Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI

@hakimi.bsky.social

🇩🇿 🇫🇷 scientist @Inserm - https://iab-grenoble.fr/ 👀 Host-Parasite Coevolution: The Toxoplasma Paradigm ParaFrap deputy director - https://www.labex-parafrap.fr/en/ EMBO member - https://www.embo.org/ 🌍 pan-African idealist #epigenetics #parasites

1.2K followers1.4K following87 posts

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI reposted

Belen Pachano
@belenpachano.bsky.social

Excited to share our new work in @natcomms.nature.com on GCN5b in Toxoplasma gondii! 🧬🦠 Huge thanks to everyone who contributed to this work! Specially Dominique and the amazing @hakimi.bsky.social 🎉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.comDivergent SAGA complexes shape the Toxoplasma transcriptome for lytic cycle progression and host interaction - Nature CommunicationsResearchers show that the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii built a unique chromatin modifying complex to activate the genes that drive infection and virulence, revealing a potential weak spot for n...
Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

Toxoplasma didn't inherit SAGA from us 🧬 it rebuilt it from a 🌱 plant blueprint. Evolution loves a remix. Huge congrats to Dominique Cannella, an outstanding CNRS assistant engineer et al. www.nature.com/articles/s41... @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social @inserm.fr @agencerecherche.bsky.social

nature.comDivergent SAGA complexes shape the Toxoplasma transcriptome for lytic cycle progression and host interaction - Nature CommunicationsResearchers show that the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii built a unique chromatin modifying complex to activate the genes that drive infection and virulence, revealing a potential weak spot for n...
Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

🥳 Congratulations on your first paper and on such a promising trajectory! Congrats to all the collaborators and team members. a special bravo to your outstanding mentor @cristelcarles.bsky.social

Vangeli Geshkovski@vgeshkovski.bsky.social

Happy to finally see this out in a peer-reviewed form 🧬🌱 Congrats to everyone who contributed! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.comThe dual trxG/PcG protein ULTRAPETALA1 modulates H3K27me3 and directly enhances POLYCOMB REPRESSIVE COMPLEX 2 activity for fine-tuned reproductive transitions - Nature PlantsThis study reports a bivalent factor, ULTRAPETALA1, that can counteract as well as promote PRC2 activity at hundreds of developmental genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. The pro-PRC2 activity of ULTRAPETAL...

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI reposted

PLOS Biology
@plosbiology.org

Generative AI can make it quicker and easier to write scientific research papers. But as Lucas Bietti & Adrian Bangerter argue in this Perspective, unchecked #AI use risks decoupling #writing from #thinking, undermining the foundation of scientific knowledge. 🧪 #AcademicSky doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

📢 Save the date! Join us on July 2, 2026, at IAB (#Grenoble) for: 🔬 Parasite Life Cycles Unveiled: Sex, Regulation and Host Adaptation 4 leading scientists will discuss parasite development and host–parasite interactions. 🥙 Free attendance + Lebanese lunch Register: forms.gle/a5fdoVPqgNq3...

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

few days in Turino felt like walking through an open-air museum. between royal palaces, hidden courtyards and incredible archaeological pieces, every street had its own story to tell (great italian food too 😋). this town has this rare atmosphere: elegant, historic and alive at the same time. ☺️

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI reposted

LabEx ParaFrap
@parafrap.bsky.social

Huge congratulations to @hakimi.bsky.social for receiving the 2025 INSERM Research Award! 🎉 We’re extremely proud to have him as part of LabEx ParaFrap. 👉 : presse.inserm.fr/prix-inserm-...

presse.inserm.frPrix Inserm 2025 : l’innovation au cœur de la santé - Salle de presse de l'InsermJeudi 27 novembre, l’Inserm célèbrera par la remise de ses prix annuels celles et ceux qui font avancer la recherche en santé. Les travaux des cinq scientifiques récompensés lors de cette édition 2025...
Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

What an exceptional week! At the Collège de France, surrounded by my family 🥰 and part of my Dream Team, I was honored with the 2025 Inserm Research Prize! Truly proud. 🙏 INSERM This award goes to an outstanding team and to my loved ones who have carried me through this scientific journey.

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

James Watson’s passing marks the loss of a major figure whose work profoundly shaped modern biology. He is also a man whose racist and misogynistic remarks can’t be separated from his legacy. Science isn’t just about discovery; it’s about upholding universal human dignity. Rest in peace.

The Guardian@theguardian.com

James D Watson, co-discoverer of DNA’s twisted-ladder structure, dies aged 97

theguardian.comJames D Watson, co-discoverer of DNA’s twisted-ladder structure, dies aged 97Nobel prize winner shaped medicine, crimefighting and genealogy but later years marred by racist remarks James D Watson, whose co-discovery of the twisted-ladder structure of DNA in 1953 helped light the long fuse on a revolution in medicine, crimefighting, genealogy and ethics, has died, according to his former research lab. He was 97. The breakthrough – made when the brash, Chicago-born Watson was just 24 – turned him into a hallowed figure in the world of science for decades. But near the end of his life, he faced condemnation and professional censure for offensive remarks, including saying Black people were less intelligent than white people. Continue reading...
Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

Nature Com. now live! 🎉 Silvia’s amazing PhD supervised by Alex “the Greatest” & Christopher’s big-bang contribution. Huge thanks to our stellar team & collaborators. We went fishing in the FDA pond and hooked LY2090314 🎣 Blocks GSK3 🎯in #Toxoplasma & #Crypto www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.comStructural and functional characterization of TgGSK3, a druggable kinase in Toxoplasma gondii - Nature CommunicationsResearchers identify the cancer drug LY2090314 as a potent inhibitor of Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium and report the first crystal structure of the parasite kinase TgGSK3 bound to it, validati...
Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

A fantastic week in Grenoble hosting my friend Amit Sharma for our @inserm.fr IRP project. With Christopher Swale on board, they pulled off a cryo-EM structure in just a few days! A great reminder that science thrives on teamwork — and friendship. Grateful to @inserm.fr for the support!

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

Christopher Swale just nailed his HDR — the top academic milestone in France 🎓He can now supervise PhD students on his own. Stellar talk, razor-sharp answers, the jury was impressed. Proud of you, Chris. 👏

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

On Friday, I had the privilege of speaking with a remarkable line-up of Artur Scherf alumni at a symposium devoted to his stellar contributions to parasitology in general and malaria specifically. It was wonderful to pay tribute to a friend and visionary whose legacy continues to inspire.

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

Congrats Dr. Silvia DIAZ MARTIN on a brilliant PhD defense. 🙏to jury Maryse, Thierry, Matthew, Ludovic & Diego for their sharp eval. Shout-out to Alexandre and Christopher for their steady mentorship. You made us proud Silvia and I saw the whole galaxy of family pride reflected in your dad’s eyes.

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

🙏 @inserm.fr de promouvoir nos travaux récemment publiés dans EMBO Mol. Med doi.org/10.1038/s443... www.inserm.fr/actualite/to...

inserm.frToxoplasmose : un tandem de biomarqueurs pour diagnostiquer les infections chroniques · Inserm, La science pour la santéUne équipe Inserm a identifié deux protéines du parasite responsable de la toxoplasmose dont le dosage combiné aiderait à identifier les infections chroniques dormantes. Ce test pourrait apporter des ...

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI reposted

Belen Pachano
@belenpachano.bsky.social

Thrilled to share our latest review! 🎉 It captures the ideas and discussions that have shaped our work in recent years. Big shoutout to the amazing authors 👏 @hakimi.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.comDecoding the epigenetic blueprint behind Toxoplasma (pre)sexual commitment and chronic persistenceToxoplasma gondii, a widespread apicomplexan parasite, navigates a complex life cycle in which it switches back and forth between tachyzoites and brad…

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI reposted

EMBO Molecular Medicine
@embomolmed.org

Our July issue is online 👉 www.embopress.org/toc/17574684... The cover highlights the article by M Robert, C Swale, MP Brenier-Pinchart, @hakimi.bsky.social‬ & al. that identifies BSM & BCLA as #biomarkers for chronic #ToxoplasmaGondii infection Scientific image by @hakimi.bsky.social @inserm.fr

embopress.orgEMBO Molecular Medicine: Vol 17, No 7EMBO Press is an editorially independent publishing platform for the development of EMBO scientific publications.
Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

I hear you, brother. Loud and clear. Your courage speaks volumes. Standing strong with you—and with Palestine. You're not alone.

Omaya Dudin 𓂆 ¦🍉¦🦠¦🔬¦@dudinlab.bsky.social

90% of you probably don’t need to read this. But maybe some of you are curious & 10% will feel seen. Or a little less alone. This isn’t about seeking sympathy. It’s about sharing something hard to say out loud; partly to heal, partly in case someone needs to hear it too. (1/3) tinyurl.com/DudinO

cell.comOmaya DudinInterview with Omaya Dudin, who uses Ichthyosporea as models to study how and why unicellular organisms evolved multicellularity at the University of Geneva.
Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

🙏🏽the editors, and the reviewers for their warm reception of our manuscript. @embomolmed.org is clearly an excellent journal to highlight—especially to the industrial sector—the importance of incorporating these markers into the portfolio of toxoplasmosis detection tests.

EMBO Molecular Medicine@embomolmed.org

Uncovering #biomarkers for chronic #toxoplasmosis detection highlights alternative pathways shaping parasite dormancy By M. G. Robert, C. Swale, M-P. Brenier-Pinchart, @hakimi.bsky.social & colleagues @inserm.fr ‬ 🗞️ doi.org/10.1038/s443...

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

Under the hood (mechanistically), it’s not just one switch running the show: 🧬 MORC and HDAC3 team up to control BFD1—the dormancy boss. But surprise: BSM plays by its own rules, skipping BFD1 entirely. 👉 There’s more than one road to parasite sleep mode.

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

Massive shoutout to my dream team! 💥 Gladys & Christopher (co–first authors) et al. A squad of brilliant scientists but also clinicians. Nor forgetting our fantastic coll. Special thanks to our funders, especially @inserm.fr Transfert and MSD Avenir, for believing in this project from the start. 🙏

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

Current clinical tests can spot Toxoplasma infection but struggle to identify the dormant 😴 parasites. That’s bad news if your immune system takes a break—because this parasite loves to reactivate and “rumble in the jungle”. Think: 🧠 Neurological disorders

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

In this study we identify two biomarkers for chronic infection: ✅ BSM (Bradyzoite Serological Marker) ✅ BCLA (Cyst-associated antigen) 🧪 These markers nail cyst detection in mice and human. High sensitivity. High specificity. Zero ambiguity. 🧪💥

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

Meet Toxoplasma —the microscopic zombie-maker. 🧟‍♂️ This neurotropic parasite infects ~1/3 of us, then goes quiet... While acute infections are usually mild, the chronic stage, marked by dormant bradyzoites in tissue cysts 🧠, is much harder to detect—and potentially dangerous.

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI reposted

LabEx ParaFrap
@parafrap.bsky.social

An ISWI-related chromatin remodeller regulates stage-specific gene expression in #Toxoplasma gondii. By Belen Pachano (ParaFrap PhD student) et al., team @hakimi.bsky.social. In @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.comAn ISWI-related chromatin remodeller regulates stage-specific gene expression in Toxoplasma gondii - Nature MicrobiologyToxoplasma gondii evolved two ISWI remodellers, TgSNF2h and TgSNF2L. TgSNF2h forms a complex that insulates active genes, regulates MORC-driven sexual commitment and ensures precise gene expression, s...

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI reposted

Nature Microbiology
@natmicrobiol.nature.com

🚨 Out now! Toxoplasma gondii ISWI remodeller TgSNF2h forms a complex that insulates active genes, regulates MORC-driven sexual commitment and ensures precise gene expression, safeguarding the parasite’s developmental program. #MicroSky 🦠 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.comAn ISWI-related chromatin remodeller regulates stage-specific gene expression in Toxoplasma gondii - Nature MicrobiologyToxoplasma gondii evolved two ISWI remodellers, TgSNF2h and TgSNF2L. TgSNF2h forms a complex that insulates active genes, regulates MORC-driven sexual commitment and ensures precise gene expression, s...

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI reposted

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI
@hakimi.bsky.social

In the silence of chromatin, Toxoplasma whispers change. TgSNF2h sculpts the genome - MORC in the backseat. Some genes wake. Others sleep. A dance of nucleosomes shaping space for life parasite stages to unfold. Now in Nature Microbiology: rdcu.be/ehkWp

rdcu.beAn ISWI-related chromatin remodeller regulates stage-specific gene expression in Toxoplasma gondiiNature Microbiology - Toxoplasma gondii evolved two ISWI remodellers, TgSNF2h and TgSNF2L. TgSNF2h forms a complex that insulates active genes, regulates MORC-driven sexual commitment and ensures...

Mohamed-Ali HAKIMI reposted

Belen Pachano
@belenpachano.bsky.social

Thrilled to share my first paper, now out in @natmicrobiol.nature.com! Huge thanks to my amazing supervisor @hakimi.bsky.social and everyone who contributed to this work! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.comAn ISWI-related chromatin remodeller regulates stage-specific gene expression in Toxoplasma gondii - Nature MicrobiologyToxoplasma gondii evolved two ISWI remodellers, TgSNF2h and TgSNF2L. TgSNF2h forms a complex that insulates active genes, regulates MORC-driven sexual commitment and ensures precise gene expression, s...