Céline Cousin

As a researcher at CEA Saclay, I am a highly-motivated immunologist, with 10 years of experience in experimental research, seeking for new professional opportunities in the field of immunology research.

During my PhD, I focused on the effect of the immunosuppressive enzyme IL4I1 on Treg, developing expertise in human and mouse immunology. The characterization of suppressive capacity of Treg amplified in the presence of IL4I1 through complex co-culture systems (monocytic cell line transfected with the vector encoding IL4I1 or empty cultivated with different lymphocyte populations sorted) required excellent cell culture skills associated with a mastery in flow cytometry analysis (phenotype analysis of Treg and T helper cells), sorting of different cell populations (magnetically and by FACS) and proliferation monitoring by lymphocyte function assay (the suppressive capacities of these Treg were evaluated on T cell responders following CFSE dilution). All these studies were performed in vitro in humans and have been validated in a FoxP3-EGFP mouse model (collaboration with Dr Lionel Apetoh, INSERM U866, Dijon). This project resulted in 3 publications (1st, 2nd and 3rd author). During this period, I also enjoyed sharing my knowledge with student, thus strengthening my scientific discussion skills.

During my postdoc, I studied innate and in vivo cytotoxic responses induced following vaccination with integrase deficient lentiviral vector (IDLV). This project allowed to dissect the mechanisms of action of IDLV, which resulted in 1 first author publication through the evaluation of the maturation of dendritic cells ex vivo (multicolor flow cytometry), the antigen specific response in vivo (by antigen specific in vivo killing assay and ELISPOT assay) as well as the gene expression involved in the immune response (by macro-arrays and nanostring technologies).

In my current work, I study the effect of proteic/peptidic vaccines (patented technology) on the induction of particular populations of the immune system in vitro (multicolor flow cytometry) and in vivo (evaluation of antigen specific responses) as well as on tumor control in vivo (murine model).

Along these projects I also developed excellent skills in murine models (injections of tumor cells (subcutaneous and intracerebral), intravenous, subcutaneous and intraperitoneal immunization, blood sample, organs removal (spleen, inguinal lymph nodes, bone marrow, brain), generation of chimeric mice and genotyping of several strains), immunochemistry (WB and ELISA), molecular biology (PCR and qPCR) and histology (IHC, IF and tissue sections). I obtained my certificate of aptitude to animal experimentation level 1 in october 2012.

My overall experience allows me to have great knowledge in flow cytometry, different cell culture techniques, western blots, ELISA, PCR and RT-PCR, immunochemistry and animal experiments as well as in topics of oncology, immunoregulation, immunosuppression, lentiviral vaccination and the regulatory, auxiliary and cytotoxic T cells. In addition, I have a quick ability to adapt to new projects and new techniques.