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DuPont
- Senior Scientist, Team Leader of the Phage Research Group
2011 - maintenant
1-Development of a collection of bacteriophages isolated from lactic acid bacteria. Most of phages are isolated from raw materials and products providing by customers using the Danisco worldwide Phage Technical Service to survey the presence of phages in their plants.
2-Characterization of the collection by determining the host spectrum and the molecular typing of the phages in the aim to establish their genetic diversity
3-Exploitation of the collection by strain characterization based on their spectrum of phage sensitivity in the aim to build dairy starters with a strong robustness to phages.
Two principal aims in these missions :
1-To support starters building by allowing association of strains with different phage sensitivity, what (i) decreased the probability of a complete phage attack during fermentation, and (ii) allowed alternatively starters that can be used in rotation without risk of phages cross-contamination.
2-To make fundamental research to understand the phage resistance of lactic acid bacteria, to always be able to renew cultures for dairy starters
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Danisco
- Senior Scientist, Team Leader of Phage Research Group
Paris
2010 - 2011
1-Development of a collection of bacteriophages isolated from lactic acid bacteria. Most of phages are isolated from raw materials and products providing by customers using the Danisco worldwide Phage Technical Service to survey the presence of phages in their plants.
2-Characterization of the collection by determining the host spectrum and the molecular typing of the phages in the aim to establish their genetic diversity
3-Exploitation of the collection by strain characterization based on their spectrum of phage sensitivity in the aim to build dairy starters with a strong robustness to phages.
Two principal aims in these missions :
1-To support starters building by allowing association of strains with different phage sensitivity, what (i) decreased the probability of a complete phage attack during fermentation, and (ii) allowed alternatively starters that can be used in rotation without risk of phages cross-contamination.
2-To make fundamental research to understand the phage resistance of lactic acid bacteria, to always be able to renew cultures for dairy starters
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Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council Canada
- Research Officer
2007 - 2007
Project : Biotechnological valorization of maple sap by microbial fermentation of probiotics.
Work : Elaborated, planned, managed, realized and presented research project and scientific results; collaborations with chemists, microbiologists and biochemists.
Results : one scientific publication (A. Cochu, D. Fournier, A. Halasz and J. Hawari. 2008. Maple sap as a rich medium to grow probiotic lactobacilli and to produce lactic acid.Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 47: 500-507), one patent (A. Cochu, D. Fournier and J. Hawari. 2007. Production of probiotic bacteria using maple sap. US provisional patent application USSN 60/833,277) and one research grant application.
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Crea Biopharma
- Director of research and development laboratory
2004 - 2006
Mandate : Research and development of antimicrobial agents against animal and human infections caused by Staphylococci and E. coli
Scientific work and achievements :
-Done in vitro tests to determine antimicrobial efficacy of molecules and biochemical properties of antimicrobial agents
-Realized in vivo anti-mastitis treatments in cow
-Elaborated, scheduled and managed microbiological, pre-clinical and biochemical research projects
-Finalized research techniques and protocols
-Developed computer solutions to collect, compile and analyze results
-Data analysed, wrote scientific publications, reports, patent and presented scientific results
Managed the laboratory staff :
-Hired, managed and evaluated the staff effectiveness and the projects teams
Safety and quality :
-Established the laboratory in a biomedical development center with respect of level 2 biosecurity procedures
-Wrote calibration, use, preventive maintenance, inventory and quality control of apparatus, products and bacteria procedures
International visibility :
-Developed collaborations with researchers and international commercial partners
Results : one scientific publication (D. Petitclerc, K. Lauzon, A. Cochu, C. Ster, M. S. Diarra, and P. Lacasse. Lactoferrin and penicillin to threat mastitis. 2007. J. Dairy Sci. 90: 2778–2787), one provisional patent (A.Cochu, and D. Petitclerc. 2006. Combinations of nisin A-like peptides with bovine lactoferrin against various bacteria involved in bovine mastitis. US provisional patent application US60/819,392) and successful results.
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Laval University, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Teaching assistant
1998 - 2004
Managed and supervised students during practical laboratory training; Wrote and revised theoretical and pratical exams :
Physiology and bacterial genetic (2004), structural biochemistry (1999-2003), nucleic acids (2000), genetic engineering (1999), general biochemistry (1998).
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National Institute for Agronomical Research (INRA), Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Research-student in Biochemistry and Microbiology
1997 - 1997
Master research project : Characterization of thermic stress protein expression by Lactococcus lactis.
Elaborated, sheduled, managed and realized research projets ; improved, finalized and excecuted microbiological, molecular biology and biochemistry techniques ; wrote and presented scientific results.
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Laval University, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Research-student in Biochemistry and Microbiology
1997 - 2004
PhD research project : roles of phosphoenolpyruvate : sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) in the sugar transport and in the regulation of their metabolism in Streptococcus thermophilus.
Elaborated, sheduled, managed and realized research projets ; improved, finalized and excecuted microbiological, molecular biology and biochemistry techniques ; wrote and presented scientific results at international congresses ; supervised students.
Results :
- 4 scientific publications :
1-A. Cochu, D. Roy, K. Vaillancourt, J.-D. Lemay, I. Casabon, M. Frenette, S. Moineau, and C. Vadeboncoeur. 2005. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 1364-1372
2-G. Lamothe, C. Levesque, D. Tremblay, F. Bissonnette, A. Cochu, M. Frenette, and S. Moineau. 2005. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 1237-1246
3-C. Lessard, A. Cochu, J.-D. Lemay, D. Roy, K. Vaillancourt, M. Frenette, S. Moineau, and C. Vadeboncoeur. 2003. J. Bacteriol. 185: 6764-6772
4-A. Cochu, C. Vadeboncoeur, S. Moineau, and M. Frenette. 2003. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69: 5423-5432)
- 8 communications and presentations at scientific congresses :
1.D. Petitclerc, K. Lauzon, A. Cochu, C. Ster, M. S. Diarra, and P. Lacasse. 2006. 45th annual meeting of the National Mastitis Council (NMC), Tampa, USA. Poster
2.A. Cochu, M. Frenette, S. Moineau, and C. Vadeboncoeur. 2003. American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), Phoenix, USA. J. Dairy Sci. 86: 41 (suppl. 1). Conference
3.G. Lamothe, C. Levesque, D. Tremblay, F. Bissonnette, A. Cochu, M. Frenette, and S. Moineau. 2003. American Society of Microbiology (ASM), Washington, USA. Poster
4.A. Cochu, M. Frenette, S. Moineau, et C. Vadeboncoeur. 2003. Forum technologique Novalait, Bécancour, Canada. Poster
5.A. Cochu, M. Frenette, S. Moineau, et C. Vadeboncoeur. 2003. Club des bactéries lactiques, Aurillac, France. Conference
6.A. Cochu, C. Vadeboncoeur, S. Moineau, and M. Frenette. 2002. ADSA, Québec, Canada. J. Dairy Sci. 85: 36 (suppl. 1). Conference
7.G. Lamothe, C. Levesque, D. Tremblay, F. Bissonnette, A. Cochu, M. Frenette, and S. Moineau. 2002. ADSA, Québec, Canada. J. Dairy Sci. 85: 36 (suppl. 1). Conference
8.A. Cochu, C. Vadeboncoeur, and M. Frenette. 1999. ASM, Chicago, USA, Abstract #K88. Poster
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Dairy Research Science and Technology Group (STELA), Laval University, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Research assistant
1996 - 1996
Research project (June to August 1996): Identification of genes involved in exopolysaccharide biosynthesis in Lactobacillus casei.
Elaborated, scheduled, managed and realized research projects ; Improved, finalized and realized microbiological, molecular biology and biochemistry techniques ; Wrote and presented scientific results.
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National Institute for Agronomical Research (INRA), Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Research assistant
1995 - 1995
Research project (June to August 1995): Identification and characterization of DNA repair system mutants of Lactococcus lactis.
Elaborated, scheduled, managed and realized research projects ; Improved, finalized and realized microbiological, molecular biology and biochemistry techniques ; Wrote and presented scientific results.
Results : 1 scientific publication : P. Duwat, A. Cochu, S.D. Ehrlich, and A. Gruss. 1997. Characterization of Lactococcus lactis UV-sensitive mutants obtained by ISS1 transposition. J. Bacteriol. 179: 4473-4479.
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Pasteur Institute, Lille, France
- Research assistant
1993 - 1994
Research project (January to February 1993 ; June to August 1994): Analysis of regulatory sequences of the gene encoding for the 28 kDa glutathion-S-Transferase of Schistosoma mansoni.
Elaborated, scheduled, managed and realized research projects ; Improved, finalized and realized microbiological, molecular biology and biochemistry techniques ; Wrote and presented scientific results.
Results : 1 scientific publication : K. Zemzoumi, C. Dissous, A. Cochu, J. Trolet, A. Capron, and A. McNair. 1995. Schistosoma mansoni: interaction of nuclear extracts with the CCAAT-binding site revealed by the gel shift assay. Exp. Parasitol. 80: 149-154.
