Yann Bourdreux

Yann Bourdreux is an Associate Professor (Maître de conférences) at the University of Paris-Saclay, where he has been conducting research since 2008. He is affiliated with the Institute of Molecular Chemistry and Materials of Orsay (ICMMO - UMR 8182) and specifically works within the Synthesis of Molecules and Macromolecules for Living and Environment (SM2ViE) group. His research is focused on the chemistry of complex glycolipids, particularly in the context of mycobacterial cell walls, with applications in understanding tuberculosis and related bacterial pathogens.

Dr. Bourdreux's research interests center on organic synthesis approaches to study bacterial cell membranes, with particular emphasis on mycolic acids and trehalose-based compounds. His work combines synthetic organic chemistry with chemical biology to develop tools for studying bacterial pathogenesis. A significant portion of his research involves iron(III) chloride-catalyzed regioselective protection of sugars, which has enabled novel synthetic pathways for complex glycolipids. His team also investigates sulfolipids with potential activity against tuberculosis and develops bioorthogonal chemical reporters for studying mycomembrane dynamics.

Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent focus on mycobacterial membrane components, with a progression from fundamental synthetic methodology development to increasingly sophisticated biological applications. His work bridges organic chemistry, chemical biology, and microbiology, with particular expertise in carbohydrate chemistry and glycolipid synthesis. Recent publications demonstrate growing emphasis on protein mycoloylation as a unique post-translational modification in bacteria, representing an important frontier in bacterial biochemistry.

Dr. Bourdreux has held various teaching responsibilities at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including organic chemistry courses for L1 students, directed studies for L1-L3 students, NMR spectroscopy for L3 students, and practical laboratory sessions. Since 2021, he has served as the elected member of the chemistry department at the Faculty of Science in Orsay and is responsible for the advanced organic chemistry unit (CHIM311) in the Chemistry License program. He has also led practical laboratory services and industrial internship coordination for chemistry master's students.

His research is conducted in close collaboration with several prominent scientists including Professor Nicolas Bayan and Professor Herman van Tilbeurgh at I2BC, Dr. Boris Vauzeilles at ICSN, Professor Federica Migliardo at the University of Messina, and other specialists in NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and bacterial biochemistry. This collaborative approach enables comprehensive investigation of both the synthetic and biological aspects of his research targets.