David Skurnik

David Skurnik is professor at the Medical School Paris Descartes and Team Leader Escherichia coli in the INSERM research unit pathogenesis of systemic infections (INEM). A major goal of DS research is to use High-Throughput Sequencing (TnSeq) and a new approach called TnVaccine to understand the bacterial and host factors involved in pathogenesis and immunity to neonatal bacterial meningitis, focusing on Escherichia coli K1, and to reveal alternative approaches to current antibiotic treatments, with the prospect of a multivalent vaccine against this pathogen. In parallel, David Skurnik is also strongly involved in more clinically advanced projects using active and passive immunization against microbial pathogens, especially antibody conjugated antimicrobial peptide (ADC) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, mRNA encoded antibodies (targeting P. aeruginosa and other Multi-drug resistant bacteria, and more recently SARS-CoV-2) and broad-spectrum antibodies (against MDR bacteria with the PNAG, Poly-Beta 1-6 N-Acetyl Glucosamine, as a vaccine target and against Influenza Viruses).

David Skurnik

Team Members

Submited and In Preparation manuscripts

COVID-19 pandemic: Impact caused by school closure and national lockdown on pediatric visits and admissions for viral and non-viral infections, a time series analysis
François Angoulvant, M.D., Ph.D., Naïm Ouldalu, M.D., David Dawei Yang,M.D., Mathilde Filser, Vincent Gajdos, M.D.,Ph.D. Alexis Rybak,M.D., Romain Guedj,M.D.,Ph.D., Valérie Soussan-Bannini,M.D., Romain Basmaci,M.D.,Ph.D., Alain Lefevre-Utile,M.D, Dominique Brun-Ney,M.D., Laure Beaujouan, David Skurnik,M.D.,Ph.D
Clinical Infectious Diseases in press

A high-throughput sequencing approach identifies immunotherapeutic targets for bacterial meningitis in neonates
Stephanie Pons, Damien Roux, Eric Frapy, Charlotte Gaultier, François Lebreton, Andrea Kropec, Olga Danilchanka, Laura Schlemmer, Hugues Aschard, Harry Sokol, Colette Cywes-Bentley, John J. Mekalanos, Thomas Guillard, Gerald B. Pier, David Skurnik
Revised version in preparation

A mechanism for aminoglycosides-mediated SOS induction in Escherichia coli that cross-select for fluoroquinolone resistance
Anamaria Babosan, David Skurnik, Anaëlle Muggeo, Gerald B. Pier, Fany Reffuveille, Frédéric Klein, Zeynep Baharoglu, Didier Mazel, Thomas Jové, Marie-Cécile Ploy, François Lebreton9 Sébastien Vergnolle, Christophe de Champs and Thomas Guillard
Revised version in preparation

Chlorine solutions for an efficient and safe method of decontamination of breast pump milk collection kits during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
V. Rigourd , M Benali, J Poupon ,J. Langrand , A Goutard, C Droguet, E Bille, P Frange, Y Bahri, D Pasquier, A Lapillonne, D Skurnik
Submitted

Development of an antibody fused with an antimicrobial peptide targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a new approach to prevent and treat bacterial infections
Johnson, Kenneth; Delaney, James; Guillard, Thomas; Li, Kai; Wollacott, Andrew; Frapy, Eric; Mong, Surin; Tissire, Hamid; Viswanathan, Karthik; Touti, Faycal; Babcock, Gregory J; Shriver, Zachary; Penulute, Bradley L.; Plante, Obadiah1, and Skurnik, David
Submitted

Identification of an antibody recognizing the conserved inner core of the LPS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Elli, Stefano; Alekseeva, Anna; Ramakrishnan, Boopathy; Koch, Tyree; Viswanathan, Karthik;  Li, Kai; Shriver, Zachary; Skurnik David, Plante, Obadiah, and Guerrini, Marco
Submitted

Grants and Funding

Call, funding agency, grant allocatedProject’s titleName of the scientific coordinatorStart - End
Research agreement with Visterra Inc
(180,000 euros)
Antibody-drug conjugate to treat infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosaSkurnik David2018-2021
R01, NIH
($90,000)
A Rapid Breath Volatile Metabolite-Based Diagnostic for In Vivo Identification and Antibiotic Resistance Profiling of Bacterial Pathogens in Ventilator-Associated PneumoniaSophia Koo2018-2023
ANR
(125,000 euros)
Mechanistic evaluation of the interaction between Enterobacteriaceae and fungi in the context of gut inflammationMathis Lavie-Richard and Harry Sokol2020-2024
Research agreement with Moderna Inc
(60,000 euros)
Screen of mRNA-encoded candidates against in infectious modelsSkurnik David2020-2023
ANR
(580,000 euros)
TnSeq Vaccinology: from pathophysiology studies to multivalent vaccine designSkurnik DavidUnder Review
ANR/BMBF
(600,000 euros)		Broad spectrum Antibodies Against MDR and pan-resistant bacteriaSkurnik DavidUnder Review

Last 25 Publications

  1. Sereme, Y, Faury, H, Gravrand, V, Ageron, E, Poyart, C, Skurnik, D et al.. Molecular insights into the evolutionary trajectory of a Klebsiella aerogenes clinical isolate with a complex trade-off between resistance and virulence. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2024;68 (11):e0103624. doi: 10.1128/aac.01036-24. PubMed PMID:39315804 PubMed Central PMC11539205.
  2. Xiang, Y, Mata-Garrido, J, Fu, Y, Desterke, C, Batsché, E, Hamaï, A et al.. Author Correction: CBX3 antagonizes IFNγ/STAT1/PD-L1 axis to modulate colon inflammation and CRC chemosensitivity. EMBO Mol Med. 2024;16 (10):2652. doi: 10.1038/s44321-024-00141-y. PubMed PMID:39284950 PubMed Central PMC11473814.
  3. Kramarska, E, Toumi, E, Squeglia, F, Laverde, D, Napolitano, V, Frapy, E et al.. A rationally designed antigen elicits protective antibodies against multiple nosocomial Gram-positive pathogens. NPJ Vaccines. 2024;9 (1):151. doi: 10.1038/s41541-024-00940-x. PubMed PMID:39155280 PubMed Central PMC11330964.
  4. Xiang, Y, Mata-Garrido, J, Fu, Y, Desterke, C, Batsché, E, Hamaï, A et al.. CBX3 antagonizes IFNγ/STAT1/PD-L1 axis to modulate colon inflammation and CRC chemosensitivity. EMBO Mol Med. 2024;16 (6):1404-1426. doi: 10.1038/s44321-024-00066-6. PubMed PMID:38684864 PubMed Central PMC11178889.
  5. Sereme, Y, Schrimp, C, Faury, H, Agapoff, M, Lefebvre-Wloszczowski, E, Chang Marchand, Y et al.. A live attenuated vaccine to prevent severe neonatal Escherichia coli K1 infections. Nat Commun. 2024;15 (1):3021. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46775-x. PubMed PMID:38589401 PubMed Central PMC11001983.
  6. Sereme, Y, Toumi, E, Saifi, E, Faury, H, Skurnik, D. Maternal immune factors involved in the prevention or facilitation of neonatal bacterial infections. Cell Immunol. 2024;395-396 :104796. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2023.104796. PubMed PMID:38104514 .
  7. Moulin, D, Millard, M, Taïeb, M, Michaudel, C, Aucouturier, A, Lefèvre, A et al.. Counteracting tryptophan metabolism alterations as a new therapeutic strategy for rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024;83 (3):312-323. doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224014. PubMed PMID:38049981 PubMed Central PMC10894831.
  8. Johnson, K, Delaney, JC, Guillard, T, Reffuveille, F, Varin-Simon, J, Li, K et al.. Development of an antibody fused with an antimicrobial peptide targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A new approach to prevent and treat bacterial infections. PLoS Pathog. 2023;19 (9):e1011612. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011612. PubMed PMID:37676873 PubMed Central PMC10508631.
  9. Pons, S, Frapy, E, Sereme, Y, Gaultier, C, Lebreton, F, Kropec, A et al.. A high-throughput sequencing approach identifies immunotherapeutic targets for bacterial meningitis in neonates. EBioMedicine. 2023;88 :104439. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104439. PubMed PMID:36709579 PubMed Central PMC9900374.
  10. Pons, S, Uhel, F, Frapy, E, Sérémé, Y, Zafrani, L, Aschard, H et al.. How Protective are Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the Main Weapon of the B-Cell Response?. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2023;19 (3):585-600. doi: 10.1007/s12015-022-10477-y. PubMed PMID:36422774 PubMed Central PMC9685122.
  11. Babosan, A, Gaschet, M, Muggeo, A, Jové, T, Skurnik, D, Ploy, MC et al.. A qnrD-Plasmid Promotes Biofilm Formation and Class 1 Integron Gene Cassette Rearrangements in Escherichia coli. Antibiotics (Basel). 2022;11 (6):. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics11060715. PubMed PMID:35740122 PubMed Central PMC9220102.
  12. Babosan, A, Skurnik, D, Muggeo, A, Pier, GB, Baharoglu, Z, Jové, T et al.. A qnr-plasmid allows aminoglycosides to induce SOS in Escherichia coli. Elife. 2022;11 :. doi: 10.7554/eLife.69511. PubMed PMID:35037621 PubMed Central PMC8789287.
  13. Rybak, A, Yang, DD, Schrimpf, C, Guedj, R, Levy, C, Cohen, R et al.. Fall of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children following COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions: A Time Series Analysis. Pathogens. 2021;10 (11):. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10111375. PubMed PMID:34832531 PubMed Central PMC8617667.
  14. Smadja, DM, Mentzer, SJ, Fontenay, M, Laffan, MA, Ackermann, M, Helms, J et al.. COVID-19 is a systemic vascular hemopathy: insight for mechanistic and clinical aspects. Angiogenesis. 2021;24 (4):755-788. doi: 10.1007/s10456-021-09805-6. PubMed PMID:34184164 PubMed Central PMC8238037.
  15. Rigourd, V, Mouadh, B, Poupon, J, Langrand, J, Goutard, A, Droguet, C et al.. Chlorine Solutions for a Safe Method of Decontamination of Breast Pump Milk Collection Kits Before and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. Front Nutr. 2021;8 :574311. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.574311. PubMed PMID:33748168 PubMed Central PMC7969643.
  16. Angoulvant, F, Ouldali, N, Yang, DD, Filser, M, Gajdos, V, Rybak, A et al.. Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Impact Caused by School Closure and National Lockdown on Pediatric Visits and Admissions for Viral and Nonviral Infections-a Time Series Analysis. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;72 (2):319-322. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa710. PubMed PMID:33501967 PubMed Central PMC7314162.
  17. Skurnik, D, Rybak, A, Yang, DD, Pons, S, Guedj, R, Levy, C et al.. Unexpected Lessons from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Lockdowns in France: Low Impact of School Opening on Common Communicable Pediatric Airborne Diseases. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;73 (9):e2830-e2832. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1899. PubMed PMID:33373441 PubMed Central PMC7799226.
  18. Yang, DD, Ouldali, N, Gajdos, V, Thomas-Sertillanges, R, Vasante, L, Skurnik, D et al.. Common Pediatric Respiratory Infectious Diseases as Possible Early Predictor for New Wave of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2021;73 (2):358-359. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1359. PubMed PMID:32894752 PubMed Central PMC7499521.
  19. Sloan, SE, Szretter, KJ, Sundaresh, B, Narayan, KM, Smith, PF, Skurnik, D et al.. Clinical and virological responses to a broad-spectrum human monoclonal antibody in an influenza virus challenge study. Antiviral Res. 2020;184 :104763. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104763. PubMed PMID:32151645 .
  20. Aschard, H, Laville, V, Tchetgen, ET, Knights, D, Imhann, F, Seksik, P et al.. Genetic effects on the commensal microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease patients. PLoS Genet. 2019;15 (3):e1008018. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008018. PubMed PMID:30849075 PubMed Central PMC6426259.
  21. Ouldali, N, Bellêttre, X, Milcent, K, Guedj, R, de Pontual, L, Cojocaru, B et al.. Impact of Implementing National Guidelines on Antibiotic Prescriptions for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Pediatric Emergency Departments: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Clin Infect Dis. 2017;65 (9):1469-1476. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix590. PubMed PMID:29048511 .
  22. Aschard, H, Guillemot, V, Vilhjalmsson, B, Patel, CJ, Skurnik, D, Ye, CJ et al.. Covariate selection for association screening in multiphenotype genetic studies. Nat Genet. 2017;49 (12):1789-1795. doi: 10.1038/ng.3975. PubMed PMID:29038595 PubMed Central PMC5797835.
  23. Roux, D, Weatherholt, M, Clark, B, Gadjeva, M, Renaud, D, Scott, D et al.. Immune Recognition of the Epidemic Cystic Fibrosis Pathogen Burkholderia dolosa. Infect Immun. 2017;85 (6):. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00765-16. PubMed PMID:28348057 PubMed Central PMC5442610.
  24. Aschard, H, Tobin, MD, Hancock, DB, Skurnik, D, Sood, A, James, A et al.. Evidence for large-scale gene-by-smoking interaction effects on pulmonary function. Int J Epidemiol. 2017;46 (3):894-904. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyw318. PubMed PMID:28082375 PubMed Central PMC5837518.
  25. Guillard, T, Pons, S, Roux, D, Pier, GB, Skurnik, D. Antibiotic resistance and virulence: Understanding the link and its consequences for prophylaxis and therapy. Bioessays. 2016;38 (7):682-93. doi: 10.1002/bies.201500180. PubMed PMID:27248008 .
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