Pauline Bellot

What is the role of pesticides in the susceptibility of vertebrates to pathogens?

It is nowadays undeniable that environmental, animal and human health are intimately linked. This has led to the emergence of the “One Health” concept, an integrative approach to better understand and address emerging pandemic risk diseases such as VIDOC-19. However, anthropogenic environmental disturbances induce ecological imbalances, which are themselves conducive to the emergence of diseases in wild populations. In this context, it is particularly relevant to study the effects of pesticides on ecosystems, wildlife and human health.
Thus, my doctoral project aims to improve our understanding of the processes and practices responsible for the emergence of resistance in pathogens, taking the example of aspergillosis in birds and the use of fungicides as plant protection products. The aim is to define the factors favouring the emergence and spread of resistant infectious pathogens to wildlife and humans. The underlying hypothesis implies that pesticides, and fungicides in particular, increase the presence and occurrence of resistant strains of aspergillosis in the environment with harmful consequences for wildlife and humans.
This thesis will be based on two main objectives. (1) To identify in parallel the degree of contamination of anthroposystems with fungicides and the occurrence of resistant strains of aspergillosis in the environment and in wildlife (birds). (2) Experimentally study the influence of triazoles on pathogen resistance in birds by testing the potential role of fungicides in endocrine and immune disruption.

PhD student in the ECOPHY team (2020-2023).
Supervisors : Frédéric Angelier (CEBC), François Brischoux (CEBC) and Clémentine Fritsch (LCE).
Doctoral school: EUCLIDE (La Rochelle University).
Funding bodies: MITI CNRS (PEPSAN), ANSES (BIODITOX), ANR PRC (VITIBIRD).
Mail: pauline.bellot(at)cebc.cnrs.fr
Tel : +33 (0)6.15.06.91.16

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