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All Press releases
Alba white truffle. © INRA, MURAT-FURMINIEUX Claude

Press release

12 Nov 2018

Truffle genomes unlock secret of how its aromas are made

An international consortium coordinated by INRA and including the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), the CEA-Genoscope, the University of Turin, Université de Lorraine and the CNRS has sequenced the genomes of several prized species of truffle, including the Alba white truffle, the summer or Burgundy truffle and the desert truffle. This breakthrough provides new insight: not only into the ecologically important role of tree/fungi symbiosis, but most importantly into the mechanisms involved in truffle growth and the creation of their famous odours.

IBISBA project

Press release

11 Sep 2018

Launch of an industrial biotechnology infrastructure strategy: European recognition for the IBISBA project

On the 11th September in Vienna (Austria), ESFRI will present the 2018 edition of the European Research Infrastructures Roadmap. Among the new infrastructure projects in this latest edition is IBISBA, an infrastructure project that aims to draw together European R&D strength to provide new support for the development of industrial biotechnology. Coordinated by INRA, a French organization that is a world leader in agricultural sciences, IBISBA brings together 14 R&D operators from 9 European member states. The overarching aim of the IBISBA infrastructure project is to provide a novel environment that will accelerate the production of knowledge and the applications thereof. 

Blue-and-yellow macaw © Arielle Beraud

Press release

22 Aug 2018

Macaws that blush: facial expressions demonstrated for the first time in birds

In order to carry out studies of facial behavioural indicators, INRA scientists teamed up with the Beauval Zoo to look at blue-and-yellow macaws (Ara ararauna), who have the distinctive characteristic of having a portion of their cheeks devoid of feathers. During their experiment, the scientists were able to describe for the first time facial expressions in the birds within a context of positive valence: the macaws blushed and ruffled their crown feathers.

Wheat. © INRA, BRUNEAU Roland

Press release

17 Aug 2018

New perspectives to improve wheat: the reference sequence of wheat genome is finally a reality

The International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC), of which INRA is a leading member, published the first wheat genome reference sequence in Science, on 17 August 2018.

Spores and cells of Bacillus cereus, a food borne pathogen responsible for gastroenteritis, viewed with phase-contrast microscopy. The spores are white. They are produced in mother cells, which are darker in color. Spore diameter is around 1 µm.. © INRA, GUINEBRETIERE Marie-Hélène

Press release

14 Aug 2018

Disrupting cell-cell communication to suppress virulence in the bacterium Bacillus cereus

A major public health goal is to identify new strategies for fighting microbes. In Bacillus cereus, a human pathogen, the expression of virulence genes is synchronised and results from communication among bacteria. In a recent study, INRA researchers and Israeli scientists collaborated to develop synthetic peptides capable of interfering with this process.