Bioinformatics, Phylogeny and Evolutionary Genomics Group

Members

Our group focuses on two main axes: phylogenomics (i.e. the inference of evolutionary history based on genomics data) and evolutionary genomics (understanding the molecular and population processes that drive genome evolution). We see genomes both as a subject of research (how do genomes evolve, why are they structured the way they are?), but also as a main source of empirical knowledge about the macroevolutionary patterns (what do they tell us about the history of life on Earth?), or about the phenotypes and life-history strategies of organisms. Our works heavily rely on methodological developments (bioinformatics, modeling and statistical inference).

Evolution of genome architecture and expression

Genomes are the result of a long-term evolutionary process, shaped by multiple evolutionary forces. Some genomic features are adaptive (i.e. are beneficial for the fitness of organisms), others result from non-adaptive processes (random drift and biased gene conversion - BGC) or are caused by conflicts between multiple levels of selection (e.g. meiotic drive or the spread of selfish genetic elements). We explore different aspects of genome architecture (base composition landscapes, genome structure and size, impact of transposable elements, …) or functioning (gene expression, lncRNAs, epigenetic landscapes, …), and try to disentangle the relative contribution of adaptive and non-adaptive processes to their evolution. For this purpose, we consider both the molecular mechanisms (mutation, repair, recombination) and the population processes (selection, drift, BGC, …) that shape genetic variation.

Phylogenomics

We are interested in reconstructing the history of life on Earth. This research unfolds along several axes. First, we develop phylogenomic databases of aligned genetic sequences (e.g. BIBI, RiboDB or HOGENOM). Second, we conduct methodological research on how to accurately reconstruct deep phylogenies, infer divergence times, reconstruct ancestral genetic sequences, gene repertoires and life-history traits. This methodological work is translated into publicly available software programs (e.g. SeaView, PhyloBayes, Coevol). Finally, we apply these approaches to several important problems, among which: reconstructing the phylogeny of animals, of archaea, or the global tree of life; using phylogenies and ancestral gene repertoires to investigate the evolution of complex systems and the emergence of molecular and cellular functions in the three domains of life; reconstructing ancestral genetic sequences, a research activity that has industrial and biotechnological applications.

Teaching and outreach

We teach at University Lyon 1 (Master Bioinfo@Lyon), INSA, ENS Lyon, we organize bioinformatics internships. We regularly give conferences on evolution (tree of life, human evolution, genetic diversity, …).
Prospective students and postdocs are invited to apply, as we often welcome visitors for internships or research projects.
 
Keywords: Molecular evolution and Population Genomics; Phylogenomics; Computational Genomics; Comparative genomics; Bioinformatics; Statistical inference.

Publications

Display of 1 to 30 publications on 1005 in total

From Inquilines to Gall Inducers: Genomic Signature of a Life-Style Transition in Synergus Gall Wasps

Erik Gobbo, Nicolas Lartillot, Jack Hearn, Graham N Stone, Yoshihisa Abe, Christopher W Wheat...

Genome Biology and Evolution . 12 : 2060 - 2073

DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa204

Journal article

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Hijackers, hitchhikers, or co-drivers? The mysteries of mobilizable genetic elements

Manuel Ares-Arroyo, Charles Coluzzi, Jorge A Moura de Sousa, Eduardo P C Rocha

PLoS Biology . 22 ( 8 ) : e3002796

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002796

Journal article

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A type IVB secretion system contributes to the pathogenicity of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains responsible for the Far East scarlet-like fever

Marion Lemarignier, Cyril Savin, Ines Ruedas Torres, Anne Derbise, Charles Coluzzi, Julien Burlaud-Gaillard...

DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.14.598817

Preprint

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Evo‐Scope : Fully automated assessment of correlated evolution on phylogenetic trees

Maxime Godfroid, Charles Coluzzi, Amaury Lambert, Philippe Glaser, Eduardo P C Rocha, Guillaume Achaz

Methods in Ecology and Evolution . 15 ( 2 ) : 282 - 289

DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.14190

Journal article

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Bridging the gap between the evolutionary dynamics and the molecular mechanisms of meiosis.

Nicolas Lartillot, Alice Genestier, Laurent Duret

RecomBern .

Conference paper

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The characterization of ancient Methanococcales malate dehydrogenases reveals that strong thermal stability prevents unfolding under intense γ-irradiation

D Madern, Frédéric Halgand, Chantal Houée-Levin, A-B Dufour, S Coquille, S Ansanay-Alex...

Molecular Biology and Evolution . : msae231

DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae231

Journal article

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High prevalence of Prdm9-independent recombination hotspots in placental mammals

Laurent Duret, Julien Joseph, Djivan Prentout, Alexandre Laverré, Théo Tricou

Probabilistic Modeling in Genomics Conference : ProbGen 2024 .

Conference paper

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The characterization of ancient Methanococcales malate dehydrogenases reveals that strong thermal stability prevents unfolding under intense γ-irradiation

D Madern, Frédéric Halgand, Chantal Houée-Levin, A-B Dufour, S Coquille, S Ansanay-Alex...

Molecular Biology and Evolution .

DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae231

Journal article

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Prevalence of PRDM9-dependent vs PRDM9-independent recombination hotspots in animals

Laurent Duret

RecomBern .

Conference paper

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Meta-analysis reveals limited reproducibility of lncRNA-related findings in hepatocellular carcinoma research

Anamaria Necsulea, Philippe Veber, Tuyana Boldanova, Charlotte Ky Ng, Stefan Wieland, Markus H Heim

DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.17.608405

Preprint

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The Inca child of the Quehuar volcano: Stable isotopes clue to geographic origin and seasonal diet, with putative seaweed consumption

Eve Poulallion, Violeta Galván, Verónica Seldes, María Fernanda Zigarán, Gabriela Recagno Browning, François Fourel...

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports . 59 : 104784

DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104784

Journal article

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Look4LTRs: a Long terminal repeat retrotransposon detection tool capable of cross species studies and discovering recently nested repeats

Anthony B. Garza, Emmanuelle Lerat, Hani Z. Girgis

Mobile DNA . 15 ( 1 ) : 8

DOI: 10.1186/s13100-024-00317-w

Journal article

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The porphyran degradation system is complete, phylogenetically and geographically diverse across the gut microbiota of East Asian populations

Laure Ségurel, Thirumalai Selvi Ulaganathan, Sophie Mathieu, Mélanie Touvrey, Laurent Poulet, Sophie Drouillard...

DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.30.534863

Preprint

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Particular sequence characteristics induce bias in the detection of polymorphic transposable element insertions

Marie Verneret, van Anthony Le, Thomas Faraut, Jocelyn Turpin, Emmanuelle Lerat

DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.25.614865

Preprint

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Small ruminants versus endogenous retroviruses: an evolutive showdown still in progress in the domestic goat genome

Marie Verneret, Caroline Leroux, Vincent Navratil, Thomas Faraut, Jocelyn Turpin, Emmanuelle Lerat

International congress on transposable elements .

Poster

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A genome-wide study of ruminants reveals two endogenous retrovirus families still active in goats

Marie Verneret, Caroline Leroux, Thomas Faraut, Vincent Navratil, Emmanuelle Lerat, Jocelyn Turpin

DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.21.600049

Preprint

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Look4LTRs: a Long terminal repeat retrotransposon detection tool capable of cross species studies and discovering recently nested repeats

Anthony B. Garza, Emmanuelle Lerat, Hani Z. Girgis

Mobile DNA . 15 ( 1 ) : 8

DOI: 10.1186/s13100-024-00317-w

Journal article

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Diversité et diversification des Pectobacteriaceae, une famille de bactéries phytopathogènes d’importance mondiale

Céline Brochier, Nicole Hugouvieux-Cotte-Pattat, Jean-Pierre Flandrois, Sylvie Reverchon, Jérôme Briolay

Cahiers Scientifiques de la Fondation Pierre Vérots . ( 10 ) : 19-29

Journal article

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ISMB/ECCB 2023 organization benefited from the strengths of the French bioinformatics community

Anna-Sophie Fiston-Lavier, Sandra Dérozier, Guy Perrière

Bioinformatics Advances . 4 ( 1 ) : vbae040

DOI: 10.1093/bioadv/vbae040

Journal article

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Bradyrhizobium hardenbergiae sp. nov., isolated from Hardenbergia violacea in Australia, represents a novel basal lineage of the B. elkanii supergroup

Bénédicte Lafay, Elina Coquery, Phil M. Oger

Preprint

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A Wright–Fisher graph model and the impact of directional selection on genetic variation

Ingemar Kaj, Carina Mugal, Rebekka Müller-Widmann

Theoretical Population Biology . 159 : 13-24

DOI: 10.1016/j.tpb.2024.07.004

Journal article

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Investigating demic versus cultural diffusion and sex bias in the spread of Austronesian languages in Vietnam

Dinh Huong Thao, Tran Huu Dinh, Shigeki Mitsunaga, La Duc Duy, Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Nguyen Phuong Anh...

PLoS ONE . 19 ( 6 ) : e0304964

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304964

Journal article

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Complete mitochondrial genomes of patients from Thailand with cardiovascular diseases

Wipada Woravatin, Rattanasak Wongkomonched, Wichittra Tassaneeyakul, Mark Stoneking, Pattarapong Makarawate, Wibhu Kutanan

PLoS ONE . 19 ( 7 ) : e0307036

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307036

Journal article

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GTDrift: a resource for exploring the interplay between genetic drift, genomic and transcriptomic characteristics in eukaryotes

Florian Bénitière, Laurent Duret, Anamaria Necsulea

NAR Genomics and Bioinformatics . 6 ( 2 ) : lqae064

DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqae064

Journal article

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Regulatory and evolutionary impact of DNA methylation in two songbird species and their naturally occurring F1 hybrids

Jesper Boman, Anna Qvarnström, Carina Mugal

BMC Biology . 22 ( 1 ) : 124

DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01920-2

Journal article

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High prevalence of PRDM9-independent recombination hotspots in placental mammals

Julien Joseph, Djivan Prentout, Alexandre Laverré, Théo Tricou, Laurent Duret

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 121 ( 23 ) : e2401973121

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401973121

Journal article

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