Imagine a factory capable of producing medicines, materials or fuels, but in which some workers perform so well that productivity declines. Paradoxical, isn't it? Yet this is what happens inside Escherichia coli, a bacterium that scientists are trying to optimise production and control the zeal of perfectionist employees!
Behind this content are three biology researchers: Muriel Cocaign-Bousquet and Sébastien Nouaille, researchers at INRAE (National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment), and Laurence Girbal, a researcher at CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research). All three conduct their research at the TBI – Toulouse Biotechnology Institute (INSA Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, University of Toulouse).
