UNIVERSITY OF LA REUNION

UMR PIMIT

The goal of UMR PIMIT is to describe infectious processes occurring in humans and animal reservoirs hosting zoonotic pathogens, while taking into account the ecosystems in which they evolve and their own dynamics.

A unique research in tropical insular ecosystems

Our action has a regional focus, addressing both endemic and emerging infectious risks present in the southwest islands of the Indian Ocean and neighboring countries. Our specific geographic position within a biodiversity hotspot and an infectious emergence zone offers unique opportunities for research and training projects closely connected to southern territories. This significant aspect is illustrated by the inclusion of all our projects on Reunion Island, in neighboring southern islands (Scattered Islands, Madagascar, Mayotte, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles), as well as on the east coast of Africa (Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa). All these territories provide ideal conditions for deploying our activities in collaboration with local partners. The unit is located in Saint-Denis de La Réunion, on the site of the La Réunion Cyclotron (CYROI).

Promoting an interdisciplinary approach

Conceptual and methodological approaches conducted by UMR PIMIT are multidisciplinary and fully integrated into the OneHealth and EcoHealth frameworks for the study of zoonoses. Our Joint research Unit brings together ecologists, virologists, physicians, microbiologists, entomologists, modelers, and chemists. It gathers members from four institutions: the University of Reunion, CNRS (CNRS 9192), IRD (IRD 249), and INSERM (U1187). Research programs aim to identify microbiological, genetic, entomological, ecological, and anthropogenic factors contributing to infectious emergence, its epidemic spread and/or endemic maintenance, as well as understanding immunopathological and molecular mechanisms contributing to the clinical expression diversity of infection in the host.

UMR DÉTROIT

Vascular complications such as stroke represent a major public health problem, and most of these strokes are of atherothrombotic origin, with more than half the patients being diabetic. Whether it's the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or the neovessels present in atherosclerotic plaques, the endothelium is activated and dysfunctional in diabetics.

The scientific objectives of DéTROI are centered on the study of etiological factors of metabolic syndrome, favoring the onset of type 2 diabetes, vascular complications of diabetes (in particular stroke and renal complications) and therapeutic intervention using protective molecules from the biodiversity of Reunion Island - Indian Ocean Region (plants, fruits, algae) vectored or not by lipoproteins (mainly HDL). We are particularly interested in the endothelium in situations of acute and chronic hyperglycemia, in an ischemic and/or inflammatory context.

UMR DÉTROIT (Université de La Réunion - INSERM U1188) is located on the CYROI (Cyclotron Réunion Océan Indien) technology platform at the Saint-Denis technology park.