Emmanuelle Jouanguy

Emmanuelle Jouanguy is a Research Professor and Inserm Research Director at the Imagine Institute, part of the Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases Laboratory (an Inserm international lab with branches in Paris and New York). Her work focuses on uncovering genetic origins of severe infectious diseases, bridging immunology, genetics, and virology. She has identified key genetic mutations underlying conditions like Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) and severe herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) encephalitis. Her research demonstrates that certain viruses and bacteria cause severe infections due to genetic predispositions.

Education & Career: After a BTS in biological analysis and a bachelor’s degree, she pursued a PhD, followed by postdoctoral research with Nobel laureate Jules Hoffmann in Strasbourg. She has collaborated with Jean-Laurent Casanova for 26+ years, co-founding the lab’s Paris branch. Her current work explores tissue-specific immune responses to viruses like HSV1 and hepatitis.

Awards:

• Charles-Louis de Saulses de Freycinet Prize (2019) for contributions to genetics, immunology, and virology.

Research Themes: Her discoveries link viral/bacterial infections to genetic defects, emphasizing collaboration across disciplines. She investigates why some individuals develop severe viral hepatitis or epidermodysplasia verruciformis (linked to HPV) due to genetic vulnerabilities. Current projects address immune response variability in different tissues against the same virus.