Dr. Christophe J. Noël

Contact information

• Phone number:
• e-mail adress: christophe.noel (at) geneiuslabs.com

Work description

Trichomonas vaginalis during division, just before cytokinesis: immunofluorescence using an anti-a tubulin monoclonal antibody (microtular cytoskeleton is in green). Each daughter cell possesses all of the achieved microtubular structures. Two nuclei can be seen (stained with DAPI - blue). Taken from Noël et al., Parasitology Research (2003)

Background

During my PhD thesis with Eric Viscogliosi in the Institut Pasteur de Lille (France), I worked on the human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis to investigate the composition, function and morphogenesis of its microtubular cytoskeleton. I also investigated the phylogenetic relationships among parabasalid taxa based on the comparison of SSU rRNA gene sequences.

Current work

Microsporidia like Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Trachipleistophora hominis have undergone dramatic secondary reduction at both the cellular and molecular levels and are among the simplest eukaryotic cells known. For example, the recently published E. cuniculi genome is only 2.3 Mb, it encodes less than 2000 proteins, and is smaller than the genome of many bacteria (Katinka et al., 2001). Thus, microsporidia provide an excellent example of genomic streamlining — with the prediction that the genes retained will include those that are essential for eukaryotic cells and their organelles.

However, despite their interest as highly reduced eukaryotes, the cell biology and evolution of microsporidia is still poorly understood. The present project is to investigate the structure and function of a recently discovered microsporidian organelle called a mitosome. The mitosome, which was discovered by our lab in the microsporidian Trachipleistophora hominis, is a smallest and structurally simplest "mitochondrion" yet found (Williams et al., 2002). Current genome data from E. cuniculi suggest that the mitosome may provide a simple "minimal" model system to identify what are the truly essential feature(s) and function(s) of mitochondria - an apparently vital eukaryotic organelle (Embley et al., 2003).

We aim to investigate key mitosome functions; including how it produces or imports ATP and how it imports the proteins it is already known to contain and that require ATP. To do this, we will integrate a variety of bioinformatics and experimental approaches to address the following questions like:

• Does the mitosome make energy?
• Do mitosomes import ATP via a novel mechanism?
• How do mitosomes import proteins?

Chris is now working for a biology spin-out company Geneius at Newcastle University, his new contact details are:

Dr Christophe Noel

Geneius Laboratories Ltd

INEX Business Centre

Herschel Building

Newcastle University Campus

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE1 7RU

UK

Christophe's publications

• Heinz E, Williams TA, Nakjang S, Noel CJ, Swan DC, Goldberg AV, Harris SR, Weinmaier T, Markert S, Becher D, Bernhardt J, Dagan T, Hacker C, Lucocq JM, Schweder T, Rattei T, Hall N, Hirt RP, Embley TM. The Genome of the Obligate Intracellular Parasite Trachipleistophora hominis: New Insights into Microsporidian Genome Dynamics and Reductive Evolution. PLoS Pathog. vol 8 p. e1002979 (2012). pubmed
• Noel CJ, Diaz N, Sicheritz-Ponten T, Safarikova L, Tachezy J, Tang P, Fiori P-L, Hirt RP. Trichomonas vaginalis vast BspA-like gene family: evidence for functional diversity from structural organisation and transcriptomics. BMC Genomics. vol 8 (2010). pubmed
• Carlton JM, Hirt RP, Silva JC, Delcher AL, Schatz M, Zhao Q, Wortman JR, Bidwell SL, Alsmark UC, Besteiro S, Sicheritz-Ponten T, Noel CJ, Dacks JB, Foster PG, Simillion C, Van de Peer Y, Miranda-Saavedra D, Barton GJ, Westrop GD, Muller S, Dessi D, Fiori PL, Ren Q, Paulsen I, Zhang H, Bastida-Corcuera FD, Simoes-Barbosa A, Brown MT, Hayes RD, Mukherjee M, Okumura CY, Schneider R, Smith AJ, Vanacova S, Villalvazo M, Haas BJ, Pertea M, Feldblyum TV, Utterback TR, Shu CL, Osoegawa K, de Jong PJ, Hrdy I, Horvathova L, Zubacova Z, Dolezal P, Malik SB, Logsdon JM Jr, Henze K, Gupta A, Wang CC, Dunne RL, Upcroft JA, Upcroft P, White O, Salzberg SL, Tang P, Chiu CH, Lee YS, Embley TM, Coombs GH, Mottram JC, Tachezy J, Fraser-Liggett CM and Johnson PJ. Draft genome sequence of the sexually transmitted pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis. Science. vol 315 p. 207-12 (2007). pubmed
• Clark CG, Alsmark UC, Tazreiter M, Saito-Nakano Y, Ali V, Marion S, Weber C, Mukherjee C, Bruchhaus I, Tannich E, Leippe M, Sicheritz-Ponten T, Foster PG, Samuelson J, Noel CJ, Hirt RP, Embley TM, Gilchrist CA, Mann BJ, Singh U, Ackers JP, Bhattacharya S, Bhattacharya A, Lohia A, Guillén N, Duchêne M, Nozaki T and Hall N. Structure and content of the Entamoeba histolytica genome. Adv Parasitol.. vol 67 p. 51-190 (2007). pubmed
• Dufernez F, Walker RL, Noel C, Caby S, Mantini C, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Ohkuma M, Kudo T, Capron M, Pierce RJ, Villanueva MR and Viscogliosi E. Morphological and molecular identification of non-Tritrichomonas foetus trichomonad protozoa from the bovine preputial cavity. J Eukaryot Microbiol.. vol 54 p. 161-8 (2007). pubmed
• Hirt RP, Noel CJ, Sicheritz-Ponten T, Tachezy J and Fiori PL. Trichomonas vaginalis surface proteins: a view from the genome. Trends Parasitol.. (2007). pubmed
• Lefevre E, Bardot C, Noel C, Carrias JF, Viscogliosi E, Amblard C and Sime-Ngando T. Unveiling fungal zooflagellates as members of freshwater picoeukaryotes: evidence from a molecular diversity study in a deep meromictic lake. Environ Microbiol. vol 9 p. 61-71 (2007). pubmed
• Noel C, Noda S, Mantini C, Dolan MF, Moriya S, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Kudo T, Capron M, Pierce RJ, Ohkuma M and Viscogliosi E. Molecular Phylogenetic Position of the Genera Stephanonympha and Caduceia (Parabasalia) Inferred from Nuclear Small Subunit rRNA Gene Sequences. J Eukaryot Microbiol. vol 54 p. 93-9 (2007). pubmed
• Bahia D, Avelar L, Mortara RA, Khayath N, Yan Y, Noel C, Capron M, Dissous C, Pierce RJ and Oliveira G. SmPKC1, a new protein kinase C identified in the platyhelminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. vol 345 p. 1138-48 (2006). pubmed
• Bertin B, Oger F, Cornette J, Caby S, Noel C, Capron M, Fantappie MR, Rumjanek FD and Pierce RJ. Schistosoma mansoni CBP/p300 has a conserved domain structure and interacts functionally with the nuclear receptor SmFtz-F1. Mol Biochem Parasitol. vol 146 p. 180-91 (2006). pubmed
• Dei-Cas E, Chabe M, Moukhlis R, Durand-Joly I, Aliouat el M, Stringer JR, Cushion M, Noel C, de Hoog GS, Guillot J and Viscogliosi E. Pneumocystis oryctolagi sp. nov., an uncultured fungus causing pneumonia in rabbits at weaning: review of current knowledge, and description of a new taxon on genotypic, phylogenetic and phenotypic bases. FEMS Microbiol Rev. vol 30 p. 853-71 (2006). pubmed
• Dufernez F, Yernaux C, Gerbod D, Noel C, Chauvenet M, Wintjens R, Edgcomb VP, Capron M, Opperdoes FR and Viscogliosi E. The presence of four iron-containing superoxide dismutase isozymes in trypanosomatidae: characterization, subcellular localization, and phylogenetic origin in Trypanosoma brucei. Free Radic Biol Med. vol 40 p. 210-25 (2006). pubmed
• Frealle E, Noel C, Nolard N, Symoens F, Felipe MS, Dei-Cas E, Camus D, Viscogliosi E and Delhaes L. Manganese superoxide dismutase based phylogeny of pathogenic fungi. Mol Phylogenet Evol. vol 41 p. 28-39 (2006). pubmed
• Lal K, Noel CJ, Field MC, Goulding D and Hirt RP. Dramatic reorganisation of Trichomonas endomembranes during amoebal transformation: A possible role for G-proteins. Mol Biochem Parasitol. vol 148 p. 99-102 (2006). pubmed
• Bouton D, Escriva H, de Mendonca RL, Glineur C, Bertin B, Noel C, Robinson-Rechavi M, de Groot A, Cornette J, Laudet V and Pierce RJ. A conserved retinoid X receptor (RXR) from the mollusk Biomphalaria glabrata transactivates transcription in the presence of retinoids. J Mol Endocrinol. vol 34 p. 567-82 (2005). pubmed
• Duboucher C, Gerbod D, Noel C, Durand-Joly I, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Leclerc C, Pham S, Capron M, Dei-Cas E and Viscogliosi E. Frequency of trichomonads as coinfecting agents in Pneumocystis pneumonia. Acta Cytol. vol 49 p. 273-7 (2005). pubmed
• Frealle E, Noel C, Viscogliosi E, Camus D, Dei-Cas E and Delhaes L. Manganese superoxide dismutase in pathogenic fungi: an issue with pathophysiological and phylogenetic involvements. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. vol 45 p. 411-22 (2005). pubmed
• Noel C, Dufernez F, Gerbod D, Edgcomb VP, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Ho LC, Singh M, Wintjens R, Sogin ML, Capron M, Pierce R, Zenner L and Viscogliosi E. Molecular phylogenies of Blastocystis isolates from different hosts: implications for genetic diversity, identification of species, and zoonosis. J Clin Microbiol. vol 43 p. 348-55 (2005). pubmed
• Pierce RJ, Wu W, Hirai H, Ivens A, Murphy LD, Noel C, Johnston DA, Artiguenave F, Adams M, Cornette J, Viscogliosi E, Capron M and Balavoine G. Evidence for a dispersed Hox gene cluster in the platyhelminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Mol Biol Evol. vol 22 p. 2491-503 (2005). pubmed
• Gerbod D, Sanders E, Moriya S, Noel C, Takasu H, Fast NM, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Ohkuma M, Kudo T, Capron M, Palmer JD, Keeling PJ and Viscogliosi E. Molecular phylogenies of Parabasalia inferred from four protein genes and comparison with rRNA trees. Mol Phylogenet Evol. vol 31 p. 572-80 (2004). pubmed
• Wintjens R, Noel C, May AC, Gerbod D, Dufernez F, Capron M, Viscogliosi E and Rooman M. Specificity and phenetic relationships of iron- and manganese-containing superoxide dismutases on the basis of structure and sequence comparisons. J Biol Chem. vol 279 p. 9248-54 (2004). pubmed
• Chose O, Sarde CO, Noel C, Gerbod D, Jimenez JC, Brenner C, Capron M, Viscogliosi E and Roseto A. Cell death in protists without mitochondria. Ann N Y Acad Sci. vol 1010 p. 121-5 (2003). pubmed
• Duboucher C, Noel C, Dur and-Joly I, Gerbod D, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Jouveshomme S, Leclerc C, Cartolano GL, Dei-Cas E, Capron M and Viscogliosi E. Pulmonary coinfection by Trichomonas vaginalis and Pneumocystis sp. as a novel manifestation of AIDS. Hum Pathol. vol 34 p. 508-11 (2003). pubmed
• Noel C, Gerbod D, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Fast NM, Younes AB, Chose O, Roseto A, Capron M and Viscogliosi E. Morphogenesis during division and griseofulvin-induced changes of the microtubular cytoskeleton in the parasitic protist, Trichomonas vaginalis. Parasitol Res. vol 89 p. 487-94 (2003). pubmed
• Noel C, Gerbod D, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Fast NM, Younes AB, Chose O, Roseto A, Capron M and Viscogliosi E. Morphogenesis during division and griseofulvin-induced changes of the microtubular cytoskeleton in the parasitic protist, Trichomonas vaginalis. Parasitol. Res. vol 89 p. 487-94 (2003). pubmed
• Noel C, Peyronnet C, Gerbod D, Edgcomb VP, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Sogin ML, Capron M, Viscogliosi E and Zenner L. Phylogenetic analysis of Blastocystis isolates from different hosts based on the comparison of small-subunit rRNA gene sequences. Mol Biochem Parasitol. vol 126 p. 119-23 (2003). pubmed
• Vicogne J, Pin JP, Lardans V, Capron M, Noel C and Dissous C. An unusual receptor tyrosine kinase of Schistosoma mansoni contains a Venus Flytrap module. Mol Biochem Parasitol. vol 126 p. 51-62 (2003). pubmed
• Chose O, Noel C, Gerbod D, Brenner C, Viscogliosi E and Roseto A. A form of cell death with some features resembling apoptosis in the amitochondrial unicellular organism Trichomonas vaginalis. Exp Cell Res. vol 276 p. 32-9 (2002). pubmed
• De Mendonca RL, Bouton D, Bertin B, Escriva H, Noel C, Vanacker JM, Cornette J, Laudet V and Pierce RJ. A functionally conserved member of the FTZ-F1 nuclear receptor family from Schistosoma mansoni. Eur J Biochem. vol 269 p. 5700-11 (2002). pubmed
• Noel C, Gerbod D, Dolan MF, Edgcomb VP, Kitade O, Noda S, Dufernez F, Ohkuma M, Kudo T, Capron M, Sogin ML and Viscogliosi E. Molecular phylogeny of parabasalids inferred from small subunit rRNA sequences, with emphasis on the Devescovinidae and Calonymphidae (Trichomonadea). Mol Phylogenet Evol. vol 25 p. 545-56 (2002). pubmed
• Gerbod D, Edgcomb VP, Noel C, Vanacova S, Wintjens R, Tachezy J, Sogin ML and Viscogliosi E. Phylogenetic relationships of class II fumarase genes from trichomonad species. Mol Biol Evol. vol 18 p. 1574-84 (2001). pubmed
• Gerbod D, Edgcomb VP, Noel C, Zenner L, Wintjens R, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Holder ME, Sogin ML and Viscogliosi E. Phylogenetic position of the trichomonad parasite of turkeys, Histomonas meleagridis (Smith) Tyzzer, inferred from small subunit rRNA sequence. J Eukaryot Microbiol. vol 48 p. 498-504 (2001). pubmed
• Noel C, Gerbod D, Fast NM, Wintjens R, Delgado-Viscogliosi P, Doolittle WF and Viscogliosi E. Tubulins in Trichomonas vaginalis: molecular characterization of alpha-tubulin genes, posttranslational modifications, and homology modeling of the tubulin dimer. J Eukaryot Microbiol. vol 48 p. 647-54 (2001). pubmed
• Gerbod D, Edgcomb VP, Noel C, Delgado-Viscogliosi P and Viscogliosi E. Phylogenetic position of parabasalid symbionts from the termite Calotermes flavicollis based on small subunit rRNA sequences. Int Microbiol. vol 3 p. 165-72 (2000). pubmed
• Viscogliosi E, Edgcomb VP, Gerbod D, Noel C and Delgado-Viscogliosi P. Molecular evolution inferred from small subunit rRNA sequences: what does it tell us about phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of the parabasalids?. Parasite. vol 6 p. 279-91 (1999). pubmed