Our experimental and modelling studies aim at understanding the mechanisms involved in the recognition of the olfactory signal and its translation in a behavioural response adapted to the environment and the physiological state of insects.
These studies concern the processes of sensory coding, from the chemo-electrical transduction in the olfactory receptor neurones to its integration in the central nervous system by the neuronal network of the antennal lobe as well as the resulting oriented locomotor response.
We also analyse how insects respond to specific signals in a complex sensory environment (interactions of pheromones and plant volatile compounds) and the mechanisms of the modulation of the olfactory response, notably by steroid hormones involved in development.

We use complementary approaches including:
- anatomy (quantitative neuroanatomy, intracellular stainings),
- molecular biology (cloning, in situ hybridization, RNA interference, heterologous expression),
- electrophysiology (extracellular, patch clamp in vivo and in vitro),
- imaging (calcium imaging), ethology (olfactometry, trajectometry, learning assays),
- biochemistry (immuno-dosage of steroids), physico-chemistry (gas chromatography coupled to behaviour)
- and modelling (statistical analyses, computer simulation, robotics) to study the functioning of neurones and neurone networks and modifications of this functioning (global change, pesticides, etc.).
Various olfactometers, locomotion compensators and a wind tunnel are used to record and analyse insect behavior in response to odour signals.
- Our studies are carried out on three species of phytophagous insects.
Our main model is the moth sex pheromone communication with two Noctuidae Spodoptera littoralis and Agrotis ipsilon, because of its sensitivity, specificity and stereotyped behavioural responses involved.
Responses to the pheromone in interaction with plant volatiles are also studied in the context of an applied project, on the invasive weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.


Objectives
- To study and model how the quality, intensity and time pattern of olfactory signals are encoded in the peripheral and central nervous system.
- To decipher and model the signalling pathway of the olfactory transduction.
- To study the mechanisms underlying plasticity linked to the physiological state.
- To analyse interactions between odorants, in particular between pheromone and volatile plant compounds.
- To better estimate the role of the olfactory environment in the modulation of long distance attraction in an applied perspective.

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Team news
A Robot to Track and Film Flying Insects
Scientists from the CNRS, Université de Lorraine, and Inrae have...
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Team publications
Only applies to publications from 2017 to present. To see all the publications go to the Publications page.
Référence | Liens | Journal |
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Zheng Y.~, Cabassa-Hourton C.*, Planchais S.*, Crilat E.*, Clément G., Dacher M.*, Durand N.~, Bordenave-Jacquemin M.*, Guivarc’h A.*, Dourmap C.~, Carol P.*, Lebreton S.*, Savouré A.* (2022). Pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase is an essential enzyme for proline dehydrogenase function during dark-induced senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell and Environment. Online ahead of print. | 10.1111/pce.14529 🔗 HAL | Plant Cell and Environment |
Fraichard S., Legendre A., Lucas P., Chauvel I., Faure P., Artur Y., Neiers F., Briand L., Ferveur J.-F., Heydel J.-M. (2020) Modulation of sex pheromone discrimination by the UDP-glycosyltransferase Ugt36E1 in Drosophila melanogaster. Genes 11(3). | 10.3390/genes11030237 🔗 HAL | Genes |
Bozzolan F*, Durand N^, Demondion E*, Bourgeois T*, Gassias E, Debernard S*.Evidence for a role of oestrogen receptor-related receptor in the regulation of male sexual behaviour in the moth Agrotis ipsilon.Insect Mol Biol26(4):403-413 | 10.1111/imb.12303 🔗 HAL | Insect Molecular Biology |
Jacob V. ^, Monsempès C. *, Rospars J.-P. *, Masson J.-B., Lucas P. * (2017) Olfactory coding in the turbulent realm. PLoS Comput. Biol. 13(12):e1005870. | 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005870 🔗 HAL | PLoS Computational Biology |
Machon J.~, Lucas P.*, Ravaux J., Zbinden M. (2018) Comparison of Chemoreceptive Abilities of the Hydrothermal Shrimp Mirocaris fortunata and the Coastal Shrimp Palaemon elegans. Chem Senses 7:489–501. | 10.1093/chemse/bjy041 🔗 HAL | Chemical Senses |
Chatterjee A*, Lamaze A, De J, Mena W, Chélot E, Martin B, Hardin P, Kadener S, Emery P, Rouyer F. Reconfiguration of a Multi-oscillator Network by Light in the Drosophila Circadian Clock. Curr Biol. 2018 Jul 9;28(13):2007-2017.e4. | 10.1016/j.cub.2018.04.064 🔗 HAL | current biology |
Aviles A. ~, Boulogne I.^, Durand N.^, Maria A.*, Cordeiro A.°, Bozzolan F.*, Goutte A., Alliot F., Dacher M.*, Renault D., Maïbèche M.*, Siaussat D.* 2019 Effects of DEHP on post-embryonic development, nuclear receptor expression, metabolite and ecdysteroid concentrations of the moth Spodoptera littoralis. Chemosphere 215, 725-738. | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.102 🔗 HAL | Chemosphere |
Levakova M., Kostal L., Monsempès C. *, Jacob V. ^, Lucas P. * (2018) Moth olfactory receptor neurons adjust their encoding efficiency to temporal statistics of pheromone fluctuations. PLoS Comput. Biol. 14(11): e1006586. | 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006586 🔗 HAL | PLoS Computational Biology |
Langlois L., Dacher M.*, Nugent F. (2018). Dopamine receptor activation is required for GABAergic spike timing-dependent plasticity in the ventral tegmental area. Front Syn Neurosci, 10: 32. | 10.3389/fnsyn.2018.00032 🔗 HAL | Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience |
Chapuy C.°~, Ribbens L., Renou M.*, Dacher M.*, Armengaud C. (2019) Thymol affects congruency between olfactory and gustatory stimuli in bees. Sci Rep, 9: 7752. | 10.1038/s41598-019-43614-8 🔗 HAL | Scientific Reports |
Maria A.*, Malbert-Colas A~. Braman V.^, Dacher M.*, Chertemps T.*, Maïbèche M.*, Blais C.*, Siaussat D.* 2019 Effects of Bisphenol A on post-embryonic development of the cotton pest, Spodoptera littoralis. Chemosphere 235, 616-625. | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.073 🔗 HAL | Chemosphere |
Levakova M., Kostal L., Monsempès C. *, Lucas P. *, Kobayashi R. (2019) Adaptive integrate-and-fire model reproduces the dynamics of olfactory receptor neuron responses in moth. J. R. Soc. Interface 16:20190246. | 10.1098/rsif.2019.0246 🔗 HAL | Journal of The Royal Society Interface |
Conchou L. ^, Lucas P. *, Meslin C. *, Proffit M., Staudt M., Renou M. * (2019) Insect Odorscapes: From Plant Volatiles to Natural Olfactory Scenes.Front. Physiol. 10:972. | 10.3389/fphys.2019.00972 🔗 HAL | Frontiers in Physiology |
Renou, M*, Les insectes ingénieurs. 5. Odeurs et biomimétisme. Insectes,195: 17-21. | Insectes | |
Hostachy C.°^, Couzi P.*, Hanafi-Portier M.°, Portemer G.°, Halleguen A.°, Murmu M.^, Deisig N.*, Dacher M.*, 2019. Responsiveness to sugar solutions in the moth Agrotis ipsilon: parameters affecting proboscis extension. Frontiers in Physiology, 10: 1423. | 10.3389/fphys.2019.01423 🔗 HAL | Frontiers in Physiology |
Hostachy C.^°, Couzi P.*, Portemer G.°, Hanafi M.°, Murmu M.^, Deisig N.*, Dacher M.* (2019)Exposure to conspecific and heterospecific sex-pheromones modulates gustatory habituation in the moth Agrotis ipsilon. Frontiers in Physiology, 10: 1518. | 10.3389/fphys.2019.01518 🔗 HAL | Frontiers in Physiology |
Hoffmann A.°, Bourgeois T.*, Munoz A.°, Anton S., Gevar J.*, Dacher M.*, Renou M.* (2020) A plant volatile alters the perception of sex pheromone blend ratios in a moth. J Comp Physiol A, 206, 553-570. | 10.1007/s00359-020-01420-y 🔗 HAL | JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A- NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY |
Vandroux P.°, Li Z.~, Capoduro R.^, François M-C.*, Renou M.*, Montagné N.*, Jacquin-Joly E.* (2022) Activation of pheromone-sensitive olfactory neurons by plant volatiles in the moth Agrotis ipsilon does not occur at the level of the pheromone receptor protein. Front. Ecol. Evol., 10:1035252 | 10.3389/fevo.2022.1035252 | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
Renou M.*, Anton S. (2020) Insect olfaction in a complex and changing world. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 42:xx-yy. | 10.1016/j.cois.2020.04.004 🔗 HAL | Current Opinion in Insect Science |
Pawson S. M., Kerr J. L., O’Connor B., Lucas P.*, Martinez D., Allison J. D., Strand T. M. (2020) Light weight portable electroantennography device as a future tool for applied chemical ecology. J. Chem. Ecol. 46 :557-566. | 10.1007/s10886-020-01190-6 🔗 HAL | Journal of Chemical Ecology |
Pannequin R., Jouaiti M., Boutayeb M., Lucas P.*, Martinez D. (2020) Lab-on-cables: Automatic tracking of free-flying insects. Science Robotics 5(43):eabb2890. | 10.1126/scirobotics.abb2890 🔗 HAL | Science Robotics |
Aviles A.~, Cordeiro A.°, Maria A.*, Bozzolan F.*, Boulogne I.^, Dacher M.*, Goutte A.°, Alliot F., Maibeche M.*, Massot M.*, Siaussat D.* (2020) Effects of DEHP on ecdysteroid pathway, sexual behaviour and offspring of the moth Spodoptera littoralis. Hormones Behav, 125: 104808. | 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104808 🔗 HAL | Hormone and Behaviour |
Murmu M.S.^, Hanoune J.°, Choi A.°, Bureau V.°, Renou M.*, Dacher M.*, Deisig N.*, Modulatory effects of pheromone on olfactory learning and memory in moths. Journal of Insect Physiology, J Insect Physiol 127, 104159. | 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2020.104159 🔗 HAL | Journal of Insect Physiology |
Renou, M. Mesurer le comportement olfactif des insectes.Insectes, 199:11-15 | Insectes | |
RENOU, Michel* ; SORDELLO, Romain ; REYJOL, Yorick, La biologie de la conservation doit-elle prendre en compte les paysages odorants ?, Science Eaux & Territoires | 10.14758/SET-REVUE.2021.HS.03 | Science Eaux & Territoires |
Gassias E, Maria A*, Couzi P*, Demondion E*, Durand N, Bozzolan F*, Aguilar P, Debernard S*. (2021) Involvement of Methoprene-tolerant and Krüppel homolog 1 in juvenile hormone-signaling regulating the maturation of male accessory glands in the moth Agrotis ipsilon. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2021 May;132:103566. | 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103566 | INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY |
Conchou, L^.; Lucas, P*.; Deisig, N*.; Demondion, E.*; Renou, M*. Effects of Multi-Component Backgrounds of Volatile Plant Compounds on Moth Pheromone Perception. Insects 2021, 12, 409. | 10.3390/insects12050409 🔗 HAL | Insects |
Frat L~, Chertemps T*, Pesce E, Bozzolan F*, Dacher M*, Planelló R, Herrero O, Llorente L, Moers D, Siaussat D*. Single and mixed exposure to cadmium and mercury in Drosophila melanogaster: Molecular responses and impact on post-embryonic development. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2021 May 27;220:112377. | 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112377 🔗 HAL | ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY |
Lucas P.*, Anton, S. (2021) Editorial: Invertebrate neurobiology: Sensory Systems, Information Integration, Locomotor- and Behavioral output. Front. Physiol. 12:807521 | 10.3389/fphys.2021.807521 🔗 HAL | Frontiers Physiology |
De J, Chatterjee A*. (2021) Perception of Daily Time: Insights from the Fruit Flies. Insects. 2021 Dec 21;13(1):3 | 10.3390/insects13010003 🔗 HAL | insects |
Renou M.* (2022) Is the evolution of insect odorscapes under anthropic pressures a risk for herbivorous insect invasions? Current Opinion in Insect Science. 52: 100926 | 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100926 | Current Opinion in Insect Science |
Gévar, J*., Bagnères, A. G., Christidès, J. P., Darrouzet, E. (2017). Chemical heterogeneity in inbred European population of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 43(8), 763-777. | 10.1007/s10886-017-0874-4 🔗 HAL | Journal of Chemical Ecology |
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Team members
Nom Prénom | Corps | Employeur | Adresse | Téléphone | Mél |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AGUILAR Paleo | PhD student | Univ. de Complutense de Madrid | aguilarpaleo@gmail.com | ||
BARTA Tomas | PhD student | S-U & Institute of Physiology CAS | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – RDC – bureau : 17 | (+33) 01-30-83-37-37 | tomas.barta@fgu.cas.cz |
BOZZOLAN Françoise | IE | S-U | Campus Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 5e Tour 44-45 – 3e étage – bureau : 318 | (+33) 01-44-27-38-39 | francoise.bozzolan@upmc.fr |
CHATTERJEE Abhishek | CR | INRAE | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – Sous-sol étage – bureau : 17 | (+33) 01-30-83-37-37 | abhishek.chatterjee@inrae.fr |
COUZI Philippe | T | INRAE | Campus Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 5e Tour 44-45 – 3e étage – bureau : 320 | philippe.couzi@inrae.fr | |
DACHER Matthieu | MC | S-U | Campus Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 5e Tour 44-45 – 3e étage – bureau : 310 | (+33) 01-44-27-65-87 | matthieu.dacher@upmc.fr |
DEBERNARD Stéphane | MC | S-U | Campus Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 5e Tour 44-45 – 3e étage – bureau : 308 | (+33) 01-44-27-38-39 | stephane.debernard@sorbonne-universite.fr |
FABRE Caroline | CDD Chercheur.euse | INRAE, MSCA fellow | INRAE de Versailles Batiment 1 – RDC – bureau : 6C | caroline.fabre@inrae.fr | |
FORCE Evan | PhD student | Univ. Paris-Saclay | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – RDC – bureau : 15 | (+33) 01-44-27-65-87 | evan.force@universite-paris-saclay.fr |
GHOSH Sagnik | PhD student | Univ. Paris-Saclay | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – RDC – bureau : 10 | sagnik.ghosh@inrae.fr | |
GÉVAR Jérémy | IE | INRAE | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – RDC – bureau : 4 | (+33) 01-30-83-31-59 | jeremy.gevar@inrae.fr |
LECONTE Anjélica | PhD student | AgroParisTech | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – RDC – bureau : 10C | (+33) 01-30-83-37-37 | anjelica.leconte@compagniedesamandes.com |
LECOUVREUR François | CDD IE | INRAE | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – RDC – bureau : 8b | francois.lecouvreur@inrae.fr | |
LUCAS Philippe | DR | INRAE | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – RDC – bureau : 10C | (+33) 01-30-83-37-37 | philippe.lucas@inrae.fr |
MARIA Annick | AI | S-U | Campus Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 5e Tour 44-45 – 3e étage – bureau : 308 | (+33) 01-44-27-38-25 | annick.maria@upmc.fr |
MONSEMPES Christelle | AI | INRAE | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – SS étage – bureau : 14b | (+33) 01-30-83-31-43 | christelle.monsempes@inrae.fr |
SURAY Caroline | T | INRAE | INRAE de Versailles bâtiment 1 – Sous-sol étage – bureau : 14c | (+33) 01 30 83 33 55 | caroline.suray@inrae.fr |
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