagenomics, MHC genotyping, etc.), RADseq, RNAseq, Shotgun, etc.
  • Quality control of nucleic acids, PCR products and genomic libraries
    Main equipment: electrophoresis tanks (Mupid), Bioanalyzer 2100 (Agilent), NanoDrop ND8000 spectrophotometer (Thermo), Qubit fluorometer (Invitrogen)
  • Cytogenetics: karyotyping, PRINS, FISH of repeated probes, BAC-FISH, chromosome painting, Zoo-FISH
    Main equipment: fluorescence microscope (Zeiss) coupled to an image analysis system (Genus, Cytovision)

As CBGP is part of the LabEx CeMEB (Centre Méditerranéen Environnement et Biodiversité) and the LabEx Agro, users of our technical platform also benefit from access to shared equipment on partner platforms (Applied Biosystems capillary sequencers, Illumina MiSeq sequencer, Thermofisher KingFisher automated extraction system, Covaris S220 sonicator):

CeMEB labelled platforms

Grand Regional Genotyping Technical Platform

Latest publications from the platform
Zaid* R., Zaid R., Brahimi A., Merdas M., Djazouli Z.E. & Gauthier N. 2026. Chemical composition and aphicidal activity of Santolina africana essential oil: a new opportunity in Aphis gossypii management?. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 46 : 309-320. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s42690-025-01681-7)
Veillat L., Cocquempot C., Streito J.-C., Pierre E., Genson G., Rasplus J.-Y., Cruaud A., Touroult J., Roques A., Courtial B., Roux G. & Lopez-Vaamonde C. 2026. From traps to taxa: building a robust DNA barcode reference library for the early detection of invasive Cerambycidae. Ecology and Evolution 16 : e73626. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.73626)
Ratto F., Steward P., Sait S.M., Haran J., Gaigher R., Pryke J.S., Samways M.J. & Kunin W. 2026. Floral resource strips enhance parasitoid abundance and diversity in apple orchards and promote agroecological advances in a South African biosphere reserve. Insect Conservation and Diversity 19 : 559-572. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/icad.70041)
Penel* B., Genty L., Marty C., Bourdonné A., Clamens A.-L., Benoit L., Soldati L., Migeon A., Kergoat G.J., Haran J., Fried G. & Meynard C. 2026. Beetle communities in agricultural landscapes: relative influences of climate, landscape, plant communities and agricultural practices. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 400 : 110252. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2026.110252)
Palmieri L., Rodriguez* L.J., van Noort S., Cruaud A., Pereira R.A.S. & Rasplus J.-Y. 2026. From figs to acorns: Early specialization and host shifts shaped the global radiation of Curculionini weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Systematic Entomology 51 : e70050. (https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/syen.70050)
Haran J., Zelvelder* B., Archange Boupoya C., Couvreur T.L.P., Niangadouma R., Benoit L., Kergoat G.J., Buatois B., Dufäy M., Kojima H. & Allio R. 2026. New species of Endaeus Schoenherr, 1826 (Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Ochyromerini) associated with Annonaceae and Clusiaceae. European Journal of Taxonomy 1039 : 165–198. (https://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2026.1039.3185)
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